Summary

Chapter 1: Rule 1 sets up the book's structure as a series of rules for being single. The chapter jumps between present and past tense. The story is primarily told in present tense from the first person point of view of Julie, the one friend that the others have in common. Words in italics are comments made by her friends that she is incorporating into her narrative or for emphasis. Each friend is introduced in sections titled "How Georgia is Single," "How Alice is Single," and "How Serena is Single" to offer background information for the story.

The chapter begins with "How Georgia is Single." Julie is talking to Georgia on the phone at 8:45 a.m.. Georgia says she wants to die and begs Julie to arrange a girls night out to show her she can still have fun after her husband, Dale, has decided...