The Thirty Day Question

by Joshua A. Walker

Sebastian Jon lives a life he once could only dream of—and he hates every goddamn second of it.

So, he sets a date, in 30 days, he’ll end his life.

But a strange old man intervenes. A strained friendship is tested anew. And a perfectly charming woman interrupts. What follows is a weighty and darkly funny unraveling of one man’s perfectly constructed end.

The Thirty Day Question is a sharp, character-driven novel about performative happiness, alienation, the weight of being fully human, and what happens when the exit you’ve planned gets interrupted.

Perfect for fans of literary fiction with dark humor and existential weight—think Nunez, Backman, or My Year of Rest and Relaxation—this debut is for anyone who’s ever looked around and quietly wondered if this is all life has to offer.

Genres: Ebooks

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2025

Reviews

[Emily Seeder]

I stumbled across the author’s account on Bluesky and found the description of the book to be intriguing so I purchased a copy. The writing style is smart, fast-paced, and hooked me right away. I didn’t imagine that this book would have more of an impact on me than an average read, but it did. Making me think differently about the things we take for granted, loneliness disguised as success, or how we become part of the systems we abhor…
I won’t summarize the plot, because you can find that elsewhere, but I will recommend that you read this book. I grew attached to the characters and found myself dreading the end of the book. This story of self-reflection and humanity is really beautifully written and poignant. Well done, Mr. Walker. Looking forward to your next book!

[Alice]

1st person
philosophical arguments throughout.
pg 9 "potatoe salad (sans raisins)" red flag? ( elite?)I've never heard of/seen raisins in potatoe salad
pg 13 his ego is showing
Day Five clothes taken by friend??? Yes we get to pick our friends. But they may/may not pick us.
The National Zoo "Death is a certainty, happiness a desperate desire."
And on 7th. He erased her number?? fear of rejection.
Day 8 I say taught and not learned, because learned implied I was seeking knowledge...
Day 16 minimum manatory sentence for elder abuse. ...10 years
Day 23. I wish I'd danced more.
My final comment--and I cried.

[Mhowland]

This was a hard book for me to rate. It grabbed me in the beginning. Then I slowly stopped caring about the story. It started to drag. At around 60% he was only on day 9 or something close to that. I started skipping some pages.

The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because I liked the writing. So how come 3 stars if I liked the writing? It was the way he wrote, not the story he wrote. The touch of humor was enjoyable.

Also, the end surprised me.

[Linda Lewis]

Inspirational

In the year 2025 it is hard to avoid the constant barrage of never ending horrible news. People doing unbelievable things to each other. Your book has inspired me to look for the beauty! I thank you for this very inspirational message. Your writing style is also beautiful.

[Greig Warriner]

Absolutely brilliant! Well written and thought-provoking. It really does make one think about the meaning of life.

[Norman S.]

Thought-provoking Read

I purchased this book because it sounded like something different...and it was. It caused me to think deeply about life and I enjoyed reading every last page. I recommend this novel to everyone, whether you enjoy life, hate it, or are indifferent to it. It will change your way of thinking and perhaps allow you to be more optimistic about life in general.

[Paula Stanko]

Just enough fantasy.

This story held my attention from page one. I loved the main character's voice and vision. The author kept me on board by having his character be just as skeptical and untrusting as I was. Looking forward to a sequel.

[Teresa]

Thought provoking! I didn’t realize how this book would touch me emotionally. It was hard to put down and I am so glad I read it!

[Becky]

This was a very unusual book, following the 30 final days of our main character. He is mulling over the decision to kill himself and taking 30 days to decide for definite if he should. Overall it was thought-provoking and emotional, but I found the main character not very likeable and prone to lengthy monologues, which I didn't enjoy very much. Would definitely recommend as a read to anyone though as I thought the story was super original and well written

[Nicole Morris]

I love this genre of book, real and humerus cynicism. I think the character is more relatable than you’d imagine. An amazing and emotion provoking ending.

[LizFrance]

Excellent, thought-provoking and real.
For those of us who have experienced moments of wondering whether it's all pointless this is a great fresh perspective from a fictional angle, reflective without being didactic or preachy. Came to write a review immediately after finishing.

[Laurence]

A relevant look at life and how we derive meaning from it. What makes it worth living? The answer might surprise you. A fantastic read that left me pondering some questions that I realized might be unanswered. When a book makes you think that deeply is when you know it’s good!

[Jenny Smith]

What an amazing book, loved the idea of pondering a life changing decision for 30 days and being able to walk with Bas through his journey! Could not put it down, drew me at the beginning and kept me dialed in. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Crysonna Prebble]

This is a must read!

Bravo! You brought me to tears! Thank you for bringing such an important and under discussed reality into dialogue. Can't wait for the next book!

[Bjkeefe]

I was a little hesitant about this book from reading a description (shorter, elsewhere) but I decided to give it a shot, and I'm very glad I did.

I felt seen in many places.

[Alexis Courtois]

This book is brilliant. Everyone should read this, it will change your perspective on life and our struggles with the human condition.