Book Review: He Seemed Normal

Reviewed by Elizabeth Reiser

A charming look at the misadventures in online dating from the viewpoint of an eternal optimist

Mary Gulla has experienced her fair share of bad dates while on her quest for her Manicorn, a clever portmanteau representing that elusive specimen of man comprised of all the characteristics needed to make her perfect match. She shares the ups and downs of her quest in her fun and upbeat memoir, He Seemed Normal….

In this quirky debut, Mary lists all her online dating mishaps leading to her eventual discovery of her Manicorn. The comical ups and downs of her dating life include the commitment-phobic Mister Loner, the less-than-stellar conversationalist Mister Confused Turtleneck, and the robotic Mister Chuckles the Nurse. These bad dates are all part of her quest to meet her best match, even if that means dealing with all the hot messes in between.   

Mary is a likable narrator, and a warmth jumps from the voice of her writing. Sweet—albeit a bit scattered—she is easy to root for in her quest for love. It is impressive she can remain upbeat while her dating life continues to beat her down with one disastrous date after another. But lucky for us (and her), she is a hopeless romantic unwilling to quit. 

A refreshingly unique aspect of Mary’s story is that she is not a conventional romantic lead. She is chaos personified: an admitted caffeine addict, a pharmacist covered in tattoos with no desire to marry or have children. Mary simply wants to find her perfect match and best friend to enjoy life’s adventures with. All these elements put a modern twist on the story many will find relatable; she is not a damsel in distress or a self-help guru, but an unusually honest serial dater on a mission. 

The naming of her dates is a cute conceit, though keeping track of all the different monikers can be a challenge. Characters like Mister Ghost and Mister Constantly Smoking Pastry Chef start to blend along the way. This may be due to Mary’s penchant for going off on tangents, but she always remains entertaining throughout. The names of her dates offer laughs and fit the tone.

Another nice touch is Mary’s references to pop culture and music. It is clear music plays a central role in her life, and we get to play a part in that too. Including a song list in the back is a great choice and captures the playful nature of the memoir.

He Seemed Normal… is a lighthearted look at love and partnership in the modern world and will be enjoyed by fans looking for early 2000s Sex and the City nostalgia. Her hopeful message of the existence of Manicorns will ease the pain of heartbreak and bad dates experienced throughout. What a fun debut from a charming writer!

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