The Rosie Effect

Graeme Simsion is an Australian author, playwright, and screenwriter with a background in information systems and a PhD in data modelling. His debut novel, The Rosie Project, was first published in Australia by Text Publishing in 2013 and became something of a phenomenon. The novel was awarded a prize for an unpublished manuscript in 2012 and the Book of the Year Award by the Australian Book Industry Association. It was also published in the UK by Penguin and in the US by Simon & Schuster—where it was included in the New York Times bestseller list. As of 2024, a film adaptation is in development.

The Rosie Project (2013) is a romantic comedy that follows genetics professor Don Tillman, who seeks an ideal wife. He finds himself drawn to bartender Rosie Jarman and her spontaneity, despite his scrupulous rationale. He offers to identify her biological father, a process that involves secretly testing the DNA of a graduating class of Melbourne medical students. The Rosie Project stands out with its neurodivergent protagonist, who exhibits traits often associated with autism. Though Don is never evaluated for autism, an early scene shows him interacting with youth diagnosed with what was once called Asperger’s Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and relating to their rationale.