Candice Dow returns with an entertaining and humorous tale of lust, love, longing, temptation and betrayal between two former high school sweethearts in Tapping on Thirty.

Even though, Jason “Scooter” Evan is the boyfriend that every girl wants, long distance and the desire to no longer be in a long-distance relationship, find Taylor Jabowski breaking up with her high-school sweetheart, during their college freshmen year.

Fast forward ten years later to a single Taylor, who is approaching 30 and still looking for Mr. Goodbar. As Taylor prepares for her ten-year, high school reunion, she realizes that while she has dated many, she has never loved anyone as much as she loved Scooter. They were once the future high-powered couple, Taylor wanted to become an attorney, and Scooter wanted to become a doctor. They both achieved their dreams, and Taylor could only imagine what their lives would be like now, as she ponders what could have happened between she and Scooter, if she had not broken up with him.

Taylor is pleasantly surprised when Scooter attends the reunion alone, and when she finds out he is not married, she immediately begins formulating a plan for them to get back together. There is only one problem–isn’t there always–while single, Scooter is not unattached. He has a live-in girlfriend, Asua, who is a fellow doctor, and the only reason he attended the reunion alone is because his demanding, ambitious girlfriend was on-call that weekend. But make no mistake; Asua is not going to allow her man to leave her without a fight. While Taylor might not have realized that she had a good man and let him go, Asua does not plan to make that mistake. Besides doctor trumps attorney any day. Hmmmph.

The chain of events that happened next, between Scooter and these two women, made me want to jump in the book and give Scooter a beat down. If Dow wanted the reader to experience and live vicariously via these characters, she succeeded, especially in regards to Scooter. His indecisiveness and scheming made me want to slap him upside his head and shout…’Man up! Be a man. Grow some xxxxx!” Scooter is definitely a memorable character as I cannot remember the last time I admired yet disliked a male character as much as him. He gives meaning to `whole lot of book sense but not a lick of common sense.’

And…Taylor, I felt her pain and angst. I have known quite a few Taylors, and in some regards was even one myself, prior to meeting and marrying my husband. Taylor did not ask me…but I could have told her Scooter’s heart was feeling one thing but his head was another matter. Especially since he was sharing pillow talk with another woman when he was not with her…another woman that Taylor conveniently forgot he lived with as she made plans to spend the rest of her life with him.

Dow touched many a nerve with Tapping on Thirty. I laughed, shouted, cried, cheered, got upset and repeated the cycle all over again while reading this engaging and entertaining novel. She painted a very realistic of what many Black, gifted, talented, professional women approaching thirty experience. She also showed how empowering and liberating the experience can be if one is true to self. Readers who enjoy chick lit, women’s fiction and contemporary fiction will enjoy this novel. I recommend Tapping on Thirty to fans and new readers alike as there is little bit of something for everyone in this book.

Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub

If you found this review helpful, CLICK HERE to vote.

Related Posts

• Nappily Faithful by Trisha R. Thomas
• Passin’ by Karen E. Quinones Miller
• Sweet Georgia Brown by Cheryl Robinson
• Gotta Keep on Tryin’ by Virginia DeBerry
• Eleven Months of Hell by China Ball