Dating in 2025

Dating in 2025? Well, it's a ride, that's for sure. Between the tech, the apps, and the ghosting—it can be nuts. My friends joke that I'm the 2025 version of Carrie Bradshaw, just tryin’ to make sense of romance in the cities that never stop—NYC, LA, Chicago. They even say I should write a column or a book about it—hell, maybe I will. I've got enough stories.

I try to approach every date with an open heart, just hoping for the best, but I can’t lie, some of these experiences have been... well, they’ve been a lot.

The Catfish
There was this one time I showed up to meet a guy, and when he walked in, I realized real quick he wasn’t who he said he was. He was using someone else's pictures. If you want to start something real with someone, don’t fake who you are. It’s exhausting, and frankly, it’s not cute

The Scary Date
Had a sushi date once, and the guy just casually asked me if I wanted to do heroin. I’m not joking. He wasn’t kidding either. Honestly, I don’t even know how to explain that one. It was one of those moments where your heart stops for a second, and you just know you’ve gotta get out. Safe to say that was our first and last date.

The Strip Club
Ever had a date ditch you for a strip club? Well, this one did. He left me with the bill and took off to see "entertainment." I mean, did he think this was The Graduate or something? So, I went after him, found him, and made sure he came back to pay up. I may be fun, but I’m not that kind of fun.

The Postmate
Five minutes into the date—before we even had time to order—and the guy says, “So, are we having sex tonight? Let me know so I can Postmate condoms.” No words. Cringe. I just... can't

The Vanishing Wallet Trick
I’ve lost track of how many times this has happened: some guy “forgets” his wallet or says he doesn’t have Venmo or Zelle. I mean, come on. How many times can that trick work before it gets old? It’s like they think I won’t notice.

The Club Debts Disaster
One time, we’re out at a club, and this guy’s got a pile of debts he hasn’t paid. Next thing you know, the staff’s yelling, and I’m stuck in the middle of it. My brother Breaker showed up, saved me from the mess, but damn—it’s a good reminder to be careful about who you get involved with.

The Rude Waitress Incident
I’m gonna keep this simple: if you’re rude to anyone working in service, that’s a dealbreaker. No exceptions. I can’t stand it.

The Leg Guy
I’ll never forget this one date at Arturo’s, one of my family’s favorite spots in NYC. This guy just kept looking under the table at my legs. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was “obsessed with them” and wanted to take pictures. Yeah, no. I stood up, walked out, and didn’t look back. Not gonna happen.

The Emotional Date
I had a first date once where the guy spent the entire time crying about his ex. Look, we’ve all been through breakups. I get it,but there’s a time and a place.

The Blind Date

A friend set me up with this guy—he was easy on the eyes, no doubt, but when it came to conversation, it was like talking to a brick wall. He didn’t go to college (no problem there), but he also had no job, no real hobbies to speak of, and when I asked him what kind of music he liked, he couldn’t name a single song. Same with movies or books—nothing. He didn’t care about sports or politics. It was like pulling teeth just to get him to say anything. After a while, I couldn’t keep pretending it was going anywhere. I got the follow-up text, but I knew better. I politely let it go.

The Unkind Date
Had this guy once who spent the entire time picking’ me apart. Didn’t like my nose ring, didn’t like how I spoke with my hands. Not nice.

The Overeager Date
We sit down, say hello, and then this guy leans in for a kiss and says, “Let’s get outta here.” Too eager

The Job Seeker Date
One guy asked me if I could get him a job with my parents and that was when I knew this date wasn’t going anywhere.

The Party Date
Had a guy I’d been seeing take me to a party, then, right in front of me, leave with another girl. Ouch.

Ghosting
Let’s talk about ghosting. It’s weak. Don’t do it. If you’re not feeling someone, just say it. Don’t leave them wondering what went wrong or where you disappeared to. It’s simple: treat others like you want to be treated. A little honesty goes a long way. If you’re not into it, just let them know. Ghosting doesn’t save anyone any trouble, it just adds unnecessary drama.

Staying Positive
To anyone out there who’s feeling frustrated with dating—just know you're not alone. It can feel like an endless cycle of bad dates, miscommunication, and things not going the way you hoped,but don’t let it get to you. Keep your heart open, keep doing your thing, and remember that you deserve better than whatever nonsense you might be dealing with.

So yeah, dating in 2025? It can be hard. It’s not all that different from the chaos of life itself. Sometimes, I’m really not interested in dating at all, and that’s ok too. I’m not sweating it. Some days, I’m excited about meeting someone new, and other days, I’m just focused on the other parts of my life.

One of my friends recently went on a date, and this story breaks my heart every time I think about it. She showed up and was ready to see where it could go, and the guy just looked her up and down... and walked away. Just like that. No explanation. No words. It’s moments like this that make me wonder, why are people so cruel?

I’ll never stop believing in love, though. I think it’d be nice to find someone to share it all with,but I’m not rushing it. If it doesn’t happen, that’s completely fine too. I’m living my life, and when the time’s right, the right person will show up. Until then, I’m just here for the ride, whatever comes next.

xx,

Tallulah