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If We're Not Married by Thirty
A brilliantly funny, romantic and effervescent read, If We're Not Married by Thirty is the irresistible new novel from the bestselling author of The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart and It Started With a Tweet. For fans of Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Kinsella.
Lydia's not exactly #LivingHerBestLife. She never imagined she'd be here at thirty - newly single, a job that's going nowhere and her friends all winning at life when she's still barely taking part. So she jumps at the chance of a free holiday and jets off to sunny Spain.
Then, out of the blue, she bumps into her childhood friend, the handsome and charming Danny Whittaker. She's always had a crush on him and they soon enter into a passionate holiday romance.
But this relationship could be more than just a fling. Years ago they made a pact that if they were still single when they turned thirty they would get married. But no one really follows through on these pacts . . . right?
Could Lydia's back-up man really be her happy ever after?
Praise for Anna Bell:
'The perfect laugh-out-loud love story' Louise Peatland
'Smart, witty and completely fresh' Cathy Bramley
Lydia's not exactly #LivingHerBestLife. She never imagined she'd be here at thirty - newly single, a job that's going nowhere and her friends all winning at life when she's still barely taking part. So she jumps at the chance of a free holiday and jets off to sunny Spain.
Then, out of the blue, she bumps into her childhood friend, the handsome and charming Danny Whittaker. She's always had a crush on him and they soon enter into a passionate holiday romance.
But this relationship could be more than just a fling. Years ago they made a pact that if they were still single when they turned thirty they would get married. But no one really follows through on these pacts . . . right?
Could Lydia's back-up man really be her happy ever after?
Praise for Anna Bell:
'The perfect laugh-out-loud love story' Louise Peatland
'Smart, witty and completely fresh' Cathy Bramley
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2018
221 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
Anna Bell
49 books454 followersAnna is represented by the Marsh Agency and published by Quercus. 'Don't Tell the Groom' is released in paperback 5th December 2013.
Anna also writes new adult fiction under the pen name Annabel Scott.
Anna also writes new adult fiction under the pen name Annabel Scott.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
December 21, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Ten years ago at her sister’s wedding, friends Lydia and Danny make a pact that if they are not married by the time they are thirty they will marry each other. Lydia has always had a secret crush on Danny but being friends since they were little children and their mothers being best-friends too, she has never crossed the friendship line – Until the night they made their pact.
The ten years have past and events-coordinator Lydia is newly single. She hasn’t seen Danny in quite a while but a chance encounter brings the pair together and seeing as they are both now thirty and single will they decide to go through with their pact?
If We’re Not Married by Thirty is a fun, chick-lit-Esq novel filled with warm, delightful characters and a ‘will they, won’t they’ hanging in the balance.
Both characters have plenty of flaws and this is what makes them so likeable and realistic, even if the situation is not – I mean do people really make these pacts?
The plot will have you laughing-out-loud at times and cringing at others (especially at the pairs mums). Ms. Bell certainly knows how to write scenes that make you squirm with embarrassment for the characters. The book is also bang up to date with the use of social media throughout too.
If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and have you not wanting to put it down, then this is the one to choose. I raced through it in two days and enjoyed every minute.
Ten years ago at her sister’s wedding, friends Lydia and Danny make a pact that if they are not married by the time they are thirty they will marry each other. Lydia has always had a secret crush on Danny but being friends since they were little children and their mothers being best-friends too, she has never crossed the friendship line – Until the night they made their pact.
The ten years have past and events-coordinator Lydia is newly single. She hasn’t seen Danny in quite a while but a chance encounter brings the pair together and seeing as they are both now thirty and single will they decide to go through with their pact?
If We’re Not Married by Thirty is a fun, chick-lit-Esq novel filled with warm, delightful characters and a ‘will they, won’t they’ hanging in the balance.
Both characters have plenty of flaws and this is what makes them so likeable and realistic, even if the situation is not – I mean do people really make these pacts?
The plot will have you laughing-out-loud at times and cringing at others (especially at the pairs mums). Ms. Bell certainly knows how to write scenes that make you squirm with embarrassment for the characters. The book is also bang up to date with the use of social media throughout too.
If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and have you not wanting to put it down, then this is the one to choose. I raced through it in two days and enjoyed every minute.
December 31, 2018
Another really enjoyable book from Anna Bell who is fast becoming an author I might just drop everything to read.
This was a fun story and I wasn't completely convinced whether the right couple would end up together.
I loved the craziness from Lydia and Danny's mums, the creativity of the events that Lydia is coordinating and the really obvious connection Lydia and Danny have.
This book is a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed reading the assorted antics from the characters. Add in some stunning locations too, and you have a very good book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zaffre for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This was a fun story and I wasn't completely convinced whether the right couple would end up together.
I loved the craziness from Lydia and Danny's mums, the creativity of the events that Lydia is coordinating and the really obvious connection Lydia and Danny have.
This book is a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed reading the assorted antics from the characters. Add in some stunning locations too, and you have a very good book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zaffre for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 9, 2023
This is the first book in a long time that I’ve read in one day. Literally the only part of the book that had me invested was the beginning, with Lydia and Danny at Kerry’s wedding. About halfway into it (even sooner if I’m being honest), I started getting really annoyed.
Overall, Danny’s mum was mildly irritating (I mean seriously, knock much?); and where I thought Lydia’s was alright, in the beginning at least, she turned out to be having an affair with a married man. And justifying it by saying she doesn’t think of his wife as a real person because she’s never seen her, so that made her feel better about the whole thing. Good lord.
I don’t feel like there was enough information about Danny for me to really like him and root for him, and what little I did find out just made him seem, quite frankly, pathetic. He gets pissed at Lydia for hiding embarrassing things from him and calls off the wedding, when he himself got fired from his job for being a screw up? Talk about hypocrisy. Plus the whole backstory of them meeting serendipitously in Spain? Nope. Just a (creepy?) little scheme orchestrated by him because he didn’t have the guts to tell Lydia about his feelings face to face.
And poor Lydia. An utter buffoon of a woman. For some mystifying reason, infatuated with Danny the Dullard since childhood, just continues to pine for him while in a FIVE YEAR LONG relationship with someone else, then jumps at the chance to get engaged to him (that first ‘yes’ that she screamed off the roof in Spain made me die inside, I mean could you be more desperate) without even realising she knows nothing about this man other than what he was like as a child/teenager. Some chick lit heroines are outwardly endearingly awkward, but their internal monologue always makes up for that with snarky self-deprecation. Lydia’s did not. She just seemed inept at life in general.
Honestly, this was absolutely mind numbing. Both the protagonists struck me as complete morons, who acted like lovesick teenagers instead of 30-year-old adults, and they had zero chemistry to boot; their relationship was pretty bland. By the third quarter of the book, I was hoping to find out that Danny and Victoria actually had been having an affair the whole time, or that his and Lydia’s wedding remained called off and they went their separate ways and that things didn’t work out for them because it was all just too easy.
I didn’t even bother to properly read the updates of their future, written by their mums, because I was so sick of how insipid they both were and I just wanted the book to end.
Overall, Danny’s mum was mildly irritating (I mean seriously, knock much?); and where I thought Lydia’s was alright, in the beginning at least, she turned out to be having an affair with a married man. And justifying it by saying she doesn’t think of his wife as a real person because she’s never seen her, so that made her feel better about the whole thing. Good lord.
I don’t feel like there was enough information about Danny for me to really like him and root for him, and what little I did find out just made him seem, quite frankly, pathetic. He gets pissed at Lydia for hiding embarrassing things from him and calls off the wedding, when he himself got fired from his job for being a screw up? Talk about hypocrisy. Plus the whole backstory of them meeting serendipitously in Spain? Nope. Just a (creepy?) little scheme orchestrated by him because he didn’t have the guts to tell Lydia about his feelings face to face.
And poor Lydia. An utter buffoon of a woman. For some mystifying reason, infatuated with Danny the Dullard since childhood, just continues to pine for him while in a FIVE YEAR LONG relationship with someone else, then jumps at the chance to get engaged to him (that first ‘yes’ that she screamed off the roof in Spain made me die inside, I mean could you be more desperate) without even realising she knows nothing about this man other than what he was like as a child/teenager. Some chick lit heroines are outwardly endearingly awkward, but their internal monologue always makes up for that with snarky self-deprecation. Lydia’s did not. She just seemed inept at life in general.
Honestly, this was absolutely mind numbing. Both the protagonists struck me as complete morons, who acted like lovesick teenagers instead of 30-year-old adults, and they had zero chemistry to boot; their relationship was pretty bland. By the third quarter of the book, I was hoping to find out that Danny and Victoria actually had been having an affair the whole time, or that his and Lydia’s wedding remained called off and they went their separate ways and that things didn’t work out for them because it was all just too easy.
I didn’t even bother to properly read the updates of their future, written by their mums, because I was so sick of how insipid they both were and I just wanted the book to end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2019
Loved it. Amazingly funny rom-com with hilarious characters.
January 11, 2020
A light-hearted rom com that made me chuckle out loud in places. A pleasant enough read but without a lot of substance to the story.
November 25, 2018
This was an okay read but nothing really spoke to me about the story if I'm being honest. There is a small dose of humour but, for me, that mostly centred around the whole social media thing rather than the people or the situations they find themselves in. Probably because whilst I acknowledge that for some people it is an important part of their lives I really don't understand why you would invite the world in to your privacy.
This is very much a book based on the now with all the references to social media accounts and how it influences us to feel like we are somehow living a life less than our contemporaries. However, I don't believe this will date it over much as there is enough meat to the base tale without that. I just wasn't very interested in the relationship between Lydia and Danny and how her career was going to pan out
Lydia's career in Events does provide some moments of humour. It also made me swear off work's Christmas parties for life!
It was a jolly enough read and I did get through it fairly quickly - probably because the writing is actually rather good and it propels you eagerly through the tale. No breathless moments where you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens but engaging enough to keep you interested. There are the standard misunderstandings and hiccups along the way but they do all get resolved in the end, not necessarily satisfactorily or in a way that stands up to real life scrutiny but they do have a veneer of completion to them.
Not a bad book and very easy to follow, perfect for a snatched holiday read or a commute.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
This is very much a book based on the now with all the references to social media accounts and how it influences us to feel like we are somehow living a life less than our contemporaries. However, I don't believe this will date it over much as there is enough meat to the base tale without that. I just wasn't very interested in the relationship between Lydia and Danny and how her career was going to pan out
Lydia's career in Events does provide some moments of humour. It also made me swear off work's Christmas parties for life!
It was a jolly enough read and I did get through it fairly quickly - probably because the writing is actually rather good and it propels you eagerly through the tale. No breathless moments where you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens but engaging enough to keep you interested. There are the standard misunderstandings and hiccups along the way but they do all get resolved in the end, not necessarily satisfactorily or in a way that stands up to real life scrutiny but they do have a veneer of completion to them.
Not a bad book and very easy to follow, perfect for a snatched holiday read or a commute.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
December 28, 2018
Ten years ago, at her sister's wedding, Lydia made a pact with Danny that if they're not married by they're thirty, they will simply marry each other. Forward ten years on, and Lydia, an event - coordinator, finds herself newly single. She hasn't seen Danny in a while but they stayed in touch via letters and emails. However, a chance encounter brings them together - they're both thirty, both single - will they go through with their pact?
I liked the fact that the characters used to know each other for ages, what with their mothers being best friends. It saved us the whole getting to know each other phase, and they felt so comfortable around each other. I immediately warmed to Lydia, she was my kind of girl. She felt a little disappointed with her life, as she felt that everyone is moving around and ahead with their lives, only she's staying put. She was pretty relaxed and down - to - earth, and what I liked so much is the fact that she was surrounded by her family and friends, they were all going strong together. She relied on them, they relied on her and they were supporting each other, and it was lovely to see. She, as well as the other characters, was relatable and full of flaws, she wanted a better life but she wasn't so quick to change it, to take matters in her own hands, which - let's be honest - is a totally normal thing. How often does it happen that we're not happy with our own lives but as they're comfortable enough we do nothing to change them. Lydia said the wrong things, put herself in embarrassing situations and this all made her much more human and likeable.
But, to be honest, I had awful problem with Danny. All the time I had a feeling that he's hiding something, that I can't trust him completely, that he's going to hurt Lydia, that he's not honest. Also, instead of "when will they eventually" I was wondering if they will/they will not - I simply was missing this last tick, this last final touch that would convince me completely to the fact that Lydia and Danny were truly destined for each other.
The best parts of the books were when the mothers were entering the scenes. Though, as much as I loved them, I am very grateful they're not my mother, phew. Don't get me wrong, they were absolutely brilliant, they always meant well but they were slightly... embarrassing. But they were also incredibly funny and I loved their antics. Those two were best friends and they were rooting for their children to finally get together but, of course, as it usually happens, in trying to achieve this, they usually made things much more difficult, and I adored how stoic Lydia and Danny were about them. Hazel and Linda weren't afraid of anything, their friendship was simply brilliant.
The banter and interactions between Lydia and Danny were great, you could see the sparks flying. However, I've missed a little more depth to this relationship to be honest. We can also wonder here and dispute if people really still make such pacts as the main characters but that's not the point. The point is that it worked in this book and it made for an amusing, funny and entertaining read. There were plenty of hilarious and embarrassing scenes and Anna Bell's writing style is so seamless, she effortlessly transports us into the characters' world, you really feel like a part of the book.
I had some problems to get into the book, the beginning, even though the scenes were supposed to be funny, simply didn't sit with me, and it made me feel uncomfortable, because hell, it is Anna Bell's book! What's that supposed to mean? But as soon as Lydia arrived to Spain the book gathered its pace and from then on it was a roller - coaster ride of more or less embarrassing situations - Lydia was truly prone to accident or to jump to false conclusions, which was often hilarious.
It was incredibly light - hearted, engaging and amusing read. There weren't any life changing twists but I also haven't expected them in this book. The standard misunderstandings, the ups and downs, hiccups and some challenges on the way were really enough to make the reading interesting and me glued to the pages. Altogether, I've enjoyed this book a lot, there was everything I could expect from Anna Bell's novel and I am already looking toward her next release. In the meantime, I really recommend "If We're Not Married by Thirty" to you.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
April 17, 2019
⭐⭐⭐3.5
This was such a fun read! Equal amounts of romance and witty humour, which was brilliant.
At first, I was a bit peeved by the instalove that happened quite early on in the book. It felt cliché, far-fetched and a bit ridiculous. But by the end, you realise it wasn't instalove at all. Everything that happened made perfect sense and it all tied in nicely. The story was fast paced and there weren't any moments where I felt it was dragging- at times it felt the opposite!
I loved that the protagonist Lydia was so relatable. Her daily struggles, her relationship woes, and her journey of self-discovery. I felt much more connected to the story because of this. It felt like a hug and good cuppa in a book.
My favourite characters by far were Hazel and Linda. Two middle-aged legends, living their absolute best life.
I needed a book like this after all the intense books I have been reading lately.
I recommend if you fancy an easy, lighthearted rom-com. 😊
This was such a fun read! Equal amounts of romance and witty humour, which was brilliant.
At first, I was a bit peeved by the instalove that happened quite early on in the book. It felt cliché, far-fetched and a bit ridiculous. But by the end, you realise it wasn't instalove at all. Everything that happened made perfect sense and it all tied in nicely. The story was fast paced and there weren't any moments where I felt it was dragging- at times it felt the opposite!
I loved that the protagonist Lydia was so relatable. Her daily struggles, her relationship woes, and her journey of self-discovery. I felt much more connected to the story because of this. It felt like a hug and good cuppa in a book.
My favourite characters by far were Hazel and Linda. Two middle-aged legends, living their absolute best life.
I needed a book like this after all the intense books I have been reading lately.
I recommend if you fancy an easy, lighthearted rom-com. 😊
April 19, 2021
bro what the fuck <3
May 2, 2022
A book that’s not hard to guess the ending, but did have some parts where I doubted that what I thought would happen would.
This is the second book that I have read by Anna Bell and her humour is poured into her books and her characters are just so loveable!
This book is definitely based around something that I think most people my age have done, which is make a pact with a friend about if you’re not both married or in a relationship by a certain age, then you will both get together. I think everyone makes the same pact thinking that it’s years and years away so it will never happen, and soon life creeps up on you and before you know it you’ve reached that age!
I loved the characters in this book and rooted for Lydia every step of the way. Although the book was predictable, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it. Although the best characters were definitely the two mothers.
After enjoying two of Anna Bell’s books, I will definitely be looking at buying more that she has written. They are just good old rom-com chick lits, perfect for when you just need a bit of a giggle.
This is the second book that I have read by Anna Bell and her humour is poured into her books and her characters are just so loveable!
This book is definitely based around something that I think most people my age have done, which is make a pact with a friend about if you’re not both married or in a relationship by a certain age, then you will both get together. I think everyone makes the same pact thinking that it’s years and years away so it will never happen, and soon life creeps up on you and before you know it you’ve reached that age!
I loved the characters in this book and rooted for Lydia every step of the way. Although the book was predictable, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it. Although the best characters were definitely the two mothers.
After enjoying two of Anna Bell’s books, I will definitely be looking at buying more that she has written. They are just good old rom-com chick lits, perfect for when you just need a bit of a giggle.
March 15, 2021
3.5 stars
Smut level: 0/5
A really good romance with tons of british humour and cute scenes. Personally I felt it could have used a bit of smut seeing as there was alot of sex talk anyway! I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more books from Anna Bell.
Smut level: 0/5
A really good romance with tons of british humour and cute scenes. Personally I felt it could have used a bit of smut seeing as there was alot of sex talk anyway! I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more books from Anna Bell.
July 5, 2021
Whoops. Just read the whole thing in one sitting. This book is beyond adorable, and the chemistry between the two characters is exquisite. Huge love!
February 22, 2023
A solid rom com. Good characters and funny.
February 25, 2021
1/5
You know that grandmotherly advice: if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all? Well, if I followed that, then this review would be just a bunch of sad emojies. I'm so disappointed in this book. I think I was recommended this because I'm a huge sucker for unrequited romance tropes and the whole "it was always you" type of stories. It's my favourite trope. But this really, REALLY missed the mark for me.
First of all, the writing is very disjointed and leaves a lot to be desired. I feel like the balance between dialogue and scene-setting descriptors are way off. I felt like it was just conversation after conversation with no transition, no concept of time passing, and no scene-building whatsoever. And a lot of the dialogue felt unnecessary and contributed nothing to the story or characters. It greatly contributed to my disconnect with the characters and the story.
Secondly, Lydia and Danny are both frustratingly unremarkable yet immature and annoying. 50% of the book is basically Lydia and Danny waffling and lying to each other. There's a lot of foreshadowing from other characters about marriage communication and the whole book is basically just Lydia and Danny being 30 and extremely immature. It made it very hard to get through the book when you don't like the characters at all. And honestly, I keep forgetting Lydia's name because she's just that boring.
The ending also gave me whiplash because everything got tied up nicely in a big red bow in the last 5% of the book and I was just baffled. Up until 95% it was all immature shenanigans and emotional incompetence and then BAM it's like everyone went to therapy. Still, the last 15% of the book was probably the most interesting.
I really wanted to DNF this but I hate that because I want to give every book a fair chance so I did finish it but it was a serious slog through the last 50%. So disappointed.
You know that grandmotherly advice: if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all? Well, if I followed that, then this review would be just a bunch of sad emojies. I'm so disappointed in this book. I think I was recommended this because I'm a huge sucker for unrequited romance tropes and the whole "it was always you" type of stories. It's my favourite trope. But this really, REALLY missed the mark for me.
First of all, the writing is very disjointed and leaves a lot to be desired. I feel like the balance between dialogue and scene-setting descriptors are way off. I felt like it was just conversation after conversation with no transition, no concept of time passing, and no scene-building whatsoever. And a lot of the dialogue felt unnecessary and contributed nothing to the story or characters. It greatly contributed to my disconnect with the characters and the story.
Secondly, Lydia and Danny are both frustratingly unremarkable yet immature and annoying. 50% of the book is basically Lydia and Danny waffling and lying to each other. There's a lot of foreshadowing from other characters about marriage communication and the whole book is basically just Lydia and Danny being 30 and extremely immature. It made it very hard to get through the book when you don't like the characters at all. And honestly, I keep forgetting Lydia's name because she's just that boring.
The ending also gave me whiplash because everything got tied up nicely in a big red bow in the last 5% of the book and I was just baffled. Up until 95% it was all immature shenanigans and emotional incompetence and then BAM it's like everyone went to therapy. Still, the last 15% of the book was probably the most interesting.
I really wanted to DNF this but I hate that because I want to give every book a fair chance so I did finish it but it was a serious slog through the last 50%. So disappointed.
December 20, 2018
I haven't read a romance book for quite a while, but I did enjoy 'If We're Not Married by Thirty' by Anna Bell.
Haunted by the mantra #livingmybestlife, Lydia, a 30 year old woman, suddenly reunites with her childhood best friend, Danny, with whom she happened to make the ye old pact of marrying each other at 30 if they were both still single. They then have to decide whether to go through with their pact or not.
As with most romance books, the enjoyment comes not from the 'Will the main characters get together?', but rather 'When will they get together and how will their relationship blossom?' journey.
It wasn't a page turner or a tear jerker, but the storyline was amusing enough and the vast majority of the characters were likeable and/or relatable. Worth a read!
Haunted by the mantra #livingmybestlife, Lydia, a 30 year old woman, suddenly reunites with her childhood best friend, Danny, with whom she happened to make the ye old pact of marrying each other at 30 if they were both still single. They then have to decide whether to go through with their pact or not.
As with most romance books, the enjoyment comes not from the 'Will the main characters get together?', but rather 'When will they get together and how will their relationship blossom?' journey.
It wasn't a page turner or a tear jerker, but the storyline was amusing enough and the vast majority of the characters were likeable and/or relatable. Worth a read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2019
I had a strong sense of ‘déjà-read’ from the very beginning of this book. It’s unimaginative, unoriginal and predictable to say the least, with an aftertaste of recycling. Bridget Jones number one-too-many. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the writing style and language, either: too simple, too shallow and with too many grammar and spelling mistakes. A worn-out franchise with corny gags and events and clichéd characters. How many Bridget Jones’ (yes, again) mothers are we going to suffer ( I loved the original, by the way)?
I’ve read worse, but I have also read a lot better.
I’ve read worse, but I have also read a lot better.
November 12, 2018
Childhood friends Lydia and Dan make a pact at a wedding that if either of them is single at 30 they would marry each other. 10 years pass and a chance encounter brings the childhood friends back together and giving their pact some consideration. How could it not be perfect when they know each so well?
Such a delightful book you cannot help but fall in love with Danny along with Lydia, For anyone who enjoys a great romance with a good heart.
Such a delightful book you cannot help but fall in love with Danny along with Lydia, For anyone who enjoys a great romance with a good heart.
April 1, 2019
If we're not married by thirty, is the story of Lydia. Who has just turned 30 and is worried that her life isn't as perfect as she had hoped or as amazing as everyone else's on social media appears to be. But she has her pact, the pact that she made with Danny, her childhood friend. In an attempt to find herself, she goes away to Spain, but when a newly single Danny turns up in Spain, is everything finally falling into place for Lydia?
This book is written in 1st person, our narrator being Lydia and it's an easy read. The language used is quite simple and made it easy for me to whizz through it.
I liked this book, it was a very easy, if not predictable read. The characters were relatable and interesting, I really enjoyed reading about them. I also really loved Lydia's relationships, it was nice that she got on well with all her family and had good friends. I also liked the fact that Lydia worried about being in love, what get friends had accomplished, where she lived etc. I again found it really relatable and enjoyed how she dealt with it.
There was only a couple of things I didn't like in this book. Them being the pace, things got going very quickly and then just dropped right back down a dead slow pace. It was frustrating! We also got to the last 15% of the book before there was any conflict, which made the ending very rushed and unresolved to. I didn't really like Danny's motivations either or more accurately his lack of motivations. He seemed to just come out of nowhere with his romantic advances towards Lydia, which I get it being from Lydia's point of view, but it still felt a bit strange to me.
But I do think I enjoyed this book more than i disliked it, it was easy read, not at all taxing on the brain and it was quite a sweet story. I'd definitely read another book by this author.
This book is written in 1st person, our narrator being Lydia and it's an easy read. The language used is quite simple and made it easy for me to whizz through it.
I liked this book, it was a very easy, if not predictable read. The characters were relatable and interesting, I really enjoyed reading about them. I also really loved Lydia's relationships, it was nice that she got on well with all her family and had good friends. I also liked the fact that Lydia worried about being in love, what get friends had accomplished, where she lived etc. I again found it really relatable and enjoyed how she dealt with it.
There was only a couple of things I didn't like in this book. Them being the pace, things got going very quickly and then just dropped right back down a dead slow pace. It was frustrating! We also got to the last 15% of the book before there was any conflict, which made the ending very rushed and unresolved to. I didn't really like Danny's motivations either or more accurately his lack of motivations. He seemed to just come out of nowhere with his romantic advances towards Lydia, which I get it being from Lydia's point of view, but it still felt a bit strange to me.
But I do think I enjoyed this book more than i disliked it, it was easy read, not at all taxing on the brain and it was quite a sweet story. I'd definitely read another book by this author.
June 5, 2020
[completed: 04 june 2020]
✨ What I Liked ✨
That was quite a fun read! There were a few things I did not enjoy because I'm turning into a Fussy McFussPants but it did not deter from the cuteness... thank goodness!
I also liked both Danny and Lydia and I liked the mini-reveal in the end about how things REALLY kicked off in Spain. That was a lovely touch and honestly just made me love the circumstances in the beginning of the book a lot more.
⚡️ What I Didn’t Like ⚡️
So much of tHAT could have been avoided if certain people jUST. TOLD. THE. TRUTH.
As a teenager, I used to lie a lot to get out of trouble or to avoid getting told off... until I grew up and realized how freaking exhausting it could get to keep up a lie and how, no matter when the truth gets out, you're gonna get in trouble anyway, might as well get it over with as soon as possible. And it boggles my mind that so many people still hasn't figured this out yet and I have to read about it in a book and it's just exhausting to even just witness. So much so that I had "this relationship is doomed" vibes from the beginning and that was distracting me a lot from the cute throughout the book. I'm just glad I was wrong.
Lastly, I didn't enjoy how Victoria (again, I was on audio so idk what the spelling is) was written. I've had enough of catty shit between women, pls stop this trend.
🌙 Final Thoughts ⭐️
Overall an enjoyable read, regardless of the infuriating stuff. 3 stars!
"...and she kept going on about me marrying my backup plan and I wanted you to know, before you see your friends, that you're not my backup plan; you're my first choice, Lydia. You always have been. It's just, we took a roundabout path to get here."
✨ What I Liked ✨
That was quite a fun read! There were a few things I did not enjoy because I'm turning into a Fussy McFussPants but it did not deter from the cuteness... thank goodness!
I also liked both Danny and Lydia and I liked the mini-reveal in the end about how things REALLY kicked off in Spain. That was a lovely touch and honestly just made me love the circumstances in the beginning of the book a lot more.
⚡️ What I Didn’t Like ⚡️
So much of tHAT could have been avoided if certain people jUST. TOLD. THE. TRUTH.
As a teenager, I used to lie a lot to get out of trouble or to avoid getting told off... until I grew up and realized how freaking exhausting it could get to keep up a lie and how, no matter when the truth gets out, you're gonna get in trouble anyway, might as well get it over with as soon as possible. And it boggles my mind that so many people still hasn't figured this out yet and I have to read about it in a book and it's just exhausting to even just witness. So much so that I had "this relationship is doomed" vibes from the beginning and that was distracting me a lot from the cute throughout the book. I'm just glad I was wrong.
Lastly, I didn't enjoy how Victoria (again, I was on audio so idk what the spelling is) was written. I've had enough of catty shit between women, pls stop this trend.
🌙 Final Thoughts ⭐️
Overall an enjoyable read, regardless of the infuriating stuff. 3 stars!
November 25, 2018
Lydia is a character I hit it off with straight away. If she was real, I could see us easily being good friends. With all her friends and family seemingly settled or in the throes of settling down, it leaves Lydia feeling anxious about the lack of direction her life is taking.
The relationship between Danny and Lydia is one that has always been a friendship one. With their mums being best friends, obviously both of them have spent many a time at each others houses and have always been around in each others lives. I loved how both characters had grown up together and felt so at ease around each other.
The author takes us on a fun and entertaining journey with plenty of cringe worthy moments. I loved Lydia and Danny's mothers as things are far from boring with these two around. I was ever so slightly grateful though that they weren't my mothers. They mean well though and their hearts are in the right places.
If We're Not Married By Thirty is one of those books that you won't want to put down from the moment you pick it up. It made me laugh, smile, chuckle as well as cringe with embarrassment for some of the characters. It really is a fun and feel good read that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The relationship between Danny and Lydia is one that has always been a friendship one. With their mums being best friends, obviously both of them have spent many a time at each others houses and have always been around in each others lives. I loved how both characters had grown up together and felt so at ease around each other.
The author takes us on a fun and entertaining journey with plenty of cringe worthy moments. I loved Lydia and Danny's mothers as things are far from boring with these two around. I was ever so slightly grateful though that they weren't my mothers. They mean well though and their hearts are in the right places.
If We're Not Married By Thirty is one of those books that you won't want to put down from the moment you pick it up. It made me laugh, smile, chuckle as well as cringe with embarrassment for some of the characters. It really is a fun and feel good read that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
December 2, 2018
Who doesn't enjoy a fun chick lit novel every now and again? Receiving this novel coincided perfectly with my mood for a fun read, and this book definitely delivered. I've seen but haven't read a few books by this author, a couple of titles have made their way onto my to be read list but I never got round to reading them.
After thoroughly enjoying this one I'm hoping to read her other novels soon. The characters were full of flaws and incredibly relatable, they were clumsy, said the wrong things and made mistakes but that's what makes us human.
It was a sort of predictable grown up in love with the boy next door type of story, but a twist or two at the ended gave it some unique and redeeming qualities.
If chick lit is your genre you're bound to enjoy the light-hearted shenanigans in this book
After thoroughly enjoying this one I'm hoping to read her other novels soon. The characters were full of flaws and incredibly relatable, they were clumsy, said the wrong things and made mistakes but that's what makes us human.
It was a sort of predictable grown up in love with the boy next door type of story, but a twist or two at the ended gave it some unique and redeeming qualities.
If chick lit is your genre you're bound to enjoy the light-hearted shenanigans in this book
April 27, 2019
https://comfychairbooks.blogspot.com
I've really enjoyed Anna Bells previous books - The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart and It Started With a Tweet and 'If we're not married by Thirty' is yet another fun,will they/won't they romantic comedy. It is a light hearted, enjoyable story that will take you on a journey of friendship and romance. The funny adventures of the characters in this book had me chuckling away throughout, definitely a book to put a smile on your face.
Lydia is a great leading character. I liked that she was relatable – she is creative and hard working yet waiting for that next step in her career, she lives in her sisters basement but like anyone she has her flaws. I loved the scenes that show her getting into embarrassing situations such as when she thought she was going on a date that wasn't a date or when Danny's Mum walked in on her. Anna Bell wrote those parts so well, I was cringing as I read.
Now, Danny. I have to admit I wasn't totally bowled over by him. I thought he was a bit arrogant, show-offy, selfish and to be honest I didn't think he was very trust worthy or in fact the best match for Lydia. I was expecting some big reveal was going to happen and that Lydia would find her way back to her ex.
I like the style of writing, I quickly got into the book, loved the descriptions of all the different places we found Lydia/Danny. I wasn't expecting massive, shocking twists but I knew there would be plenty of hiccups, ups and downs and misunderstandings that would ensure the path of true love didn't run too smoothly.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of a light hearted, fun little rom-com. It's perfect for a quick read around the pool.
I've really enjoyed Anna Bells previous books - The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart and It Started With a Tweet and 'If we're not married by Thirty' is yet another fun,will they/won't they romantic comedy. It is a light hearted, enjoyable story that will take you on a journey of friendship and romance. The funny adventures of the characters in this book had me chuckling away throughout, definitely a book to put a smile on your face.
Lydia is a great leading character. I liked that she was relatable – she is creative and hard working yet waiting for that next step in her career, she lives in her sisters basement but like anyone she has her flaws. I loved the scenes that show her getting into embarrassing situations such as when she thought she was going on a date that wasn't a date or when Danny's Mum walked in on her. Anna Bell wrote those parts so well, I was cringing as I read.
Now, Danny. I have to admit I wasn't totally bowled over by him. I thought he was a bit arrogant, show-offy, selfish and to be honest I didn't think he was very trust worthy or in fact the best match for Lydia. I was expecting some big reveal was going to happen and that Lydia would find her way back to her ex.
I like the style of writing, I quickly got into the book, loved the descriptions of all the different places we found Lydia/Danny. I wasn't expecting massive, shocking twists but I knew there would be plenty of hiccups, ups and downs and misunderstandings that would ensure the path of true love didn't run too smoothly.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of a light hearted, fun little rom-com. It's perfect for a quick read around the pool.
August 12, 2021
What I liked most about this book is that they were actually able to be honest and vulnerable in their communication with each other. I get annoyed with miscommunication tropes in books - I don't mind a little, because it does happen in real life - but when huge misunderstandings and heartbreak happen from refusing to talk to each other, I'm like, even if the original issue was just a misunderstanding, I'm not sure how good of a couple you'll make if you don't communicate well with each other.
In any case, I thought this love story between Lydia and Danny is the sweetest thing ever. I feel like there is a definite shift in the kind of romances that appeal to the people today compared to even a few years ago, and this book makes me want more of the same! Definitely looking into Anna Bell's other books!
In any case, I thought this love story between Lydia and Danny is the sweetest thing ever. I feel like there is a definite shift in the kind of romances that appeal to the people today compared to even a few years ago, and this book makes me want more of the same! Definitely looking into Anna Bell's other books!
February 12, 2025
My third Anna Bell book! I absolutely love her style and humor, and this one did not disappoint.
It’s fun to read marriage pacts stories hahaha and although they were apart for almost 10 years, it did not feel as if the romance were just pushed. There were tons of funny moments, though I did feel the middle dragged a little—Lydia and Danny’s oh-so-quick yet oh-so-lovely get-together was almost too perfect, which made it feel a bit dull for me.
But then, around the 70% mark, my suspicions started building, and when they finally unfolded, it completely won me over. It’s not just Anna Bell’s rom-com style that I love—I genuinely adored this book by the end!
A great, funny, light read. I can totally see myself re-reading it someday. :)
It’s fun to read marriage pacts stories hahaha and although they were apart for almost 10 years, it did not feel as if the romance were just pushed. There were tons of funny moments, though I did feel the middle dragged a little—Lydia and Danny’s oh-so-quick yet oh-so-lovely get-together was almost too perfect, which made it feel a bit dull for me.
But then, around the 70% mark, my suspicions started building, and when they finally unfolded, it completely won me over. It’s not just Anna Bell’s rom-com style that I love—I genuinely adored this book by the end!
A great, funny, light read. I can totally see myself re-reading it someday. :)
December 4, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it’s been a while since I read any chick-lit but this was an okay read to remind myself of why that genre can be a good one to dip into now and then.
If I’m completely honest, some of the writing didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t get past the overuse of the word ‘as’ and it was all I could notice after a while. I felt like sometimes it just didn’t need to be there or ‘because’ would have been a better word.
However, it was a lovely story and I really enjoyed the development of Lydia and Danny’s relationship. It was also full of hilarious situations and great characters that I immediately warmed to.
It’s the sort of book that makes you think over your own life and the ‘what ifs.’
Overall, a good, heartwarming read!
If I’m completely honest, some of the writing didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t get past the overuse of the word ‘as’ and it was all I could notice after a while. I felt like sometimes it just didn’t need to be there or ‘because’ would have been a better word.
However, it was a lovely story and I really enjoyed the development of Lydia and Danny’s relationship. It was also full of hilarious situations and great characters that I immediately warmed to.
It’s the sort of book that makes you think over your own life and the ‘what ifs.’
Overall, a good, heartwarming read!
April 7, 2020
I enjoyed this so much! It made me laugh, I sometimes had to roll my eyes and I also wanted to scream at Lydia and Danny, because at times they were behaving truly stupid. Overall it was good fun, though. Reading this novel lifted my spirits remarkably, so thank you, Anna Bell. Looking forward to reading more Anna Bell novels :)
Read
September 8, 2022I borrowed this from the library on title alone, while looking for books to read on my 30th birthday trip. It wasn’t spectacular but it met the need and was a light airplane read. It involved some travel in the story too and was set part in England where I was traveling to so it was one of those right book at the right time moments.
August 6, 2024
What a lovely little read! I loved Lydia straight away and how real she was. It was a book that left me on the edge and always wanting to read the next chapter. Anna Bell is a great author and I hadn’t read one of her books in a while, and this one was fab!
May 5, 2020
I laughed out loud so many times reading this book! Loved it!
Read
October 11, 2021DNF
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