Cosmo never speaks to my life. Its surveys always ask questions like How would you react if your lover announced he was taking a job in Alaska? and jumping for joy is never one of the options. Move to Alaska? Hell, my lover was thirty-seven and hadn't moved away from home yet. Where were the questions relevant to my life?
In Kelley Armstrong's "Bitten," the narrator expresses frustration with the unrealistic scenarios posed by Cosmo magazine. The surveys seem to present situations that are far removed from the narrator's everyday experiences, highlighting a disconnect between the magazine's content and her reality. For instance, questions about relocating for a job in Alaska feel irrelevant, especially considering her partner's reluctance to leave home.
This sense of irrelevance emphasizes a broader theme of the narrative, as the narrator longs for content that resonates with her own life challenges and relationships. The criticism of surface-level media like Cosmo showcases a desire for more authentic and relatable dialogues on love and commitment.