Five books all twenty-somethings should read

Although being a twenty-something has its fair share of struggles, it’s always nice to know you’re not alone. In your quest to figure it all out and sort your shit out, these books will not only be 100 per cent totally relatable, but they’ll also be helpful how-to guides for your 20s.

Don't Worry, It Gets Worse: One Twentysomething's (Mostly Failed) Attempts at Adulthood by Alida Nugent

Sometimes, you just want people to tell it like it is and stop sugar-coating it. Being a twenty-something is hard, uni is tough and the “real world” that comes after that is going to be a challenge too. Nugent gets real about the struggle of adulting, dealing with issues like being poor AF, trying to be a responsible adult and coming to terms that post-grad world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. This book will make you feel a little less alone if you’re going through the same struggle and it will ofter some wise words on how to get through it.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Ultimate #girlboss Mindy Kaling shares another coming-of-age memoir that should be at the top of your reading list. Along with her other book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Kaling understands the twenty-something struggle. Her autobiography shares stories of college life, identity issues and wanting to be liked that is so relatable. If you’re looking to find your own fulfilment and figure it all out in your 20s, Kaling’s advice and personal stories might help you on that path.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

This bestselling book is a collection of poems, divided into four chapters dealing with different themes. Slightly darker in nature, Milk and Honey gets real about unpleasant parts of life, but also offers some sage advice that is as true as it is poetic. While you could read this cover to cover in an evening, it’s also a perfect coffee table book to pick up every now and again for inspiration. Although Kaur delves into the tough aspects of trauma and loss in her life, she offers a voice for anyone going through the same ordeals and provides a positive outlook on which to heal.

The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay

Before you read this book (or if you’re deciding whether to read this book) watch Dr. Meg Jay’s Ted talk on Why 30 is not the new 20. Dealing with similar themes, the book is about not wasting your 20s and making excuses that there's  “plenty of time”. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Meg Jay speaks from an informed perspective of dealing with twenty-somethings who see the decade as a “throwaway period”. She offers advice that every person in their 20s can take on board to ensure the decisions you make now don’t affect you negatively later.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Perfect for anyone who is just starting university, Fangirl is a rom-com in the form of a fictional book that deals with a young woman starting college for the first time. If you’re also going through the same firsts of living out of home, dealing with difficult roommates and finding that uni isn’t living up to all your expectations, this book will definitely be relatable.