Dating App Romance Novel Review of The Attraction Abacus

A review of dating app romance novel The Attraction Abacus has to begin with a truth every app dater already knows: an algorithm can tell you who lives nearby, likes dogs and once put “pineapple on pizza” in their bio. It cannot tell you whether they will make you laugh when your train is cancelled, remember how you take your tea, or cause your group chat to enter a state of national emergency.

That gap between a technically ideal match and an actual human connection is where this contemporary rom-com has its fun. The Attraction Abacus takes the very modern exhaustion of swiping, second-guessing and decoding a full stop in a message, then treats it with warmth rather than cynicism. The result is a dating-centred romance for readers who want the chaos of the apps without having to reopen one themselves. A public service, frankly.