Skip to content
Scan a barcode
Scan
Added to your cart
Paperback Turning Thirty Book

ISBN: 0743477650

ISBN13: 9780743477659

Turning Thirty

Select Format

Select Condition ThriftBooks Help Icon

Recommended

Format: Hardcover

Condition: Good

$12.79
Save $17.21!
List Price $30.00
Almost Gone, Only 1 Left!

Book Overview

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?

Related Subjects

Fiction Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews

178 customer ratings | 21 reviews

Rated 5 stars
Great read for men AND for women...

I picked up this book because (being on the verge of the big three-oh myself) the title caught my attention. Rarely do you find a voice which is present, introspective, and relatable for both men and women. But this book accomplished that. It was a great balance of introspection, taking stock, and hopefulness for the future. My favorite quote is about the difference betweeen what turning thirty means for a guy and what it...

0Report

Rated 5 stars
Great

Turning Thirty was just the right kind of book for exactly the kind of mood I was in. Perfectly pitched between comedy and pathos I loved every single word. This is the first Mike Gayle I've ever read and I would describe it as somewhere between a Steve Horsfall and a Nick Hornby novel, i.e. British, quirky and so well observed.

0Report

Rated 4 stars
Above-Average Reading Experience!

This book was my first experience reading the work of Mike Gayle, and I am please to report that I plan to read more of his books in the future! I enjoyed this book for the most part, which surprised me because I was a bit hesitant to read it since I am still several years from 30 and typically don't read books written from the male point of view. The book did make me think about goals I have set for myself and how life...

0Report

Rated 5 stars
Good book about a painful subject

Mike Gayle makes a point about how our society values perpetual youth, so that when people turn 30, they freak out. I went through it myself in July. Thankfully, the book is written with a lot of humor so that a potentially painful subject becomes entertaining. Our protagonist, Matt Beckford, is a likable guy. A British expat, he's living with his girlfriend in New York. The problem is, his girlfriend doesn't feel the spark...

0Report

Rated 5 stars
The Big 3-0

Mike Gayle is big in the UK, but for some reason he hasn't caught on to the same extent over here. I don't quite know why, because Gayle can write some blissfully (and sometimes wistfully) funny stuff. Plus his characters are endearing, sympathetic and human -- even if sometimes they act rude, egotistical or boorish. Turning Thirty is just as humourous and absorbing as Gayle's previous work, which means it's operating at...

0Report

The Women Mentions in Our Blog

The Women in 25 April Books We're Excited About
25 April Books We're Excited About
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • March 16, 2025

No matter how long our TBR lists get, we're always finding new books we want to add! Here are 25 exciting April releases available for preorder, along with suggestions for similar reads you can enjoy right away.

The Women in The February Birthday Blog
The February Birthday Blog
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • February 02, 2025

Treat your February-born friends and family to a bookish birthday! Did you know you can schedule ThriftBooks e-Gift Cards to be delivered on a specific date? Or If you'd rather give your February friends something specific, we've put together a list of some of the hottest titles of the moment. Plus, learn about literary luminaries born this month.

The Women in The Best Literary Fiction & Nonfiction Books of 2024
The Best Literary Fiction & Nonfiction Books of 2024
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • December 10, 2024

It's time for our annual collection of the best books of the year. The titles that made the cut cover a robust range of genres and categories. This roundup includes the standouts in literature, fiction, and nonfiction. Upcoming editions will focus on kids' & YA, romance & horror, and mystery & sci-fi/fantasy.

The Women in 2024's New York Times #1 Best Sellers in Fiction
2024's New York Times #1 Best Sellers in Fiction
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 24, 2024

It's safe to say that most authors hope to have their books featured on The New York Times Best Sellers list. To reach the top of the list would be the ultimate dream. Here are all the novels that have nabbed the top spot so far in 2024.

The Women in The 60 Top Reads of the Last 5 Years?
The 60 Top Reads of the Last 5 Years?
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • October 08, 2024

Goodreads is a social cataloging website and community for readers and authors to find, share, and discuss books. They recently published a list of the top 60 titles from the last five years, using both the numbers of readers and reader ratings to determine their picks. Here are some of the highlights.

Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
GoDaddy Verified and Secured