Includes bibliographical references (pages [269]-273) and index.

Introduction: Dates -- Tricks -- Likes -- Outs -- School -- Steadies -- Freedom -- Niches -- Protocol -- Plans -- Help -- Afterword: Love.

It seems as though every week there's a new app available on your smartphone promising dates a plenty. A mate, on the other hand, is becoming harder and harder to find. The age-old quest for true love requires more effort than ever before. Let's face it: dating is work. Which, as it happens, is exactly where it began, in the 19th century--as prostitution. Labor of Love offers a fresh feminist perspective on how we came to date the ways we do. This isn't a guide to "getting the guy." There are no "rules" to follow. Instead, Weigel helps us understand how looking for love shapes who we are - and hopefully leads us closer to the happy ending that dating promises.