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88 Guys for Coffee
"88 Guys for Coffee" is humorous fiction, contemporary women's lit, chick lit, and/or fictional memoir, aimed at women between 30 and 60. Fulls of laughs, it is a novel very loosely based on the 5-year online-dating saga the author "endured" before meeting her husband Mark on Match.com. The dating stories are true, the protagonist is fictional.
BACK COVER TEXT:
Abandoned and feeling lost, her self-worth in tatters, Laura decides to try online dating sites. What an education. And what a long, five years she has ahead.
Hilarious and heartbreaking, soul-searching and spiritual, "88 Guys for Coffee" shares Laura's roller coaster of experiences as she searches for her soul mate, for her true partner in life.
No matter how crazy it gets, no matter how disillusioned she becomes, she can't give up. She won't give up.
Laura learns all there is to know about online dating, but she learns the most about herself.
BACK COVER TEXT:
Abandoned and feeling lost, her self-worth in tatters, Laura decides to try online dating sites. What an education. And what a long, five years she has ahead.
Hilarious and heartbreaking, soul-searching and spiritual, "88 Guys for Coffee" shares Laura's roller coaster of experiences as she searches for her soul mate, for her true partner in life.
No matter how crazy it gets, no matter how disillusioned she becomes, she can't give up. She won't give up.
Laura learns all there is to know about online dating, but she learns the most about herself.
202 pages, Paperback
Published May 25, 2017
7 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Diane Solomon
7 books49 followersI am an author, writer, homeopath, nutritionist, gardener and nature lover. I began my career with my own variety series on BBC as a singer. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome put an end to that world-traveling life as an entertainer, and I studied nutrition and homeopathy.
I recently changed my focus to be able to write full-time, and have published six books.
My new women's fiction novel, "Eva" was launched in the summer of 2023 and won the Reviewer's Award from Feathered Quill Book Awards for 2024! I call it a love story with a supernatural twist. Here is a little more about it.:
Eva possesses a unique and powerful gift. But is it a curse?
She plays down her beauty, to avoid attention. But it doesn’t work. She has a magnetic quality, a calm, a power of which she is unaware. She longs to be left alone to look after her first love, animals.
But another love is on the horizon, along with life-changing discoveries. When the media jackals gather, Eva is forced into the limelight she’s avoided all her life.
And someone wants her dead.
* * * * * * * *
Best Selling Author Review:
“I was captivated by Eva’s story and riveted to the end. Diane is a beautiful writer who has captured the essence of Eva’s unearthing of her true self. A story that is timeless.
Bravo!” Laurie Seymour, M.A., twice a #1 international best-selling author, host of Wisdom Talk Radio, Executive Coach,
international speaker and Founder/CEO of The Baca Institute.
https://www.eloquentrascals.com/eva-a...
I recently changed my focus to be able to write full-time, and have published six books.
My new women's fiction novel, "Eva" was launched in the summer of 2023 and won the Reviewer's Award from Feathered Quill Book Awards for 2024! I call it a love story with a supernatural twist. Here is a little more about it.:
Eva possesses a unique and powerful gift. But is it a curse?
She plays down her beauty, to avoid attention. But it doesn’t work. She has a magnetic quality, a calm, a power of which she is unaware. She longs to be left alone to look after her first love, animals.
But another love is on the horizon, along with life-changing discoveries. When the media jackals gather, Eva is forced into the limelight she’s avoided all her life.
And someone wants her dead.
* * * * * * * *
Best Selling Author Review:
“I was captivated by Eva’s story and riveted to the end. Diane is a beautiful writer who has captured the essence of Eva’s unearthing of her true self. A story that is timeless.
Bravo!” Laurie Seymour, M.A., twice a #1 international best-selling author, host of Wisdom Talk Radio, Executive Coach,
international speaker and Founder/CEO of The Baca Institute.
https://www.eloquentrascals.com/eva-a...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 31, 2017
Should I laugh? Should I cry? Laugh until I cry? Diane Solomon’s 88 GUYS FOR COFFEE is proof that there IS light at the end of the tunnel of love and it is NOT an oncoming train! Grab a cup of coffee, wear your most comfy clothes and hang out the DO NOT DISTURB sign because this is a tale of the heart and soul of online dating for a woman who refused to believe that every prince is a frog in disguise.
This is Laura’s story, or rather her five year saga of looking for “Mr. Right for Me” after the coward she once thought of as her husband jumped ship like a thief in the night, stealing her self-respect, dignity, self-confidence and probably her favorite pan, (okay I just added the pan bit). This is the good, the bad and short and bald of false dating advertising, bait and switch pictures and the ones that got away, thank goodness!
Never tried online dating? Thinking about maybe giving it a go? Know someone, male or female who is thinking of looking for love or at least a decent person through the maze that is cyberspace? Read Diane Solomon’s 88 GUYS FOR COFFEE first and feel, witness and learn, Grasshopper, because it may be a jungle out there, but our heroine, Laura has become a warrior in a world that can be terrifying and a guide to learning to love yourself first and the rest will fall in place when it is meant to.
Humorous, heartbreaking, eye-opening and filled with some truly wickedly funny scenes as lived and chronicled by Laura’s firsthand experience, Diane Solomon is sharing more than some wit and wisdom, she is sharing the kaleidoscope that is life, warts and all. It’s okay to feel horrified, mystified and justified for scoffing at online dating, just as it’s okay to maybe give it a try, then another try and maybe even another. It took our Laura 88 attempts, five years and gallons of coffee, gas and frog kisses, not to mention hours of her life she will never get back, but in the end, she found herself as much as she found her prince! Read it, laugh with it, roll with it, this is a sparkling gem for sure!
I received this ARC edition from Diane Solomon in exchange for my honest review. (Okay, honestly, I read it almost month ago and have been waiting until closer to its release day!)
Publisher: Eloquent Rascals (June 1, 2017)
Publication Date: June 1, 2017
Genre: Humor | Women's Fiction
Print Length: 220 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
This is Laura’s story, or rather her five year saga of looking for “Mr. Right for Me” after the coward she once thought of as her husband jumped ship like a thief in the night, stealing her self-respect, dignity, self-confidence and probably her favorite pan, (okay I just added the pan bit). This is the good, the bad and short and bald of false dating advertising, bait and switch pictures and the ones that got away, thank goodness!
Never tried online dating? Thinking about maybe giving it a go? Know someone, male or female who is thinking of looking for love or at least a decent person through the maze that is cyberspace? Read Diane Solomon’s 88 GUYS FOR COFFEE first and feel, witness and learn, Grasshopper, because it may be a jungle out there, but our heroine, Laura has become a warrior in a world that can be terrifying and a guide to learning to love yourself first and the rest will fall in place when it is meant to.
Humorous, heartbreaking, eye-opening and filled with some truly wickedly funny scenes as lived and chronicled by Laura’s firsthand experience, Diane Solomon is sharing more than some wit and wisdom, she is sharing the kaleidoscope that is life, warts and all. It’s okay to feel horrified, mystified and justified for scoffing at online dating, just as it’s okay to maybe give it a try, then another try and maybe even another. It took our Laura 88 attempts, five years and gallons of coffee, gas and frog kisses, not to mention hours of her life she will never get back, but in the end, she found herself as much as she found her prince! Read it, laugh with it, roll with it, this is a sparkling gem for sure!
I received this ARC edition from Diane Solomon in exchange for my honest review. (Okay, honestly, I read it almost month ago and have been waiting until closer to its release day!)
Publisher: Eloquent Rascals (June 1, 2017)
Publication Date: June 1, 2017
Genre: Humor | Women's Fiction
Print Length: 220 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 22, 2017
Isn't this cover just fab and the title just made me smile. Imagine 88 guys for coffee, from that I guessed that a lot of them didn't get asked back for a second cup! Diane Solomon based this novel round some of the actual events from her own life, changed the main character to Laura and all of the gentlemen in the book were given new names, but some of the events were real. Some fluffed up a bit and others a little imagination. The thing is you can't tell which is which.
OMG this is just such an hilarious book, I know I shouldn't find pleasure in someone else's down falls but at times I just had to stop reading because I couldn't see any more, it was just so very funny.
When Laura finds herself starting over again on the dating scene she decides that the best way to go about it is through dating agencies. Well yep I can see that, you can see what the guy looks like, read about what they like to do and get to now them a little through email, then phone calls then perhaps dinner. Now to me that is a sound plan but not everyone is honest and darn it Laura definitely has the ability to find the sleaze balls from these sites. Ok it may be just that the guy is 6 inch shorter than he said but it is still a lie but there is much worse, some are users the will break your heart and destroy your faith in men.
It is like she says, 'I had so many blind dates I should have a free dog'
If I was asked to describe this book I would say that I laughed page after page with the wonderful wicked way she recreates these perfect hilarious moments but there are also some serious times too, where she offers the stuff to look out for to stop you getting hurt like she did. How to spot the dodgy blokes that are just out to put another notch on the bed post before they take off. The ones after money and sometimes the ones that are still married! This is page after page of shear pleasure as well as some sound advice. Just loved it whole book.
Just remember too, not everyone was bad, 88 was definitely a keeper!
OMG this is just such an hilarious book, I know I shouldn't find pleasure in someone else's down falls but at times I just had to stop reading because I couldn't see any more, it was just so very funny.
When Laura finds herself starting over again on the dating scene she decides that the best way to go about it is through dating agencies. Well yep I can see that, you can see what the guy looks like, read about what they like to do and get to now them a little through email, then phone calls then perhaps dinner. Now to me that is a sound plan but not everyone is honest and darn it Laura definitely has the ability to find the sleaze balls from these sites. Ok it may be just that the guy is 6 inch shorter than he said but it is still a lie but there is much worse, some are users the will break your heart and destroy your faith in men.
It is like she says, 'I had so many blind dates I should have a free dog'
If I was asked to describe this book I would say that I laughed page after page with the wonderful wicked way she recreates these perfect hilarious moments but there are also some serious times too, where she offers the stuff to look out for to stop you getting hurt like she did. How to spot the dodgy blokes that are just out to put another notch on the bed post before they take off. The ones after money and sometimes the ones that are still married! This is page after page of shear pleasure as well as some sound advice. Just loved it whole book.
Just remember too, not everyone was bad, 88 was definitely a keeper!
June 25, 2017
I won a signed copy of this book through Goodreads but let me just say that I would have happily paid for it. The author did a wonderful job of portraying the ups, downs and often humorous trials of dating. The book was funny but also thought provoking and sweet. It's a quick read and you won't regret it.
July 26, 2017
Online Dates and the People who Love Them
Review by Mary E. Latela, July 26, 2017
This review is from: 88 Guys for Coffee (Paperback) by Diane Solomon
Imagine that the love of your life has "moved on." Imagine spending five years trying
to find your soulmate - online! 88 Guys for Coffee is a funny, sad, all too real journey, and
Laura is the character who won't give up. She never changes her profile, yet she meets all
kinds of guys,just for coffee.
Her goal is to find a really good man to come into her life and heal the loss of Kurt.
She quickly analyzes the profile, deciding whether to send a wink or an email. The initial
phone call is essential. If all looks well, there will be coffee. Laura's best friend is
Francesca, who appears from time to time, almost like a guardian angel. Then there's
her friend, Hank. This is a book for people who seek love, who want to know what the
on-line dating scene is like, or who eagerly read to see whether Laura finds a soulmate.
Ms. Solomon knows Connecticut very well and it would be great to know more about her
character, Laura. Diane Solomon tells a very good story, and I look forward to more
stories from this bright new author.
Review by Mary E. Latela, July 26, 2017
This review is from: 88 Guys for Coffee (Paperback) by Diane Solomon
Imagine that the love of your life has "moved on." Imagine spending five years trying
to find your soulmate - online! 88 Guys for Coffee is a funny, sad, all too real journey, and
Laura is the character who won't give up. She never changes her profile, yet she meets all
kinds of guys,just for coffee.
Her goal is to find a really good man to come into her life and heal the loss of Kurt.
She quickly analyzes the profile, deciding whether to send a wink or an email. The initial
phone call is essential. If all looks well, there will be coffee. Laura's best friend is
Francesca, who appears from time to time, almost like a guardian angel. Then there's
her friend, Hank. This is a book for people who seek love, who want to know what the
on-line dating scene is like, or who eagerly read to see whether Laura finds a soulmate.
Ms. Solomon knows Connecticut very well and it would be great to know more about her
character, Laura. Diane Solomon tells a very good story, and I look forward to more
stories from this bright new author.
August 1, 2017
What a GREAT book! I loved every page. I won the book in a Goodreads giveaway and was SO happy to be introduced to this great author. I'll definitely add her to my favorites! I loved the title, the ending, and everything in-between! Easy to read (but hard to put down)...
August 25, 2017
Well I’ll be completely honest here and say I have never tried online dating, I’ve actually never known a person who has so I was really intrigued, especially when I read that some of the actual dates were based on real events experienced by the author.
I suppose when you sign up for online dating you would expect your prince to be waiting for you in the sea of frogs some where, although I don’t think our protagonist Laura was quite expecting so many frogs. And as the title suggests, online dating isn’t quite as easy as maybe Laura expected it to be.
Having been dumped by her husband in a not very nice way, it’s time for Laura to jump back on the saddle. It seems such a simple way, online dating. You set up your profile, add your likes, dislikes and you upload. You’re then connected to others with similar interests, sounds really easy doesn’t it? Well Laura certainly finds out that not everyone is as honest as she is, which makes for some real belly aching laughs and some dates that make you sit and cringe.
I liked Laura, she was a really great character and I was willing for prince charming to arrive soon and sweep her off her feet. After being treated the way she was by her husband I really wanted Laura to find her happily ever after but obviously I didn’t want him to arrive too soon as I was thoroughly enjoying reading all the stories of how these dates went and trying to guess if the next would be as bad as the last.
Even though I laughed until I cried at some points, there is a serious element to the story and the author really shares some good tips if you ever do take the chance at online dating. I really enjoyed 88 Guys for Coffee and recommend it if you are needing a light-hearted read, something that will give you a chuckle and a character that’s easy to like and wish the best for.
I suppose when you sign up for online dating you would expect your prince to be waiting for you in the sea of frogs some where, although I don’t think our protagonist Laura was quite expecting so many frogs. And as the title suggests, online dating isn’t quite as easy as maybe Laura expected it to be.
Having been dumped by her husband in a not very nice way, it’s time for Laura to jump back on the saddle. It seems such a simple way, online dating. You set up your profile, add your likes, dislikes and you upload. You’re then connected to others with similar interests, sounds really easy doesn’t it? Well Laura certainly finds out that not everyone is as honest as she is, which makes for some real belly aching laughs and some dates that make you sit and cringe.
I liked Laura, she was a really great character and I was willing for prince charming to arrive soon and sweep her off her feet. After being treated the way she was by her husband I really wanted Laura to find her happily ever after but obviously I didn’t want him to arrive too soon as I was thoroughly enjoying reading all the stories of how these dates went and trying to guess if the next would be as bad as the last.
Even though I laughed until I cried at some points, there is a serious element to the story and the author really shares some good tips if you ever do take the chance at online dating. I really enjoyed 88 Guys for Coffee and recommend it if you are needing a light-hearted read, something that will give you a chuckle and a character that’s easy to like and wish the best for.
September 22, 2020
About the Book
This book covered a new-to-me topic: online dating. I know there are online dating sites, and I know one or two people who found their now-spouse on such a site, but I have never read a book about someone’s experience with online dating. It appealed to my sense of curiosity, which is why I decided to read it.
The Foreword makes it clear that this is a somewhat fictionalized account of the author’s online dating experience.
My Review
I’m usually not a fan of stories told in first person, but Diane Solomon did a good job writing this story in first person, and her style was very conversational. Therefore, the story was fun and easy to read.
The main character, Laura, takes this emotional roller-coaster ride, which causes her to question her self-worth and effects her self-confidence. However, she never lets go of hope.
As the reader, I couldn’t help but sometimes feel sorry for Laura and sometimes wonder why on earth she kept meeting guy after guy. Her determination kept me rooting for her.
Some of the men Laura met for coffee made me cringe, some made me laugh, and others shocked me, but every one of them was a believable character.
Some of the dating encounters seemed a bit too similar or repetitious.
If world view is of interest or concern to you as a reader, the world view in this book seemed to bounce around and not really come across clearly. Sometimes the main character’s world view seemed to be very secular, sometimes new age, and nearer the end, approached a Christian world view. Maybe Ms. Solomon did this intentionally to show a growth in the character of Laura, as she made her way through a period of several years of online dating, wading through disappointment after disappointment.
All in all, this book was very interesting. I enjoyed the conversational style. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, the tips and advice that Laura’s two best friends offered her. The story also included some humor along the way. It was definitely a unique story, which, in my opinion, makes it worth the read.
I give this story 4 stars.
This book covered a new-to-me topic: online dating. I know there are online dating sites, and I know one or two people who found their now-spouse on such a site, but I have never read a book about someone’s experience with online dating. It appealed to my sense of curiosity, which is why I decided to read it.
The Foreword makes it clear that this is a somewhat fictionalized account of the author’s online dating experience.
My Review
I’m usually not a fan of stories told in first person, but Diane Solomon did a good job writing this story in first person, and her style was very conversational. Therefore, the story was fun and easy to read.
The main character, Laura, takes this emotional roller-coaster ride, which causes her to question her self-worth and effects her self-confidence. However, she never lets go of hope.
As the reader, I couldn’t help but sometimes feel sorry for Laura and sometimes wonder why on earth she kept meeting guy after guy. Her determination kept me rooting for her.
Some of the men Laura met for coffee made me cringe, some made me laugh, and others shocked me, but every one of them was a believable character.
Some of the dating encounters seemed a bit too similar or repetitious.
If world view is of interest or concern to you as a reader, the world view in this book seemed to bounce around and not really come across clearly. Sometimes the main character’s world view seemed to be very secular, sometimes new age, and nearer the end, approached a Christian world view. Maybe Ms. Solomon did this intentionally to show a growth in the character of Laura, as she made her way through a period of several years of online dating, wading through disappointment after disappointment.
All in all, this book was very interesting. I enjoyed the conversational style. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, the tips and advice that Laura’s two best friends offered her. The story also included some humor along the way. It was definitely a unique story, which, in my opinion, makes it worth the read.
I give this story 4 stars.
January 2, 2025
Funny! A Great Read!
This author has a wonderful sense of humor. I was LOL in many parts. So far, in my own online dating experiences, I’ve never met so many hilarious characters. I know this is fictionalized, so perhaps this part is fiction, though it’s well known that truth can be stranger than fiction. I did have one creepy experience which bordered on being funny. I won’t give a spoiler, just to say the book had a satisfying ending.
This author has a wonderful sense of humor. I was LOL in many parts. So far, in my own online dating experiences, I’ve never met so many hilarious characters. I know this is fictionalized, so perhaps this part is fiction, though it’s well known that truth can be stranger than fiction. I did have one creepy experience which bordered on being funny. I won’t give a spoiler, just to say the book had a satisfying ending.
September 4, 2020
Laura's marriage ended abruptly to Kurt when she accidentally learns that he has made plans to move from their home in Connecticut to Maryland without telling her. Eventually Laura's friend, Francesca, convinces her to begin dating. Laura enters the world of internet dating. She spends the next 5 years of her life online dating in search of her soulmate.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews