The Night Before Thirty: A Novel

by Tajuana Butler

New, from the number one bestselling author of Hand-me-down Heartache and Sorority Sisters , a novel about five women on the verge of turning thirty, whose lives are changed forever when they meet through a national radio contest

At first glance, you couldn’t find five women more different.

Catara is a personal shopper in New York who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Embarrassed by her weight, she lets a lack of self-confidence derail her goals. In Atlanta, Lashawnda has gone from a string of bad relationships with men into one with a woman that doesn’t seem much better. Elise is realizing her dream of opening up a gymnastics school in Louisville, Kentucky, but between working and taking care of her grandmother, she can’t find much time to nurture herself. Tanya’s relationship with her boyfriend is at the breaking point. She’s ready to leave Chicago and fast city living to settle down and have a family, but her man isn’t on the same page. Alecia lives in Los Angeles and has been getting by on her looks for a long time, but when her (married) boyfriend makes it clear that his wife comes first, she has to realize that beauty fades and she must prepare for her future.

But these women do have something in common—they all share the same birthday and are about to turn thirty. When the number one syndicated black radio show in the country sponsors a Night Before Thirty Getaway Weekend, these women meet, and while their time together is brief, the impact they have upon one another’s lives is everlasting.

Genres: African American, Fiction, Chick Lit

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library because I will be turning 30 this summer and wanted to read a fun story about turning 30.
This is a story of 5 black women who are all turning 30 on Dec 1 and, after writing in their story about why they want to do so, they are picked by a radio station to go on a cruise to celebrate their birthday in style. The book tells the stories of each of these women and how they have an impact on each other's lives over the course of this weekend get-a-way.
Overall it was an enjoyable read. It was not very deep and each woman's life is summarized in approximately 4 chapters each, with 2 being dedicated to their lives before the cruise - telling what prompted them to take the cruise in the first place, one being decidated to a momentous event in their life (as told to the others on the trip) and one being dedicated to how their lives change when they get home. Mixed in are a couple of short chapters about the trip itself, but overall it's a bit of a shallow read. You find yourself interested in these women to a point, but you don't have very much time to get attached to them before the story is over. While I did like the story, I didn't feel it left enough of an impression on me to rate it 3 stars.

[Kesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this was an alright book. It could have been better if there were less main characters. The book should have just been Catara and LaShaunda. Both of these characters had backs stories that were interesting and I would have loved to read about how their future changed.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good story about 5 ladies coming together for their 30th birthday..I'd say this was chic-lit. The writing was ok but I would have liked the whole book to be a bit longer to get the chance to enjoy the characters and their lives more. It all felt rushed. A good quick read.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little slow. It tells the story of five different women who have never met, but all share the same birthday.

The five women are Catara, Tonya, Elise, Lashawnda, and Alecia. None of them were extremely interesting characters, but I did like Catara and Elise the most, since they were the most relatable. Catara is a plus-sized woman who wants to be a fashion designer, but is unable to move forward in her career. Tonya loves her boyfriend Chris, but not his drug-dealing, street behavior. Elise has opened up her own gymnasium for kids and meets a new guy, but is unable to tell him her true feelings. Lashawnda is tired of being disappointed by men, but finds out that being with a woman isn't much better. And Alecia is the typical, spoiled, gold-digger who is having an affair with a married man. The five women all win a radio contest in which they are able to spend their thirty birthdays on a luxurious cruise.

The story was quite predictable and a tad formulaic. There are some "make you think" moments, but again nothing too interesting.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. It was on the light reads table in the library and it was just that.

[George]

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