Being crazy passionate about what I do as a dating coach for four decades (gulp, I just counted them—the ’90s, ’00s, ’10s, and now the ’20s), you bet I notice differences! Trends seem to shift every few years, and thanks to AI, an aging population, and a well-educated dating scene, singles and those in their second acts are becoming bolder and more adventurous as their experiences with online dating grow.

Here’s what’s hot—and what’s totally not—in the dating world of 2025:

This is what I want—but how do I get there? With over 1,400 dating platforms on the market, it’s a fair question. How do I handle this on Zoom calls with my new clients? First, I listen for an hour. It gives me time to formulate my thoughts and an individual strategy for them. Next, I send them my Personal Business Plan to fill out (yes, the most popular worksheet in my new book released last week: 2nd Acts: Winning Strategies for Dating).

Strategy and dating? Oh yes, they go together like garlic bread and pasta. No, it’s not unromantic—it’s smart! And I am all about getting you to my 65% column of clients who end up meeting their partner. Don’t let starry eyes get in your way—love needs a game plan!

We all know about red flags, right? They mean RUN. Delete. Block. But what about green flags? The good signs we should be paying attention to?

Quick story: I had a client in her 60s, sharp, accomplished, gorgeous—and a pro at sniffing out red flags before she even met a guy. Google Lens? Check. Social media deep dive? Check. Background search? You bet. She was rejecting men before even saying hello!

So when she called me fretting over a guy with an MBA, great photos, and a solid life—but only a year post-divorce—I told her, “Take a deep breath, put the detective badge away, and just meet him.”

Result? A six-hour first date, a Sunday football party where her girlfriends were ga-ga over him, and a Monday night pickleball match. Turns out, while his divorce was a year ago, his separation was four years back—he was more than ready. And for the first time, she sounded giddy. Even my husband, who’s heard all about her, said, “Wow, I didn’t think you’d find her someone!”

So let’s not get so lost in the red flags that we miss the green ones. Sometimes, you just have to show up.

3. Embracing Niche Interests

Dating profiles used to be full of broad hobbies—”I love skiing and hiking!”—but now? It’s all about the niche passions: glass blowing, salsa dancing, building miniatures, collecting rare vinyl.

Why? Because being unapologetically you is attractive. Will she be taking up glass blowing with him? Probably not. But it makes conversations more interesting and gives relationships more dimension. No one wants a clone—variety keeps things spicy!

Just like it sounds—saying exactly what you’re looking for on your dating profile. But with grace, of course! No vague “just seeing what’s out there” nonsense.

Confidence is hot. Own what you want. Be bold. Be clear. And guess what? You’ll attract the right kind of attention—no mind games required.

5. Less Pressure, More Picky

Oh, I love this one. Clients are realizing there are way more fish in the sea than they anticipated—and they absolutely do not need to settle. If it’s not a match, next!

It’s refreshing. It’s empowering. And honestly? It makes dating more fun.

Bonus: What’s Out (Thank God!)

1. Slow dating: Endless texting and phone calls with someone you’ll probably never meet. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

2. Benching: That annoying “kind of interested but keeping you on standby” move? Yeah, we’re all too smart for that now.

3. Grim Keeping: Bonding over shared dislikes and complaints. Misery might love company, but love thrives on joy.

When I read through all of this, it comes back to strategy, openness, mindset, and knowing what you want. Cheers to 2025 dating—let’s make it bold, smart, and fun!

Read my book—there’s 14 worksheets and QR Codes that take you to coaching videos to get you on the right path to dating—and having fun with the entire process—yes, I said FUN!  Click here to buy today.

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2025

I liked this book primarily for two reasons. One point she makes is that you need to be 100% in to be successful with dating. I think my issue in the past is that I got bummed after a week or two and quit. So I’m following her advice and also doing the worksheets. This helps me think about what I have done wrong in the past.The second reason is positivity and your mindset. This book has gotten me in a much happier place and am excited about dating again. After all, attitude is everything.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.

Good info—liked the video aspect and worksheets

I read this in one day–I got an advance copy as a book club leader. We are using this book for February 2025 book club. Andrea makes it very personal–she gives a strategy then a real life example plus adds worksheets to get you to your goal. She’s funny and smart. There’s 8 of us trying it out in our book club so keep you posted if it works. She also has a video component in each chapter via a QRcode direclt from her which makes you like the book even more. Recommend.

·                  Review Contains Spoilers: 

·                  Quick Read,