From Romance To Self-Discovery: 10 Books Every Woman Under 30 Should Read
April 5th, 2025
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Your twenties are a rollercoaster of self-discovery—so many glow-ups, career pivots, breakups, and figuring out who you are. One minute, you’re invincible, feeling like you’ve got life all figured out. The next? You’re second-guessing everything. It’s messy, magical, and sometimes downright overwhelming.
That’s where books come in.
The right book at the right moment can turn it all around. It can heal you after a break-up, inspire you to pursue your dreams, or just make you feel like you get it. Regardless of whether you’re looking for romance to get your heart racing, thrillers to read all night, or self-help that does what it says, I’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 books you simply must read, published between 2021 and 2025—no musty old suggestions, just fresh-off-the-press, modern stories for your new world. Do you need a comfort read, a clever deep dive, or a saucy page-turner? There’s something for everyone here.
So grab a cup of your favorite drink, get all cozy, and get ready to find your new book addiction. Because these aren’t just books—they’re experiences.
Emily Henry
Happy Place
Genre: Romance/Contemporary Fiction
Emily Henry delivers yet again with a romance that is both hilarious and deeply moving. In Happy Place, we follow Harriet and Wyn, exes who form a fake relationship during their yearly getaway with friends to spare the group’s feelings. Yet, those fake smiles turn into genuine emotions, leading to delightful chaos. This narrative goes beyond mere romance; it explores the intricacies of friendship, the journey of change, and how the beloved places we hold dear can reflect the parts of ourselves we are still striving to understand.
Melissa Febos
Girlhood
Genre: Nonfiction/Feminism
Girlhood is a raw, beautiful series of essays that strips away the layers of women’s adolescence. Melissa Febos discusses everything from sex and consent to power and shame in unflinching honesty. It’s the sort of book that leaves you needing to sit down, catch your breath, and rewrite your narrative. If you’re mending old wounds or simply trying to figure out where you’re going, this book meets you where you are and pushes you forward—with wisdom, empathy, and fire.
Curtis Sittenfeld
Romantic Comedy
Genre: Romantic/Satire
This smart and romantic comedy flips the script on romance and gender roles. It’s about a brilliant comedy writer for a fictional late-night variety show who believes ordinary women don’t get to date male celebrities. But when a pop star falls in love with her, everything she thought she knew about romance unravels. Romantic Comedy is an ode to clever women and a reminder that love comes at the oddest of times.
Gabrielle Zevin
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, And Tomorrow
Genre: Literary Fiction/Friendship
This is not a novel about video games—it’s a novel about life. Sam and Sadie grow up together and reconnect in college to create a very successful video game. Through many years, their friendship evolves through love, loss, success, and personal change. With enormous emotions, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is about imagination, connection, and how the people we co-create imaginary worlds tend to alter our actual lives the most. It’s poetic, profound, and very lovely.
Lisa Jewell
None Of This is True
Genre: Psychological thriller
True crime meets podcast in this dark and sinister thriller. When Alix, a successful podcaster, meets Josie, her birthday twin, she thinks she’s found a great interview. But with each episode, Josie’s tale becomes darker—and it soon becomes apparent that she’s not who she claims to be. A chilling game of psychological cat and mouse ensues, full of secrets, lies, and fatal consequences. If you love thrillers that send shivers down your spine and make your jaw drop, this one’s for you.
Caroline O’Donoghue
The Rachel Incident
Genre: Coming of Age/Literary Fiction
Set in Cork, Ireland, in the 2010s, The Rachel Incident is a gritty, personal story of ambition, betrayal, and messy friendships. Rachel is a university student stuck in a meaningless bookstore job, living in disarray, and obsessed with her charming lecturer. What starts as a coming-of-age novel turns into a deeper investigation of identity, power, and the friends that shape us. It’s funny, flawed, and heartbreakingly real—just like your twenties.
Simone Stolzoff
The Good Enough Job
Genre: Self-help/Personal Growth
Society makes us believe that our work determines our value, but what if it doesn’t? This book is ideal for those who are burned out, trapped in a job they despise, or lost in their career. It breaks the workaholic culture and teaches you how to create a fulfilling life beyond the walls of work while becoming successful.
Jay Shetty
8 Rules of Love. How to find it, keep it & let it go
Genre: Self-help/Relationships
If you’re looking to learn about love on a deeper level, this book is a game-changer. Jay Shetty breaks down love into 8 stages, from self-love to healing from breakups, setting boundaries, and magnetizing healthy relationships. It’s a must-read if you’re tired of toxic dating habits and want to attract true, authentic love.
Katherine Morgan Schafler
The Perfectionist’s Guide To Losing Control
Genre: Self-help/Personal development
Are you a perfectionist struggling to feel good enough even after being a high achiever? This book redefines perfectionism as a superpower when managed the right way. It shows you how to avoid burnout, embrace imperfection, and create self-confidence, all without sacrificing your life goals.
Kirsty Greenwood
The Love Of My Afterlife
Genre: Rom-Com/Magic Realism
When Delphie suddenly dies, she discovers she has lost her only opportunity at love. But in the afterlife waiting room, she is offered one final opportunity to meet “the one” and seven days to make it happen. Humorous, poignant, and a little magical, this novel is about more than love. It’s about living with courage, listening to your gut, and trusting in love—especially when you least expect it. Perfect for readers of The Good Place and romantic dreamers everywhere.