Confronted by factors that other generations never considered in their search for love and commitment, the "unhooked generation" faces a potholed road to romance. Based on 100 in-depth interviews, Jillian Straus examines the obstacles facing unattached women and men in an age when all the choices we have somehow manage to decrease our chances of finding a mate. While cell phones, text messages, e-mail, speed dating, and internet dating create a sense that there are endless options, a culture of "consumer sex" and casual hook-ups make settling down feel like settling. As the age of first marriage goes up, the level of expectation climbs, and we start subjecting prospective mates to "the checklist." From the collapse of courtship and the death of romance to the media message that single life is sexy and married life is boring, we have a culture of mixed emotions about the very concept of marriage.--From publisher description.