The Rosie Effect

“Rosie’s physical presence was a hugely positive outcome of the Wife Project, but after ten months and ten days of marriage, I was still adapting to being a component of a couple. I sometimes spent longer in the bathroom than was strictly necessary.”

This quote bridges The Rosie Effect and the conclusion of The Rosie Project, in which Don met and married Rosie. It establishes his distinct, wry voice and traits that will lead to later conflict—including Don’s lack of ease with intimacy, precision with numbers, and preference for scheduling.

“I was unaware of any spreadsheet and Gantt chart for a baby project.”

Much of the novel’s comedy relies on Don grappling with complex emotions and fatherhood. This quote establishes his tendency to view life changes as projects, reflecting his neurodivergence and systematic view of the world.

“I had never conceded that I suffered from a mental illness, other than depression in my early twenties, which was a straightforward consequence of social isolation. I accepted that I was wired differently than most people, or, more precisely, that my wiring was toward one end of a spectrum of different human configurations.”

Don uses the word “wiring” to describe neurodivergence, which challenges the stigma of neurodiversity as something inherently wrong. This acceptance of difference defines the novel’s empathetic attitude toward neurodivergence.