Your 20s can be messy, confusing, but life-changing and full of possibilities. You’re learning who you are, questioning what you’re conditioning and deciding what life you want to create. In the middle of your 20s, books can feel like guides and friends that have walked the road before you. That’s why I put together this list of the best books to read in your 20s. They won’t give you every answer, but they can spark new ideas, inspiration, and hope when you need it most.
12 Books to Read in Your 20s
1. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
This book invites you to quiet the noise of your own thoughts and remember that you are not your fears, your doubts, or your past. It’s a gentle nudge toward inner peace when life feels overwhelming.
2. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl’s journey through grief and healing on the Pacific Crest Trail is raw and unfiltered. It’s about falling apart and daring to keep going, even if it’s just one step at a time.
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
A dreamlike story that blends memory, magic, and the mysteries of childhood. It feels like slipping into a half-forgotten dream.
4. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
A timeless novel about the winding, imperfect journey toward enlightenment. It’s not about shortcuts, but about the lessons only lived experience can bring.
5. Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza
This book blends science and spirituality to show how your thoughts shape your reality. It’s both empowering and challenging, urging you to take ownership of your life. Your 20s are the time to experiment with possibilities. This book whispers that you are more powerful than you realize.
6. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A moving novel about how one small decision can shape an entire life. Tender, bittersweet, and comforting all at once. When you’re second-guessing choices in your 20s, this story reminds you that meaning can be found no matter which path you take.
7. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan
A collection of essays filled with honesty, hope, and urgency. It captures the voice of someone young and full of possibility. This book is a gentle push to live fully, even when life feels uncertain. It’s proof that your voice matters, even before you “arrive.”
8. Quiet by Susan Cain
In a world that glorifies noise and extroversion, this book is a love letter to introverts and the quieter ways of being. If you’ve ever felt “too quiet,” your 20s are the time to realize your silence is strength, not weakness.
9. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
A beautiful meditation on regret, choices, and the infinite ways life can unfold. This book offers hope for anyone in their 20s who wonders, what if I had chosen differently? It teaches that fulfillment comes from embracing the life you have.
10. Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller
Relationships can feel like uncharted territory in your 20s. This book helps you understand your attachment style and how it shapes the way you love. Knowing yourself is the key to loving well. This book offers tools for building healthier, more intentional connections.
11. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A spiritual classic that calls us back to the present moment, where peace and freedom truly live. In your 20s, when you’re pulled between regrets about the past and anxieties about the future, this book is a reminder that the only real life you have is now.
12. The Complete Collection by Neville Goddard
Neville’s teachings on imagination and manifestation remind us that our inner world creates our outer reality. In your 20s, when everything feels wide open, this collection shows you that your thoughts are not just passing clouds; they are the seeds of your future.
