Review: The Anatomy of a Single Girl

Author: Daria Snadowsky
Date of Publication: January 8, 2013
Pages: 227
Source: Received from the Author for review

With Judy Blume-like honesty and insight, this sequel to Anatomy of a Boyfriend is about life after first love--romance, sex, friendship, family, and the ups and downs of life as a single girl.

After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

In Daria Snadowsky’s daring follow-up to Anatomy of a Boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Dominique explores the relationship between love and lust, and the friendships that see us through.

AMAZON / GOODREADS

Review: 

The Anatomy of a Single Girl is the story of  Dominique. She is fresh off her first year of pre-med, first boyfriend and first heartbreak. Now on vacation, all she wants is some down time with her best friend Amy and to shadow a doctor for her internship at the hospital. However, things don't always turn out the way one plans and Dom's summer of quiet turns quickly into one of firsts and lasts, highs and lows all leading to one important revelation.

If I was asked to describe The Anatomy of a Single Girl in one word I would say honest. Anyone who has read it will agree with me. Snadowsky did not refrain from being frank with her readers. Her frankness really set the tone for her writing and helped make the read more realistic. Almost every aspect of the book from the setting to the dialogue and more helped build the realism until I felt like I was reading someone's memoir or watching someone's life unfold in front of me.

Snadowsky's writing was very nice and clear. It sounded like an 18 year old girl speaking and not an adult. The dialogue was fun and quirky with the exception of some parts that I had to note. One in particular that I noticed was between the protagonist and a male friend. They decide on doing something together and so they exclaim "Yeah, let's do it!" Immediately after, they burst into giggles. Ugh no! Thankfully that is the only comment of its variety that I found in the novel so things turned up from that point!

I found Dom relatable. She was just a girl trying to find her place in the world; make friends and find love. She was really smart, as a pre-med should be, and I enjoyed her little medical or just random nerdy facts here and there. It made the read more unique in my opinion.

As for the other characters, I didn't learn much about them, which is one of the cons of the story. I found Dom's parents were always absent and didn't really get to have a dominant role in the story. Same goes for her friends, or lack there of.  Amy, who is basically her only friend, was not my type of person. I found her to be quite mean. The things she said were always put downs in disguise and then she would up and fly away for the next few chapters then pop back in.

Overall, despite some hitches here and there, I really enjoyed the book. It started out slow but picked up quickly and I was wondering what would happen next. I found some great lessons being taught as well which is always nice. It's just a very nice, fun story of a girl and a very wild summer. I recommend it to any one who wished to delve into a funny and drama packed read. Keep in mind though that this is new adult therefore sex and mild language is present.

-MARI