Review of This Thirty Something Life by Jon Rance

Review of This Thirty Something Life by Jon Rance

 

About This Thirty Something Life -

A romantic comedy for anyone who is, has been or is else likely to be a grown up.

 

Being a thirtysomething man isn't easy (especially when you still yearn to be a twentysomething man). Meet Harry Spencer. History teacher, lover of snack food and terrified of growing up. Then his wife Emily drops the P-Bomb, and Harry is suddenly thrust into the role of expectant father.

 

When he's tempted by the greener grass of a girlfriend past, Harry has to make the most important decision of his life. Does he have what it takes to become a man, or will he succumb to the lure of adolescent fantasy?

 

This is a love story about what happens after we've fallen in love, when we've swapped frolicking in the bed for cigarettes in the shed and Match of the day for Mothercare. Brutally honest, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-warming, this is a diary about one man's bumbling journey on the road to adulthood.

 

Jon Rance's book has to one of the funny books I have ever read, this first line on the back of the book which is:- 'A romantic comedy for anyone who is, has been or is ever likely to be a grown up.' This is so true, even the 'has been' line as if people could they would say young for as long as possible.

 

It's not a typical love story, most of the books I read are in a woman's point of view but it was surprising reading a book in a man's point of view. One thing I noticed was how funnier the storyline was just because of it being a man's point of view instead of a Woman writing as a man. Having been written by a man it is also more realistic as that is really how man talk and behave.

 

The story is set over a period of January to September, in the first couple of lines you are introduced to Harry and his wife Emily. Harry is talking about what she is like and how he gets to be in her bad books most of the time. The first thing I noticed when reading the book was that Harry didn't what to grow up and was against the idea of being a father.

 

Though once Emily has dropped the P-Bomb, he is forced to get used to the idea pretty sharpish, but Emily has wanted a baby for a while. Their friends Steve and Fiona who they have known since university and are having their fourth child, just makes Emily want a baby even more. Everything starts to look really complicated but throw in an old relationship and a desire of staying young longer, Harry must choose does he want to be a grown up or live a care free life forever.

 

My favourite lines from the book are:- 'On the sofa. Eating a bacon sandwich. Emily still asleep. Cloudy.' ' At home. Eating a sausage sandwich.'and 'In the shed. Eating a scotch egg.' These are just some of the funny lines that are in the book, along with many more.

 

If you want a book that will have you laughing for the first page then this is the book you have been looking for. From the comedy to the typical man behaviour it will be the funniest book that you will not be able to put down, because if you had the choice would you want to be a grown up?

 

If I had to describe this book in three words they would be:- Hilarious, Realistic and Honest. This is a perfect portrayal of a man mind and the difficulties they have to become a grown-up.

 

Jon Rance's book is out on the 25th April.

 

It is available to pre-order on Amazon.

 

It is published by Hodder & Stoughton.

 

A special thank you to the people at Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a copy of it to read.

                                                          

 

Another day, another book,

 

 

Sophie Kate <3