Sharyn Atkinson doesn't claim to have all the answers, but after twelve years of being single in Melbourne, she does have some hilarious-and cringe-worthy-stories to tell. In this light-hearted, playful, and honest account of her romantic experiences, she tells these stories of hope, loss, deception, discovery, and love in all its many forms-from the sexual to the metaphysical. Though she would love to get married and start a family, Sharyn isn't settling for anyone-even if that means navigating the murky waters of dating in her thirties when everyone else has paired off and can't understand why she chooses to stay single, year after year. As Sharyn explains, "I'm not waiting for someone to come along so that I can start a new life or anything. I already have a great life. I just want someone that I can share it with. And that someone has to be the right person for me, rather than close enough to it." Whether you're single, happily married, or somewhere in between in the dating game, Sharyn's honest, relatable, and disarming accounts of trying to find "the one" in a vast sea of "not quite" will have you nodding in understanding and considering the various people you've decided to make time for-or catch and release. Take comfort in knowing that someone else is going through it too-and has the resilience to roll the dating-dice again, knowing that Mr. Right might be just around the corner.
About the Author: Sharyn Atkinson was single for twelve years when she published The G.F. List - and she knows first hand that no matter how much you enjoy and celebrate your life as single person, being asked why you are single cannot only be intrusive, it can leave you feeling pretty lonely as you mentally cycle through the failed relationships you've had. Particularly at times such as Valentine's Day. As Sharyn explains, "Even though I loved my single life, I still cringed every time I was quizzed about why there was no man to go with it. What did these people want to hear? That I had my heart broken? That I had been out with a string of wankers over the past year? That I was in a bad relationship and need to be solo for a while? It was annoying. Particularly when people attempted to comfort me and tell me not to worry- that I would meet someone soon. I was never worried, so why were they?" Having an adaptable and optimistic outlook, she never shied away from meeting eligible bachelors in her hometown Melbourne, Australia. She was just not interested in most of them, and the ones she was interested in still had their good and bad moments. But as Sharyn says, "I was always of the opinion that it would never kill me to go out with someone. If I had a bad night out with him, then hopefully I had a few funny stories to share afterwards. If I have a great night, hopefully I would be daydreaming and unable to think of anything but him for the next few days. Anything could happen, you just have to be open to experience it, and take it as it comes." Recognizing that people tend to find relationships difficult in one way or another, Sharyn wants to ensure no one ever gives up hope or settles for a semi-satisfying man. Sharing her sense of resiliency, Sharyn inspires readers to find their perfect match, on their terms, rather than taking a self-help, guided approach. Now she is about to get married and start a family, with the man who is perfect for her. In The G.F. List, she tells the stories of her dating experiences-the good, the bad, and the ugly.