Review: Humor, Romance, and Embracing Middle Age Mix in This Well-Written Contemporary Novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 10, 2013
“The Thirty Something Snap” is a story about finally growing up and growing older—though not without some struggles first. Howard Perkins is about to turn forty, and it’s making him reflect on his life, including his failed marriage to Darla and his now-dead dream of becoming a rock star (as part of the Rebel Yells). He’s currently succeeding as a PR professional, partnered with his good friend and crush, Penny, who is also divorced. When they have the opportunity to work on a high-profile project with an installation artist, he begins to feel more for her—and he also draws closer to his other friends who are about to land squarely in middle age.This novel combines humor and romance with the bittersweet fact that youth ends, populating it story with likeable and well-crafted characters. Howard, as the protagonist, is an appealing everyman; like most of us, he’s looking for love and fulfillment. His friend Peter brings comic relief to the book, while Penny brings in romance and the “thirty something snap” from the female side. Recommended to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction about realistic characters in often humorous situations, and to readers who are going through the “thirty something snap” themselves—they’ll find something to relate to in the characters’ lives.