Single and Forced to Mingle: A Guide for (Nearly) Any Socially Awkward Situation

by Melissa Croce

“Hilarious.” —Cosmopolitan

A laugh-out-loud, tongue-in-cheek guidebook filled with hilarious and helpful advice—from how to dodge family members’ unwanted questions about babies to successfully creating a fake partner during wedding season—for anyone trying to survive and thrive in the midst of singledom. Perfect for fans of Hey Ladies! and Single State of Mind.

So, you’re single. Whether existing sans partner is a new state of being or you’ve been on this solo journey for a while, the fact of the matter is this: being single is actually awesome.

You can do whatever you want, travel wherever you want, and be your truest, most free self. But there are a lot of people out there—your mom, your married best friend, the wedding industry, society—who see things differently. To them, singledom is something to avoid at all cost, no matter how many times you tell them you love your life the way it is. The limit does not exist when it comes to telling Aunt Carol you still don’t want to be set up with her neighbor’s ex-stepson.

Now, Melissa Croce gives you the tips, tricks, and sage advice you need to graciously endure all of the cringe-worthy scenarios your single self may dread, from awkward small talk with an ex to navigating well-meaning but insensitive relatives. And it helps you truly flourish in your singledom, offering activities like quizzes aimed at helping you find a new hobby and tarot spreads for that cozy Saturday night in. Part real-world guide, part commiseration, and part celebration, Single and Forced to Mingle will steer you through the ups and downs of being single, reminding you just how good it feels to be free.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Self Help, Audiobook

176 pages, Hardcover

Published January 5, 2021

Reviews

[Sabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun but I think readers should go with the physical format of the book as it has quizzes, astrological reading and more that would be better to read than listen. Do not read if you are in a relationship tho, as the foundation of the book is definitely opposite to it.



Has a lot of pop cultural references from different eras, so you may get them or not. But, one may research them afterwards.

[Mridu aka Storypals · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was fun

[Signed, Iza · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm not the intended target audience for this book (at least not rn 😂), it was good and hilarious.

I enjoyed the quizzes and work activities though. Plus the holiday's citations (I have no idea about some of the holidays mentioned in the book 😳). The movie guides and holiday activities ideas. And you'd agree with me that we all have an Aunt Carol 😂. And they never stop.

Whether you are single, in a relationship, or married, there's still something you'd enjoy about this one .

But here's my penny for your thought:

"Happiness isn’t due to your status."

[Jordyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single and Forced to Mingle is a funny and empowering piece for young single people. It gives you tips and tricks on how to navigate those family gatherings where EVERYONE is asking when you’re going to settle down and *shiver* cuffing season and all those couple-y holidays and activities.

What I didn’t like?
The book, rambled at times. There were paragraphs that went too long and could have been cut down or could have been more concise, I felt my eyes glossing over some sections because it felt repetitive. Going on, I felt like it jumped around a lot too, a bit erratic . Now, my feelings on transition could be due to the ebook format? I would be interested to see if the transitions were smoother on a printed book.

What I did like?
I could have used some of the stuff in here when I was single and in college or single right out of college in my early 20s! It was funny and had a lot of thoughts that I’m sure Millennials, like myself, or Gen Z could relate to or use. Going on, the mini quiz/choose your own scenario sections were also awesome and reminded me of all the teen magazine and buzzfeed tests I have taken. I think the bigger ideas of social engagement and how tiring it feels to interact with others, were my favorite parts because they were so relatable.

Overall, I think this book fits a very specific audience, so it’s not a book I can recommend to everyone. It feels like it speaks more for white female, straight, young adults who came from the middle class or higher, who are in college or have a college degree, and are Millenials or Gen Z. However, it was funny and had a lot
of things that I could have related to in college and right out of college as a single woman.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't we all been in those awkward situations when you're single and dying inside of how to handle the situation?

Well, here is a funny and cute guide to any/all situations where you've landed yourself in when being single and needed to be saved haha.

This is a pretty fast and quick read with only 176 pages. There are short quizzes and drink recipes which I thought was so fun! Reminded me almost of a Cosmo or teen magazine haha. I feel like it was a little bit more geared towards the millennial population but I had fun with this one and it was something that has been quite different then what I've normally been reading so yay to that! :)

Thank you so much to Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 1/5/21
Published to GR: 1/4/21

[Ali Hinchcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO FUN! It made me laugh out loud, and inspired a number of tongue-in-cheek activities & games that I can’t wait to play with my fellow single gals. I also loved all the pop culture references throughout the book! If you’re someone who finds themselves frequently on Buzzfeed’s page taking quizzes and contemplating why they bring you so much joy, this book is for you!

[Book Reviews by Tara aka Queen of Memoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you newly single and in need of a highly entertaining, pick-me-up kind of book? Then look no further, this is definitely the book for you. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 by Melissa Croce is the perfect good-spirited book that takes a carefree look at being single from a humorous, millennial perspective.
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Croce’s frame of reference teeters between boldly embracing the notion that women are choosing to be single, to learning how to pick up the pieces after an unwanted uncoupling.
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What makes this book so entertaining is it’s quirky content. For example, there is a whole list of days that single people should be sure to mark on their calendars to avoid being caught in awkward situations. These are days I never even heard of before😂. She even go so far as to provide suggestions for Halloween costumes, while giving you her restaurant suggestions for places to dine at based on how your relationship ended😂.
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This is the ultimate single girl’s guide. It’s Carrie Bradshaw meets Bridget Jones, complete with an occasional Mad Libs fill in the blank paragraph, and impromptu quizzes.
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I had fun reading this book. I’m not single, nor am I a millennial but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every word and every activity. Any time an author predicts your sexual interests based on the cartoons you’ve watched as a child (i.e. Ren and Stimpy, Rugs Rats, Doug and Hey Arnold), you know it’s a comical situation😂.
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I’m giving this one 5⭐️s for the jovial factor alone! 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 is wonderfully unique, spunky and bold. There’s no singing sad love songs in this book! Nope, instead there are ingredients for singles cocktails with names like “Dirty Hornitini” and “Screaming Orgasm”. Oh...and if you ever need a go-to list of explanations for why you’ve chosen to remain single, and why you have zero desire to have children, Melissa’s got you covered😉!
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Thank you @atriabooks for providing this ebook via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received this book I was so pleasantly surprised because not only could I use the funny but relevant tips and advice, but so could my daughter. We completely related to situations that sometimes leave one of us in situations where we have no words, don’t know how to react or respond. This was the perfect situation solver in many occasions that you find yourself in when you are single. I love the the drafted fill in the blank narrative that can be used when discussing one of many of your family or friends attempts to hook you up. Such a lighthearted take on being single and let’s you see the perks to enjoy until your next relationship. My daughter related to things I’ve never tried like dating apps and other young 20 year olds may go through and I on the other hand could relate just as well in my 40’s. Together this book was a hands down 5 ⭐️ and I recommend to anyone who wants to break the myth that being single is such a bad thing.

[Mayar Mahdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is also one of those American books; you read them but you don't really relate to them.

It had it fun moments and I really liked the lists, but it's not remotely close to my own experience -not the book's fault, it is just how it is.

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single and Forced to Mingle is a guide for single people who are...well, forced to get out and mingle. It gives advice for nearly any socially awkward situation. No matter how many times you've told family and friends that you're happy being single, there are always moments where they believe otherwise. Well, Melissa Croce gives tips and tricks to graciously get through scenarios and the ups/downs of being single.

The best part of this loosely labeled "self-help" book are the chapter titles. They were more valuable than the content itself which, at times, came across as too in-your-face and I-am-single-hear-me-roar. Yes, there are a couple funny essays (why have kids in this economy and places to travel since single and childless) but nothing that made me LOL as the summary states. However, there are fun parts of this book too with mad-libs, quizzes and drink recipes that I am excited to try. Single and Forced to Mingle is more a cute read for the new year that younger generations may enjoy.

Happy Early Pub Day, Melissa Croce! Single and Forced to Mingle will be available Tuesday, January 5.

~LiteraryMarie

[Esosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single and Forced to Mingle is exactly what it describes itself to be: A Guide for (Nearly) Any Socially Awkward Situation.

In this cute and funny book, Melissa Croce shares tips on how to either avoid countless social interactions where your singleness might become a topic of discussion or how to entirely evade the question with grace. She also shares how to survive months, holidays, periods of the year that seem to be taken over by couples eg February (Valentines Day), December (Christmas) etc.

This book is also filled with lots of cool ‘buzzfeed’ type quizzes and trivia which I found really entertaining. Some of my favourites were:

- What your favourite 1990s children’s cartoon says about your expectations in relationships
- Tell me how your last relationship ended and i’ll tell you which chain restaurant you should eat your feelings at

I don’t think you’re meant to take everything in this book literally, though I can’t see much harm in doing so but this book definitely makes for a quick and light-hearted read. Thanks to atria books for the gifted copy!

[Lisa Konet · Rating 1 out of 5]

So this was in your face about being a single person and how to interact and or find common ground with people solidly cemented in relationships. Some of this was funny and good advice, but it just was not for me. I wonder which one the author is.. No for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Melissa Croce and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Available: 12/15/20

-1 too much in your face advice
-1 preachy
-1 some relationship stories as other self help books
-1 single people are seen as awkward
+1 cover

[Ciara Alvarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is a super cute book! It had some interactive pages and lots of fun references. I don’t think I learned much but it did make me laugh a lot. If I’m being totally honest I bought it because it was cute 😂

[CR · Rating 1 out of 5]

So sadly this one just didn't work out. It was very preaching and in your face about being single and I just had to put it down. I couldn't force myself to read it. DNF around 40%

[Bethany Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all! This book is HILARIOUS! Fabulous! Everything. I was laughing the entire time and the topics of choice - on point! Must read for all!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book, focusing on navigating social situations as a single woman, but the execution didn't work for me. The target audience was specific and so was the sense of humor, so I think this book would work for other readers. This was very light, and I was hoping for something a little deeper. Still, it was a fun book that incorporated pop culture and could be nice as a gift. It felt like a conglomeration of Buzzfeed or Cosmo articles and social media posts (again, not necessarily a bad thing, but just didn't work for me overall). Based on this book, the author seems like a fun person to be friends with.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world that is constantly giving the impression that you're not truly complete until you're happily paired off with someone, we need fun books like this. Really, when it comes to any book about being single: only books like this one should be allowed to exist. By which I mean the ones that emphasize that not only is there nothing wrong with being single but it has many positive attributes and hardly anything to be devastated about.
It's a humorous look at something that many who have no problem with their single status, but are surrounded by those who don't agree, have to endure.

[Moriah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was wandering through the library now that it reopened and saw this on the shelf. I was hoping this would be a fun and funny read but it was definitely unrelatable (which.... I guess isn't that surprising because I lead a different life from the author). I though it would be more anecdotal and silly but it was more like a bunch of buzzfeed quizzes. It was quick so that's why I finished it otherwise I wouldn't have. In fact, for some reason, I feel kind of embarrassed that I read it? Don't really know who this would be for but I hope others enjoy it!

[Ulfa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, here we go.
Of course, what draws me into this book is the multicolor cover. What else? But the title itself is also definitely screaming me. I'm obviously (currently) very single and (also currently) not in the place to mingle whatsoever.
I see that the book has a very mixed review but I choose to lean on the good ones. I expected nothing of super relatable things from this but I do hope for some laugh. So yeah, I hope it is at least funny. We'll see!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Melissa Croce says she's a happy single, but she spends so much time obsessing over people in relationships that she needs new (single) friends and to really tackle her internalized amatonormativity.

The only reason I borrowed this book from the library is that she mentions aro/ace people in the introduction. Silly me thought this would actually be a good source to find ideas about how to navigate society as someone very unlikely to ever end up in a relationship. I'm good being single. Hell, ever since moving alone I'm great being single. It's the rest of society that doesn't want to see me be single. And I really thought reading this book would be ammunition against those people who refuse to accept that you don't need marriage and children to be happy (and many straight married couples with children are miserable anyways). But it wasn't.

Croce gets the comic relief on point. Her snide remarks about the patriarchy are hilarious, even if her comments are sometimes a little weird (eg: the Star Wars prequels are better than the sequels, did she really ask Taylor Swift for advice about being British because she dated Brits?!?!) and I did have some good laughs. And that's about the only valuable thing in this book. Oh, and the LUSH Scream Cream idea. I want that.

In itself, though, most of the book was mentions of her exes and what she assumes will also be the experience of her readers. And that's where I ticked. You can't mention aro/ace people in passing to be inclusive, and then assume all your readers will have this or that kind of ex, or spend their time on Tinder. Newsflash, a-spec folks aren't single by choice (some of us aren't even single), we don't have romantic or sexual attraction. Which means that Tinder is for a good chunk of us the nastiest app ever invented.

I couldn't relate to much of what was in the book, except the few comments here and there. Maybe someone who just got out of a relationship and constantly gets harassed by their peers and loved ones about "settling down" (🤢) will find what they're looking for, but it's definitely not a resource for those who have been single for a while and are well-adjusted in it.

[Shelby (Read with Shelbs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to the vibrant colors of this cover so I knew I had to check it out.

I feel like this book is the perfect coffee table book to give to your perpetually single friend.

I found myself skimming through this, and reading bits and pieces, I had a hard time following it because I believe there are supposed to be graphics and illustrations but because this was an eARC those were not included so it was a little hard to follow. I think at one point I was reading what was supposed to be a quiz but it took me several minutes to figure that out.

I got curious about what the inside of this book was supposed to look like and I took a look at a few of the inside pages on the Simon and Schuster website as well as on Amazon and this looks like a fun book with some cool graphics so I might have to pick up a copy of this so I can look at all the fun pictures.

It definitely reads like more of a coffee table book, not something I would sit down and read cover to cover in one sitting because it tends to ramble a bit.

It’s very humorous and as a single person who loves to be single I really related to what the author was saying. Even though it was hard to follow because of the format it is in I tried to not let that affect my opinion of this book too much. I will give it a solid 3 stars and that rating might even go up eventually if I buy a print copy and get to really take in the full experience of this book.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single or not, doesn't everyone constantly walk around with a running narrative in their head of perfect/ridiculous things that would never happen in real life?

Because sometimes being a good friend means doing whatever your BFF wants to make them happy, and sometimes it means recognizing your own limits and finding another way to celebrate that will make them happy and not completely wreck your weekend/make you broke, hungover, and miserable.

You will find a spot, and you will have a great time, and you will find yourself and all your friends in the ocean, jumping through the waves and feeling more refreshed than you’ve felt in ages. And going home, you’ll be exhausted in that perfect way that comes with spending the day outdoors and in the sun; and tonight, you’re going to sleep like a baby. You are absolutely doing summer right.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read. I’m going to be completely honest, when I got to chapter: Just a Sweet, Sweet (single-Person) Fantasy, I totally did the MASH game. When I was doing the game, it brought back so many middle and high school memories. It was pretty funny. The book did ramble at times. Some paragraphs were a little too long. Some sections were repetitive. Overall it was a good and fun guide to read. 3.5 stars.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I saw that it had received a few negative reviews, which made me feel a little hesitant starting out. However, I think it may have just been a bad fit for those reviewers. It reads like a love letter to single, childless, millennials. As one, I picked up on the brand of humor we use to cope. No we are not all tragic but one of the fun things about being a single millennial is adding a dramatic flair to nonsense "social requirements". I related to about 98% of this book. Everyone is always asking about marriage and babies and all other constructs that the world has placed on single people. This isn't a book that teaches you how to join society the way people expect you to. It's simply about loving who you are and where you're at. I don't think this book is for everyone. If you don't fit into the category of single millennial, this book probably isn't for you. That said, I think everyone needs a book out there that just captures who they are as a person. This book did that for me!

[Alix | The Bookish Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAHAHAHAHA! I freaking devoured this!

This isn't a thriller, but the cover art drew me in! Shout out to Ella Laytham!

Need a pick me up? Just want to be entertained? A guide to handle almost any awkward social situation? PICK UP SINGLE AND FORCED TO MINGLE BY @mcroce!

And while the title is aimed toward singles (a main reason why I wanted this book) it covers fertility, dating and marriage.

Not only that, it offers quizzes and tarot spreads and the cover (another reason why I was attracted to this book) is AWESOME!

This real world guide is filled with laughter, sympathy and lots of rejoicing! I am pleading with y'all to please get this book-whether you're single or not.

Thank you to @atriabooks for my copy!

[Abigail Books Addiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know, I know. Y'all are surprised again that I am reviewing another book that is not really romance. What can I say? I sometimes like to read different books at  times. And the book cover for Single and Forced to Mingle is so freaking cute! Like look at it.Single and Forced to Mingle was a fun read but it's more toward a younger audience like in your early 20s. It's about being comfortable while you are single. There is nothing wrong in being single but I know sometimes younger women will have problems or issues about being single. But I am going to let you know that relationships are not all that or setting for the wrong reasons. Be comfortable about being you. It's you first then someone else. And Single and Forced to Mingle will open your eyes about being single in the new year. 

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author just knows the unnecessarily bad sides of being single, not from being single but from what people think being single is (lonely, miserable, agonizing). The author hilariously breaks the stupid myths and notions surrounding single life and offers funny yet effective responses and reactions to unnecessary questions and queries from well-meaning relatives and others.

My personal favorite sections were the 90s cartoons indicating what type of romantic partner you seek and the Patron Saints of Singledom featuring some fictional and real life figures known for their grits and sharpness.

[Leslie Manis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. Uses non-binary pronouns and trendy nonsensical language (surface-level instead of superficial). We need a new book rating system that indicates this style of writing.

This book consists mostly of lists and is not written in an organized manner.

I remember attending countless weddings as a single person & feeling awkward and fielding rude questions. There was no real advice for dealing with it. I thought this book would have tips on chatting & making friends. I was mistaken, but it wasn't even very good at what it was trying to be. Much of the content will make it dated quickly.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read but obviously not to take too seriously. There were a few points here or there that could be considered helpful or inspirational, but there were more chunks that didn't relate to me personally. It was the author's way to share her personal experiences and showcase them as if we have all experienced the same thing. This isn't necessarily bad, but it just meant there were more chunks that I could skip over as it wouldn't "help" me, or I couldn't connect with the reference.

At the end of the day though, it gave me a few laughs and it was entertaining.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Big thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!*

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. The title, cover art, and description were very catchy and drew me in. However, I couldn't get past the first 5 chapters. The tone of the writing was filled with humor, almost to the point of detracting from the message. For me, this book had the same feel as every other generic self help, singledom non-fiction book. Certain library patrons will love it, but not a large portion of my community.

[abigail • bookswithgail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for single women in their younger 20s! I think it's definitely geared toward a specific audience, so while it's not a book I would recommend to everyone - I certainly would to anyone 20-25 who is newly single and/or struggling to embrace their single years. It's funny and relatable and the interactive activities/games included were a unique and fun aspect of the book that I think will resonate well with Gen Z.