9 Books You Must Read Before You're 30
By Tatiana Cooper
Despite the misleading lore that “print is dying,” a consistent rotation of new books is hitting the shelves. That said, the hunt for a new read to escape reality and dive into someone else's consciousness can be overwhelming, especially when you are looking for something impactful and transformative. But this is why we are here: to lend a helping hand and hopefully make the selection process easier by narrowing down a few great reads we feel everyone must read before they turn 30. We have curated a list of ten books, personal and cultural favorites, that will undoubtedly bring value to your life and mind. There’s something in here for everyone, so let's waste no more time and get to the list!
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton shares her adulthood experiences in her memoir, Everything I Know About Love. A memoir with vibes similar to Bridget Jones’ Diary, but true, Alderton recounts her experiences with love, work, drinking, breakups, and friendships. This retelling blends personal stories, satirical observations, lists, and recipes that connect and relate to women of all ages. Everything I Know About Love wholeheartedly captures the struggles of early adulthood with wit and heart
My Year Of Rest And Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
When reading novels, we are often met with likable narrators; however, Ottessaa Moshfegh brings us a narrator who is unbearably unlikeable as she is relatable. This novel satirically examines the underbelly of excessive consumption, loss, and materialism through a New York Y2K lens. The compelling novel follows the narrator as she searches for the meaning of life, while Moshfegh weaves the storyline through themes of mental health, the impact of trauma, and the emptiness of modern life. Can true healing and transformation come from avoidance and isolation?
The Bell Jar By Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path is one of those devastatingly beautiful books that will be widely discussed until the end of time. Its unending admiration and relevance stem from its accurate and reliable account of the still deeply stigmatized and misunderstood topic of mental health. The novel explores the suffocating pressure of social expectations on women, feelings of entrapment, and the descent into depression through the experiences of the protagonist, Esther Greenwood. Plath poignantly addresses themes of alienation, the self, and mental health, all the while placing importance on understanding and addressing mental illness.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
There’s nothing more intriguing to me as a reader than picking up a book and thinking it's about one thing, and it turns out to be about something else. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini happens to be one of those books. The novel follows Amir's journey as he grapples with guilt and seeks to atone for betraying his childhood friend Hassan. The reader is met with friendship, betrayal, and the complex relationships between fathers and sons, set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is not for the faint of heart. This novel is riddled with themes of suffering, resilience, and the search for meaning and connection while navigating overwhelming adversity. But it also highlights friendship's endurance, the bonds it creates, and the capacity for love. The story follows four friends, particularly Jude St. Francis, who is haunted by his tragic past, as they navigate life in New York City.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Grief is a tricky situation to navigate, but we all unfortunately experience it at least once in our lives. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking is a profound account of the disorienting nature of grief. The memoir recounts Didion’s experiences after the sudden death of her husband and the illness of their daughter shortly after. Didion carries the reader down a path of exploration of one's perceptions of reality and the struggle to find meaning and stability in the wake of loss.
The Secret History by Donna Tart
If the corrupting influence of elitism and intellectual arrogance, the moral complexities of guilt and complicity, and the destructive nature of secretary and deception intrigue you in any way; then you will be enamored by The Secret History by Donna Tart. The novel follows a group of college students who are wrapped up in a murder as they explore isolation and pursuit of beauty and knowledge. Expect notes of friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of living outside conventional moral boundaries, revealing the dark underbelly of human nature.
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Through the captivating prose of James Baldwin, explore identity, sexuality, and the profound sense of isolation that can result from social rejection in Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. This story follows David as he grapples with his sexual identity and relationship with Giovanni. Uncover themes of shame, internal conflict, and the fear of being true to oneself in a world that often condemns difference. Giovanni’s Room is a poignant reflection on the human need for connection and the tragic consequences of denying one's true self.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Enter a society predating our own in Jane Austin's infamous novel Pride and Prejudice. This critique of social class and the importance of personal growth in overcoming prejudice and misunderstanding is a beautiful timepiece everyone should experience reading once in their life. The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they become intertwined, navigating their initial misjudgments and biases of one another. Themes of evolving relationships, love, marriage, the influence of first impressions, and the willingness to change one’s preconceived notions will have you falling in love with the novel's characters and stunning prose.