In the beginning, USA Weekend relationship columnist Dennie Hughes says, there are ten dating types that ensure disaster before ever getting out of the gate. The “time bomb” is a slave to her biological clock. The “shadow” subverts her personality to be loved. The “drama queen” picks only bad boys who treat her badly. The “diva” sets her standards in the stratosphere so that no one can possibly meet them. The “first sighter” insists that unless lightning ricochets between them instantly, she can’t be bothered. The “rescuer” has a habit of taking in injured strays, including, unfortunately, the two-legged kind. The “other half” is so uncomfortable in her own skin she thinks she has to have someone in order to be someone. The “people pleaser” personally has no requirements but goes by everyone else’s standards. The “money honey” is, um - “I ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold digger…” The “green monster” keeps such a stranglehold on her man that he contemplates the “coyote ugly” solution.

After identifying the pitfalls, Hughes dissects the causes - rebounds versus reruns, too picky versus not picky enough. Then she gives directions on separating good from bad baggage and figuring out which dates are worth working on and which are worthless.

Dateworthy is an invaluable dating assistant for all women. It is eminently readable and downright funny, which makes the good, if hard-to-follow (like putting off sex) advice more palatable than the obligatory platitudes of most dating tomes. Attention single women: Buy the book. You will love it.