The Rosie Effect

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion, 344 pages

In this sequel to The Rosie Project, geneticist Don Tillman and his (spoiler alert if you haven't read the first book!) wife, Rosie, are in New York, working and studying at Columbia University. Rosie is midway through her psychology and internal medicine double-PhD studies when she announces that she's pregnant. Logical and clinical as always, Don immediately begins adjusting schedules, making spreadsheets, and preparing nutritious meals for Rosie to prepare for the baby's arrival. As you could probably guess, this straightforward and emotionless approach rankles Rosie, and adds to the stress that Don is attempting to relieve.

I really liked The Rosie Project, and while some of the things I enjoyed there are in The Rosie Effect, I can't say that I enjoyed it nearly as much as the first book. Part of what made the first book sparkle so much is the interplay between Don and Rosie; in this one, while Rosie and her condition are central to the book, Rosie herself is largely absent. Instead, we end up relying on a cast of supporting characters that, while occasionally amusing or engaging (particularly rock star George), pale in comparison to the Rosie that we fell in love with in The Rosie Project. Too much Don and not enough Rosie equals one frustrated reader. Read it if you want, but it's probably just as worthwhile to reread the first book.