Single Mom Seeking: Playdates, Blind Dates, and Other Dispatches from the Dating World

The racy adventures chronicled in Sarah's new and collected essays (some from her column of the same name on literarymama.com) initially make for breezy reading, a west coast Sex in the City roundup of romantic escapades and frustrated desires for the Pampers (as opposed to the pampered) set. Unfortunately, Sarah's tales lack both insight and momentum. Throughout the five years covered here, Sarah never comes up with a more compelling reason for pursuing the ""thorny,"" ""chaotic"" life of a single-mom ""serial dater"" than her up-front admission, ""I missed having a man."" Two hundred pages in, talking plans with her next disastrous date despite ""red flag"" warnings, ""in big, bold letters, 'I'M UNAVAILABLE,' "" Sarah ponders the obvious: ""So, why don't I call it off right now?"" She doesn't seem to know (lamely offering, ""it' s my pattern""), and neither will readers-making it difficult to muster enthusiasm for yet another mismatch. Readers will also wish for more of Sarah's daughter, Mae, often mentioned but rarely seen; calling ""Something's coming down the pike!"" on her way to the potty, she's a natural-born scene-stealer. Sarah's ability to communicate her longing and lust is the best reason to read this book; unfortunately, it's also the reason why some readers will lose interest long before the ""Where are they now?"" postscript.