Review: Zen and Sex (A Romantic Comedy) by Dermot Davis

I love romantic comedies! So when I saw Zen and Sex (A Romantic Comedy) by Dermot Davis available for review, I grabbed it up. The cover was cute, the blurb I scanned looked good and it was the right length for a good in-between book. Lo and behold, it was another book from a guy’s point of view (I assumed that, since Dermot sounded like a guy’s name). I was hoping it would be another Tangled (see my review) but sadly, it wasn’t.

I should have guessed from the skinny guy on the cover…but I didn’t. The book is about a 24 year old guy, Martin. He is a photographer, and is working on a project (for himself) of capturing photos where you can see people in love, so he’s a bit of a sappy romantic. He just got an invitation to his ex’s wedding, 3 weeks away. Does he not go to the wedding and look hurt? Does he go alone and look like a sad loser (he basically is), or does he find some hot blonde bombshell to take with him? Well duh….

“A few single women pass me by and I give them each a hopeful smile but instead of a tentative smile of acknowledgement, they mostly act as if they are mentally wondering whether their mace spray is in their purse or they left it back in their car.”

Martin didn’t have too many prospects. So he joined an online dating site and went on a few disastrous dates, bringing them each to the same restaurant. There he saw a woman a few times eating alone. She was older than him, but very beautiful, and they hit it off after his third date left in a huff.

“As we exchange a long look and smile at each other, it really does feel like I’ve known this beautiful, sensual, and fun, fun woman since forever. Please god, don’t let me fuck this up.”

Martin reminds me of Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, or Danny Tanner from Full House. Kind of a wimpy, whiny, sad sack. His first priority is not sex…at all. He doesn’t think with his dick (what fun is that?) and he’s into romances. So when he meets Frances, she older, experienced, and the one taking the lead in the relationship.

I was halfway through when they finally do the deed. But they didn’t! It was a complete fade to black! I really wanted to see the guy fumbling a bit. At this point, I almost put the book down for a rare DNF. But I figured I was already halfway through the 155 page book, I might as well finish.

“Frances’ fingers finally get introduced to my obvious parts and we finally do get horizontal and the arrow does get to fire, twice.”

There were a few cute lines. I smiled and even snickered once in a while. It was written pretty well. I think a nerdy guy would like to read this. But it wasn’t for me at all. I guess “Alpha Males in Sexy Tales” really describes my taste best, this guy was far from alpha, and the book was far from sexy. I didn’t connect to the characters at all.

Likes: 

• A few funny parts.
• I loved the playfulness when the couple first meets.
• Seemed more realistic than most books I read. There are more guys like this than tattooed Doms or Rock Stars! But I don’t want to read about them.

Dislikes:

• It’s called Zen and Sex. I think I missed the actual sex.
• Martin was too much of a pussy for me.
• Frances was a bit whacked. She didn’t know what she wanted, and Martin would just go with whatever because he wanted someone.

Rating: 2.25 stars Heat 1

I didn’t really dislike Zen and Sex at all. It was OK. If you’re looking for a more realistic book from an average guy’s perspective, you may enjoy this. I think a guy would like it more than a girl in general. The second half was sweet and I liked it, but honestly, if I had to go back in time, I would not have read it, it just wasn’t worth my time when there are so many books I’m dying to read.

Purchase Zen and Sex by Dermot Davis

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