Absolutely fire books to read in your 20s to get your life together

Must-read books for your 20s because learning and growing is sexy.
It's no secret or word of a lie that your 20s are a chaotic experience. From learning about love (and heartbreak) to starting your career or moving out of home, it can be a bit of a mess.
Luckily enough, we've got some help. We've put together some killer reads from fabulous women to help you get it together and live your best life and accept that there will always be a few bumps in the road but hey, c'est la vie.
101 Essays To Change The Way You Think – Brianna Wiest
It took me a few goes to get into this book but without a doubt it's a must-read. Non-fiction books can quite easily go in one ear and out the other but this book had me learning life lessons I'll take with until I'm lowered into my grave.
The collection of essays discusses a number of topics including relationships, passions, emotional intelligence and a helluva lot more. This collection of essays invites you to challenge your routine way of thinking and evolve attitude to everyday life, conflicts and decisions. It's an incredible read that has easily become my new number 1 recommendation.
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Your Hype Girl – Doone Roisin
Your Hype Girl is the book to kick start your career into gear. Whatever your passions may be, this book allows you the deliciously juicy insight into multiple female entrepreneurs and their tips, learnings and mistakes they have made while building their empires.
This book has a no-fluff policy but is in fact jam-packed with actionable tips, manageable strategies and genuine tactics that those at any point in their career can learn from and use.
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Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton
There are few writers in the world quite like Alderton. Her memoir recounts her experience with every type of love be it romantic love, friendship love, first loves, lust and of course, self-love.
From messy nights out to her great sense of dark humour and everyone's favourite topic, self-sabotage, this book makes you feel a lot better if you're not where you think you need to be in your 20s. It encourages you to enjoy each moment, no matter how crazy, stupid or messy it may be.
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The Success Experiment – Lillian Ahenkan (aka FlexMami)
I'm convinced that everything Ahenkan touches turns to gold – and she tells you exactly how in this book. As a well-renowned critical thinker, I'm convinced she came out the womb a hustler and mover. This book is a must-have for getting to know yourself better and understanding your own personal goals in life and how to achieve them.
In true flex fashion, The Success Experiment is both equally motivating and aesthetically pleasing.
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Be Bold – Alexis Fernandez
Be Bold is the book that takes your inner saboteur and tells it to shove it. Fernandez has a degree in neuroscience and dives into the nitty gritty of how your brain can be your biggest cheerleader and your worst enemy. This book is the petrol in the tank that you need to grab the bull by the horns and take action in your everyday life.
This book is concise, to the point and banishes self-doubt back to the depths of hell from which it came.
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Calm The F*ck Down – Sarah Knight
It's no secret that life is no smooth sailing – especially in your 20s. In fact, it's easy to get wrapped in a society bubble of pressure from settling down, getting your finances together and being where you want in your career, just to name a few.
Calm The F*ck Down eloquently pulls you back down to earth, puts your priorities in perspective and tells you to chill the hell out. A must-have for over-thinkers and those who need a little help letting go of the stress in their lives.
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Women Don't Owe You Pretty – Florence Given
Women Don't Owe You Pretty is the straight talking every woman should read. A feminist-forward discussion on how to step outside of old habits and view the world with a new set of positive and intuitive eyes. From why we find comfort in other women's flaws to whether to date them or dump them and unpacking the male gaze, this book is a game-changing and empowering book for those that read it.
Given's book pushes away from the typical and limiting narratives so many have grown up with to help you shape feminism in your own way.
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She's On The Money – Victoria Devine
Finances can be a guilt spot for many of us in our 20s but thankfully we have Devine's un-judgemental, easy-to-read and actionable book, She's On The Money. As a woman in her 20s herself, Devine understands the temptations of frivolous spending and debt anxiety. This book is clear and supportive in our quest to start small to get on track with your money without feeling unachievable or preachy.
Devine has a background in behavioural psychology, her own financial advisory business and a chart-topping podcast so in other words, this gal knows what she's talking about and actually makes the finance talk fun, engaging and motivating.
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Break-up Boss – Zoë Foster-Blake
Break-ups at any point in time in your life suck and while cocktails with the gals and blocking them is a fabulous form of therapy, the Break-up Boss book is a must-have for the heartbroken.
This book possesses Foster-Blake's empathetic and friendly tone and forces you to have an objective view of your own relationships. Break-up Boss equips you with the closure you may need in order to move the hell on or at the very least, the motivation to not text your ex.
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Emotional Female – Yumiko Kadota
Kadota recounts the highs and drastic lows of working in a male-dominated industry.
Burnout, sexism and racism are just a few of the things she experienced working in medicine. This honest and harsh recount of her experience is eye-opening, powerful and brave.
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The Space Between – Zara MacDonald and Michelle Andrews
The shameless ladies, MacDonald and Andrews, discuss the weird gap between teenager and full-fledged adult. The Space Between finds the magic in the chaotic energy of your 20s to make you feel a little less alone.
This book encourages you to find your voice and feel validated.
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Period Power – Maisie Hill
"A book every girl (maybe even boy) should read. The book breaks down what is happening to your body through your menstrual cycle and explains why some weeks you're exhausted, craving chocolate and feel bloated; then other weeks you're full of energy and sociable. A must-read." – Clare Cribbin (Finder's shopping publisher)
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Wild & Witchy – Allira Potter
Wild & Witchy is described as a "guidebook for life".
Potter delves into connecting to yourself on a more spiritual level and learning how to love yourself. If you're ready to harness the art of manifestation and pull what you want, need and deserve from the universe, Potter is exactly the person to show you how.
While it's not available until 22 February 2022 we definitely recommend putting this on the list and getting your pre-orders in.
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The Sex Ed You Never Had – Chantelle Otten
If the mum from Sex Education was going to write a book, it would be this one. It's the no bull guide to having a healthy relationship with sex.
Chantell Otten is a pshycosexologist and her book covers everything from solo play to dating and relationships and also introducing some toys into the bedroom. The way Chantelle approaches the conversation of sex is comfortable, inclusive and will get you excited in all the right ways. Whatever your sexual orientation, relationship status or experience level this is a must-read.
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Seize The Yay – Sarah Davidson
If you're on a first name basis with procrastination this is the book for you. Sarah Davidson is the queen of turning passion projects into a full-time gig because she did it herself.
After turning an accidental order of ten kilos of matcha into a full-fledged business, Sarah kick-started her investigation into how to seize every day. Her book includes practical life advice and lessons on how to achieve your life dreams.
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Sex, Swipes & Other Stories – Helen Chik
Helen Chik's book, Sex, Swipes & Other Stories is the spicy love child of a memoir and handbook to dating in 2022. For those who have downloaded and re-downloaded those good ol' dating apps or found themselves convinced they will die alone this book is for you.
Helen navigates her own experience within dating that that makes you feel seen and probably a little bit better about some of those below average romantic experiences. A fabulous read to sit down with a glass (or bottle) of wine and giggle at the messy terrain of the modern dating world.
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