Thirty Days to Thirty

by Courtney Psak

What if you were on the cusp of marrying the guy of your dreams and reaching that career goal you set for yourself, only for all of it to be taken away in one fell swoop?

What if this all happened a month before you turned 30?

This is the story of Jill Stevens, who after moving back home, finds a list she made in high school of thirty things she wanted to accomplish before her thirtieth birthday.

With a month left and hardly anything crossed off her list, she teams up with old friends to accomplish as much as she can before the big 3-0. Along the way, she discovers her true self and realizes it’s not about the material successes in life but the journey.

Genres: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Humor, Adult

228 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 14, 2015

About the author

Courtney Psak is a New Jersey native who grew up with a passion for reading and writing.
After traveling the world, she settled into New York City where she earned her Masters in Publishing.
She is a member of the National Writers Association and the Women's Fiction Writers Association.
She currently resides in Hoboken with her husband.
She spends her weekends seeking adventure through hiking, skiing and traveling.

Sign up for my newletter here:
https://courtneypsak.substack.com/

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

I can tell she is not listening to me. It usually happens after ten minutes. She has the attention span of a cocker spaniel.

Sarah looks the best I’ve ever seen her. I thought the rule was pretty, mean girls peaked in high school. Apparently this one is immortal.

She’s wearing a white dress with a gold belt and has a nice even suntan. She looks stunning. I hate her.

My Review:

Thirty Days To Thirty was found treasure. I adored each and every page and found it to be crisp, fun, and totally delightful, despite the initially horrendous bad luck of the main character at the beginning of the story, which was just awful, but hilariously awful. At the end of one long heinous day just one month shy of her thirtieth birthday; workaholic and overachiever Jill loses her job, walks in on her fiancé in a tryst, and becomes homeless due to said fiancé breaking up with her. Burn! Major bad karma! While dramatically tossing her belongings around during the move back into her old room in her parents’ home, she discovers a list she made at the age of eighteen as a class assignment in which she was required to detail thirty things she hoped to have accomplished by the age of thirty. Cue in the epiphany light bulb for Jill that due to her work-driven nature, she could only mark off two of the thirty.

This is a debut novel yet it was expertly done, well-paced, insightful, relevant, and highly amusing. I did not want to put my kindle down once I started reading. The characters were people I would like to know - they were smart, funny, lovable, endearing, yet imperfect and quirky. It turns out her atrociously bad juju at the beginning of the book was actually serendipitous fortune and lead to a vast improvement in every area of her life. Courtney Psak is a new talent to watch. I hope to see her name again and again in my TBR.

[Grace {Rebel Mommy Book Blog} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
This book totally caught my attention because that time right before thirty is a really interesting one and lists. I can't pass up a book with a list that has various items the person must complete. Plus it was pretty short and sounded cute.  I was so happy it lived up to, if not exceeded, the expectations I had for it.

Just before Jill turns thirty she has a run of bad luck which included losing her job, losing her boyfriend and moving bak in with her parents. She is all sorts of lost when she finds a list she made in high school of thirty things she wanted to do before she was thirty. She then attempts to do as many as she can before the big 3-0.

I really enjoyed this one from the get-go. It was a quick and easy read that I found really relatable. Not that I have had all of that happen to me at all - let along before my birthday - but Jill and her friends felt real. Her best friend Liz was probably more someone who I related to now - she had three kids, a husband that worked a lot and was happy to have a night out with the just the girls. She was a great friend and loved getting to see into her life as well. There was the old high school flame Chris who was the absolute best and helped Jill with her list the most. Plus she blogs and that always makes me happy to see in a book.

While super cute it was really predictable and way too tidy at the end. I am all for fairytale endings but it was a bit much. Still, it was quick and cute and I think a lot people would really enjoy it.




Review
Truth time. I put off this book because by the time I was ready to pick it up I had seen a lof of meh to bad reviews and decided I just didn't have time for it. Fast forward to ARC August and me trying to clean out some old ARCs sitting around. I tried another that got bad reviews and I had put off and that was a DNF @ 16%. Then I decided to try Autofocus and so glad I did because I really enjoyed it.

Autofocus is about Maude (got I love that name!!) who spurred on by a photography project about family decideds to find out more about her birth mother. Since her mother went to Florida State University (one of the only things she really knows) and her best friend goes there as well she decides to spend her fall break with her friend and also researching.

I feel like in those meh to bad reviews a lot of criticism was for Maude as a character. I had no issues with her at all. I actually liked her and found her relatable. I also loved her friendship with Treena. While Maude is still in high school, Treena is a freshman in college. They find out you can change a lot in college whether you mean to or not. I totally was able to understand both girls and their reactions to their time together and how each has changed. I was glad they were able to work through their issues.

Also, there was a sweet romance with Maude and Bennet (again love the name!!). Since Treena is busy Bennet who is a friend if hers helps Maude with some of her research about her mother. They clearly had chemistry from the get go and I liked how they played out.

The family aspect - with her adoptive parents as well as with her search for information on her birth mother - was really interesting and I thought handled well. I don't feel like I have read a lot of books that feature adoption as a main focus so it was something different for me subject wise.

Overall I thought it was well paced, interesting and hit on some good topics such as family, friendships and sweet relationships.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog

[Maren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to read this book because it almost seemed perfect since I will be turning 30 this year. It sounded like it would have a really good message. It was a very cute, fun read and it was definitely a quick read. While I loved the idea of the main character, Jill, trying to complete this list of hers before she turned 30, there were a lot of cheesy cliche moments that kept me from loving this book. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy reading it. I loved the message of taking the time to actually live your life rather than focus too hard on one area of life, namely a career. I think one of my favorite bits of this message was when Jill's mother asked her if any of her coworkers from the law firm had bothered to call and check in to see how she was doing. She spent at least 80 hours a week with these people and they could care less about how she is doing after being fired. I've always been a person who loves high school sweetheart romances so I loved seeing Chris come back into Jill's life. Overall, this was a very cute book with a great message behind it.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to CAMP Publishing & Net Galley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Jill gets fired & dumped in the same day. Not only does she get dumped, but finds out her boyfriend of 6 years is having an affair with his secretary in her own home. Jill leaves town, moves back in with her parents in her old hometown and finds a list of "things to do before you turn thirty" she wrote when she was 18. She has challenged herself to do the 30 things on the list in the 30 days before she turns 30. Enter Chris-Jill's high school flame. Between Chris, Liz (Jills BFF) and Jills parents, the list is quickly becoming a reality.



Such a cute book. Typical chick lit where the girl gets her heart broken, dreams crushed, yet moves on to find the love of her life. This would make a great beach read given the summer season.

[Sherri Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty Days to Thirty by new to me author Courtney Psak was a lot of fun to read. I felt a strong connection to Jill as a woman who is at a major crossroads in her life with the big 3-0 looming and her realization that she hasn’t accomplished everything she thought she would. After losing her job, boyfriend and home all in the same day, Jill does what many people do. She moves back in with her parents.

And if that isn’t bad enough, she discovers a list she wrote in high school of thirty things she wants to achieve before she turns 30. Not a big deal, right? Her birthday is a month away and you can imagine how quickly the panic sets in. Some of the things on her list have already been completed. Finish college, check. Work at a law firm, check. However, some of the items on her list seem insurmountable. Get on TV; save a life; kiss a stranger…are you kidding me?! And let’s not even discuss what motivated Jill to include skydiving as one of those items.

What made this book so much fun for me is tagging along while Jill starts to sort out her life. Her best friend, Liz provides much needed moral support and comic relief. Additionally, Jill’s ex-boyfriend from high school, Chris, is also there. Jill hasn’t seen or spoken to him for ten years and I loved how easily they got along and wondered why Jill let him go in the first place. I laughed aloud many times at Jill’s attempts to complete some of the items, such as taking up yoga. Along the way, Jill comes to realize that it’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey.

I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and though her parents got on her nerves because, you know, they’re parents, seeing their relationship become stronger was wonderful.

The only issue readers may have with this book is the speed in which Jill and Chris get back together, profess their feelings and make a commitment. This entire book takes place within a period of one month so it may appear that Jill is totally on the rebound in her relationship with Chris. I had to suspend disbelief and just tell myself that when it’s right, it’s right and when you know, you know and hope for the best.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fun story with characters that I was rooting for from the beginning. I recommend this book to readers who like their stories to have humor and fun mixed in with the romance and featuring characters that aren’t all that different from the rest of us, just trying to get through the hurdles life throws without falling flat on our faces.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Thirty Days to Thirty from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jill discovers her boyfriend's affair after she comes home early because she'd been fired. Her NY law firm had absorbed her energies for ten years, then chucked her out without a care. Now she has nothing and nobody, except her parents, luckily. She slinks home and feels as if she has gone nowhere and accomplished nothing. Then Jill finds a list in her old school stuff, of what she'd hoped to accomplish by the time she was thirty. Well, many of the items never got achieved because she was working too hard. Is there time to catch up? Only thirty days to be a more rounded, interesting person.

One feature I like is that Liz, Jill's best friend, provides a contrast by showing how the girl who married and had three kids has led a busy life, but has also missed out on a lot. Now she helps by bringing Jill to her yoga class, while Jill provides Liz with an excuse to go out and be sociable.

The tale is told in-head, present tense. Scenery includes Martha's Vineyard. We don't get a lot of location description though, just more people, like Chris, a nice guy helping his parents. Jill comes across as self-absorbed and rushed, even with no job. She starts a blog instead of a book. Immediate gratification and feedback wanted. But she does start to realise that other people have lives, and their lives matter. She gains a new perspective and starts helping those who have helped her accomplish her goals.

I don't like the old-fashioned, clunky, hard on the eyes typeface. Why not use Arial? Also the author uses space dash space dash space when space dash space is appropriate. She uses this frequently. Added to schoolgirlish words like snotty, putting a space before three dots, left-justified text which doesn't wrap even a short word but hypehenates, and the book comes across as amateurish. I also strongly doubt a professional TV journalist would tell the nation that his interview subject found her boyfriend cheating on her. The boyfriend could sue for defamation, even without being named, and networks don't like being sued.

I fond myself liking the fun, energetic story more as it progressed and some aspects are well thought out; I also like that our heroine goes skydiving, though she does it the easy way by being strapped to the instructor. I would really like this book to be produced in a more professional style as I feel the presentation lets it down somewhat.

I downloaded a copy from Net Galley for unbiased review.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine if you were nearing thirty and everything that you hoped to have would be stripped away from you leaving you with nothing but time and single ? What would you do especially when by thirty, you should have everything sorted out ? Thirty Days to Thirty follows the life and adventures of Jill as she has been working her way to partner in a major NY law firm , only to have her find out she was fired and then heading home to her partner of six years Brady, she discovers him sleeping with his secretary Jeanie and she ends up dumped all on the same day. With nowhere else to go, Jill heads home to her family in Manhattan. Cleaning her room up , she finds a list that she wrote as a class assignment of what to do before thirty with thirty items on the list. From Item #1 - Learn to live without a boyfriend leads her to run into her old high-school ex Charlie and since they haven't seen each other for ten years , the pair get talking and he offers to help her cross each item off her list. Another one of the Items is "Write a Book", since we now live in the world of social media and blogging, Jill decides to create a blog called "Thirty Days to Thirty" where she talks about achieving each item on her list and blogging about each experience. A couple of things that I loved about this book was that I could relate as I have a couple of years till I reach thirty myself and have recently thought about the things that I had wanted to achieve and you do look at yourself when you near that age and go OMG what have I done /achieved - am I just wasting my life ? It really is a worrying period of life that just before thirty. The other thing I loved was that Jill decided to create a blog about her journey as I love blogging and it's quite inspiring. Near the end Jill has to make a decision for her life as thirty is coming fast and hard , will this be a new step in her life to create a new Jill or when her past comes back , will she go back to her "comfort" zone ?

Find out in this awesome Chick Lit, Coming of Age story "Thirty Days to Thirty" by Courtney Psak. This is a book that every woman nearing their thirties must read as they will be able to relate with the majority of the novel.

[Mathangi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I got from Netgalley, and I am not disappointed. Thirty days to thirty was a lightning quick, light and easy read - just what I was looking for.

Losing a job you love is bad enough, finding out your boyfriend of 6 years is cheating on you on the SAME day? That can drive anyone mad. All things considered, in the end, I think Jill handled it all pretty well.

One thing I cannot comprehend is, why so much fuss over living with your parents? They are your own parents and it's the home you grew up in???

Not only was Jill unhappy about herself living at her parents' home, she had the same reaction to know that Chris is living at home too. Judgmental much?

Coming from a culture where living with your parents is a perfectly natural thing to do (unless you get a job in a different city, of course) I found this perplexing.

That aside, I found the idea of making a list of thirty things to do before turning thirty refreshing and inspiring. I might make my own list very soon! I found myself cheering Jill on when she went on to cross things off the list, one by one. She had fantastic friends in Liz and Chris, and her parents without whose help I doubt she'd have been able to pull this off.

While this is all good, I think Jill accomplishing everything on her list, getting settled in life, and becoming a whole new person in just a span of thirty days was quite unbelievable. 6 months or a year would have sounded achievable. But that kind of time wouldn't have suited a quirky book title, I guess. ;)

Major takeaways from this book :

Never overwork yourself so much that you lose your grip of your life. Don't waste your time for people who don't respect or appreciate you. Living in the moment, doing what makes you happy, being with your family are the more important things in life.

Thank you, Courtney Psak. :)

[The Curious Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book managed to really catch me by surprise and I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Jill thought she had it all; a high flying career with a law firm where she expected to be made partner soon and a loving boyfriend to come home to. Then it all came crashing down. The day she gets fired from her job is also the day she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. She has no choice but to move back in with her family where she finds a list that she had made during school days. It is a list of things to be accomplished before she turned thirty. With a mere month to her turning thirty, she decides to accomplish as many things from the list as possible. With the support of her family and friends, she takes on the challenge and in the process discovers new things about her life and those around her.

The plot is not very unique and we have all either read books or watched movies with the similar theme. And as such the first question that came to my mind while picking up the book was if this book had anything new to offer and whether it could hold on its own. So, let me answer those questions first and the answer is a resounding yes! The author has narrated the story with just the right amount of drama with a generous amount of wit and humour. I kept laughing and smiling throughout the book and once I was done reading, it left me feeling good. For that reason alone this book is worth reading. But if you need more, then worry not as this book has other things to offer as well. The language and narrative style are unpretentious and easy to get into. The supporting characters have been given enough importance and developed well along with the storyline.

The best part about the book is perhaps the fact that it sends across a very important message even through its light hearted narration. It is sure to make a reader to take a moment and reflect on their lives as well.

[Zoey Zane · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I love the premise of this book. It's so catchy, and it sounds cute. In the end, it was super cute. I sat back saying, "Oh, this was cute!" I'm a sucker for books that deal with lists. ;-)

From the beginning, I fell in love with Jill. While I couldn't relate to being overworked (entirely) or to being a lawyer, I did relate to watching her life fall apart in the mere time span of a few hours. I've been there. I've felt sorry for myself. I've had to make a drastic move. I've had to pick myself up and move on.

I admire how strong Jill is. Sure, she did wallow for a bit. But I mean, who wouldn't?! After a few days, she embarked on a journey that would change her life.

She found an old list she wrote in high school. She realized she never did anything on her list. She set out to right that wrong. And what a journey it was.

Psak's writing and style had me laughing at every turn! Thirty Days to Thirty is a definite feel-good book. It has swoon-worthy moments, it has moments where you want to cry, and it has best friend moments. No matter where Jill turned, she was not alone. I enjoyed the character development between Jill and all the secondary characters. Some of the advice (the characters gave each other) in the book was spot on!

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves chick-lit, or simply a feel-good book.

*I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

[Sneh Pradhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Completely , absolutely and disapointingly hate & loathe it !! Because i really expected a genuine laugh riot out of the title which , to say the least , is a promising premise . But the heroine is an unnaturally shy , self-apologetic , socially submissive woman , which the cliched plot of being fired and cheated on , just does not salvage !! There are no glimpses of any tokens of humor or girly sass till the farthest of horizons here ! The only use i can see of this book is to " gift " it to your choicest frenemies so they will bore themselves to death !! I will pick my chick-lit from Helen Fielding or Sophie Kinsella anyday !

[Hilary Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun filled, quick reading, light hearted, funny and endearing page turner. I was hooked from the first few paragraphs and stayed that way until the very last page of the book. I found it very difficult to put this book down. I thought the premise of Jill following the list she wrote in high school about 30 things to do before turning 30 was incredible. It was so fun to read about. It also made me want to write my own list... I loved the cast of characters. They were all so relatable and funny - especially Jill's parent. This is the perfect beach / pool read!

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I laughed out loud at several parts. The characters were so likeable and could have been my own friends. And, Chris is my new book boyfriend. What a great guy!! My only issue with the book was the timing. I found it hard to believe that Jill could have accomplished so much in only 30 days. I would have found it more realistic if it was three months. That said, I'd definitely read this author again and hope she releases something soon.

[Maw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I started reading this book, I know immensely that I wouldn't put down this book immediately. And I am absolutely right. So right.

The story revolves about Jill who was fired and cheated by her boyfriend on the same day. Afterwards, she returned to her hometown, was stuck living with her parents, and as she was cleaning her former room, she found a note with thirty things she should accomplish before thirty things. And as she is on her journey on doing everything on her list, she seemed to find the meaning of life, and later realized that the things that matter most are the things we can't buy and quantify.

This book is as funny as you could imagine. I had this time when I just keep laughing and laughing because I totally pictured Jill and her funny ways! Though, it's a little overrated, it's still a good read. Also, there are parts where I can predict what's going to happen, but there are some twists and turns that left me "oohing." I like it! It's just the right book for me at this time. :)

I like how the book showed the rapid progress on Jill and on her life. She used to be lost, but because of the Thirty things, she somehow found her way back to life. I also like how this book showed that above anything else, family is the one you can always count on. Family isn't just about being blood related or such, but family is about friends too who have been there for you no matter what. (I like that this book gave importance even to that smallest fact.) But mostly, what I like in this book is it partake the lesson to always face your fear, no matter how big or small they are. :)

The writing-style was easy to get used to, and I know you'll be hook too once you start reading it. It's a fast-paced, light-read, and seriously-funny-book all in one! This book just totally touched every aspect about life and Psak just did a great great job in this one. Kudos!

[Joi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was like a bad hallmark movie. It's corny, it's cheesy, it's got it's perfect ending with a perfect little ribbon and bow on it. Everything works out, everything is closed, the guy gets the girl, blah blah blah. I thought the concept of this book would be fun. 29 and 11 months year old girl loses her life- job, boyfriend, everything. She moves home and finds a list of '30 things to do before I turn 30'. I mean, this book was certainly cute. It was fluff at fluffs most hardcore moment- which is still a princess sitting on a marshmallow cloud whose biggest problem is which diamond ring to buy next. Glad I got this for free for my e-reader.

I thought this would be about the trials and tribulations of her life, drama ensuing. Back and forth between life lessons and the hardship of being a millennial. What I got was 31 chapters of her finishing her list. Spoilers that I'm not hiding because you can tell it's going to happen anyway- really girl? You've been cheated on and within 1 MONTH you're now engaged?! C'mon girl. You're friend seemed pretty real and down to earth- but NEVER thought rushing into something might be a bad idea? I'm all for a rebound relationships ending up working- but this book just proves all a girl needs in her life is a boyfriend. Who cares about a career or finding yourself? You can find yourself by getting the guy! Plus the "life lessons" she learned were literally spelled out. No reading between the lines, I'm pretty sure she says "and that's when I realized what I needed to do with the rest of my life". A-Ha Moment.

Everything was a little too perfect for this to even remotely seem real.

[Brianne C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

This book seemed like a perfect read for me since I just turned 30 this year and can relate to Jill's character, who is going through a bit of a 1/3 life crisis. Her life takes a turn for the worse when she loses her job and her boyfriend on the same day.
The best part of the book is how she, with the help of family and friends, realizes that it was partly her fault. She realized she was working herself to the bone for a company that didn't appreciate her. She lost her boyfriend because she ignored him for that crappy job. The idea that you can't just blame everyone else for your problems really rang true with me. Jill was able to change her life for the better, because she realized she could control (mostly) her own destiny. I think this is an excellent lesson for people today.
The only drawback is the utter convenience of every situation. She just happened to go on vacation the same place as her ex? Her friend's husband just happens to work for a TV show willing to not only cover her story, but also pay for her to travel through Europe? She walks into a small town law firm, with no notice, and they just give her a job? There were many more. It didn't seem realistic, but I guess some things had to be convenient or the book would be really long.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a complementary copy for review.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

NetGalley Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s the story: in less than 24 hours, Jill has lost her job and caught her boyfriend cheating on her. Her life turns from stressed out to miserable, and she is forced to move back in with her parents.

Upon reeinvesting her bedroom, she discovers a list she had written when she was younger: “Thirty things to do before I turn Thirty.” She realises that she has achieved virtually nothing on the list.

That’s when the adventure begins.

If you’re in need of a light read, give this one a go!

I liked this story. It’s chick-lit, it’s comforting, and every once in a while, it makes you feel good. The idea is not exactly original, but it is very entertaining, and it worked out well since I enjoyed reading that book!

The style is easy to read and straightforward, very funny at times. It was light and sweet, perfect for a summer (well, spring) sunny day!

If you are interested in love, finding and being yourself, facing your fears, life and being happy, you should check that one out!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story. I felt badly for Jill when she lost her job and boyfriend on the same day, but her boyfriend definitely wasn't a good guy. I loved the romance between Jill and Chris, even though some of it was a little unbelievable. I also loved watching her, along the help of family and friends, getting to check things off her list. I didn't care for the judgmental attitude Jill had toward Chris because of his living arrangements or for that matter her attitude for living at home again. She didn't seem grateful that her parents were willing to take her in again, they didn't have to, and instead seemed to concerned about what people would think. Overall, this was a good read and I'm definitely glad I read it.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I have spent the entire day reading this book and I just loved it! What a great story and a great cast of characters! I cant say enough good things about this funny and heart-warming story! I highly recommend this feel good book!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good vacation read

Super fast, uncomplicated read. No thought required and great if you need to up your books-read number. I don't regret reading it but wouldn't put it on a recommended reads list.

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book, defintely a quick read that's light hearted. I haven't read many chick-lits but the humour in this one was enjoyable. It's cute, predictable but I liked the characters and I thought it was well written.

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am 2 years from my 30th birthday so I really connected with this book. Definitely makes you remember to take time for the same things and appreciate everything you have. I loved the quick wit of the story. Every character was super relatable.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first abandonment of the year! I bought the Kindle version on sale via Amazon. I didn't really gel with the authors style of writing and just couldn't get invested in the character or the story.

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally formulaic but in a good way. Nice characters and a good story.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really inspired me. I am in a similar situation and to read it in a book just helps me understand life a little bit better. I am so glad I had a chance to read this.

[Annabel Krantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courtney Psak's Thirty Days to Thirty is a light, fun read. Jill gets fired and dumped on the same day, one month before her thirtieth birthday. With the big 3-0 looming, Jill finds herself living back at home with her parents, reconnecting with her college bestie and flirting with her ex-boyfriend in a bar. Depressed by the fact that she's back where she was ten years ago, when she finds her '30 things to do before turning 30' list from school, Jill decides that there's no time like the present to finish it.

I too have issues with turning 30 and not having achieved enough by then, and I also spent a good chunk of my twenties locked away in law school, so I understood where Jill's head was. Trying to leave her city-life and cheating boyfriend behind, and readjust to the suburbs, Jill spends her time trying to find a way to live with her parents again, starts spending time with her best friend and her family again, and when she runs into an old flame, Chris, they can't deny they're still drawn to one another. Worried about falling into another relationship - especially given what a disaster the last one was - Jill tries to focus on her list, and Chris becomes a fixture in her life as he helps her tick items off the list.

I liked the premise of this story, and thought Jill and Chris were well developed. Liz, the best friend, a little less so, but I did like the inclusion of her character and own family issues. Jill's parents were also hilarious, and recognisable - I could definitely see my parents in them! That said, I was very put off by the timeline. The story was very literal - Jill had one month to save a life, travel the world, ride roller coasters, learn yoga and french, kiss a stranger, be on TV... and fall in love. As much as I enjoyed the story, I just couldn't believe in it. If it had been a year, or even if it had just been a few months, I would have been a lot less distracted. However, the pace of this love-story just kept me a little offside. That said, I still enjoyed it, and it was a nice light read - not bad for a day on the beach!

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We’re going to have to ask you to seek new employment.” Well, if that ain’t just a snobby kick in the face?


That’s exactly how it all starts off for Jill Stevens, who is just one month away from her 30th birthday. On top of that, she finds her boyfriend has been cheating on her and gets kicked out into the street. As Jill would say, “I guess this is what rock bottom feels like.”


Now back to square one: back to mother’s house. Of course, you’d feel like a failure at this point. But maybe a list is just the thing to get her out of this funk. “Thirty things to do before I’m thirty.”


Some of the things on her list sounded fun, like skydiving or riding a rollercoaster. Write a book, travel the world, learn another language—all things on my bucket list. Of course, how the heck was she going to complete all this in 30 days?


At first, things don’t go as well as she hoped. Well, do they ever? But with the help of her best friend and an old high school boyfriend, who looks better now than back then, Jill surpasses her fumbling, harebrain attempts and learns to take them in stride, enjoying them and even laughing a little.


For the most part, I enjoyed this book. Readers will root for Jill to complete her list, even though that, realistically, it may not be possible. But, like she said, “[the list has] been the only thing keeping [her] going lately.” (103) I especially liked that, for once, Jill is trying out all the things she’s wanted to try but never had the time. Perhaps advice for us all? Certain areas lagged a bit but did not detour from the story.


Ultimately, this is a story of nostalgia and regret and putting a slamming twist to it all. Perhaps we should all make a goal to do something new every day. Full of humor and wit, 30 Days to 30 is a great read for anyone battling a midlife crisis, those seeking confidence, reassurance, and a lost self. It just makes you want to get up, get out there, and do something. Live it up!

[Wendi Nunnery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel reminds me of a Hallmark Christmas movie, and I mean that in the best possible way. (Hey! I love those movies, alright?) Thirty Days to Thirty was sweet and fairly predictable, but - like I do whenever another Candace Cameron Bure film comes on television - I stuck around to find out what happened. I still wanted to turn the page even though I was pretty sure I knew what was coming. I really, really liked Jill and Chris and I rooted for them despite their somewhat unrealistic interactions with one another. And while this book is not even remotely a Christmas novel, it does share some of the same nostalgic elements that I think fans of holiday stories will enjoy.

On the flip side of that, though, is the fact that Jill is trying to accomplish quite a lot in a super limited amount of time. I understand that Courtney was working with her title, but it did make the book - and the relationships - feel rushed at times. I also struggled to ignore repeated grammatical issues because the truth is they simply shouldn't be there once a book is available for sale.

In spite of those negatives, I think Thirty Days to Thirty is a fun romantic read that allows saps like me to get lost for a few days in a romance that's almost certain to succeed. It's also laugh-out-loud funny at times, and I giggled a lot while reading on the way to Thanksgiving lunch with my family. Plus, Jill is the Every Woman. She loses what she believes is most important to her and, in the process, discovers what is actually most important. We all want that kind of story. We all want the chance to get it right even if we didn't the first time. And that's what Thirty Days to Thirty offers.

Who wouldn't love that?

[Kendra Needs · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIRTY DAYS TO THIRTY by Courtney Psak was one of those books that will give you a warm feeling in your heart when you are done reading it, and I have to tell you that the genre of this book is out of my normal genre to read.


The story in this book is very well written and developed, the plot is very fast paced, you will forget that by the time you get to the end of the book that it is set over thirty days, but it does not feel like you have the thirty days of Jill's story. The characters in this book are amazing and you cant help but fall in love with each and every one of the them.


What happens when you find yourself thirty days away from your thirtieth birthday, fired from you job when you thought you were going to make partner, to go home and find your boyfriend of four years in your bed with his twenty year old secretary from work??? That's where Jill's story begins, and she heads home to live with her parents while she gets her life back in order, while moving in and cleaning out her old room she comes across a list from a class assignment in high school listing thirty things that she wanted to accomplish before she turns thirty. Disappointed with herself for having hardly done any of things on her list she sets out to cross as many things off the list as possible with the help of her best friend, parents and her high school sweetheart Chris. What starts as a mission to accomplish the list turns into a journey of self rediscovery for Jill and finding out who she really is.


THIRTY DAYS TO THIRTY by Courtney Psak was an amazing read, when the end of the book came I found myself wanting more of Jill. I would give THIRTY DAYS TO THIRTY 4/5 stars.


Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon and Alpha

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway



Thirty Days to Thirty is the tale of picking yourself up and trying again. When Jill Stevens whole future is taken from her in one day, everything she's planned for, wanted and worked for just gone she is forced to find a new path. She moves back home with her parents while she reevaluates her life. When she finds a list she made in high school of 30 things to do before she's thirty she realizes there is so much she hasn't accomplished. The list turns out to be the path to her salvation in a world that has turned upside down.



I enjoyed this book. It made we want to make a list of my own because no matter how much you have accomplished there is always a dozen more things you put off and didn't do. While there is a love story the main theme of the book is to live life, don't let work take over until its two late. Jill was forced to really live her life, Chris' dad waited until it was too late and Mr. Tracton made a choice, Tim nearly lost it all and Brady will probably never live outside work. I enjoyed getting to see all the different outcomes that putting life off can get you. Chris and Jill's story was short and sweet, just enough to give Jill a glimpse of a happy ever after.


There were a few cosmetic issues that drove me crazy but they weren't bad enough to hurt the story. There were times when every time one person finished talking it would say "I said" "she said" "he said" and so on just superficial little errors. The most ridiculous thing for me though was the ferris wheel scene, no parent in any state of mind would let two 4 year olds and a 2 year old in a cart by themselves seriously who thought was a good idea?! lol but maybe that just drove me crazy.