Growing up, I always dreamed of meeting my Prince Charming at a young age and getting married right out of college. But after my second year at UA, I realized that dream wasn’t going to come true. Sophomore year was coming to a close and my prince was still M.I.A. I was frustrated. I thought I was ready to meet my future husband and I couldn’t understand why God wasn’t sending him to me.

One night, I went out shopping to clear my head. I came across a book called "The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman’s Guide to Happily Ever After" by Bethany Jett. She wrote this book based around her high school and college experiences that led her to finding her Mr. Right. Her stories are relatable and her advice is life changing. I would strongly recommend this book to all teens and twentysomethings — both single and in relationships. Just because you’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you’re in the right one. This book may open your eyes to a whole new dating life. I’ve personally read this book three times, and reference it often.

Below are some of the quotes from Bethany’s book that have helped me through the worst heartaches, and I hope they help you too.

1. “If he doesn’t see the need to get you flowers now, he sure as heck won’t bring you any when you are married.”

2. “Get deeply engaged in your studies. Pursue a career. Live your life.”

3. “Become the woman worthy of a man worth having.”

4. “Men are attracted to independent, smart, confident women.”

5. “Dating is the time to set standards high. You are the prize."

6. “Until a man is ready to commit to you, and you are fully aware of and have accepted his past, part of your heart must be willing to have one hand on the doorknob and one foot ready to pivot and run."

7. “Know your plan. Protect your heart.

8. “…God will bring the perfect man to you. It’s not your job to find him.

9. “A man will do what a man wants to do.

10. “Don’t play hard to get. Be hard to get."

11. “You are worth more than being a girl who stays with a guy because she doesn’t want to be alone."

12. “Would Prince Charming have spent his every waking hour looking for a girl who talked dirty and dressed like a tramp?"

13. “…If a guy doesn’t ask you out for the upcoming weekend by Wednesday, you say no, even if your calendar is wide open and you’ve been praying for him to ask you out for the entire semester. …If he truly likes you, he will definitely ask you out again. If he never repeats the offer, you may have been his back-up plan."

14. “A guy who wants you will not take no for an answer."

15. “Let him call, text, friend, email, or instant message you first."

16. “If he’s not dreaming of you, you need to stop dreaming of him."

17. “If a man takes you for granted, you have a choice: set him straight or become his doormat. And by set him straight, I mean tell him to cut it out or you’re walking."

18. “Sometimes it takes a good breakup for a boy to know what he has."

19. “While you looove your boyfriend and always want to be near him because you can’t get enough of him, grow up! There has to be some balance.”

20. “Your boyfriend shouldn’t be your only friend.”

21. “Flirting with a guy you aren’t interested in is not fair to him.”

22. “…you should spend as much time with Jesus as you would with a boyfriend.”

23. “As women, we have to make sure we’re not the ones bestowing the most affection.”

24. “Don’t settle for what is good and miss out on what is great.”

25. “Sometimes God removes you from your dreams so that He can give you something better.”

26. “On-again, off-again isn’t healthy. Don’t threaten a breakup to get what you want.”

27. “A confident girl does not date a guy just because he likes her. She remains single until the guy she wants decides he wants her.”