Jenny McLaine’s life is falling apart. Her friendships are flagging. Her body has failed her. Her boyfriend just left. She’s having a breakdown. Jenny is the only one who will be able to pick up the pieces and learn how to, more or less, grow up. Or will she? The complexities of contemporary life — intersections of late stage capitalism, rapidly advancing technology, and general rudderlessness — make these episodes of uncertainty perfect novel fodder. There are plenty of self help and pop psychology books to help readers navigate this tumultuous time. Still, novels give license for a premise to go to more extreme conclusions. Alternatively, they can provide a deeply personal and nuanced look at this time in life. Take heart; I promise it isn’t all doom and gloom and alienation. Here are nine modern novels about quarter-life crises. If you’re looking for more books to help you navigate that quarter-life crisis, we’ve got you covered. Reading can help improve mental health, even when it’s hard to concentrate. No one is alone in their feelings, and we are always here to help find the books that demonstrate that.
