Meet Daisy Dooley. Her life’s no fairy tale but she’s determined to have her happy ending. With girlfriends Lucy (who has the perfect life – but is she happy?) and Jess (perfectly happy in her singledom) cheering her on (and refilling her wine glass), Daisy steps bravely out onto the dating scene once again. Beset by new flames, old beaux, and too many dachshunds to count, it’s all Daisy can do to keep her head on straight, her feet moving forward, and her heart open to whatever fate has in store...
In the tradition of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones's Diary, Anna Pasternak's popular column, "Daisy Dooley Does Divorce", has evolved into this witty novel full of hope, humor, wine...and dachshunds.
ANNA PASTERNAK is the author of the popular column, "Daisy Dooley Does Divorce", which has been running in London’s The Daily Mail since November of 2004. She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller "Princess in Love" about Diana's love affair with Major James Hewitt. The grandniece of Russian novelist Boris Pasternak of Dr. Zhivago fame, she lives outside of London with her daughter Daisy and her dog Wilfred.
All illustrations © Emma Brownjohn www.emmabrownjohn.com
dating Dharma
As we get older we get the face and the body we deserve. We also get the dates we deserve. Don’t want to kiss another frog? Then get your inner bitch under control.
dick delivery boy
One who sexually services you, whether a one-off or a regular stud muffin, at your place. Best enjoyed with postcoital take-out pizza.
emotional contagion
The ability to pick up on your partner’s feelings without speaking.
erotic intelligence
Skilled flirting. A Double First in seduction.
hook ups
Sex on an ad hoc basis with a male friend. Emotionally safe as there is no dating agenda.
manscaping
When a man pays extra attention to pruning his pubic topiary and sculpting his chest hair.
married singles
Husbands who have convenient amnesia about their wives and kids when poised to score. Permanent bachelors during the week, they dip into daddydom on weekends.
McSex
A fast-food coupling- i.e., a quick shag- that leaves you feeling empty and slightly nauseous. No emotional fulfillment on the side or to go.
mercy jump
When your best male friend sleeps with you out of pity. Can it really have been that long?
post-divorce date (PDD)
That all-important terrifying first date when you have to get back into the dating saddle after having been bucked to the ground and had all your confidence shattered by divorce.
premature we-jaculation
A dating dysfunction where you start referring to “we” before he has acknowledged that you are a couple.
radical acceptance
The maturity to realize that life sucks, and your ability to shoulder existential disappointment. So he was a total shit? Deal with it, drop him, and move on.
Rasa
Your sweet spiritual nectar. The essence of who you were before he broke your heart and poisoned your future.
sattvic strength
That strong, silent, inner peace that is the answer to all your problems and endless, destructive mind talk. One part discipline, three parts trust. What you are speaks volumes more than what you say.
sexual sorbet
The first person you sleep with after a break-up. A sexual palate cleanser to refresh the taste of a bad, broken relationship.
sperminator
A man who serves only one purpose: to fill your tank with his fertile seed.
spirit-lit
A form of spiritually informing literature and therapy-lite to help you access yourself and survive the crippling disappointment of divorce. See all of the above.