cover image Don'tdatehimgirl.com Presents So the Bastard Broke Your Heart, Now What?

Don'tdatehimgirl.com Presents So the Bastard Broke Your Heart, Now What?

Tasha Cunningham. Polka Dot Press, $13.95 (241pp) ISBN 978-1-60550-682-1

In this guide to bouncing back from a big breakup, Cunningham, founder of DontDateHimGirl.com, brings her no-nonsense attitude to a collection of well-worn, common-sense advice, with occasional forays into fresh territory. Focusing on empowerment, Cunningham begins with ""Damage Control,"" emphasizing the importance of self-love and ways to address esteem issues; like pop singer Beyonce's ""Sasha Fierce,"" Cunningham encourages women to create a ""badass alter ego"" to bring on dates and build self-confidence. Next, Cunningham explains her 10 steps, which include throwing a lavish ""breakup bash"" as a celebration of your future and a ritual for moving forward. Other discussions cover damaged guys, how to rediscover your sexy side, and the pros and cons of online dating, many of which are organized in numbered or bullet-pointed lists for quick reference. A final section on patience and how to ""love being single"" feels like an apologetic afterthought, and interludes from the ""Average Guy"" can be cringe-worthy, but women who tend toward optimism, and believe their soul mate is out there, should get inspiration and guidance from this been-there dated-that resource.