Title: 60 Dates in Six Months: With a Broken Neck
Author: Maureen Anne Meehan
Publisher: Writers Branding, LLC
ISBN: 978-1639459230
Pages: 76
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Michaela Gordoni
Hollywood Book Reviews
In author Maureen Anne Meehan’s anthological memoir of her late-age dating life, 60 Dates in Six Months: With a Broken Neck, she recounts dates she had with men in California and across the country. She starts getting herself back in the game, so to speak, nine years after her husband passed away from cancer. Her late spouse had wanted her to find love again, and she gave it her best effort.
Meehan’s dates are all very different from one another. She dated some of the men for short periods of time; others didn’t last more than half a date. For example, she writes of one overweight man who feigned being a runner. At dinner, he asked where her “LBD” (little black dress) was, even though it was freezing outside. At the soonest opportunity, Maureen pays and shoots for the exit. On the other hand, another man had some good qualities, so they went out for a little while. But at the end of the day, he just didn’t make enough time for her. Sometimes the men ghost her or find her too intimidating. One story does feature how she broke her neck and, amazingly, was able to call the police and let them into her house despite that, and how she continued to date afterwards.
Some of the stories are brief and vague, while other stories are embellished with more details. One story about a judge is not more than four lines long and is very cryptic. Others are not so ambiguous. Per the back cover, Meehan intends for the true stories to have notes of satire and comedy. However, the humor is not so clear-cut at times amid the diverse stories. All of these dates explain only her side of the story, and Meehan is not one to mince words. She often directly mentions that the men are not fit enough, attractive enough, successful enough, active enough, or attentive enough to maintain her interest.
All in all, Maureen’s recount of dating at the age of 58 is short and to the point, with occasional notes of humor thrown in. Anyone curious about mid-life dating ups-and-downs would find this book interesting and very enjoyable. Additionally, If you are looking for a light-hearted and uplifting book, 60 Dates in Six Months is a wonderful choice to add to your collection. It reminds us that it’s never too late to find love and laughter, and that the journey of life is enriched by the stories we share along the way.
60 Dates in Six Months: With a Broken Neck is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of love, humor, and human strength.