Thirtynothing

Recently turned 30, Dig Ryan and his lifelong pal Nadine Kite decide to stop dating inappropriate people and find someone to love. They even make a wager on it to see who is successful first. Told through a series of flashbacks and current events, \”Thirtynothing\” captures the essence of first love, unrequited fantasy, and two reluctant people teetering on the brink of responsible adulthood and coming to terms with love and loss. Dig is a record producer of a small independent label. He is a womanizing (okay, more like a \”girlizing\”), fun loving, anal retentive bloke; Nadine, a successful photographer, is brash, independent, and strong willed. Neither ever dates the right person. But it is painfully obvious to everyone around them that they belong together. They run into the now grown up woman that stole Dig\’s heart (and broke Nadine\’s) when they were teens. Delilah was every adolescent boy\’s fantasy. And now she was back in London, and separated. Nadine fears that she has lost Dig again, and this time for good. To calm her broken heart, she makes a fateful call to a former boyfriend – one that Dig despises – and somehow ends up back in his clutches. Phil is much more a loser (and ex-con no less) than he ever was. Each is convinced that the other is only doing it because of their bet. The situations were comical – loved Dig\’s reaction to Delilah paying him the ultimate compliment – naming her dog after him. Of course, the dog is a Yorkshire Terrier – not exactly a gruff or manly dog. As well as how stressed he got with Delilah\’s messiness. Yes, you can pretty much see the ending coming a mile away – but it was a great quick read. I was hooked and almost overslept from staying up late to finish it. Unlike so many novels of this genre, the ending is satisfying and gives the reader closure.

Thanks to \”Bridget Jones\”, \”Sex in the City\” and their progeny, a whole new fiction sub-genre emerged in the late 90\’s – the thirtysomething coming-of-age/lifestyle novel. Lisa Jewell\’s \”thirty nothing\” is an enchanting addition to the field. The two protagonists – Dig and Nadine – are Londoners with dream jobs, cool flats and messed up love lives. As these two life-long best friends turn thirty, they dispair that neither will ever be able to have a mature, committed relationship. OK, even a native tribesman from New Guinea would know where this is headed, but the journey is lots of fun and well worth the trip. The characters are beautifully fleshed-out, and Jewell\’s writing style is humorous and engaging. Just because you know where you\’re going doesn\’t mean you won\’t have a great time getting there.

I found Thirtynothing to be a good story in search of a little dramatic tension. While I enjoyed reading it, I found at times that there was nothing to propel me on, nothing to keep me up late at night reading. But that\’s my major complaint about the book. Otherwise, it\’s an enjoyable story that, although you can pretty much tell where the story will ultimately go if you are a fan of romantic comedies, takes all sorts of unexpected turns and is filled with some interesting characters. While not quite as good as Ralph\’s Party, it is still an enjoyable, quick, light and sometimes funny read.

As a Late 20s Something myself, I could really relate to the point that Lisa Jewell is trying to make. The best part is, she makes the point without preaching and without bemoaning being in your late 20s/early 30s. This is one of the few books that actually celebrates this time in your life. What is also noteworthy is the fact that Jewell does it from both a male and female perspective. Read this book– you won\’t be able to put it down.

The first book written by Lisa Jewell that I read was \”Ralph\’s Party\”, which made me fall in love with her writing style. When I read the synopsis of Thirtynothing, I knew immediately I\’d have as much fun as I had previously had reading the first Lisa\’s book. This is a very interesting story that has some great moments and can be experienced from different perspectives. I really felt identified with Dig.

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