Just realized I never gave feedback on this! Reviewed it on Amazon and good reads I believe, but missed this. JP writes sincerely and succinctly in such a way that is encouraging, uplifting, and convicting. I truly believe he listens to the Holy Spirit as he writes to lay things out plainly and creatively for everyone to understand and connect with. I love the stories, the analogies, and scriptural references. They all come together well to really help the reader understand the point he is trying to make and why it’s important.

I’ve been listening to JP for years and this book quickly summarizes all the hours of podcast listening for scraps of helpful dating advice into a book that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. I read it easily in a day.

In each of the 12 chapters, JP breaks down the most common traps we fall into when dating—ideas like “The One” or “Love at First Sight.” Note: He writes from a heavily Christian standpoint, so if that’s not your jam, that’s okay. I still would argue that this book contains suggestions that are for ANYONE. We are all valuable and should date like we are.

He approaches each topic with humility. Nearly every chapter includes some variation on this theme: “Please don’t be like me. I messed this up. I do have a good marriage but I’ve had to WORK for it and I don’t want you to have the problems I did.” It’s helpful to hear that, because I feel (particularly in the church), advice on finding a partner comes from people who married their high school sweetheart or first boyfriend ever.

Ideas that Made Me Think:
1. Beauty is falsely equated with better sex.
2. Attraction is taught.
3. Compatibility is fiction.

Lines That Made Me Cheer:
1. Don’t blame God for your breakup.
2. Singleness is not a period of waiting for something better.
3. Real romance is committing.

Towards the end of the book, JP gives us a few concrete steps to dating better, and they are shockingly easy. I won’t spoil them (because I think the book deserves your $$$), but trust me when I say—it is ACTUALLY easier than you think.

I’m really excited that JP wrote this book. It contains straightforward, simple, sometimes brutal but GOOD advice for those of us swimming around in a dating culture that feels more messy and more toxic than we want it to be. I was encouraged and empowered in my own dating life reading this book and I think lots of you would be too!

(Side Note: I followed JP’s advice to the letter and my current relationship is peaceful and good in way I never thought possible. I truly believe it can be possible for you too.)

Outdated is filled with biblical wisdom about a topic that has left most of us scratching our head—dating. Now in a great marriage, JP doesn’t come across as holier than thou. In fact he is refreshingly authentic and open about his past mistakes, displaying both the redemption that God has provided in his life and sincere hopes that you can learn from his mistakes. JP wants you to have a strong, lasting, God-honoring marriage, and to do so you have to know what you’re looking for. Outdated is a great resource for anyone that is single. I found it to be uplifting, comforting, convicting and challenging in the best ways. Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.