In these four main characters I saw a bit of myself though Sade was a tad extreme. But just like her, I have ignored those obvious red flags warning me about a bad relationship I’m about to explore & went ahead heart in first. I knew exactly how Nolwazi felt running late even though you have made a conscious decision never ever to be late again.

Yet I wanted to smack her upside the head with my imaginary pair Manolo’s for crossing the dangerous line & sleeping with a friend’s man. In sisterhood that is a cardinal sin!!! I’m still running away just from the idea of hopelessly falling in love, hopefully the day that I do the falling my Ken will be ready with our puppy to catch me just like Linda, can’t a girl still day dream…huh? It might have taken Dikeledi more than a decade to leave Tebogo, I’m just grateful that she did & found happiness. 

A lot of women are still stuck in bad relationships at this very moment for all the wrong reasons, because of the kid/s, the years they’ve been together with their partner no matter how miserable, because everybody else believes they are/look good together, it won’t be easy finding a partner who will love you if you have a child already, the fear of being alone. The reasons are endless & seem valid, but they are mere excuses preventing one from ever finding genuine happiness.

Reading the 30th Candle didn’t feel like I was actually reading, it felt like I was chilling & chatting with four girlfriends. Yes…chatting, you can’t help but be an active reader with this book especially if you have blown (hopefully alight & brighter) your 30th Candle. As a 30 year old your friends &/ relatives tend to unashamedly wonder out loud in your presence about your “private” life. Asking you questions/making statements like “so when are you getting married”, “you do know that biological clock is ticking right.” Also you become rattled a bit about where your life is headed, your career, marriage, kids, image & surprisingly your diet!!! 

So it was comforting to read my unauthorized biography, it felt like “hey somebody understands”…thank you Angela Makholwa for this light-hearted yet real read.