The Panic Years: A Guide to Surviving Smug Married Friends, Bad Taffeta, and Life on the Wrong Side of 25 Without a Ring

I picked up a copy of the Panic Years for my 26 year old cousin who is in the midst of her own panic over the countless weddings she's attended solo over the last few years. Before buying the book for her, I skimmed through it and couldnt stop reading until I myself had devoured the book in 2 days! The book is laugh out loud funny, sharp, witty and so true to life, you will recognize yourself, your family members and your annoying girlfriends who make an olympic sport out of competing with you. While reading the book I felt like I was having a conversation with a close and very funny friend who understands the plight of a single girl but can offer objective and no pressure advice while cracking you up with laughter on your bus ride in to work! I highly recommend this book for singles, marrieds and anyone in between!

Although it took my a few days..I read this book all the way through and thought, this is "the" book for single women. I know how I felt, exactly as the author describes, right at 27 and realizing I wasn't meeting men "automatically" anymore and that the number of women my age sporting rings and showing pregnancy bumps was getting higher. Also the strategies Ms Lewak includes in the book for Closing the Deal were great. The chapters are so spot-on about our lives it's not funny.

I love the Author's wit, and her unmatched ability to crack up a humorous anecdote at pretty much every "panic" topic presented in this book. Yet Lewak's comic no-nonsense attitude surpasses the (very!) entertaining jokes, forming itself as your friendly vehicle that soberly communicates a serious message. Despite the fact that a growing number of women today wake up from their sweet dreams to a reality that will not have them married by 25, many of these young ladies do in fact lapse into a socio-romantic state of panic, unable to see themselves and the world beyond their imaginary ring-like finish line. "The Panic Years" invites you to look at yourself and your aspirations beyond that - and beyond the superficial, materialistic aspirations all too prevalent at certain dating circles - so as to realize what's truly worth panicking about.

The Panic Years is an invaluable addition to any single person's (guy or girl) reading survival kit! Ms. Lewak is refreshingly honest in her assessment of the 20-something dating scene, and her anecdotes and analogies are hilarious, yet poignant. There's also plenty of good, practical advice on how to cope with those who insist on making one feel somewhat inferior because of their marital (or lack thereof) status. One cannot help but feel significantly uplifted by Ms. Lewak's ultimately positive and upbeat literary style.

I just got the book, The Panic Years, and I couldn't put it down. This is a really funny look at what we go through to try and land that relationship which will end in marriage. But there's also an important message here-- don't change yourself to land a fiance. And it's great to know that you're not the only one panicking!