Dolly Alderton has created a masterpiece in a humorous, satirical form. If you are not yet very familiar with the book by this British writer, journalist, screenwriter, and producer, our Everything I Know About Love summary can tell you much more about it. Each of them shares unique yet relatable life stories, especially valuable if you’re feeling a bit lost and are searching for meaning.
1. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Connell and Marianne are the main characters who will guide you through the story in the book Normal People by Sally Rooney. The book describes the relationship between a couple who seem to be dancing intimacy and distance, talking about everything and not saying enough. Author Sally Rooney depicts the deep feelings of everyday love and makes readers question the nature of relationships. In addition, Connell and Marianne's love story emphasizes the need for empathy, listening, and understanding — and reminds us once again how vital it is to maintain mental health.
2. How to Fail: Everything I've Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day
The book How to Fail by Elizabeth Day is suitable for those who have ever failed, that is, for everyone. The author has written partly a memoir and a manifesto and talks about relationships, work, families, and friendship. She emphasizes that in any field of activity, failure is not a reason for decline; it makes us stronger and promotes growth. If you are one of those people who have never had a failure in your life, then do not avoid this book. Reading How to Fail is like having a conversation with a friend, so you will have a great time.
3. Just Kids by Patti Smith
Just Kids is another example of a deeply personal memoir. The book describes the relationship between author Patti Smith and renowned photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Within its pages, you can see how their meeting created an intimate and deep connection and would bind their lives together for decades. The book shows their relationship through the prism of art, and you can see it also in our summary, Just Kids. So, it is a life story where people love and support each other, develop themselves, and care for each other until their last breath.
4. Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Ghosts is not a fast-paced Halloween story, as you might think from the title. In her book, Dolly Alderton tells the life of Nina, the main character, 32 years old, and her relationship with her family, friends, and her boyfriend, Max. The story is told in the first person and resembles a real-life diary. The most interesting thing is that although Nina is the central figure, you can also dive into the personal lives of other characters, which helps to better understand the relationships and explain certain actions between the characters.
5. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
My Year of Rest and Relaxation describes the constant reflections and inner suffering of a 26-year-old girl. We don't know her name, so at some points, it may seem that you, the reader, are the main character. The author shows the girl's relationships with others and explains why she prefers unconsciousness to life in consciousness. In addition, the book describes actual events, such as the September 11 terrorist attack, which makes you believe that you are not reading a fictional story but a real-life one.
6. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter by Meg Jay
The first adult age crisis occurs around the age of 20 when a person does not understand what they want, what their future will be like, and who they are in this world. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay is a guide by a clinical psychologist who has been observing young people of this age who suffer from a “lack of vision” in their 20s. The author gives useful advice on building capital, connecting with others, reflecting on “unthought knowns,” and raises the topic of social media and looking good on them. If you are in your 20s or have similar worries and experiences, reading the book will be like having a conversation with a psychologist, and you will also find our The Defining Decade summary useful.
7. My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
My Thoughts Exactly is a memoir by English singer Lily Allen, who also wrote a book for children. If you're a famous person, the press becomes a part of your life, and it doesn't always cover the truth. My Thoughts Exactly answers questions about certain events in the singer's life so that her daughters can understand her clearly and concisely. The book shares the writer's experience of sexual abuse by people in the music industry, details an intervention for Allen led by Chris Martin, and includes an apology for past misunderstandings with other celebrities.
8. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
If you are interested in Korean culture, then Crying in H Mart will be the perfect book to read. This is a memoir by Michelle Zauner, who describes her relationship with her mother from childhood to adulthood, pointing out both the ups and downs in the relationship. Very often, relatives are taken away by illness, and the same thing happened to the singer's family: her mother died of cancer, so she went through a tough period. Her return to Korea, her favorite job, and the song that her mother loved so much helped her to gather her strength and move on with her life.
9. Adults by Emma Jane
Adults is a book about the search for adulthood, namely the story of 35-year-old Jenny McLaine. Emma Jane shows how the girl lives and, most importantly, how she feels. The book is based on the fact that the impression we make on people is not always true and lasting and that it can hide insecurities. While reading the book, someone will recognize themselves in it, how adult responsibilities can press down from above, how financial instability deprives you of a footing in life, and how social media destroys confidence.
10. Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
There are different kinds of love: romantic love, family love, self-love, and platonic love. Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn describes each of these types based on essays from different people's stories. Natasha Lunn notes in the book that love is not only joy but sometimes suffering. She dwells on how difficulties destroy romance and makes the reader reflect on personal experiences and draw conclusions. In our Conversations on Love summary, you can learn more about the book before reading it in full.
Relationships, attachment, and love are at the heart of life. The stories that writers describe in their books, whether autobiographical or just other real people, teach readers to change their viewpoint and look at the connections between people from different perspectives. So, get comfortable, make a delicious cup of tea, and immerse yourself in the stories.
