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

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

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

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

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

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

This book has been on my Kindle for ages (over 5 years), it's a book that I was lucky to get via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I first started reading this book back in 2016, but didn't get very far with at all for some reason. In an attempt to read some of my older NetGalley reads, I chose this one to read.

I enjoyed this contemporary story about Jill, who is fast approaching her 30th Birthday and comes up with a plan to make a list of 30 things to do before she turns 30. Not all the things on her list are huge things to achieve, yet they are things that she fancies doing. Like most of us, life often gets in the way of our plans and Jill finds that as she nears 30 fast, that she's hardly achieved anything on her list. With the help of friends and family, Jill takes on the challenge to fulfil the list.

I wish that I'd come up with a plan like this or even 40 things to do before 40 or 50 things to do before 5o. I still have some time to make a list of 60 things to do before turning 60.

To see how Jill and her friends do, you need to grab a copy of this for yourself and settle down with a cuppa or a glass of wine to enjoy as you immerse yourself in Jill's world.

This book is written more like a script. Almost like the author pictured it being a movie or sitcom and not an actual book. Predictable, no character depth, not something I would recommend.

I wanted to enjoy this book because I had turned 30 when I had first read this book, however I didnt really connect with the story and it became forgettable. The characters didnt stand out much but I did appreciate the story that was trying to be told. Its a pretty easy read, just not what I expected or personally enjoyed.

This was a fun chick-lit read, which entertained me as I read it, but I don't think will particularly stay with me. The plot setup of a girl on the cusp of 30 losing the two things she thought she valued - a job and a fiance, returning home and rediscovering her life as she pursues a 15 year old bucket list, was fun and engaging, and hinted at some bigger themes. The characters were also very likeable, but ultimately I felt none of the really interesting ideas or characters were well enough developed.

Jill is just a month shy of her thirtieth birthday when she gets fired from her job at a prestigious law firm in New York City where she was hoping to make partner. On that very same afternoon, she goes home to find her boyfriend (and colleague at her former firm) cheating on her with his secretary. Left with no other options, she goes home to stay with her parents until she can sort things out and find a new job.

It is there in her childhood bedroom that she finds a list, written in high school, of thirty things she wanted to do before her thirtieth birthday. With the encouragement of her family, an old high school crush and her best friend, she decides to spend the next month checking things off the list.

This was an enjoyable, light read that I was able to finish in a day, however, there were parts of it that felt a bit cheesy and predictable. If you are into the lighthearted romantic comedies, you'll probably enjoy this book. If you enjoy something with a little more substance, you might want to skip over it.

*I received an advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Thirty Days to Thirty by Courtney Psak was hands-down fabulous. I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish. Great job!