The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, a Labor of Love

Graeme Simsion's delightful debut novel is about the pursuit of love against the odds and the power of friendship & human connection.  Don Tillman is a brilliant geneticist seriously lacking in social graces.  Don accepts his Asperger's diagnosis not as a fault but as "a potentially major advantage."  Despite Don's weak interpersonal skills, his desire to find a life partner, is strong; hence the wife project.  Don's best, and only friends, Gene a fellow Prof. & womanizer & his wife, Claudia, a psychologist and major source of friendly advice, aid Don in his quest to find his ideal mate.  Enter Rosie, a no nonsense, PhD candidate who is totally unacceptable according to Don's predetermined criteria.  However, Don unexpectedly discovers "my assessment of what would make me happy was totally incorrect." Anyone who enjoyed "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night" will thoroughly enjoy "The Rosie Project," about an adult on the Autism scale striving to conform to social norms to solve the mysteries of romance.  Rosie turns to Don for his expertise in genetics to help her determine her birth father.  Their collaboration leads to powerful feelings for each other that often defy logic.  As the stalwart & supportive Claudia says "when you really love someone, you have to be prepared to accept them as they are."  Be prepared to be thoroughly charmed by this bewitching tale of friendship & love.