Product Description

Unlike most people Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. After struggling through most of his twenties he thinks his career, finances and love life are finally sorted. But when he splits up with his girlfriend, he realises that life has different plans for him. Unable to cope with his future falling apart Matt temporarily moves back to his parents.



During his enforced exodus only his old school mates can keep him sane. Friends he hasn't seen since he was nineteen. Back together after a decade apart. But things will never be the same for any of them because when you’re turning thirty nothing’s as simple as it used to be.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36834 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Gayle's previous novels My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr Commitment have already wittily chronicled living and loving among the twentysomethings at the end of the 20th century. As time marches on, Gayle's latest novel Turning Thirty deals with what happens when his characters reach that most dreaded of moments--the big three-o. Matt Beckford is reaching that time of life. At the age of 29 he thinks he has answered those two crucial questions you ask yourself as a teenager: "What am I going to do with my life?" and "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" Living as a computer expert in New York with the lovely Elaine, Matt thinks he's cracked life. But then both he and Elaine suddenly realise that their relationship isn't working. They split up amicably, realising that "biology is telling us there's no point in crying over spilt milk", and Matt heads back to his friends and parents in Birmingham. As his 30th birthday looms, Matt meets Ginny Pascoe, an old flame, or more accurately "a girl who was also a friend who I sometimes snogged", and things get more complicated as he realises that he's falling for Ginny--again. The transatlantic love triangle that develops between Matt, Ginny and Elaine is funny and refreshing, and lacks the usual angst you would expect from such a situation. As Matt enjoys the nostalgia of going out with old friends and loves, he also realises he needs to sort out his life, as 30 beckons. Turning Thirty is another sharp, funny and astute offering from Gayle, that won't disappoint his growing army of fans. (This review refers to the hardcover edition of this title.) --Jerry Brotton

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Gayle's previous novels My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr Commitment have already wittily chronicled living and loving amongst the twentysomethings at the end of the 20th century. As time marches on, Gayle's latest novel Turning Thirty deals with what happens when his characters reach that most dreaded of moments-- the big three-o. Matt Beckford is reaching that time of life. At the age of 29 he thinks he has answered those two crucial questions you ask yourself as a teenager: "What am I going to do with my life?" and "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" Living as a computer expert in New York with the lovely Elaine, Matt thinks he's cracked life. But then both he and Elaine suddenly realise that their relationship isn't working. They split up amicably, realising that "biology is telling us there's no point in crying over spilt milk", and Matt heads back to his friends and parents in Birmingham. As his thirtieth birthday looms, Matt meets Ginny Pascoe, an old flame, or more accurately "a girl who was also a friend who I sometimes snogged", and things get more complicated as he realises that he's falling for Ginny--again. The transatlantic love triangle that develops between Matt, Ginny and Elaine is funny and refreshing, and lacks the usual angst you would expect from such a situation. As Matt enjoys the nostalgia of going out with old friends and loves, he also realises he needs to sort out his life, as 30 beckons. Turning Thirty is another sharp, funny and astute offering from Gayle, that won't disappoint his growing army of fans. --Jerry Brotton

Review
'Not just readable, fresh and witty but sophisticated in execution ! funny but also poignant' -- Independent on Sunday 'A warm, funny romantic comedy' -- Daily Mail 'Mike Gayle has carved a whole new literary niche out of the male confessional novel. He's a publishing phenomenon' -- Evening Standard 'Delightfully observant nostalgia ! will strike a chord with both sexes' -- She 'Mike Gayle manages to weave everything together with such a warm-the-cockles-of-your-heart manner that once you've finished reading Turning Thirty you want to turn right back to the beginning and start all over again. It's real life -- but better than we know it' B Magazine -- B Magazine 'Funny and endearing ! chuckle-on-the-bus readable' -- Heat

The world's most easy-going computer programmer has a midlife crisis-sort of. British author Gayle (My Legendary Girlfriend, 2002) takes a purportedly shattering situation-such as turning 30-and gives it a decently entertaining and insightful spin. Matt Beckford is the almost-30-year-old who narrates the story. Originally from Birmingham, England, he is living in New York with cute and fun Elaine. They eventually decide that the spark has gone out of their relationship and that it's time to break up (but stay friends, of course). So Matt arranges a transfer to his company's Australia office (change of pace and scenery and all), effective three months from then. In the interim, he moves back to his parents' house to reconnect with some old friends and get his bearings. You see, Matt's not exactly a grownup (a grownup, in his mind, is defined as someone who not only buys, but actually uses, a wine rack), but now that his 30th is just around the corner, he wants to get on track to adulthood. Of course, living with Mom and Dad, and hanging out with his high-school drinking buddies and Ginny (Matt's longtime on-again, off-again pseudo-girlfriend), is not exactly the best way to do it. But the reader should have no fear that Matt will be able to sort things out one way or another, since Gayle is not one for being a downer. A good-natured book: free of histrionics but a tad overly sentimental. (Kirkus Reviews)

Customer Reviews

Its sad to admit but its true!
New to Mike Gayle I had no preconceptions about this book and have come out the other end raring to go on more of his work.

Im not a million miles from thirty myself, but thats not the reason i was reading it - despite the impression that casual observers of the cover might get that this is some kind of self help title! It keeps striking home with little snippets of reality all the way through, moments where you can think - ive been there, im there now or possibly the worst, im becoming that now! The narrative flows wonderfully and is intersperesed by 'breathers' in this case email transcripts between two characters - I found myself really looking forwards to them.

Overall a great story that can scare a youngun, and made anyone around or past 30 grin to themselves in quiet contemplation!

30 is a State of Mind
Matt believes he has it all with a great job in New York and a live-in girlfriend who he thinks will be the one. Not the one for life perhaps, but certainly the one that will be with him when he turns 30 in a few short months. Matt's life plan has always been to be settled down by 30, but this plan slips when his girlfriend leaves him and he decides to return to Blighty. With 3 months until his new job starts in Australia, Matt finds himself 29 years old and living with his parents. To keep himself amused he decides to rekindle old friendships with his school pals. Will Matt be able to find someone to spend his 30th with and will he ever manage to get his life together?

`Turning Thirty' is another quintessential lad lit book from Mike Gayle. The entire book is incredibly laid back and has an effortless feel to it. This means that it is an easy and pleasant read, but it never does anything to inspire the reader or make it stand out from the pack. Matt is a likable enough character, although like in many of this type of book he thinks far too much rather than getting on with life. I do enjoy this type of novel on occasion as something different, however, even though the plot of `Turning Thirty' is meant to resonate with me I found it rarely did. A nice enough read for a couple of nights, but nothing to write home about.

Terrible
Worst book I have ever read by quite a margin, stuck with it to see if it improved it didn't just got worse.