Depending on your current age, 35 can seem like a youthful middle ground or a scary, far away number that makes you think of the golden girls. Actually, 35 years old is still young, and it’s an ideal time to reassess priorities, redouble introspection, and celebrate all the personal growth of the past three decades. Believe it or not, all of that is possible.
For those who feel that they still don’t have everything, or nothing, figured out, there are many readings that speak to that stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Spanning memoirs, contemporary fiction, romances, essays, and more, these 25 books can add a little more assurance that everyone felt exactly the same way at one time or another.
You are reading: Books for women in their 30s
I feel bad about my neck by nora ephron
nora ephron’s funny, moving, and very honest book of essays looks at all the weird and specific aspects of aging, from going through menopause and emptying the nest to turning your hair gray and (as the title suggests) dealing with the wrinkles on the neck. Unsurprisingly, the writer behind When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail and Bewitched reaches into the heart of the older woman.
tina fey’s bossy pants
fey’s memoir has long been considered a modern classic. there’s a reason her book continues to receive the “must read” label more than a decade after its publication: her essays and advice on crying (or not) at work, female friendships, career, love and breastfeeding are universal, and she fulfills her life story with humor, vigor, and candor.
invisible man by ralph ellison
This national award-winning book is one of the most important books of the last century. is a story about an anonymous black man struggling to find a place in the world, and its themes of feeling lost, finding direction, and trying to make a place for yourself in the world are common anxieties of thirty-somethings.
too fat, too horny, too strong by anne helen petersen
what do serena williams, kim kardashian and hillary clinton have in common? On the surface, the answer may not be much, but culture writer extraordinaire Anne Helen Petersen argues that they are all part of a cabal of women who have succeeded despite, and also perhaps because of, their rebelliousness.
morgan rogers honey girl
Grace Porter, a recent Ph.D. graduate in astronomy, is approaching 30 and couldn’t feel more lost: she’s unemployed, dealing with mounting anxiety, dealing with microaggressions in her field, and juggling a rocky relationship. with his father. So, she does what any bewildered millennial would do: she marries a stranger in Las Vegas. But when she wakes up in the morning and realizes that marrying the mysterious Yuki Yamamoto hasn’t solved any of her problems, Ella Grace embarks on a journey of self-discovery filled with ups and downs and plenty of astrological musing.
bent towards nativity scene by joan didion
didion is one of the best writers of her generation (or any other). she mixes the personal and the political, the intimate and the sensational, and the results are always surprising. her 1968 collection of essays from her who bends towards nativity scene is no different. These stories about her upbringing in California and her coming of age during a time of such social upheaval are timeless, as is all of her work.
the second sex by simone de beauvoir
beauvoir’s 1949 manifesto on the role of women in society was way ahead of its time, to put it mildly. feminism was on the minds of some women (and some men), but the movement was definitely not where it is today. still, the second sex is a powerful look at sexuality, identity, and independence, all issues that are top of mind for every generation.
maybe you should talk to someone about lori gottlieb
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You’d think a therapist would have it all under control, but when psychiatrist Lori Gottlieb’s longtime boyfriend dumps her without warning, the ordeal launches her into a period of self-discovery with the help of her new therapist. , wendell. Interwoven with chapters detailing her dealings with several of her own patients, Gottlieb’s book reminds us that maybe we should all, in fact, talk to someone.
sabrina & corina by kali fajardo-anstine
the 2019 book by fajardo-anstine sabrina & Corina may be short at just 224 pages, but she packs a punch as she traces the struggles and joys of Latina and Indigenous women in the American West. Her stories combine sisterhood, generational trauma, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the stress of coming of age, and much more.
how to do nothing by jenny odell
despite the irony of reading a book called how to do nothing, author, artist, and educator jenny odell is right: we live in a society filled with technology, constant distractions, and nonstop #content and have completely forgotten how be alone Are millennials too far gone to be saved from themselves and their smartphones? odell has endless thoughts on the subject.
bad feminist by roxane gay
Any Roxane Gay work is considered a must-read right now, but Gay’s essays in her beloved book Bad Feminist cover everything from the color pink to sweet high valley. It’s funny, sharp, and relatable, and the questions the book raises provide more than enough fodder for what feminism looks like as times change.
maybe in another life of taylor jenkins reid
In Taylor Jenkins Reid’s earlier novel Maybe in Another Life, 29-year-old Hannah returns to Los Angeles after many years, heading to a bar to celebrate her move with some friends. At the end of the night, he finds himself at a crossroads: he can either end the night and go home, or stay out with his old flame, Ethan. Told in chapters that alternate between the two emerging timelines, Jenkins Reid asks the question of how a seemingly insignificant choice creates a ripple effect of repercussions.
great friendship by aminatou sow and ann friedman
Why does our society prioritize any other type of relationship over friendship, despite the fact that it is a fundamental part of the lives of so many people? Writers, podcasters, and cultural commentators Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman sought to find out. Using the trajectory of their own great friendship as a backdrop and armed with plenty of research, the duo explore what it means to be a friend, and also when to know if it’s time to walk away.
evvie drake starts over by linda holmes
Evvie Drake, recently widowed, has lived her life mostly on hiatus since her husband’s death a year earlier, never speaking of her grief or the difficult marriage she endured behind her shiny veneer. But after former pro baseball player Dean Tenney comes to town and moves into Evvie’s guest apartment, the two strike up an unlikely friendship, and Evvie is finally forced to confront her past. can these two work out their problems to join or will they get in touch?
mistakes i made at work by jessica bacal
in mistakes i made at work, jessica bacal interviews 25 successful women about their biggest mistakes. Cheryl Strayed, Kim Gordon and Jezebel Founding Editor Anna Holmes reveal their most embarrassing and ridiculous professional moments, reminding us all that we are not alone and that there is more to life than what goes on at the office.
bad behavior by mary gaitskill
mary gaitskills misbehavior has become a classic over the years, and her stories of desire, longing, and obsession are terrifying and beautiful at the same time. erotic, thought-provoking and raw, they make for a great naughty read. Plus, its meaning changes over the decades, making it a fantastic reread.
in five years by rebecca serle
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dannie kohan is an attorney who checked every box. She has the job of her dreams, the perfect boyfriend, and the best apartment in New York City. but one night, dannie goes to sleep and wakes up five years in the future, and she realizes that nothing in that world resembles her current life. After spending an hour in this strange new universe before returning to her old life, Dannie becomes hell-bent on changing her fate. but how much control does she really have over destiny?
how to fail flirting by denise williams
After thirty-something college professor Naya finds out her job is in jeopardy and her abusive ex might have something to do with it, she decides to step out of her comfort zone one night to relax and get to know each other. to a charming and handsome stranger. named jake in the process. She soon finds herself on the cusp of something serious with Jake, but she wonders if she’s really ready to step out of her comfort zone and try something new.
less by andrew sean greer
Andrew Sean Greer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel may be centered on a 50-year-old man, but it’s as relevant as ever to 30-somethings. Writer Arthur Less receives a wedding invitation from his ex-boyfriend of nine years, so he does something completely sensible: He flees on a world tour to avoid the nuptials. Despite his best efforts, he soon discovers during a trip around the world to Mexico, Morocco, India and beyond that he can’t run away from his feelings or his ex.
your self all for catherine isaac
After dealing with ailing parenthood and receiving devastating personal news, 30-something Jess decides to spend the summer with her 10-year-old son William and his father, ex-boyfriend Adam, at a French chateau he owns. But as her two exes begin to unpack her past into the present, Jess realizes she needs to make more than a few big decisions about her future.
we’re going to need more wine from gabrielle union
Actress Gabrielle Union passionately recounts her own coming-of-age story in her memoir We’re Gonna Need More Wine, where she tackles everything from minor high school drama to becoming an outspoken activist for racial equality, the feminism and the end of sexual violence. one thing is for sure: this was not the path that union saw itself taking.
the bookish life of nina hill by abbi waxman
Bookstore clerk Nina Hill’s life is as orderly as it gets: she writes in her planner every day, goes to work, and participates in regular trivia games. one day, however, she finds out that she has a family she never knew existed, and her trivial enemy suddenly starts flirting with her. Practically overnight, she Nina has to decide if she wants to stay within the confines of her perfectly planned yet predictable life or take a leap of faith.
we’ve always been here for samra habib
no member of the lgbtq+ community has a linear coming out story, and samra habib’s is especially meandering. After immigrating to Canada with her family as Pakistani refugees, Habib overcomes xenophobia, an arranged marriage, and poverty on her path to self-discovery and regaining her weirdness as she ages.
dear girls by ali wong
Written as a long letter to her two young daughters, comedian Ali Wong doesn’t dwell on her memoir, Dear Girls, recounting hairy body parts, bloody childbirth, bad sex, and everything in between. However, there is sweetness between the sly jokes and scathing comments as Ella Wong reflects on the mistakes of her teens, twenties and thirties.
if i never met you by mhairi mcfarlane
Thirty-six-year-old attorney Laurie is reeling after her partner of 18 years unexpectedly leaves her. her situation is made worse by the fact that she and her ex work in the same office and her new girlfriend is pregnant. Determined to take matters into her own hands, Ella Laurie strikes a deal with Jamie, the office playboy, to start a fake online relationship and get her gossipy co-workers off her back. but after a certain point, it becomes obvious to both laurie and jamie that they’re not just doing it for the “gram”.
image: flickr
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