Guardian Books

• "Uplifting, affirming and freshly-written"

Having picked this up out of curiosity, my copy is now ridiculously well-thumbed from all the times I've flicked back to favourite passages. It collates experiences from contributors who have heartwarming, heartbreaking, thought-provoking and hilarious tales, and they tell them brilliantly. It is also the first true celebration of online dating that I've read - it reveals the warts-and-all of the process, but does so in a way that shifts it from the "oh, there's not so much stigma these days" approach to a resounding sense that of COURSE we're online dating!
The book's author brings each section alive with entertaining introductions, backed up with great research and an irresistible and genuine affection for the subject and the stories. It is filled with warmth, humanity, spot-on observations and laugh-out-loud stories, and (as my friends can testify!) I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone.

Anne Seymour 11/04/2010

• "Soul glow!"

My partner and I met on Guardian Soulmates and are our stories are also featured in the book. We have both read it cover to cover - it's brilliant (concise, engaging, funny, heart warming and obsessively researched). We especially love the Porkie Pie and Dates from Hell sections. A fascinating insight into the modern phenomenon of meeting other human beings online and looking for love, partnership, friendship and many other things in between!

Simon Bleasdale 14/03/2010

• "Pure joy to read"

I cannot praise this book too highly. For anyone contemplating internet dating, already involved in it or simply curious, SOULMATES is absolutely fascinating and a great guide to reading between the lines of people's profiles. It also has many useful tips on how to advertise oneself in an honest but engaging way and what cliches to avoid if putting oneself on line. With case histories of participants, Ms Fernando illustrates in a warm and witty way the gap between how some people imagine themselves and the reality. This is why face to face meetings are often extremely disappointing or hilariously ghastly. To balance that, there are plenty of positive ones which lead to permanent partnerships, a wider circle of friends or a more fulfilling life. This is a compassionate book, much more than the usual 'how to' type of book. It is extremely humane and encouraging. I heartily recommend it, as for me it was pure joy to read and I had a smile on my face the whole way through.

Fiona Sandilands 13/03/2010

• "Hard to put down"

This is a hard-to-put-down book for anyone interested in human nature in the Internet Age. Fernando's unique exploration of the rise of internet dating spans the social and sexual spectrum. The collection of true stories gives us an insight into the experiences of cyber-dating, from the heart-warming to the horrific and hilarious. It had me laughing, crying and incredulous at what people do to and for each other as the online becomes manifest in the flesh. A must-read for anybody thinking of dipping their toes into the bubbling waters of online love matching, and for those who have already taken the plunge!

Sarah Shelley 01/03/2010

• "All Life is Here"

You feel, on reading this unusual book, that all life is here. Well OK, maybe not all life - but along with a good crop of Guardian readers and Soulmates members, there are people from every species of dating website you could imagine - from sites for parents and lesbians to one that specialises in toy boys for older women: one chapter in, it starts to dawn on you that the whole of Britain must be dating online. Reading this book is like going to an amazing secret party full of bright, entertaining and thoughtful people of all ages and backgrounds who have been brought together by a big-hearted, generous host. The author introduces her guests with a wry, admiring affection, and sets their individual stories within the bigger frame of Modern British Life, riffing interestingly on such related themes as the development of the internet and the re-invention of the traditional "lonely heart". All in all, a lively, fun, thought-provoking and affecting tour of a little-known modern Britain.

Julia Courtauld 01/03/2010

• "Elegantly written"

Soulmates is the wittiest book I have read in ages! Who said courtship was dead? It's alive and well alright - in the cyber world of online dating - and, from the true-life stories in Fernando's book, it seems to be leading to some very happy marriages. This elegantly written book charts the highs and lows of dating on the virtual frontier and provides a perfect beginner's guide to an intriguing phenomenon. I've used my highlighter liberally on its pages, and can't wait to log on myself. But first my nom de plume - I wonder if "alibi" is already taken?

Sasha Laurel 01/03/2010

• "An addictive read"

This is addictive reading if you've ever lurked around an Internet dating website and wondered what happens to all those smiling or moody faces, what they're really like beneath the spin and whether they ever manage to get together in a happy-ever-after. It's even more interesting if you've tried it yourself as you'll find stories that echo your own experiences. Sonali Fernando wittily charts the rapid rise, social acceptance and popularity of Internet dating and illustrates her themes with accounts from people who have used a range of Internet dating sites with varying degress of success and satisfaction. This is an engrossing read, with a nice balance of human interest and thought-provoking insights. It's a must-read if you're thinking of trying it yourself, with plenty of 'Aww' moments in amongst some very funny down-to-earth observations.

Jo Kirrane 24/02/2010