Review Detail

Lucy and Martha are two thirty-something professionals; Lucys a biologist, and Marthas an actress. Theyre best friends tackling all the challenges of the Big Apple together. Lately, over cocktails at swanky New York bars, the two are becoming more and more disappointed in the men that the city has to offer. Youd think that with all those millions of men wandering around, the girls would be able to find at least a handful who knew how to treat a woman. Sadly, thats not the case.

Lucys got a man, albeit a math geek who cant jumpstart a car. But Marthas gone on so many bad dates that shes given up on dating altogether! In fact, shes started a new business venture FirstDate, where she trains all sorts of men on how to make a good first impression on their dates. Or, if thats not feasible, how to at least refrain from scaring their dates off in the first five minutes.

Enter Cooper Tuckington, strong and chivalrous. He puts the man back in manly. And he just so happens to be Lucys old friend from college. The two had even agreed that if they both reached 35 and werent married, theyd be each others backups. Compared to Cooper, with his good ol southern farmer charm, the already pale city boys become nearly invisible.

Martha and Lucy think that all the city wimps could stand to learn a whole lot about what it means to be a man from Cooper, and so they begin to hatch a plan for&Man Camp. Yes, a cross between summer camp and boot camp that will whip all campers into men. When FirstDate is not enough, Man Camp will surely give them all the tools they need to truly become men.

Man Camp delves into the roles of men and women in relationships, but Adrienne Brodeur always manages to keep the tone light, with equal doses of romance and comedy throughout. At times, Man Camp becomes a little bogged down with stereotypes, but Brodeur leaves it up to you to judge what it really means to be a man. Nobody is invincible, not even Cooper in all of his masculine glory. Man Camp turns out to be a learning experience for Lucy and Martha, as well as all of the men involved. Man Camp is a fun read that anyone who has been frustrated by the common hardships of dating (everyone) will enjoy!