Tropes: chance-meeting, coming-of-age-at-30, writer-MMC, writer MFC.

I give it 3.5 rounded up to 4. This book is for idealists, those who want things to be perfect because honestly, the dialog read one sided, like the response is what the MFC wants to hear instead of what the MMC actually says. I'm not even sure if I'm making sense, but there's something about the flow of the delivery that feels unnatural. The friends not knowing how triggered the MFC would be also irked me. She's single and she doesn't want to be a spectacle, but her BF who's getting married parades her around at her wedding as the ONLY single girl?

I mean, come on. That's disrespectful. I'm surprised no one spoke up... It's a quick read. Not the most original premise and my heartstrings were not touched extensively (no, that's not a euphemism).

The main character acknowledging her flaws called me out way too often in this book but I still found it an enjoyable, self aware, ride and I loved Reed so so much. And the healthy arguments and relationships (even if she got on my nerves at the end a bit). It was so delightfully endearing! The magic journal falls a smidge flat for me as the papers did in Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle bc all I want is to see the science behind the phenomenon, but this is romance not SciFi so I must not judge that too harshly.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Right off the bat the concept of this story pulled me in, as a single woman in my 30s I feel for Rikki. Christine has a way of wrapping me up in a story quickly that I can’t put down, I binged this book in less than two days. Needless to say I really enjoyed Christine’s first full fledge adult romance.

This story was about both of these characters sorting through their lives and trying to get to a place where their lives work together. There was a magic notebook, crazy themed weddings, moments that made me laugh out loud and parts that made me swoon and cringe. Reed might be my favourite mmc I’ve read this year, I absolutely adore him and hope that one day I’ll find my Reed because man what a great love interest!

There were elements of the story that were frustrating but the characters (Rikki, it was always Rikki) eventually figure it out and work through the parts that had me want to give her a good shake, much like her friends did.

Overall this story was so fun and I can’t wait to see what Christine comes out with next!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author Christine Riccio and the publisher Montlake for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Finally a good book with a FMC in her 30s. I'm so tired of reading books about women in their early 20s, so it was quite refreshing to read Thirty, Flirty, and Forever Alone. Rikki was such a relatable character. There were so many moments that had my laughing. I also loved the little bits of magic too.

Received as an Advanced Reader’s Copy through NetGalley from Montlake, a romance imprint of Amazon Publishing.

Long-distance love stories are rare in contemporary romance, which makes this novel stand out from the start. Christine Riccio’s protagonist, Rikki Romona, isn’t just navigating the challenge of physical distance; she’s wrestling with something more internal. With the support of close friends, a partner willing to meet her every relationship demand, and even the universe itself—thanks to a touch of magic—nudging her forward, Rikki’s journey becomes one of self-sabotage, self-discovery, and eventual growth. While the story leans into wish fulfillment, it also reads like a deeply personal reflection of something the author herself longs for: a version of love imagined from the perspective of someone still figuring themselves out.

Even when the storytelling stumbles, Riccio’s voice remains vibrant. She’s laugh-out-loud funny, and her willingness to explore emotional messiness—particularly from a female perspective—adds a grounded honesty to the novel. The plot, especially between the midpoint and final stretch, can feel scattered and uncertain. But that confusion ends up feeling purposeful; the wandering is part of the point. It reflects the internal work Rikki must do to earn her ending. The mess isn’t just narrative—it’s thematic. And that’s what ultimately makes the payoff feel earned.

If you’re open to a romance that begins as an idealized, cinematic love story—more suited to the screen than the page—and gradually spirals into something more introspective about becoming ready for love rather than simply finding it, this one delivers with heart, humor, and a touch of magical realism.

Just finished Thirty, Flirty and Forever Alone by Christine Riccio and wow… it’s like my group chat came to life, spiraled, cried in the bathroom, and made it into a novel. 😂 If you’ve ever felt behind while everyone else is getting married on Instagram — this one’s for you. Raw, funny, and painfully real.

Not to be dramatic, but this book made me believe in love. I used to watch this author’s Youtube videos and I will restart now. This was amazing, a fluffy feel-good romcom with a dash of seriousness thrown in. Read it, and you will not be disappointed. An automatic favorite.

I am OBSESSED with this book. I gave it 5 stars because I was absolutely cackling the entire time and so many “what the actual fuck is happening?” Moments but they all work. The characters are incredible and relatable and I find myself thinking about them throughout the day while I’m not reading. I want to buy every member of my book club a copy and share this masterpiece with them. It’s witty, funny, relatable, emotional, and I just am honestly obsessed with this book. It’s now in my top 5 romance books of all time and I swear that’s not blowing smoke. This is a rom-com weird-as-hell masterpiece.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity for this arc.

I really enjoyed the first beginning chapters of this book. However, once the notebook gave the qualifications for the portal- I lost interest.

This book had me ROLLING

It’s funny, sweet, a little spicy, and admittedly has a weird side plot with a journal (only reason it’s not 5 ⭐️s)

Rikki was a great character. Kind of a Jill-of-all-trades and ridiculously self-deprecating and hilarious. There’s some deep issues there that I wasn’t expecting but thought were handled well.

Reed makes me want to cry and give him a big hug. I’m here for his character. I enjoyed that while the 3rd act situation was caused by a miscommunication, that trope didn’t stick. He also had some traumatic things that were unexpected as well.

The journal thing was a weird choice but led to some hilarious scenes so I’m not mad about it.

4.5 Stars
This was my first Christine Riccio book and I loved it!
The summary said this was giving Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, say less, I was sold.
It's such a fun rom-com that I couldn't put down, it had me giggling and kicking my feet like a fool.

The main character Rikki felt relatable and I loved her growth throughout the story, I cringed for her and laughed with her.

"It's probably needing to control everything... but also not wanting to have to control it at the same time? I want a copilot, not a passenger." THIS!

If you're looking for a fun read with plot that hits home then this is the book for you.

I just finished a good book that is available later this year. Thirty, Flirty, and Forever Alone by Christine Riccio was a winner for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At 30, Rikki Romona has it all, thriving careers, amazing friends, and success in everything except love. After modern dating disappointments and failing to find a plus-one for a wedding, she attends solo… only to meet Reed, a charming and attractive man who seems perfect, except he lives across the country. A relationship might be complicated, but Rikki figures. . .what’s the harm in trying?

I had high hopes for this book. The title and premise immediately drew me in, and the dedication was an instant win, especially as a single woman who just turned 30. I was excited to see a relatable, fresh take on modern dating and life in your thirties. The early chapters were promising, and the male lead, Reed, was charming and funny. Unfortunately, the story quickly lost its footing.

While the book had potential and a strong emotional setup, it took on too many directions at once. Plotlines felt scattered, and by the middle of the book, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. What began as a grounded, romantic narrative turned chaotic with the addition of an unexpected magical realism element, a journal that teleports the main character across the country. At that point, it was hard to take the story seriously.

Additionally, the characters felt overly idealized. Both protagonists seemed to be experts in every creative field imaginable, from acting to drawing to writing, which made them less believable. While it’s possible to have many hobbies, the lack of limits made them feel more like fantasy avatars than real people.

As a licensed therapist, I also had concerns with a key subplot in which the protagonist provides couples therapy to her cousin and her cousin’s husband. While not illegal, it is highly unethical, even without compensation. It presented a major conflict of interest that could’ve been avoided with deeper research or sensitivity to real-world boundaries in clinical work.

Another challenge for me was the overuse of pop culture references. While I appreciate timely nods to music, social media, and trends, their frequency became distracting. It pulled me out of the narrative and made the main character feel more like a teenager than a thirty-year-old professional.

I truly wanted to connect with this story, especially given how much I related to the setup. But between the disjointed plot, unrealistic character traits, and lack of grounding in key areas, this read more like a chaotic Wattpad story than the layered romantic journey I was hoping for.

I read her first novel, and absolutely loved it, so was so excited for this; it did not disappoint! I loved the characters, the plot, and how everything unfolded. 5/5 stars.

4.5 stars

At thirty, Rikki Romona has a thriving career, great friends, multiple jobs (all she is wildly successful at!) but the one area of her life she has been lacking in is love. Modern dating has not been kind to her and despite her checking off the option for a plus one at a wedding, and trying very hard to find a date for it, she shows up alone. Lucky for her, she meets charming, attractive and age-appropriate Reed at this wedding. Unfortunately, he lives across the country making a relationship hard to pursue, but what's the harm in trying?

This book was just so FUN! It reads like an early 2000s rom-com filled with light and fun and whimsical bits, heartwarming friendships, complicated family relationships, a touch of magic and of course, a swoon-worthy romance.

All the characters in this story felt so real and easy to relate to - Rikki's romantic struggle particularly. Not enough books are set in today's dating landscape so it was refreshing to read about her issues with the apps, and men ghosting her and more recent, relatable problems! She touches on the struggles of seeing all her close friends settle down while she feels like she's falling behind. I also LOVED all the strong female friendships Christine weaved into this story. And I thought she portrayed the ups and downs of adult friendships really well.

Reed was such a great love interest - he was sweet and thoughtful and matched Rikki's freak in all the best ways. I loved the romantic tension between them from the get-go and how their connection felt real and not instalove-y. This book was spicier than I expected from Christine and I loved it!

Other than the romance, friendships and the whimsy in this story, it is also grounded by some intense family relationships shown by Rikki's relationship with her father. Despite being a fun love story, I really liked how deeper, more serious aspects of being an adult were portrayed in this story.

The writing is great and so easy to read - I was flying through this! The chapter names were fun and there are several nods to Taylor Swift song titles. The bizarre things that characters have to do in this book were described vividly and the tone of the book was so reminiscent of a rom-com, I was able to picture everything so clearly. The dialogue and banter is cute and I love how many inside jokes between Rikki and Reed the author managed to pack in! All while making the reader also feel like we're in on the joke.

Overall, this is such a magical love story which balances light and dark so well and if you enjoyed any rom-coms ever, you will definitely enjoy this one! I highly recommend!

This was so sweet!! I really liked this book, and I think it showcased how it feels to be single in your 30s. I found it so empowering and great!

Thirty, Flirty and Forever Alone (TFAFA) is author Christine Riccio's adult debut-and what a debut it was!

Riccio brings a new voice to the world of adult romance. She delves into Rikki's story through a voice that perfectly balances humor, awkwardness, and real. While so many rom-com style novels can blur together into memory in the typical Hallmark style, TFAFA is one that will remain a standout in my head for years to come.

As some background, TFAFA centers on Rikki who is positive she has been cursed in dating. All of her past relationships have ended swifter than you can say Minute-the Newspaper where she has transformed her travesty of a dating life into an entertaining romance column. Beside her professional writing career, Rikki balances between a dozen other side hustles (honestly, these are all full time jobs) including planning her friends and family's weddings (ouch. As if being devastatingly single isn't bad enough, she gets to plan the HEA's for everyone else). At one of which, she meets her Flynn Rider (Reed) and finally falls into her own whirlwind romance!

I swear that with every book, Christine Riccio's writing grows tenfold, which is truly saying something as I have LOVED her writing in each and every book. For this story especially, however, she did more than just make me feel every emotion, she truly made me think. Rikki is truly a FMC that we can all relate to as she attempts to balance toxic relationships of all types, multiple jobs, and her own interests and is a book girlie herself. However, at some point balancing all of this becomes all but impossible as her world starts to suffocate her. Watching Rikki's story unfold truly made me think about my own life and relationships (but in the best way).

On a more fun note, I absolutely fell in love with so many scenes in this book. Most of the time when I read, I have been told I have no reactions. For this book, however, I found myself laughing, holding my breath, and literally tearing up. From Rikki and Reed's meet cute, to her work developments (forgive me for being vague, but this is a book that you should go into spoiler free!), to the final chapter, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions.

If you are searching for a true adult romance that will give you all of the warm fuzzies of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days coupled with the emotional turmoil of The Notebook, then you will devour this book!

My favorite quotes:
♡ "While we can't scientifically organize our fall into love, we can objectively construct and utilize a set of dating rules for ourselves in the effort to lessen the unbearable Is this going anywhere?"
♡ "So do you?" I prompt. "Do I what?" "Believe in the universe!" He mashes his lips together, hesitating for a beat. "If you asked me this any other day, I'd say no."
♡ "I want to open him up and devour all the small print."
♡ "Wearing clothes today? That's new."
♡ "Having emotions doesn't make us horrible people. It's what we do with them that informs who we are."

Thank you SO much Netgalley and Christine Riccio for this early copy of Thirty, Flirty, and Forever Alone in exchange for an honest review! I honestly loved this book more than I can express.