I always enjoy stories like these, about characters maybe "coming-of-age" outside of the traditional timeframe, living in a big city, trying to find themselves and figure out who they are and what they want, so I was especially excited to read EARLY THIRTIES! I liked the humorous, witty writing, and thought that the author did a great job of exploring the messiness and complexity of these characters' relationships and the highs and lows that come with this stage of life that they're in. However, I did find myself wishing they had been a little bit more developed individually—even though we get multiple POVs, it sometimes felt hard to fully get to know all of them, and completely connect with the characters overall. While I wanted more from this book in some areas, I'd still recommend that fans of literary fiction check it out and see if it resonates with them! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.

This was a little too much of the authors clear personal experiences and felt so stereotypical and out-of-touch at times. I wanted to care about the characters but I just didn't.

This book follows a group of interconnected NYC and LA elder millennials in their 'early thirties' as they navigate, love, loss, divorce, infertility, abortion, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, depression, career ups and downs and more. I fear that anyone who dives into this debut blind expecting a light, frothy romcom will be grossly disappointed.

While I did find parts slow-moving and I doubt I would have finished if I hadn't listened to the audiobook version, I still think it will resonate deeply with a certain demographic of readers (perhaps those younger than me). It touches on some heavy topics and is definitely NOT a romance even though parts have romantic storylines.

The audio narration was good with a full cast and I would recommend this to fans of authors like Camille Kellogg or books like The Christmas orphans club. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book just really didn't do anything for me, unfortunately. I felt that the characters lacked the interiority required for the book to be character-driven, but nothing really happened so it wasn't plot-driven either. I also found the shifting perspectives somewhat distracting; I'm not sure why it needed to be sometimes in third person, sometimes in first, sometimes telling us whose perspective it was and sometimes not, etc. I didn't feel connected to the main characters, so when we were suddenly reading about some other random tangentially-related person that only got worse. These characters seemed to only have a surface level understanding of themselves, which hardly allows for a reader to feel endearment or even much in the way of interest. Even after undergoing major life events it felt like Zoey and Victor were still largely the same at the end, to say nothing of the other POV characters (because there is nothing to say). The narrative also jumped forward in time and so you would suddenly find that something you read about two chapters ago was already months in the past.

Normally I would leave a more positive review for something that just wasn't for me, but I felt like some of the structural/narrative choices were not for anyone. I will admit I was partially just tickled by the notion of reading Early Thirties because, well, I am in my early thirties, but I was also looking forward to it based on the premise. I do think it suffers from something that is becoming more common, which is bad blurbs. I think there could have been a clearer way to communicate what this book has to offer that would have perhaps adjusted my expectations or caused me to pass by the title entirely. I feel the same way about this book as I did about watching a 3 hour video about Caroline Calloway, which is that I was perfectly content before knowing anything about what I just witnessed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was anticipating fun thirties situations and stories where characters really start to know themselves and come into their own. Here the characters are kind of a mess and unlikeable. The writing is ok but inconsistent in parts, with the dialogue shining more than any exposition. Lots of it felt kind of forced into a groove but then was fine once it found its footing.

I would say for me, not one to come back to, but if you like flawed characters who are unlikeable for most of the book with some redemption at the end give this a shot!

Early Thirties is the kind of book I long for but I think it probably appeals in a narrow window. In the same way I ached and loved Dolly Alderton's Good Material for the way it made me feel seen, Early Thirties is a bittersweet look into the lives of Victor and Zoey, lifelong friends, their jobs, their heartbreaks, their dreams. In a very real and honest portrayal of the chaos that is your 30s if you are not settled into the stereotypical "adult" life yet, Early Thirties manages to make me feel seen in the same way.

I will say that some of the comparisons in the blurb and the cover itself is a bit misleading. This is not a frothy contemporary romance a la Rebecca Serle. This is written in a more literary leaning way. I think Duboff could have developed the characters a bit more if that was his goal, so the story feels somewhere in between genres. I think it works but it may find it hard to find its audience.

DNF @ 35%

The story starts at an intriguing point but the background is lacking. The connection between Zoey and Victor is hard to grasp because we only see them in this weird, strained place and occasionally get the smallest tidbits about their relationship before - but even then it’s often superficial, no depth.

The timeline hops around with little clarity and the plot seemingly doesn’t exist. Add in that we start getting new POVs 20% and 30% in with no introduction, explanation, or seemingly real connection to the others. And weirdly you get the names over the chapters a couple of times and then it drops off and you’re left to decipher whose POV you’re in now - not entirely difficult, but an odd choice.

Personally I could not relate to these characters or their lives in the slightest, it seems very niche. I will say it does a good job depicting the complexities of long term relationships and how they can evolve over time. The prose itself I had no complaints about, I just think I’m realizing strictly character-driven stories are not for me.

I don't think this book was for me. The first chapter opened on a pretty heavy topic that I feel was taken lightly and not seriously. I might come back to it at a later point, but right now, it's not a book I feel the need to continue. I also thought it was a romance, so maybe I was misled. But the characters seem unlikable immediately, which made me hesitant to continue reading.

I unfortunately had a very hard time getting into this one. It felt very monotone and there was a lot of inner monologue which isn't my favorite kind of writing style.

There were a lot of moments in this book that I loved, be it funny or dramatic. However, I just couldn’t get past the whiplash of there being so many characters and different storylines. I understand that the point was to show they were all interconnected but it just felt chaotic. I would probably watch this if it were a show or movie and I do love that it showcases real, messy and flawed characters because that’s a reflection of real life. The MMC felt very unlikeable at times and though I understand it was rooted in other things, I just never found myself rooting for him.

Really enjoyed the writing in this book- smart, sharp, and humorous. All of the characters annoyed me almost all of the time; when I wasn’t annoyed, I was relating to something they thought or said. Haha! This book reminds that life is messy but can be beautiful. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced reader copy.

Zoey and Victor, best friends living in New York, move closer and further away from each other as they enter their thirties and things in their lives change. When I read literary (with a capital "L") fiction, what I'm most hoping for are compelling, complex characters and sharp, beautiful language. While EARLY THIRTIES certainly contains the former (Zoey and Victor are sufficiently complicated, including the novel starting with Victor's failed suicide attempt) but the writing didn't quite rise to the level of sharp and beautiful. Ultimately, this novel was solid but not special.

Early Thirties is out March 18, 2025

Early Thirties by Josh Duboff was a delightful friends to lovers story.
I fell in love with this book almost immediately. I was not expecting the story to be what it was. But it sure did captivate me. I read this novel fairly quickly, which I believe speaks to the flow and the novel. I wanted to keep reading as I was getting more invested and drawn into the story by the characters and their development throughout the novel.
A cut, funny and entertaining debut!

An interesting view at romance, with an ensemble cast that reminded me of 'Love, Actually'. A real page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat from the very start. Melancholic and angsty, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Josh Duboff’s Early Thirties is an introspective, sharply observed, and deeply relatable novel about the shifting nature of friendship, ambition, and self-discovery in your early thirties. With humor, heart, and a painfully accurate portrayal of millennial anxieties, Duboff crafts a story that resonates with anyone who has ever questioned their life choices while navigating the complexities of adulthood.

At its core, the novel follows Victor and Zoey, best friends for a decade, as they wrestle with careers, relationships, and the realization that their once-effortless bond is beginning to fracture. Victor, a celebrity profile writer, grapples with professional and personal doubts, especially in the wake of a personal tragedy. Zoey, immersed in the chaos of a fashion startup, is forced to confront her own uncertainties—both in her career and engagement. As they drift apart, ignoring texts and avoiding hard conversations, the novel becomes a poignant meditation on how friendships evolve, sometimes in ways we least expect.

Duboff’s writing is immersive and filled with keen observations about modern adulthood, particularly the way friendships shift as priorities change. The depiction of career struggles, social circles filled with influencers and “It girls,” and the ever-present existential dread of being in your thirties feels so true to life. The book isn’t heavy on plot—it’s more of a slow burn, introspective character study—but the emotional depth and humor keep it engaging.

While most of the story unfolds through Victor’s perspective, leaving Zoey’s inner world somewhat underexplored, the novel still succeeds in capturing the nuances of their relationship. It’s not a romance, though it has romantic elements; rather, it’s a love story about friendship—the kind that defines us, grounds us, and sometimes, heartbreakingly, grows distant.

Early Thirties is a beautifully written, sometimes bittersweet, but ultimately heartwarming novel that speaks to the uncertainties of adulthood. If you love New York City settings, existential millennial dread, and stories that make you reflect on your own friendships, this one’s for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Thank you to Josh Duboff and Gallery Books for the ARC of Early Thirties!

Early Thirties is a book about people who are successful (or want to be) and their struggles to find connection as they move into a new era of their lives. It primarily follows Victor, a celebrity-focused journalist, and his best friend Zoey, who's helping to launch a celebrity fashion-focused app. Through relationship challenges, work drama, and even other side character chapters, we see flashes of their lives, moments here and there.

This book wasn't really for me, but it was for people who love reading character-focused stories with messy people. Bonus points if you'd be interested in a peek behind the scenes of celebrity culture and those in similar circles.

Here's the thing: Early Thirties phrases itself as being about friendship, being a relatable story about this less than glamorous era of your life. However I don't think I've ever read anything less relatable, and if I ever had a friend like any of the characters in this book, I would cut it off immediately. Everyone is immature, most characters seem legitimately narcissistic, and even the therapist in multiple chapters was absolutely terrible. That therapist would make me need therapy.

The whole thing felt like a commentary, but I have no clue what it was trying to comment on. There's character growth at the very end, but I'm still unclear why the characters decided to make changes and improve their lives. In the POVs for characters, I often found that I hated them MORE - which normally is what happens when you're not in their head, understanding their actions.

It was very confusing, but I did want to keep reading out of this sense of morbid curiosity, mostly. I know that these characters were not meant to be polished, I just deeply struggle with the summary blurb being used to market this story. This is kind of like if all the Magnolia Parks characters were in their 30s. But with more of a focus on the friends and less of a focus on the romantic relationships. (I didn't like Magnolia Parks)

In spite of the things I struggled with, I can acknowledge that the dialogue was written in a very human way, even if I found the logic of conversation flow jarring. The thought processes were also very human. I simply don't surround myself with people who consistently act on intrusive/impulsive thoughts, and every character in this book did that.

At the end of the day I'm glad I read it and I hope someone whose interest is piqued by this will pick it up. It's polarizing, and that's okay.

Thank you again for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

DNF @ 10%. I couldn’t get past the whiplash of starting off with the main character, Victor, in the hospital for an attempted suicide, to talk of celebrities, and then his inner monologues of not being able to move past his best friend being engaged. This was just not for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing and captivating experience, and I found the writing to be both engaging and accessible. The story flowed smoothly, making it easy to stay connected to the plot and characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed. The author struck a perfect balance, keeping things interesting while still making the content feel approachable. Overall, it was a wonderful read, and I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and easy-to-digest book.

DNF. I struggled connecting with Victor's character. I had a hard time getting through his POV. I wasn't the biggest fan of his character and thought process. I requested this book because I was intrigued by Zoey and Victor's relationship. Their friendship fell flat. I just wasn't invested in their relationship. I thought the writing and character development felt shallow. Overall, this book wasn't for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC 😊🩷

Quick read!
I turn 31 this year so i found this book relatable at times.