Turning Pages, Turning 20-Something
Ah, the twenties. That transformative decade where you’re supposed to discover your purpose, build a career, nurture relationships, and somehow maintain an air of effortless sophistication. Spoiler alert: it’s not all artisan lattes and curated aesthetics. Sometimes it’s eating cereal for dinner while questioning your life choices. Sometimes it’s realising you’re out of clean socks and thinking, "Is this who I am now?" But through it all, books have been my trusty companions, offering wisdom, comfort, and the occasional laugh when I really needed it. Here are a few that left a mark on me, for better or for existential crisis.
1. "The Defining Decade" by Meg Jay
Takeaway: Your twenties matter more than you think.
I picked this up during a classic quarter-life crisis I endured last year. You know the type: sitting on the floor in your uni hoodie, surrounded by takeaway containers, wondering if you’re failing at life because you still don’t know how taxes work. Meg Jay basically grabbed me by the shoulders through the pages and said, “Get it together.” She’s a clinical psychologist, so you can’t really argue with her. This book made me realise that “just going with the flow” sounds chill, but is really code for “I have no plan and I’m hoping for the best.”
After reading it, I made an adult to-do list (with bullet points and everything) and genuinely considered my five-year plan. Did I follow through perfectly? No. But did it make me feel like a semi-functional adult for a hot minute? Absolutely.
2. "Tiny Beautiful Things" by Cheryl Strayed
Takeaway: Life is messy, and that's okay.
Cheryl Strayed is like that brutally honest friend who tells you the truth, even when it stings, but somehow you love them more for it. Her advice hits you right in the feels, like a heart-to-heart over coffee after a bad breakup. I read this during a tough time when everything felt overwhelming, work stress, relationship woes, the existential dread of whether I should have a skincare routine.
Picture me: sitting on my sofa in pyjamas that had seen better days, eating ice cream straight from the tub. Cheryl’s words didn’t magically fix my problems, but they felt like a warm hug laced with tough love. She made me realise that being a mess is just part of the package deal called “adulthood.”
3. "Everything I Know About Love" by Dolly Alderton
Takeaway: Friendships can be as epic as any love story.
Dolly Alderton writes like your funniest, most insightful friend who’s had one too many wines and is suddenly dropping profound life truths between sips. This book is a love letter to friendships, the wild, messy, beautiful kind that carry you through your worst hangovers and heartbreaks.
I read this on a solo trip, sitting in a dodgy café with coffee that tasted suspiciously like regret. As I laughed out loud (and yes, I got the side-eyes from strangers), I realised how often I’d underestimated the power of platonic love. By the time I finished, I was texting my best friend paragraphs of emotional drivel, which she responded to with, “Are you okay?” (Spoiler: I was more than okay, just sentimental.)
4. "Man’s Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl
Takeaway: We can find meaning even in tough times.
This one’s a bit heavier, but it’s the kind of book that sticks with you. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, talks about finding purpose even in the darkest moments. It’s not a light read, but it’s the kind of perspective shift that makes you rethink your whole life.
I read it during a particularly rough patch, the kind where even minor inconveniences felt like personal attacks (think: dropping your phone on your face while lying in bed). Frankl’s resilience made me realise that maybe, just maybe, I could survive my Monday meetings without a dramatic breakdown. It didn’t solve all my problems, but it gave me a new lens to look through.
5. "Normal People" by Sally Rooney
Takeaway: Everyone's a little emotionally messy, and that's normal.
Ah, Connell and Marianne. Reading "Normal People" felt like someone had cracked open my head, scooped out my most embarrassing emotional moments, and turned them into beautiful prose. Sally Rooney has this superpower where she makes the mundane feel profound, like overthinking a text message or having an awkward conversation that haunts you forever.
I devoured this book in one sitting, curled up in bed with snacks I definitely didn’t plan to share. It made me feel both seen and slightly called out. Their messy, complicated relationship dynamics were painfully relatable, like looking in a mirror and thinking, "Wow, that’s too accurate."
Your twenties are a rollercoaster of self-discovery, questionable decisions, and unexpected life lessons. These books didn’t magically turn me into a fully functioning adult (still working on that), but they offered comfort, perspective, and the occasional much-needed laugh. So grab a cuppa, find a cosy spot, and dive in, because sometimes, the right book is exactly what you need to remind you that you’re doing just fine.
