Press & Praise
For Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates
“A hilarious, heartening reflection on bad dates and worse dates and get-me-outta-here dates that's ultimately upbeat and empowering! This comedic, engaging picture book parody will get readers thinking and chatting about what they really want from companionship, romance and most of all themselves.”
— New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith
“In this funny, clever, rueful, and ultimately uplifting picture book parody, debut author Rebekah Manley taps into universal anxieties about loneliness and singledom while addressing the special agony of dating apps for today’s single woman. With its hashtag humor, Twitterific wit, and Insta-ready illustrations, Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Good, Truly Bad Dates is like that one friend who cracks you up, but is always there with a warm hug when you’re feeling blue. What a joyful gift of a book—I wish I’d had it when I was online dating!”
— Amy Gentry, bestselling author of Good as Gone and Last Woman Standing
“Readers will laugh, sigh, cringe, and cheer as Alexandra navigates #30datesin30days in this fresh and fabulous spoof, and, at last, finds a perfect match.”
— Anne Bustard, author of Blue Skies (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
“Rebekah Manley's debut book Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Good, Truly Bad Dates is a book for our times, including hilarious hashtags readers will be able to adopt for every one of their awful, awkward, no fun truly bad dates. The illustrations by Catarina Oliveira wonderfully show Alex's despair over her love — or lack of love life. This book also cements the fact that adults need more hilarious picture books in their life. Additionally, Rebekah Manley has long been a huge advocate of literacy and books, especially Texas books, and now she's a fantastic author too. I can't wait to see more of her books in the future.”
— Samantha M. Clark, Austin SCBWI Regional Advisor and author of middle-grade novel The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast
“What we all need right now is a connection and a good laugh. With humor and heart, Rebekah Manley's Alexandra and the No Good, Very Bad Dates: A Picture Book Parody for Adults has both. Author Rebekah Manley's debut is almost too good to be true. ”
— Bethany Hegedus, author of Hard Work But It's Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter and Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou
