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Turning Thirty
What's the big deal?
Unlike a lot of people, Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. His twenties really weren't so great...and now he has his love life, his career, his finances -- even his record collection -- pretty much in order, like any good grown-up should. But when, out of the blue, Elaine announces she "can't do this anymore," Matt is left with the prospect of facing the big three-oh alone. Compounding his misery is the fact that he has to move back in with his parents.
What's it all about, Alfie?
Mum and Dad immediately start driving Matt up the wall, and emails from Elaine and nights out with his old school chum Gershwin aren't enough to snap Matt out of his existential funk. So he decides to track down more old schoolmates and see how they're handling this thirty thing. One by one, he gets in touch with the rest of the magnificent seven -- Pete, Bev, Katrina, Elliot, and Ginny, his former on-off girlfriend -- and soon the old gang is back together. But they're a lot older and a lot has changed and, even if he and Ginny still seem attracted to each other, you can't have an on-off girlfriend when you're thirty. Can you?
Unlike a lot of people, Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. His twenties really weren't so great...and now he has his love life, his career, his finances -- even his record collection -- pretty much in order, like any good grown-up should. But when, out of the blue, Elaine announces she "can't do this anymore," Matt is left with the prospect of facing the big three-oh alone. Compounding his misery is the fact that he has to move back in with his parents.
What's it all about, Alfie?
Mum and Dad immediately start driving Matt up the wall, and emails from Elaine and nights out with his old school chum Gershwin aren't enough to snap Matt out of his existential funk. So he decides to track down more old schoolmates and see how they're handling this thirty thing. One by one, he gets in touch with the rest of the magnificent seven -- Pete, Bev, Katrina, Elliot, and Ginny, his former on-off girlfriend -- and soon the old gang is back together. But they're a lot older and a lot has changed and, even if he and Ginny still seem attracted to each other, you can't have an on-off girlfriend when you're thirty. Can you?
357 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
64 people are currently reading
1059 people want to read
About the author
Mike Gayle
38 books2,250 followersI was born in the 70s — the 70s were great. I would recommend them to anyone.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.
I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.
I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).
Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.
After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.
My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)
I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
March 6, 2022
Matt Beckford always thought, and then planned to be a real adult in a real relationship by the time he was 30, so having split up with his girlfriend in New York, applied for a job move to Sydney Australia in a few months, and thus moved back in with his parents in Birmingham 3 months before his 30th birthday things weren't really going to plan. At a loose end Matt decides to get back in touch with his great pre-Uni friend group and this is the story of what happens and how the past and going home helps him, or doesn't, map out his post-30 life.
As ever the Black British writer Mike Gayle creates a perfect, yet seemingly timeless Twentieth Century reality with the usual likeable self aware male (on this occasion White) lead in a world inhabited by an interesting group of characters. This is a quirky reality check for men and the power of good friendships (and good platonic relationships) hiding behind the thin façade of being a romantic comedy. On one side this is a good read centred around the infantilisation within Western culture and how so many try to desperately hang on to youth/ refuse to really grow up, but on the other hand although compelling enough to read from cover to cover on finishing it just felt like, what was the point of all that? It felt like the first season of TV series, a good TV series though. 5 out of 12. I must add that it's an interesting and insightful look at passing from your 20s to your 30s, and is likely a much better read for people in that age range.
2022 read
As ever the Black British writer Mike Gayle creates a perfect, yet seemingly timeless Twentieth Century reality with the usual likeable self aware male (on this occasion White) lead in a world inhabited by an interesting group of characters. This is a quirky reality check for men and the power of good friendships (and good platonic relationships) hiding behind the thin façade of being a romantic comedy. On one side this is a good read centred around the infantilisation within Western culture and how so many try to desperately hang on to youth/ refuse to really grow up, but on the other hand although compelling enough to read from cover to cover on finishing it just felt like, what was the point of all that? It felt like the first season of TV series, a good TV series though. 5 out of 12. I must add that it's an interesting and insightful look at passing from your 20s to your 30s, and is likely a much better read for people in that age range.
2022 read
November 7, 2007
I accidently stayed up all night reading this male alternative to chick lit, dick lit,(I think I made that genre up but it exsists we just call it fiction)anyway, I read it in one go not cuz it was so good but because in 6 months I too, will be turning thirty and my anxiety about this milestone in life kept me up and kept me reading.
Have you ever been out with your boyfriend/girlfriend and their old school friends? And all they talk about is remember so and so? And whatever happened to...? And it's really boring for you cuz you don't know those people and you don't care...And those HILARIOUS stories barely elicit a polite titter from you? That is what this book was like for me, it had a few light enjoyable moments and if I was drunk I might have found it more amusing. But it struck the freaking-out-about-turning-30 chord in me so I gave it two stars cuz I could relate and it helped me get through the night. I like when books can be my friend even if they are kind of a lame friend.
Have you ever been out with your boyfriend/girlfriend and their old school friends? And all they talk about is remember so and so? And whatever happened to...? And it's really boring for you cuz you don't know those people and you don't care...And those HILARIOUS stories barely elicit a polite titter from you? That is what this book was like for me, it had a few light enjoyable moments and if I was drunk I might have found it more amusing. But it struck the freaking-out-about-turning-30 chord in me so I gave it two stars cuz I could relate and it helped me get through the night. I like when books can be my friend even if they are kind of a lame friend.
October 15, 2015
The characters were so flat and unrealistic. Every single one talked and acted exactly the same; there was nothing that made each character's dialogue unique from the others. There were too many random supporting characters that did absolutely nothing except fill up a lunch table.
The thing that annoyed me the most was how Gayle left out the important scenes by only 'explaining' them in once sentence, but managed to write 300+ pages of completely pointless character interactions. Matt finding out about Elliot's death would have definitely been a good few pages, instead it was reduced to about a paragraph.
He has a good idea, if executed properly it actually would have been a fun read.
The thing that annoyed me the most was how Gayle left out the important scenes by only 'explaining' them in once sentence, but managed to write 300+ pages of completely pointless character interactions. Matt finding out about Elliot's death would have definitely been a good few pages, instead it was reduced to about a paragraph.
He has a good idea, if executed properly it actually would have been a fun read.
September 21, 2015
In the genre he writes, this is a perfect one from Mike Gayle. With regards to his previous outings, the major difference is that he presents a protagonist in this one who is not a lazy whiner, but a most regular guy that you actually can relate to.
Close to his 30th, Matt finds that he and his girlfriend really drifted apart and when she breaks the subject, it becomes one of these very admirable break-ups, where the parties really stay friends. Matt moves home (from the states) to mum and dad in Birmingham, on his way to his newly acquired position in Australia. The good news is of course that he managed to stay close friend with his ex, the bad is that he realizes he's very much alone and with every outlook of being so for his 30th. Being on the home turf, he decides to say hello to the old gang.
This is superbly written, balancing a nice humour and amusing situations on the right side of plausible. Gayle also presents a great cast of characters that is easy to relate to; daydreaming, going to sleep or waking up, I caught myself wondering about "whatever became of..." for some fractions of a second until I realized who I was thinking of.
The other thing this book made me realize is that 40 really must be the new 30, considering I could relate so closely with the cast of the book turning 30. Or it could be that 45 is the new senile I suppose. Either way, this was wonderfully nostalgic and comes very highly recommended!
Close to his 30th, Matt finds that he and his girlfriend really drifted apart and when she breaks the subject, it becomes one of these very admirable break-ups, where the parties really stay friends. Matt moves home (from the states) to mum and dad in Birmingham, on his way to his newly acquired position in Australia. The good news is of course that he managed to stay close friend with his ex, the bad is that he realizes he's very much alone and with every outlook of being so for his 30th. Being on the home turf, he decides to say hello to the old gang.
This is superbly written, balancing a nice humour and amusing situations on the right side of plausible. Gayle also presents a great cast of characters that is easy to relate to; daydreaming, going to sleep or waking up, I caught myself wondering about "whatever became of..." for some fractions of a second until I realized who I was thinking of.
The other thing this book made me realize is that 40 really must be the new 30, considering I could relate so closely with the cast of the book turning 30. Or it could be that 45 is the new senile I suppose. Either way, this was wonderfully nostalgic and comes very highly recommended!
February 21, 2021
Everyone has their expectation of their life at thirty. Yes, when you reach that age you can’t help but to reflect and to compare your expectations and your reality. 30 is definitely a funny age to reach, you can either feel too old or still young. I can’t say that this is a great book but it’s definitely the kind of fiction that connect to the reality. What happened to those characters can happen to any of us. Really enjoyed the read.
March 5, 2021
I really wanted to enjoy this book. Although it was a DNF for me. I didn’t like the characters. It was written with ample chapters where nothing happened. The story dragged a lot in my opinion. I turned 30 this past Monday.
November 16, 2022
This was a really fun book. An easy read, which was both humorous and entertaining. Not much depth but very enjoyable. A nice distraction. I would like to read the other books by this author as, I'm pretty sure I would enjoy them as well.
August 6, 2020
Really loved this book although the end was a little disappointing
May 6, 2022
Not one for me. Don't think I'll be reading the next birthday... 😕
June 30, 2024
Sat in the garden on a sunny day and read this, Mike gayle never disappoints, always a nice easy read
May 25, 2023
This was a light and enjoyable read but lacked the emotional depth of Mike Gayle's later novels. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel though.
June 1, 2023
I loved this book. So relatable on every level. A school reunion where you realise people are the same or completely different 10 years later. Really liked authors style of writing. Don’t have to be 30 to read this book!
August 22, 2023
A nice, very easy to read book about nostalgia, it took me back to my own childhood and school days in parts. I look forward to reading the sequel.
November 13, 2023
This was a lovely read that kept me guessing right till the end. It's not going to win any awards but it was just perfect for losing myself in for a bit.
July 5, 2024
Comfort reading at its best.
December 31, 2020
actual rating: 3,5 star
salah satu bacaan akhir tahun 2020. pengin dibahas agak panjang karena bukunya lumayan relate sama diri sendiri.
saya ingat menyukai salah satu ladlit (lupa judulnya). setelah kebanjiran novel-novel chicklit dan metropop, lumayan berwarna pas ketemu novel contemporary-romance dengan tokoh utama laki-laki. dan kebetulan waktu itu gpu juga getol menerbitkan beberapa judul ladlit, karenanya saya akhirnya mencoba mengumpulkan novel-novel itu. kebanyakan karangan mike gayle dan matt dunn. selain buku ini, judul berikutnya yang masih bisa dibaca: my legendary girlfriend dan best's man.
balik ke buku ini. awalnya saya bosaaan banget karena yaampun, gila... paragrafnya panjang-panjang. duh, ini pengin banget dipotong-potong gitu, biar nggak sepet bacanya. sudah begitu, konfliknya pun dataaar pisan, euy... gairah membaca seketika empot-empotan.
namun, saat matt beckford--tokoh 'aku' di sini, mulai galau jelang umur 30 dan memutuskan untuk minta pindah dari tempat kerja serta pulang ke rumah orangtuanya... and nostalgia hits me hard. hampir sepenuhnya buku ini berisi cerita nostalgia matt dan teman-teman sma-nya juga tentang hubungan asmara on-off matt dengan ginny pascoe.
baca ini agak nyesel pas sma saya orangnya introver habis, minderan pol sampai nggak berani temenan akrab sama siapa pun. coba kalau punya temen akrab, bisa nostalgiaan kayak matt begini. dan, hebat lho si matt ini, sudah belasan tahun tapi masih hampir ingat semua teman-temannya. jalan ke supermarket ketemu seseorang dan ingat namanya, jalan ke mana ketemu seseorang dan ingat namanya, saya? hahahahahahahahahahaha..... *purapuraingat
hal lain yang juga cukup relate: halaman 50. di tempat kerja dan karier saya yang sekarang, sangat tak mungkin untuk jadi kutu loncat. sedangkan di sini matt kepikiran untuk istirahat sejenak setelah delapan tahun bekerja.
saya dulu juga punya niatan membuat goal di umur tertentu, terkhusus tentang menikah, tapi selebihnya nggak, saya hampir nggak pernah punya goal sampai akhirnya menikah. matt sudah memimpikan umur tiga puluh sejak kecil. menurutnya umur tiga puluh semestinya sudah mapan dengan memenuhi kriteria tertentu. namun, tiga bulan sebelum umur tiga puluh, kegalauan menghantamnya. pekerjaan mapan di new york, hubungan stabil sama elaine, tak membuatnya mantap. akhirnya matt memiilih meminta dimutasikan ke negara lain, tapi sebelumnya matt memutuskan untuk pulang ke inggris.
beranjak tiga puluh bagi matt:
- memperbaiki hubungan dengan orangtuanya
- menjadi babysitter pengganti buat charlotte, anak temannya gerhswin dan zoe
- bertemu dan jatuh cinta lagi dengan ginny
- merajut benang kenangan dengan teman-teman lamanya
"Kalau kau tahu ada yang salah dalam hubungan kita kenapa kau tidak mengatakan apa-apa?" --47
"Kalau aku ingin menemukan jawaban mengenai apa pun, tempat terbaik untuk menemukannya adalah rumah." --77
"Tapi kau tahu bagaimana keadaannya, semua orang membenci pekerjaannya, bukan? Jadi kenapa repot-repot mengeluh?" --92
salah satu bacaan akhir tahun 2020. pengin dibahas agak panjang karena bukunya lumayan relate sama diri sendiri.
saya ingat menyukai salah satu ladlit (lupa judulnya). setelah kebanjiran novel-novel chicklit dan metropop, lumayan berwarna pas ketemu novel contemporary-romance dengan tokoh utama laki-laki. dan kebetulan waktu itu gpu juga getol menerbitkan beberapa judul ladlit, karenanya saya akhirnya mencoba mengumpulkan novel-novel itu. kebanyakan karangan mike gayle dan matt dunn. selain buku ini, judul berikutnya yang masih bisa dibaca: my legendary girlfriend dan best's man.
balik ke buku ini. awalnya saya bosaaan banget karena yaampun, gila... paragrafnya panjang-panjang. duh, ini pengin banget dipotong-potong gitu, biar nggak sepet bacanya. sudah begitu, konfliknya pun dataaar pisan, euy... gairah membaca seketika empot-empotan.
namun, saat matt beckford--tokoh 'aku' di sini, mulai galau jelang umur 30 dan memutuskan untuk minta pindah dari tempat kerja serta pulang ke rumah orangtuanya... and nostalgia hits me hard. hampir sepenuhnya buku ini berisi cerita nostalgia matt dan teman-teman sma-nya juga tentang hubungan asmara on-off matt dengan ginny pascoe.
baca ini agak nyesel pas sma saya orangnya introver habis, minderan pol sampai nggak berani temenan akrab sama siapa pun. coba kalau punya temen akrab, bisa nostalgiaan kayak matt begini. dan, hebat lho si matt ini, sudah belasan tahun tapi masih hampir ingat semua teman-temannya. jalan ke supermarket ketemu seseorang dan ingat namanya, jalan ke mana ketemu seseorang dan ingat namanya, saya? hahahahahahahahahahaha..... *purapuraingat
hal lain yang juga cukup relate: halaman 50. di tempat kerja dan karier saya yang sekarang, sangat tak mungkin untuk jadi kutu loncat. sedangkan di sini matt kepikiran untuk istirahat sejenak setelah delapan tahun bekerja.
saya dulu juga punya niatan membuat goal di umur tertentu, terkhusus tentang menikah, tapi selebihnya nggak, saya hampir nggak pernah punya goal sampai akhirnya menikah. matt sudah memimpikan umur tiga puluh sejak kecil. menurutnya umur tiga puluh semestinya sudah mapan dengan memenuhi kriteria tertentu. namun, tiga bulan sebelum umur tiga puluh, kegalauan menghantamnya. pekerjaan mapan di new york, hubungan stabil sama elaine, tak membuatnya mantap. akhirnya matt memiilih meminta dimutasikan ke negara lain, tapi sebelumnya matt memutuskan untuk pulang ke inggris.
beranjak tiga puluh bagi matt:
- memperbaiki hubungan dengan orangtuanya
- menjadi babysitter pengganti buat charlotte, anak temannya gerhswin dan zoe
- bertemu dan jatuh cinta lagi dengan ginny
- merajut benang kenangan dengan teman-teman lamanya
"Kalau kau tahu ada yang salah dalam hubungan kita kenapa kau tidak mengatakan apa-apa?" --47
"Kalau aku ingin menemukan jawaban mengenai apa pun, tempat terbaik untuk menemukannya adalah rumah." --77
"Tapi kau tahu bagaimana keadaannya, semua orang membenci pekerjaannya, bukan? Jadi kenapa repot-repot mengeluh?" --92
June 22, 2011
Dibeli karena mendadak galau karena keluyuran sendirian di toko buku (oke, kapan sih gw nggak galau?) dan juga terpengaruh obrolan soal rencana hidup bertemakan turning 25 dengan si BlaBla (yang akan berumur 25 tahun ini) sebelumnya. Jadi meskipun gw masih *cough* jauh dari usia 30, maka gw memutuskan untuk membeli buku ini.
Dari segi cerita mungkin mirip chick lit ya, bedanya penulis dan tokoh utamanya pria. Plot utama berkisar pada kegalauan Matthew Beckford dalam menghadapi pergantian usia menuju 30 tahun. Menurutnya, umur 30 tahun adalah saat aneka kegalauan usia duapuluhan berakhir dan hidup mulai berjalan dengan lancar, seperti misalnya memiliki aparetemen berwarna monokrom, rak anggur yang lengkap, dan yang paling penting, pasangan hidup. Sayangnya hal itu tidak terjadi, karena yang terjadi adalah Matt putus dengan pacarnya, meninggalkan apartemennya, pindah kerja (yang masih akan dimulai tiga bulan lagi), dan terpaksa tinggal di rumah orang tuanya. Dari sini, berbagai persoalan (dan kegalauan) mulai bermunculan kembali.
Meskipun sebenernya novel semacam begini adalah yang biasanya nggak gw lirik, secara mengejutkan gw suka dengan novel ini. Tidak ada konflik yang benar-benar meningkat dan banyak kemunculan karakter di sana sini terkadang terasa membingungkan karena lebih tampil sebagai pemanis saja. Tapi dialog yang ada terasa menyenangkan untuk diikuti. Lumayan untuk mengisi waktu luang sembari mikir mau jadi apa pas udah berusia 30 nanti :)
Dari segi cerita mungkin mirip chick lit ya, bedanya penulis dan tokoh utamanya pria. Plot utama berkisar pada kegalauan Matthew Beckford dalam menghadapi pergantian usia menuju 30 tahun. Menurutnya, umur 30 tahun adalah saat aneka kegalauan usia duapuluhan berakhir dan hidup mulai berjalan dengan lancar, seperti misalnya memiliki aparetemen berwarna monokrom, rak anggur yang lengkap, dan yang paling penting, pasangan hidup. Sayangnya hal itu tidak terjadi, karena yang terjadi adalah Matt putus dengan pacarnya, meninggalkan apartemennya, pindah kerja (yang masih akan dimulai tiga bulan lagi), dan terpaksa tinggal di rumah orang tuanya. Dari sini, berbagai persoalan (dan kegalauan) mulai bermunculan kembali.
Meskipun sebenernya novel semacam begini adalah yang biasanya nggak gw lirik, secara mengejutkan gw suka dengan novel ini. Tidak ada konflik yang benar-benar meningkat dan banyak kemunculan karakter di sana sini terkadang terasa membingungkan karena lebih tampil sebagai pemanis saja. Tapi dialog yang ada terasa menyenangkan untuk diikuti. Lumayan untuk mengisi waktu luang sembari mikir mau jadi apa pas udah berusia 30 nanti :)
July 21, 2012
Aspects of this book were fun for their true-isms, aspects of it were confusing because they didn't follow "the formula" where all other pointers suggested they would.
The most complex thing about it (now, anyway) is the way it reads like a period piece, accidentally emphasising how different the concerns of the pre-university fees, jobs-everywhere generation were from the turning thirty generation of now. The entitlement is so inherent in that generation, it isn't even addressed, it's just part of that age. In a sense, it makes it more dull than it might be now, or perhaps, to say the other way, it's hard to accept a story without any grit in it.
And given that it isn't even meant to be so much gritty and plot-driven as it is a light reflection - this certainly isn't trying to be Generation X, and thank goodness, because I don't want to throw it at the wall for that - it isn't that I want a book from twelve years ago to account for this or anything, it's that I don't feel it's aged in a way that gives it the easy fun that it must have had in it at the time. I'd pick up other novels by the author, but with a hope that they wouldn't leave me with the uncomfortably creeping nostalgia of this one...
May 15, 2014
Turning Thirty is a big event in most people's lives, Matt is no different. Turning Thirty is a book about having everything you could ever want, and then losing it in a blink of an eye. After, Matt's life takes a turn for the worse leaving him no choice but to move back in with his parents. With no girlfriend or house, he doesn't know where his life went wrong.
So, Matt decides to look towards the past instead of the future, finding his old school friends seems like a great idea being able to reflect on the good old times and not think about his looming 30th birthday. Over the remaining day left before he turns thirty, Matt comes to realise what is really means to turn thirty and how sometime you need the help of your oldest friends to make you see.
With its entertaining theme it is a great book for any person to read but if you are close to or just turned Thirty then this book will make you see witty side of hitting the big 3-0. Turning Thirty shows that life doesn't end at thirty, it shows that life really starts at thirty, just like in Matt's case. He had lost everything, but he gain much more, his friends came back into his life and he realised that it is never to late to change your life.
So, Matt decides to look towards the past instead of the future, finding his old school friends seems like a great idea being able to reflect on the good old times and not think about his looming 30th birthday. Over the remaining day left before he turns thirty, Matt comes to realise what is really means to turn thirty and how sometime you need the help of your oldest friends to make you see.
With its entertaining theme it is a great book for any person to read but if you are close to or just turned Thirty then this book will make you see witty side of hitting the big 3-0. Turning Thirty shows that life doesn't end at thirty, it shows that life really starts at thirty, just like in Matt's case. He had lost everything, but he gain much more, his friends came back into his life and he realised that it is never to late to change your life.
September 26, 2021
Reading some of the other reviews of this I think I have slipped into the wrong demographic! Having just turned 73 I need no longer worry about turning 30, but I know it is not my advanced years which lead me to this review.
Rather a disappointment after being pleasantly surprised by a couple of Gayle’s novels. The first half seems to be a sloppily arranged pick and mix of reminiscences of old school-friends and the “where are they now” question. The narrator, Matt, is rapidly approaching his 30th birthday, a successful employee of a major tech company, but becoming dissatisfied with both his life in New York and his long-term girlfriend.
A return to his Birmingham home does little to resolve his dilemma and the rekindling of an old flame, Ginny, muddies the waters even more. It is only during the brief resumption of their romance that the novel seems to have any flow.
The commitment shy Matt leaves us without a resolution and two unhappy exes! That’s more than he deserves in my opinion!
Rather a disappointment after being pleasantly surprised by a couple of Gayle’s novels. The first half seems to be a sloppily arranged pick and mix of reminiscences of old school-friends and the “where are they now” question. The narrator, Matt, is rapidly approaching his 30th birthday, a successful employee of a major tech company, but becoming dissatisfied with both his life in New York and his long-term girlfriend.
A return to his Birmingham home does little to resolve his dilemma and the rekindling of an old flame, Ginny, muddies the waters even more. It is only during the brief resumption of their romance that the novel seems to have any flow.
The commitment shy Matt leaves us without a resolution and two unhappy exes! That’s more than he deserves in my opinion!
September 21, 2024
Tranquila y tópica pero adictiva y divertida novela sobre un tema tan trillado como la llegada a la treintena de un tipo que como muchos de nosotros sufrimos, sufriremos o hemos sufrido la llegada a esa edad en la cual debes decidir entre ser un adolescente irresponsable para toda tu vida o en cambio transformarte en ese adulto anodino y maduro que tanto siempre hemos temido ser...
Una suerte de mezcla de estilos son los que se asoman en la narrativa de Gayle, que pueden asimilarse al de sus compatriotas Nick Hornby y Jonathan Coe, queriendo coger del primero ese toque de humor que tienen sus novelas sin llegar, eso si, a momentos tan explendidos como los del autor de "Alta Fidelidad" y del segundo ese reflejo de la sociedad británica de clase media y sus "circunstancias vitales" pero sin alcanzar, de nuevo eso si, esa explendida narrativa del creador de "EL club de los canallas". Quizás lo que le falta a este ex-redactor de FHM son los 15 años de edad que le sacan los 2 mencionad
Una suerte de mezcla de estilos son los que se asoman en la narrativa de Gayle, que pueden asimilarse al de sus compatriotas Nick Hornby y Jonathan Coe, queriendo coger del primero ese toque de humor que tienen sus novelas sin llegar, eso si, a momentos tan explendidos como los del autor de "Alta Fidelidad" y del segundo ese reflejo de la sociedad británica de clase media y sus "circunstancias vitales" pero sin alcanzar, de nuevo eso si, esa explendida narrativa del creador de "EL club de los canallas". Quizás lo que le falta a este ex-redactor de FHM son los 15 años de edad que le sacan los 2 mencionad
June 26, 2021
I found this book in a charity shop and, as I just turned 30 and recently ended a relationship, I thought I was gonna sympathize with the main character.
Boy, was I wrong.
The book is full of clichés, there is no development in the story at all and no real reflection about what it is like to turn 30 - except that you are a different person than when you were in highschool (duh).
The writing style is not even bad - but unfortunately it's put to use in the creation of superficial characters and sexist innuendos.
Okay, I get that the point of view of the narrator is one of a 29-years-old man but...an emasculating shopping cart? Really? The anxiety and shame for having to buy a box of tampons for a friend? The fact that his ex told him "he could be woman" because he is empathetic and a good listener?
On the bright side, the main character was so whiny about turning thirty that it made me feel happy about it just out of spite.
Boy, was I wrong.
The book is full of clichés, there is no development in the story at all and no real reflection about what it is like to turn 30 - except that you are a different person than when you were in highschool (duh).
The writing style is not even bad - but unfortunately it's put to use in the creation of superficial characters and sexist innuendos.
Okay, I get that the point of view of the narrator is one of a 29-years-old man but...an emasculating shopping cart? Really? The anxiety and shame for having to buy a box of tampons for a friend? The fact that his ex told him "he could be woman" because he is empathetic and a good listener?
On the bright side, the main character was so whiny about turning thirty that it made me feel happy about it just out of spite.
June 30, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, funny and very readable (if light) novel about a man approaching his thirtieth birthday, and given cause to think about how he's meeting his expectations of that milestone. There's the usual realistic and not completely clichéd relationship stuff from a male point of view, and (as other reviewers have pointed out) the central characters appear to be more likeable in this one. I turned thirty recently (*ahem* almost seven years ago) so found quite a bit of common ground with the protagonist - though many of the time-specific cultural references were a little previous to my age group. At times it was a little obvious, some of the characters and situations were predictable and a bit generic, and I couldn't completely escape the fact this was pretty light/trashy, but it was pretty enjoyable and one of the best of an author I rarely fail to enjoy.
May 31, 2014
Saw this book at the library. As I'm about to turn 30 in a couple of weeks, the title definitely spoke to me.
It was a very lovely reading. Matt, the main character, couldn't be more happy to turn 30. His life is exactly where it should be at this stage of his life. That until everything fall apart.
So he decides to go back home, to go back to his parents, to catch up with his old gang. And the journey back isn't always what you think it should be.
Having difficulties giving up on things from the past, seeing your friends getting married & having kids, yeah it's not always easy especially when you feel like you don't know where to go.
Good therapy that book!
It was a very lovely reading. Matt, the main character, couldn't be more happy to turn 30. His life is exactly where it should be at this stage of his life. That until everything fall apart.
So he decides to go back home, to go back to his parents, to catch up with his old gang. And the journey back isn't always what you think it should be.
Having difficulties giving up on things from the past, seeing your friends getting married & having kids, yeah it's not always easy especially when you feel like you don't know where to go.
Good therapy that book!
January 2, 2011
Read it a few years before turning thirty myself, and although that was many, many years ago, I still have very fond memories of this book.
While the are no major conflicts to overcome, no major drama, no major primary or secondary characters, I believe that this is one of the book's strong suits. It's about life. And sometimes life just happens.
Now that I reemember, I need to find more of Gayle's books
While the are no major conflicts to overcome, no major drama, no major primary or secondary characters, I believe that this is one of the book's strong suits. It's about life. And sometimes life just happens.
Now that I reemember, I need to find more of Gayle's books
July 12, 2012
I appreciated the author's unique writing style. Unfortunately, I thought that the characters were not very interesting (with the exceptions of Matt and Elaine), there were too many unimportant details included, and I didn't care for the ending.
May 10, 2015
It's a refreshingly awesome book, I was easily drawn to it because it managed to connect to me on a personal level with my life. Reminded me that i'm 30!
July 24, 2018
ไม่อยากเชื่อเลยว่าเล่มนี้จะสนุกและมีเนื้อหาที่น่าติดตามและน่าหลงใหลได้ขนาดนี้ สอดแทรกข้อคิดไว้ให้ทบทวนอีก เยี่ยมมาก
November 17, 2020
Meeehhh... dry super dry book, no proper story felt like I am listening a teenage gossip , don’t waste your time.
December 3, 2021
You go in and come out feeling and thinking the same. There's no challenge nor comfort to be found, though it's appealing if you want to have a break and turn your brain off.
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