Are you an avid young reader in search of the perfect novel that encapsulates exactly how it feels to be a woman in her 20s? How unnerving it can be to reach a certain age and feel the sudden need to really grow up? If yes, you've come to just the right place.
There is nothing more magical than curling up with a cozy read. The only thing that might come close to this magic is navigating womanhood during your 20s. Trying to find the “right” path to womanhood can be be difficult to do because there's no set “correct” path.
This is because your 20s are chock-full of transformation — new jobs, heartbreaks, identity shifts, and a constant search for purpose and meaning. Sometimes you need more than just advice when it comes to navigating such an intense era. That’s where literature comes back in. Literature has a beautiful way of being a teacher, friend, and confidant all in one pocket-sized package.
Though you might feel lost in the unpredictable ether of life, it’s nice to know that you are most definitely not alone. These transformative stories feel like they're told by someone who really gets it. Read ahead to get the inside scoop on 10 must-read novels that function as a handbook to womanhood.
The reason novels about womanhood are so important is because women often lack relatable representation in media. Oftentimes, generic stereotypes and archetypes of women are what sells best because over-the-top mockery is comedic, and, therefore, popular (especially in happy-go-lucky media such as Friends or Disney Channel original television shows.) It's important that, despite this, women have access to stories about similar struggles to their own with proof that they can be overcome.
The key themes in these 10 novels are what makes them important reads for young women everywhere. One woman might feel culturally connected to her family roots, but another woman might grapple daily with trying to figure out how to connect with her ancestral history. One woman might feel instability in her career, while another could be feeling stuck in a toxic relationship that no longer serves her. See what we mean? There are infinite ways that real-life struggles for young women can be represented in these novels. This is especially true when said novels are written by women who know exactly what it’s like to exist in the world as such.
These novels touch upon:
The talented writers in this list do an incredible job of writing characters that readers can relate to, which, in turn, allows these readers to feel comforted by someone (albeit fictional) that is similarly ruminating on how to go through life and love as a young woman.
In classic literature, women authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott wrote about their experiences with misogyny, love, and careers (or lack thereof) because they hoped they’d be able to reach other women who felt similarly. The good and the bad. These modern coming of age novels about young women are sure to give the same effect.
The unnamed protagonist of Moshfegh’s best-selling novel takes us through a year in her life during the years 2000 and 2001 in New York City. She attempts to sleep for a year with the help of prescription medication, to which she finds that running away from trauma and hurdles only buries her further into a nihilistic hole.
Plath’s classic novel illustrates the protagonist’s descent into mental illness and trauma, while simultaneously navigating issues with her self-image, relationships, and career. I’ll add that the book speaks in depth about eating habits, body image, and gender discrimination in particular.
This novel follows Selin, a Turkish immigrant, and her navigation through her first year at Harvard University. The protagonist struggles with identifying her needs and wants while attempting to understand her place in the world. The book is sarcastic and humorous in nature, but equally adds just the right amount of introspection for women who want to laugh and cry.
bell hooks is a profound feminist scholar and critic whose main focus in her works is love and relationships. This book in particular touches on childhood trauma and how it manifests itself in relationships with the self, family, romantic partnerships, and more. hooks’ prose style is inclusive because she writes like a mother would speak to her daughter. I heavily admire this work because it feels like a handbook of sorts.
Over the course of a single day, Semple’s character Eleanor is faced with mishaps that ultimately force her to reflect on her past and resolve the unresolved. Semple focuses mainly on family dynamics and the retainment of the self when faced with motherhood. How do we preserve our identities in motherhood when society expects us to sacrifice ourselves?
I’m sure you’ve seen this book everywhere. Rooney’s second novel in the roster focuses on the very turbulent relationship between Marianne and Connell, two protagonists who are navigating life from highschool through the end of university. It is up for debate whether the two are star-crossed lovers or simply cannot remove themselves from a cyclical relationship that only ends with hurt. This is a beautifully written book that shows the immensely candid side of womanhood in love (and manhood, as well).
Another classic novel, written by Charlotte Brontë, touches on the protagonist Jane’s yearn for female agency in the 19th century. She is is working as a governess at her superior Mr. Rochester’s estate, to which the two find great admiration for one another. Rochester’s internalized misogyny becomes clear and Jane is forced to unpack the need to be heard, seen, and understood. Her childhood is constantly brought up throughout the novel as it is necessary for her to understand why she is the way that she is in the novel’s present day.
Michelle Zauner, the frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast, takes us on a stroll through her early and present life as a Korean American woman. She talks about cultural dissonance, compartmentalized identity, and qualms regarding her complex relationship with her mother. Through food and culture, Zauner takes us on a journey through grief, biculturalism, and coming to terms with the things you cannot change.
Aldteron, a journalist and podcaster, talks about her life regarding the navigation of relationships in the age of digitalism and hook-up culture. Her candid conversations about her career struggles, relationship failures, and identity confusions are comforting because of their honest nature.A main takeaway from the novel is that self-love and platonic relationships are just as significant (if not more) than romantic ones.
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are the four sisters that are focused on in Alcott’s Little Women. Taking place in the 19th century, the classic novel focuses on family relationships, struggles in love, and the desire to take the wheel in your own life. This book is a classic for a reason.
These novels have helped so many young women feel seen and less alone as they navigate transformative periods in their lives. If you’re ever feeling similarly, our editors suggest ordering one of these introspective reads. You’ll be surprised at what new things you might find out about yourself!
