First off, congratulations, queen! You’ve survived the worst heartbreak imaginable, and now you’re dipping your toes back into the dating pool. But hold up, before you dive in, let’s talk about the toxic sharks circling the waters. They come in many forms, but all have one mission: to make your dating life a hot mess.
If you don’t want to end up emotionally drained, financially bamboozled, or contemplating a life of cat hoarding, read on. Here are eight types of men every widow should avoid like a sketchy all-you-can-eat sushi buffet.
1. The Savior
This guy sees your widowhood as a project, and congratulations, you’re the damsel in distress! He’ll swoop in with over-the-top chivalry, promising to “fix” your broken heart. Sounds dreamy, right? Wrong. The Savior isn’t here for love; he’s here for an ego boost. And once he realizes you’re stronger than a Marvel superhero, he’ll disappear faster than your WiFi signal during a thunderstorm.
Red Flags: Love bombing, treating you like a fragile doll, giving unsolicited “life advice.”
2. The Comparison King
If you hear “Well, my ex used to…” more than “How was your day?”, run. This guy is stuck in the past and will compare you to every woman he’s ever dated, including your late husband (yikes). You deserve someone who sees you, not someone looking for a stand-in for their lost love.
Red Flags: Constant name-dropping of exes, unrealistic expectations, emotional unavailability.
3. The Pity Party Planner
At first, it’s sweet, he’s sensitive to your loss. But then it turns into every conversation being about your grief. He’s not actually trying to connect; he just enjoys playing hero. Before you know it, you’re stuck in a never-ending therapy session where you’re the patient, and he’s the self-proclaimed expert.
Red Flags: Always bringing up your loss, overly dramatic, treats your grief like his new personality trait.
4. The Gold Digger
Let’s be real, widows are often financially stable. And guess who notices? Mr. “I Forgot My Wallet” and his cousin, Mr. “Invest in My Business Idea.” This guy will wine and dine you… with your own money. Before you know it, you’re funding his new NFT collection (spoiler alert: it’s worthless).
Red Flags: Talks about money way too soon, conveniently unemployed, asks for “loans.”
5. The Age-Gap Enthusiast
This isn’t about healthy age-gap relationships, it’s about the guy who exclusively dates older women for a reason. He’s either looking for a mommy figure or assuming you’ll be so grateful for attention that you won’t notice his nonsense. Spoiler alert: You will.
Red Flags: Calls you “sexy for your age,” weird mommy issues, zero life stability.
6. The Ghoster
Everything’s great… until it’s not. One day, he’s texting you 24/7, and the next? Poof! Gone. If you wanted a disappearing act, you’d watch a magic show, not date a grown man with the emotional intelligence of a teenager.
Red Flags: Hot and cold behavior, vague about commitment, vanishes when you need emotional support.
7. The Speed Racer
You’ve been on two dates, and he’s already planning the wedding. Sure, you want love again, but let’s not act like this is a Hallmark movie. The Speed Racer is either emotionally reckless or hiding something (like a wife?). Either way, slow it down, girl!
Red Flags: Talks about marriage way too soon, pushes for commitment overnight, moves at warp speed.
8. The “Nice Guy” (But Not Really)
He swears he’s different from “other guys.” He’s so nice, right? Until you say you’re not interested, then suddenly you’re a “cold-hearted widow who can’t appreciate a good man.” Newsflash: being nice is the bare minimum. If he constantly reminds you he’s nice, he probably isn’t.
Red Flags: Over-explains how good of a guy he is, guilt-trips you, gets defensive at rejection.
So Where Are the Good Guys?!
Glad you asked! Finding love again doesn’t have to be a nightmare, but you need the right tools. And that’s where Widow’s Compass: The Ultimate Guide to Thriving & Dating Again comes in!
This book isn’t just fluff, it’s packed with real strategies for identifying healthy partners, setting boundaries, and navigating dating after loss without the drama. If you’re tired of toxic men and ready for a love that actually makes you happy, this is your roadmap.
Grab your copy now and start dating with confidence! You deserve it.
What’s the Worst Type of Guy You’ve Met?
Drop your dating horror stories in the comments! We’re all in this together, and nothing bonds us like a shared nightmare.