Entering your 20s is an extremely difficult transition. Trying out new things, figuring out who you want to be and what you want to do can be a daunting task – especially at such a young age. That said, entering my 20s has helped me rekindle my love for reading. I’ve been able to discover so many authors who have lived through remarkably similar experiences, which has helped me understand that barely surviving in your 20s is a universal experience.Â
These four books show us that growing up does not have to be particularly terrifying and you definitely do not need a solid plan to be successful in your 20s. Â
- Everything I know about Love by Dolly AldertonÂ
If there is one book on this list to consider reading, this is the one. Dolly Alderton perfectly encapsulates the life of a 20-something year old without a plan A or B. Through her memoir, she finds herself through her connection with female friendships, failed love and inevitable loss. Alderton retells her experiences in such a way that can often leave you feeling both shocked and as if you are not alone. While the book is only 250 pages long, it feels as if you are growing up with the author and seeing her life unfold in front of you – cheering her on every step of the way. Everything I know about love reiterates the idea that your 20s are a time to figure it out one step at a time.Â
- My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
Through a collection of essays, Emily Ratajkowski explores the female reality by sharing her painfully honest experiences with her body, bringing her personal relationships to the forefront. Ratajkowski touches on her rise to fame through the Blurred Lines music video and the constant battle against her morals. This book aims to highlight questions relating to power, femininity, objectification and beauty, queries that nearly every woman encounters at some point along their journey. Ratajkowski also wrote on the idea of feminism, what will always be subject to an ever-changing definition. Reading her text My Body in my 20s prepared me for the unsettling yet undeniable truth of how little control women have over their own autonomy. Each essay cuts deep with a different painfully relatable story, showing how all of our experiences are merely the same, despite fame, popularity or beauty status.Â
- Why not me? By Mindy KalingÂ
 In my opinion, Mindy Kaling has continued to address the reality of life as a 20 year old throughout her career in media, however this is by far my favorite of her creations. Why Not Me emphasizes the struggle of finding yourself in a white, male dominated society. Kaling highlights her rise to fame through her years at College, early success in her career, her triumphs and failures working in T.V and her experience of being a writer and actor in the world today. She candidly sheds light on her relationship with her self-image in the media and the novelty of feeling a lack of control over the way that she is portrayed in the media. She finds that entering a space with a feeling of entitlement leads others to believe that you deserve to be there. This can cause one to believe and (say things such as), “Why Not Me?” Discovering this feeling of entitlement within our 20s creates a sense of belonging in every room we enter. This is something that can be new and frightening to us, often leading to victimization and self-pity, a state in which many are propelled to overuse the three words, “Why Not Me?”
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle ZaunerÂ
The last book on this list is certainly the most difficult to read. Crying in H Mart highlights the author’s experience growing up as a Korean-American, alongside the reality of mother-daughter relationships and the concept of always picking yourself back up. Zauner perfectly encapsulates the mix of Korean cuisine throughout her childhood, and that for her, it was more than simply food. As she enters her 20s and has to care for her sick mother, she returns to the meals that brought her joy as a child, learning family recipes and explaining how each one triggers a different memory of her mother. Growing out of our youth and beginning to live independently, we finally start to better understand the importance of a mother and how their place in our lives never fades away. Zauner perfectly describes the meaning of mother-daughter relationships and how relevant this dynamic is throughout adulthood.