Content warnings: sex

Thank you to Bonnier Zaffre and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was supposed to be on the blog tour for this book, but it was in the middle of my really bad reading slump in October/November/December and I completely forgot about it. But I’m here now to talk about the book.

Things aren’t going well for Lydia, she’s hit a big stumble in her love life and she’s not progressing anywhere in her career. Then at New Year she’s sent on a holiday on her own to Spain to get back in touch with herself. However, after being there a day her childhood friend and longtime crush walks in and suddenly they’re going at it like rabbits and decide to make good on their pact of marrying each other if they’re both single by 30.

I’m a fan of “chick lit” (though not a fan of the name). I find these kinds of books really good as a palette cleanser when I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy and they offer that romantic contemporary vibe without too much detailed sex if you’re not in the mood or not into that.

This book was fun and a good beach read and definitely felt like your classic book of this genre. But I did have some problems with it.

Overall, liked the main romance between the two leads because I’m such a sucker for friends to lovers and when people have a history as well. That’s one of my absolute favourite tropes.

I struggled with the pace of this novel mainly. For the majority of my time reading it I felt like it was just constantly building to the climax and it took so long to get there. The climax was a big fight, like it is a lot of the time in contemporary fiction, and I just kept being like “are they going to fight yet?”. Then when the fight actually came it was so close to the end that the resolution was over and done with in the blink of an eye because there was no time left.

There were times when I really liked Lydia as a main character and there were times when she made me angry. She was humorous and a really hard worker who just wants to succeed in her career, but both her lies and trust issues made me so annoyed at times.

I think if you are a fan of the likes of Lindsey Kelk, Paige Toon, and Sophie Kinsella then this will be a good read for you.

Another good book by this author. This was a fun read and was set in some beautiful locations.
This book is not predictable at all. A lovely read

Another great read by Anna Bell!
This was a funny and easy book but it lacked the spark that I found when I read: It Started With a Tweet. Let's see what the author writes next – she's the new Sophie Kinsella!

Having read 'It Started With a Tweet' last year, I quickly realised that Anna Bell was going to be one of my favourite authors. Shes creates such interesting and relatable characters. I love how she seamlessly blends modern trends, such as Instagram and Twitter into the traditional 'chick-lit' style. 'If We're Not Married By Thirty' drew me in the same way as 'It Started With a Tweet' did. I quickly fell in love with both main characters and found myself thinking about what would happen their relationship whenever I had to put down the book (wasn't for too long though! I had it devoured in a day!)

If you're looking for a romance book with some cheeky flirting and gushing sentimentality, this is the book for you. Definitely a 5 star read! Can't wait to buy a few copies for my library and recommend it!

Funny and heart-warming with relatable characters and references to modern situations, Bell's novel is an ideal romantic getaway.

Lovely light hearted good fun read to kick off 2019 really enjoyed it. Would recommend this to anyone.

If we're not married by thirty is an Absolutely fantastic book! I couldn't put it down and I will be recommending it to EVERYONE. I absolutely adore Lydia and Danny and their journey together. Anna Bell knows how to create characters that you instantly love. Anna Bell Please please could you write a book that's made up of newsletters from Danny and Lydia's mums? it would be hilarious to read they are such a funny pair and I'd love to know more about both families antics.
If you like to read a story with characters that you love instantly, can cry with, laugh with and even relate to in some ways then you definitely need to read this book. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

What a way to kick off 2019 with this lovely light hearted read.

Danny & Lydia have known eachother since they were kids and make a drunken pact at her sisters wedding.

I really enjoyed this read, it made me smile throughout and is the true definition of a feel good read. It is brimming with fun, dilemmas and the importance of family

I am OBSESSED with Anna Bell.

I have yet to read anything less than perfection from her and If We're Not Married by Thirty does not disappoint.

Anna always does an incredible job at creating well rounded and intriguing characters that you can't help but love. Lydia and Danny are those characters.

This book will have you laughing out loud, cringing, crying, everything!! I cannot recommend Anna Bell enough!

Another really enjoyable book from Anna Bell who is fast becoming an author I might just drop everything to read.

This was a fun story and I wasn't completely convinced whether the right couple would end up together.

I loved the craziness from Lydia and Danny's mums, the creativity of the events that Lydia is coordinating and the really obvious connection Lydia and Danny have.

This book is a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed reading the assorted antics from the characters. Add in some stunning locations too, and you have a very good book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zaffre for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Ten years ago, at her sister's wedding, Lydia made a pact with Danny that if they're not married by they're thirty, they will simply marry each other. Forward ten years on, and Lydia, an event - coordinator, finds herself newly single. She hasn't seen Danny in a while but they stayed in touch via letters and emails. However, a chance encounter brings them together - they're both thirty, both single - will they go through with their pact?

I liked the fact that the characters used to know each other for ages, what with their mothers being best friends. It saved us the whole getting to know each other phase, and they felt so comfortable around each other. I immediately warmed to Lydia, she was my kind of girl. She felt a little disappointed with her life, as she felt that everyone is moving around and ahead with their lives, only she's staying put. She was pretty relaxed and down - to - earth, and what I liked so much is the fact that she was surrounded by her family and friends, they were all going strong together. She relied on them, they relied on her and they were supporting each other, and it was lovely to see. She, as well as the other characters, was relatable and full of flaws, she wanted a better life but she wasn't so quick to change it, to take matters in her own hands, which - let's be honest - is a totally normal thing. How often does it happen that we're not happy with our own lives but as they're comfortable enough we do nothing to change them. Lydia said the wrong things, put herself in embarrassing situations and this all made her much more human and likeable.
But, to be honest, I had awful problem with Danny. All the time I had a feeling that he's hiding something, that I can't trust him completely, that he's going to hurt Lydia, that he's not honest. Also, instead of "when will they eventually" I was wondering if they will/they will not - I simply was missing this last tick, this last final touch that would convince me completely to the fact that Lydia and Danny were truly destined for each other.
The best parts of the books were when the mothers were entering the scenes. Though, as much as I loved them, I am very grateful they're not my mother, phew. Don't get me wrong, they were absolutely brilliant, they always meant well but they were slightly... embarrassing. But they were also incredibly funny and I loved their antics. Those two were best friends and they were rooting for their children to finally get together but, of course, as it usually happens, in trying to achieve this, they usually made things much more difficult, and I adored how stoic Lydia and Danny were about them. Hazel and Linda weren't afraid of anything, their friendship was simply brilliant.

The banter and interactions between Lydia and Danny were great, you could see the sparks flying. However, I've missed a little more depth to this relationship to be honest. We can also wonder here and dispute if people really still make such pacts as the main characters but that's not the point. The point is that it worked in this book and it made for an amusing, funny and entertaining read. There were plenty of hilarious and embarrassing scenes and Anna Bell's writing style is so seamless, she effortlessly transports us into the characters' world, you really feel like a part of the book.

I had some problems to get into the book, the beginning, even though the scenes were supposed to be funny, simply didn't sit with me, and it made me feel uncomfortable, because hell, it is Anna Bell's book! What's that supposed to mean? But as soon as Lydia arrived to Spain the book gathered its pace and from then on it was a roller - coaster ride of more or less embarrassing situations - Lydia was truly prone to accident or to jump to false conclusions, which was often hilarious.

It was incredibly light - hearted, engaging and amusing read. There weren't any life changing twists but I also haven't expected them in this book. The standard misunderstandings, the ups and downs, hiccups and some challenges on the way were really enough to make the reading interesting and me glued to the pages. Altogether, I've enjoyed this book a lot, there was everything I could expect from Anna Bell's novel and I am already looking toward her next release. In the meantime, I really recommend "If We're Not Married by Thirty" to you.

Loved this book, the story of Danny and Lydia. They made a pact to marry if they were both single when Lydia turned 30.

Some great characters, especially both their mums!

Entertaining and keeps you interested throughout.

Ten years ago at her sister’s wedding, friends Lydia and Danny make a pact that if they are not married by the time they are thirty they will marry each other. Lydia has always had a secret crush on Danny but being friends since they were little children and their mothers being best-friends too, she has never crossed the friendship line – Until the night they made their pact.

The ten years have past and events-coordinator Lydia is newly single. She hasn’t seen Danny in quite a while but a chance encounter brings the pair together and seeing as they are both now thirty and single will they decide to go through with their pact?

If We’re Not Married by Thirty is a fun, chick-lit-Esq novel filled with warm, delightful characters and a ‘will they, won’t they’ hanging in the balance.

Both characters have plenty of flaws and this is what makes them so likeable and realistic, even if the situation is not – I mean do people really make these pacts?

The plot will have you laughing-out-loud at times and cringing at others (especially at the pairs mums). Ms. Bell certainly knows how to write scenes that make you squirm with embarrassment for the characters. The book is also bang up to date with the use of social media throughout too.

If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and have you not wanting to put it down, then this is the one to choose. I raced through it in two days and enjoyed every minute.

I haven’t read any of Anna Bell’s books before, and If We’re Not Married by Thirty has the honour of being the first. If this is what her books are like, I’ll be reading more. From a few pages in, I was hooked, and I read the book whenever I could get a spare moment, even if it was on my phone at the bus stop! Set in the present day, If We’re Not Married by Thirty is a hilarious and heartwarming story that took me by surprise. I went into the book expecting Danny and Lydia’s pact to go horribly wrong, in a similar manner to other books I have read. I was relieved to find that If We’re Not Married by Thirty is a different kind of story. At its heart, it’s about two people who are meant to be together, but never quite found the right chance. Contrary to the synopsis, social media doesn’t play a big part in the story, although the mentions of Christmas made me feel quite festive.

I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I was looking for. A funny, fresh, fast-paced romance which was full of twists and turns, but came with a guaranteed HEA. Danny and Lydia have known each other since they were knee high to a grasshopper, and on a drunken night at a wedding, after a spectacular kiss, they make a pact that if they're not married by thirty, they'll hitch themselves together. Spending a glorious week in Spain leads to an impulsive decision to make good on the pact, and the two begin to twine their lives together in the coming months as they prepare for happily wedded bliss. But the path to happily ever after never does run smooth, and jobs, friends, family, and too many people having a key to your house leads to some extremely mortifying situations.
This book was light and entertaining, and had a great cast of characters - particularly Danny and Lydia's mums, who are best friends and clearly rooting for the couple to succeed, but in trying to help making everything much more difficult. I also particularly liked that the book had some followup details in the form of Christmas Round Robins, which showed that things don't end up working out perfectly the second you have the ring on your finger.
Anna Bell has created a cast of characters here who are lovable and relatable, and a situation which, although daft in some ways, still had me rooting for the couple to succeed. And, of course, they do, but not in an unbelievable way. They settle their difficulties like actual human beings, and come to sensible decisions, but seeing this couple who were meant to be come to a compromise which means they both live happily ever after was a delightful journey to follow them on.

Well hello a series of tropes that Liz doesn't always want to admit that she likes but reads a lot of because they're classics and bloody awesome. This book sounded like something I would like in a trashy rom-com kinda way, so when I was granted it on NetGalley I was pretty ecstatic. I think we all dream of being wooed in Barcelona by an attractive guy we've been in love with for years and who happens to have aged like a fine wine, right? A guy we can sing ABBA obnoxiously with in our granny pants and who will probably end up loving us more for it, right? This book delivers in that sense, and is good, and enjoyable, and entertaining, it's just not spectacular.

I want to start by saying that I really quite like Danny. Not in a 'oh he's super attractive and successful' kinda way, but in a moralistic and genuine kinda way. He is, of course, attractive and successful, and that helps, but he is far from obnoxious or showy about it and prefers to live a more sedate life in Ambleside, Lake District than a grand ol' life in New York or London. He is thoughtful, as evidenced by the letters and presents he sends to Lydia throughout the story, even when he is pissed as a fart on a stag do in Riga (the beginning of each story is a letter sent by Danny to Lydia or vice versa, filling the other and the reader in on the next stage of the life between their young friendship to adult long-distance relationship). I hate to think of him as the ideal man, he's not. He has flaws, he keeps secrets, but he encourages and befriends and normalises and those characteristics are wonderfully refreshing in a leading man.

Lydia is also pretty cool, but I get on less well with her because I feel like elements of her personality and her relationships just don't gel. I love that she retains strong connections with friends and family, and not only that, she relies on them and they rely on her. There are so many books where these relationships are mentioned as being crucial, but when it comes down to it they ignore the advice given and plow on as though their friends and family don't exist. Lydia is present, she is a strong cog in her family wheel and is clearly an integral part in her friendship circle. She has the backbone to get out of a stagnant relationship, and retains a friendship with him after. She continues to support colleagues and managers above her even when they're in positions she wants doing a worse job than she is because she is a good person. But then she doesn't celebrate a promotion she has worked hard for and been aiming for because of a new relationship, and she lets him walk away when they've spent years thinking about each other at every turn.

The real heroes of the piece are the mothers of the couple. Hazel and Linda are fearless warriors, they have maintained a beautiful and inspirational friendship that has allowed them to survive hardships, and they've done it with a laugh. Not only that, they're learning new skills and doing things that many people forget. They think about each other and make an effort to see each other from across the country, and they cleverly set things up to be the best for their children and are influential in their relationship. They're friends are equally funny, and even thought they're all going through their own issues they care about the main characters. I think it is one of those books where the story just happens to be told from Lydia's point of view and that actually reading the same story from each of the friends points of view would be fascinating.

My biggest issue with the story surrounds the pregnant wife of Danny's best friend. Victoria is introduced under strained circumstances and straight away is billed as someone that may threaten the happiness of the main characters. I don't like it when there is a female character that has to be a threat and a bitch and someone to be wary of, because the end suggests that very different things are going on with her than we are told for the first 300 pages. I have an issue with the bitchy ex or the crafty friend, because we don't need that character and as women we don't need to bill ladies against other for no other reason than you've read something similar before and it features in lots of books that are similar.

The pact made between the characters when their young undoubtedly influences the speed of their relationship, but the certainty that they have in their love and willingness to try and overcome obstacles in their path is inspirational. They have their secrets but they compromise and communicate and try to make any difficulties work which is seriously refreshing in a contemporary romance. 

I really liked it, it was good, I just didn't love it. It didn't set anything on fire and I wasn't compelled to read it in one go, but it was a good example of a well written trope.

If we’re not married by thirty reads like a British rom-com film and I loved that charm about it. I feel if it was an early 2000s movie Hugh Grant would be Danny and Renee Zellweger would have played Lydia as it has that vibe.

Lydia is a likeable character with a good job who is simply a bit lost in life, not quite sure what she wants. When she meets up again with Danny sparks fly and she is wrapped up in his world, maybe a little too much.

My one problem with Lydia and Danny is it seems all they do is have sex and they don’t have that much in common. The redeeming factor however is that everyone in their lives tell them they are moving too fast and there are consequences of moving so quickly in to their relationship.

There are so many funny moments in this book and I found myself laughing out loud in the middle of cafes any time Hazel, Danny’s mum was in a scene. I would 100% read a book just about the two mothers in the book. The family dynamics were lovely and you could see just how much Lydia cares for her mum, sister and niece.

I would recommend If We’re Not Married By Thirty for readers who enjoy fluffy romances especially as it is set in the beginning at Christmas time.

*ARC received from Zaffre via Netgalley, all opinions voiced are my own*

Lydia is a character I hit it off with straight away. If she was real, I could see us easily being good friends. With all her friends and family seemingly settled or in the throes of settling down, it leaves Lydia feeling anxious about the lack of direction her life is taking. 

The relationship between Danny and Lydia is one that has always been a friendship one. With their mums being best friends, obviously both of them have spent many a time at each others houses and have always been around in each others lives. I loved how both characters had grown up together and felt so at ease around each other. 

The author takes us on a fun and entertaining journey with plenty of cringe worthy moments. I loved Lydia and Danny's mothers as things are far from boring with these two around. I was ever so slightly grateful though that they weren't my mothers. They mean well though and their hearts are in the right places.

If We're Not Married By Thirty is one of those books that you won't want to put down from the moment you pick it up. It made me laugh, smile, chuckle as well as cringe with embarrassment for some of the characters. It really is a fun and feel good read that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Typical romantic, girlie book.
Written well
Good book
Thank you to both NetGalley and Zaffre for my eARC of the book in exchange for my open honest unbiased review

A wonderful romantic feel good cosy book. Fantastic characters. Another great book by Anne. I now want a holiday!