Ex-Girlfriends United

This is the second novel written by Matt Dunn about Edward Middleton and his best friend Dan.

If you have not read the first novel in the series, look away, look away.

Edward has moved on from his ex girlfriend Jane and is still doing his best to keep up with the positive changes he made in his life while attempting to get her back, see "The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook".

With Edward happily dating and feeling better about himself than he has in years, his best friend Dan is going through a dating downward spiral. No matter what Dan does he seems to be turning women off left and right. Dan eventually finds out that all of his exes have rated him on a website called, "SlateYourDate.com". Too bad for Dan that all of his exes have nothing but show more negative things to say about him.

Though many women (and men) out there will loathe Dan I have to say that once you get into his reasoning for why he was dumping women left and right you will find the humor in the situation. Dan is not a very bright character, but definitely has some insights into women that Edward needs to listen to since Edwards keeps treating women like they are this rare species that he has no understanding of at all.

The main reason why I gave this novel only three stars (I dithered between three and three and a half) is that I think Mr. Dunn would have had a stronger novel, with even more hilarity if this story was told from Dan's point of view. Reading the book summary for "Ex-Girlfriends United" you would think this novel was told from Dan's point of view.

Instead the novel is told from Edward's point of view and you just deal with his problems through the whole novel (problems of his own doing by the way) and you have him insecure and questioning everything that his new girlfriend says and does.Frankly if I were Dan I would have told Edward to go see a shrink since his constant indecision about everything started to drive me mad by the end of this novel.

Readers do finally get to "meet" Edward's ex, Jane. She is definitely a flesh and blood character in this novel and I could understand her anger and jealousy on how Edward moved on and got his life together after she dumped him. Besides Edward "helping" Dan here and there with how to get his exes off of Dan's backs we as readers do not get to witness any of the things that Dan does, we merely hear about them after the fact when Dan is re-telling stories to Edward. show less

Dan is a low rung TV star that has just landed his perfect role in a soap opera. He finds woman are not throwing themselves at him as they should be with his new found glory. His friend Ed finds him on a dating website that lets you rate your date and all of his previous dates have given him a ONE out of ten.. Dan enlists Ed to help him clean up his online persona and through a series of missteps that aren't quite honest, he learns that he must be truthful with himself to right everything. The story is told from the point of view of Ed which leads to very original observations and a lot of very funny one liners. Ed's girlfriend, Sam, provides a great counterpoint to the whole situation especially when his ex arrives on the scene. There show more are some really sweet moments when Dan realizes that Polly is the "girl who got away" and he works on his issues to win her back.

This is chick lit from the mind of a man and really hits the mark. I haven't read The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook, but I guess I will have to now since this really exceeded my expectations. It is nice to have a romance like this told from a male viewpoint. It is a wonderful story about second chances. If you have read and adored Nick Hornby like I have, you are going to love Matt Dunn. show less

I read and reviewed Matt Dunn's book The Ex- Boyfriend's Handbook last year and quite enjoyed it. Dunn writes - well - chick lit or rather lad lit if you will. It's the same light fun hearted read, but from a male perspective.

Dunn reprises the two lead characters - Edward, who turned his life around after being dumped by his girlfriend. And Dan, Edward's best friend - a womanizer whose best friend is his mirror.

The tables are turned in Ex-Girlfriends United. Dan's womanizing has caught up to him. His past girlfriends are rating him at an online review site Slate Your Date. And it's not good... Dan and Edward set out to to clean up Dan's reputation - and maybe win back the one girl he did love. But Edward has his own issues when his ex - show more Jane - decides she wants Edward back.

What makes Dunn's books for is that other side of the coin view. The 'what does it mean if she does this?' or 'Should I call and when?' and more. Dan, of course, has very set 'rules' of engagement. Edward is more naive and sweeter. Edward is the boyfriend you'd want to have. Dan, well.... Dan's dialogue sometimes veers past funny and crude into just plain crass. I think this is my only complaint about the book.The repartee between the two characters is quick and witty. But I do wonder how and why the two of them are friends, being such polar opposites.

Other than that (and really it wasn't that bad) Ex-Girlfriends United is perfect for the beach bag. It won't tax your brain, but will provide an entertaining read with some laughs along the way.

Cover blurb from Sophie Kinsella - " A hilarious insight into the male mind" show less

This is light reading, so don't expect any secrets of the universe to be unleashed, but it is entertaining and witty in parts. The central theme is tried and maybe trusted too much: what it is that women want and how well equipped men are to provide it. One of the main problems with this is that the two central male characters are both a bit dim in their own ways, so as the advice flows from one to the other and back again, the characterisation becomes unstable. It is difficult to tell which of the two men is intended to have a better grip on psychology, especially given that the way they behave in life and in relationships is extremely different. It's the notorious womaniser who gives most advice on how to form a lasting relationship, show more for example. In addition, the female characters are reduced somewhat to caricature in such a context, and that is one of the contributory factors to the repetition of home truths and re-establishment of stereotypes that characterise the book. show less

Absolutely loved it. I was really happy to see the not-womanizing egomaniac side of Dan. I wasn't sure he had one. And Ed and Sam were great.