Don Tillman, the protagonist of the novel, is a socially inept, highly organized to the extent that he has evolved ‘Standardized Meal System’ to figure out each meal of the week in advance, Associate Professor of genetics at the University of Melbourne. He knows that he lacks something that leaves him baffled with by human behavior and unappealing to other people (especially opposite sex). But after his dear old neighbor tells him that he would make a good husband, Don decides to get married. Because he is a disciple of science he devises a questionnaire to limit the fallout of incompatibility and highly ineffective dating detection to find himself the perfect wife – ‘The Wife Project’.
Then comes Rosie Jarman in the life of Don. Not a potential partner as per the standards of ‘The Wife Project’. Rosie is a barmaid who is perpetually late, vegetarian and drinks more than usual. But she is also beautiful, smart and vivacious. She is comfortable in her own skin. She does not want to ‘fix’ Don. She is aware of his imperfections and her own failings. She is an affable female lead who is going to bring unexpected in the Don’s life and break his believes and stereotypes. She is like a whiff of fresh air in Don’s life. And she is on her own quest to find someone – her biological father. This leads to start of ‘The Father Project’. This project brings Don and Rosie closer. The free spiritedness of Rosie is infectious. Don has already violated his ‘Standardized Meal System’, for the first time he has observed the city lights to which he was oblivious, he is now accomplished maker of cocktails and has an offer to be a partner in restaurant business. He has become more apt in handling social situations. He is himself surprised with the changes happened in his life. But he is not able to reconcile the fact the how can he be falling for the girl whom he rejected straightaway in the ‘Wife Project’. He is in conflict to understand his emotions for Rosie. It truly reflects the point of book. You don’t find love. Love finds you.