the year i turned thirty by Nikki Addison

This debut is a road trip novel, where three friends living in New Zealand take an impulsive trip to America as they are about to turn thirty. Bailey is heartbroken after a breakup with her partner of ten years and is stuck in a job that isn’t fulfilling her. Rachel is successful in her work, but she has body issues, and she is unsure about her marriage and if she wants to continue. Meanwhile, surfer Harper is newly unemployed and unsure about telling her friends she is bisexual.

Leaving their regular lives for three months, they journey across eleven states, and as they do, they take stock of their lives, emerging as stronger women by the end of the novel. But along the way, there are many deep and meaningful conversations.

This novel is the perfect blend of a road trip that takes us to many iconic spots in the USA, and it also captures that particular emotional crossroads of turning thirty and leaving your twenties behind. The characters are real and feel authentic, and the choices they face will resonate with many.

The blurb on the back cover says that this novel is ‘like a conversation with your best friend’, and this appealing aspect makes the year i turned thirty so enjoyable. I look forward to reading more novels in the future by Nikki Addison, she has a very readable and accessible voice.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Kōtare Press