The Second You’re Single by Cara Tanamachi [Buy Bookshop Amazon] is a book I spotted on Netgally’s “Read Now” list and selected on a whim. I didn’t look at the description or anything beyond the cover. Just jumped right on in, but maybe I should have looked just a smidge.

The Second You’re Single follows Cara on an adventurous challenge: she’s decided to give up dating for the entire month of February and write about it online. She’s a freelance writer who’s been struggling since a failed marraige and string of crappy boyfriends. But of course, once her boss agrees to it, she goes to the grocery store and a hot baker flirts with her while giving her a bunch of free samples. Her ex is of course there as well, so the baker fakes that they are together to help her out. But his ex makes an entrance and Sora peaces out. Sora knows she can’t pursue anything with the hot baker, but she wants to, and things get messy with her blossoming internet fame.

I’m really torn on this one. Was it a quick read that I enjoyed overall? Yes. The writing structure was solid and it had such potential to be great. However, I, like many other early reviewers, have issues.

My issues really boil down to how the author presents Sora and other women. Sora is midsized and there’s no way you can miss it. She talks about her body constantly. Not only her own, but other women’s bodies, including her mother, her sister, and her ex’s new chick. It got really old, really fast. I was hoping to have positive midsize representation, but geez, it was annoying. Sora talks about bacon more than I think any human does, period. I love bacon, but I don’t talk about it constantly. It just felt very gimmicky to have a midsized person be obsessed with food and it could’ve been handled better.

As to the treatment of women in this book, not a one is very likeable. I hate referring to women as likeable, but it’s important to have at least some redeeming qualities. The sister is the most obnoxious bridezilla I’ve seen depicted in a long time. She’s annoying and selfish, and don’t get me started about the fit she throws over Sora not taking a date to the wedding. Just, ugh. The relationship between Sora and her mom pretty much revolves around appearance. The baker’s ex is… no words. It’s just a mess.

Hence, I’m torn. I started two books at the same time and this is the one I gravitated to more, but it also annoyed me a bit. So, check it out and tell me if I’m just being ridiculous or if there are some real issues here.

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