From 13 years of online dating disasters to happily married: This brutally honest memoir will make you laugh, cringe, and help you finally find love

You've heard the horror stories. Romance scammers lurking behind fake profiles. Men who ghost after great dates. The guy whose photo was clearly taken fifteen years and forty pounds ago.

Mary Walsh lived through them all—and then some. After her divorce at 48, she dove headfirst into the online dating world, where she met an astonishing parade of characters:

• the wealthy businessman who called her a "good looking broad"
• the cop who needed a nurse more than a girlfriend
• the married man who had a secret master plan
• and the religious fanatic whose kitchen cabinets were filled with saints instead of dishes.

Part hilarious dating diary, part practical relationship manual, Taking the Plunge shares Mary’s hard-earned wisdom about navigating the murky waters of online romance. From detecting love scammers to recognizing red flags, from writing the perfect profile to knowing when to walk away, she covers everything she wishes someone had told her before she started swiping.

Whether you're newly single, dating-app curious, at an age when you think your romantic days are behind you, or already battle-tested in the online trenches, this laugh-out-loud book will entertain, educate, and inspire you to keep searching for your perfect match.

Because sometimes the best love stories begin with the worst first dates.