(Review) I Suck At Girls

Title: I Suck At Girls
Author: Justin Halpern
Pub Date: May 2012
Publisher: It Books (division of Harper Collins USA)
Pages: 192

Source: I received a copy of this when I went to Book Expo America 2012.

About the book:
“Human beings fear the unknown. So, whatever”s freaking you out, grab it by the balls and say hello. Then it ain”t the unknown anymore and it ain”t scary. Or I guess it could be a shitload scarier.”

Fans of the #1 bestseller Sh*t My Dad Says will recognize the always-patient voice of Justin Halpern”s dad as it crackles through the pages of this hysterical new book. The story begins when Justin takes his dad out to lunch to announce that he”s decided to propose to his girlfriend.

“You”ve been dating her for four years,” his dad replies. “It ain”t like you found a parallel fucking universe.”

But eventually he gives Justin some advice: that he should take a day off and think back over everything he”s learned in life about women, relationships, and himself before making his decision. And that”s just what Justin does-revisiting everything from his disastrous childhood crushes to the night he finally lost his virginity while working as a dishwasher at Hooters.

I Suck at Girls is full of his dad”s patented brand of wisdom. But it”s also full of new characters just as funny as his dad-from his brother, who provides insights into wedding night rituals (“You stand in one corner of the room, and she stands in the other. You each take off one piece of clothing at a time”) to his first boss, who warns Justin to man up: “That”s what a man does. He takes his shots and then he scrubs the shit out of some dishes.” The result is a pilgrim”s progress through the landscape of sex and love-by one of the funniest writers at work today.

When I heard that Justin Halpern was going to be at BEA promoting this book I Suck At Girls I knew this was one author signing I wanted to make it a point to get too. I read and laughed at his first book Sh*t My Dad Says.  I was lucky enough to get to meet Justin and talk with him for a few minutes to get my book signed.

This was a super quick book to read and I read it in one sitting within a few hours.

I Suck At Girls is Justin’s second book. The book opens up with Justin and his dad having lunch. He tells his dad that he is planning on proposing to his life time girlfriend, Amanda. (Who is the focus of the book and dedicated to) Justin is hoping I think for some big words of wisdom from his dad but true to his dad’s past we simply get

Good for you. I think I ‘m going to get the romaine and watercress salad. I know I always get it, but it’s tasty, and what the hell, right?

I loved how that announcement went sort of over his dad’s head and he was so blases about it.  Thankfully his dad does come through and offers his story about when he proposed to Justin’s mother. Which I have to say is I would love to meet his dad. I am sure it must be so much fun to hang out with him.

So through the course of the book Justin takes us on a journey into his past with his encounters with women he has had over the course of his life. He is very candiate and talks about the girl he basically terrorized in grade two. I felt so bad for that little girl.

One thing I was surprised to find out was that Justin had his fair share of problems with the girls and wasn’t the ladies man you might think he was. He didn’t get his first kiss until they were on the way home from homecoming.

Even though he encountered problems in the end he did find his one true love. I think all the problems you have growing up makes you a better and stronger person.