Started out interesting but became hard to read after it swerved from the original premise of the dating-and-trying-to-be-ready-for-love memoir to lots about spiritual exploration that reminded me of listening to hazy drunken movie reviews. Finished reading but wished I hadn't - it's very tedious after the first third. ( )

I have to agree with the majority of the negative comments. The premise sounded cute and it was free but the actual book was really boring, more like reading sowimeone's therapy sessions. Skip it unless there is no paint to watch peel. ( )

Even though this book isn't that long page-wise it seemed to drag on and on. If I would have known that all 51 dates that Kristen goes on are written out in detail I probably wouldn't have read this book. I found the parts about her childhood interesting, but I just couldn't get interested in her 51 dates. I'm sure writing this book was therapeutic for her, but it just wasn't a book for me. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone I know. I do applaud Kristen McGuiness on her journey to get sober and stay sober though. ( )

51/50 is an excellent case study in what happens when young women with “daddy issues” try to find love, even when she knows she has emotional baggage. Kristen is the daughter of a drug-running father who lived the high life (in every way) before landing in jail for a very long time. I’d expect Kristen to have more swagger about her, but she was still pretty young when dad went to prison. But Kristen still loves him and still waits for him to Show Up and Be Dad, her most hoped-for 50th date. She has a tough journey ahead of her, but she has courage on her side.

For those who love LA or miss it, this book will be great as she oohs and ahhs over the Griffith Park Observatory, goes horseback riding through the hills, hits parties and visits friends in favorite neighborhoods (Silver Lake in particular). There are several “LA Types” here: the shaman, the rich handsome A-hole from Beverly Hills, and plenty of “Prius-driving liberals” with Obama bumper stickers. But most people are average 30-somethings, some in recovery, some not, and of course those who probably never will find recovery, like her dad. I’m sure lots of female readers will identify with her story. At the end of several early chapters it sounded like she should be out on a ledge somewhere, soliloquoy-ing with great passion the profound lessons learned on her date. And it did seem profound—at first. When I saw a pattern forming it seemed forced, and finally I just thought it was funny. Lots of these dudes are duds and there’s no reason to imbue meaning where none exists. We get it.

Kristen is a lovely girl—long blonde hair, she looks like Laura Dern but softer with fewer right angles. I hope she finds what she’s looking for. I suggest CoDA or ACoA meetings to help her on her journey. AA goes only so far.