So, you’ve taken that big leap. Maybe you’re moving house, going travelling, starting a new job, or having a lifestyle overhaul. Whatever it is – take a moment to congratulate yourself. Change is inevitable but no matter how prepared you are, it’s never easy. Maybe you’re excited, but maybe you’re also feeling overwhelmed. Either way, these books are here to keep you company through this next chapter, whether you find inspiration in meeting mental health struggles with humour, or the mess of being in your twenties. You might even find motivation to pull on your running shoes or plunge into some cold water. Whatever your next adventure looks like, there’s a companion read waiting for you here.
My Mess Is a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett
In the therapist’s office, instead of saying ‘my life is a bit of a mess’, Georgia Pritchett blurted out the title of her memoir: My Mess Is a Bit of a Life. You might know Georgia as one of the brilliant screenwriters behind Succession or Veep, and she brings her fast wit to this book as she reflects on her experiences in comedy screenwriting while suffering with relentless anxiety. The short, punchy chapters are like vignettes in a TV series, covering everything from mental health to work to motherhood. Candid, vulnerable and humorous, it’s an essential read for when you find yourself at a personal or professional crossroads.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
Adunni, a 14-year-old Nigerian girl, has an unwavering dream in life: to get an education and make her voice heard, and she’s going to stop at nothing to get it. Sold to a wealthy man as a third wife, then escaping only to end up enduring even more cruelty and abuse, she suffers extreme injustice in a crushing patriarchal society. Through it all, Adunni refuses to be broken by her circumstances. Rich with Nigerian culture and Adunni’s colloquialisms (the audiobook is a fantastic listen), this epic novel will inspire you to speak up and follow your dreams.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
For some, a new adventure might be slipping into some trainers, strapping on a running vest, and taking to the open road. If this is your brand, then Haruki Murakami’s candid travelogue on his training journey to the New York marathon is the ideal addition to your running routine, whether you’re a solo pacer or a run club fanatic. The acclaimed Japanese novelist reflects on how his commitment to running has fine-tuned his writing, and vice versa. It’s a lovely philosophical meditation on endurance and creativity in his trademark chatty and confessional style.
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly
Valdin and Greta are siblings living together in Auckland, both navigating queerness, multiracial identity, and family drama, all while figuring out their love lives. While Valdin’s boyfriend has suddenly left for Buenos Aires, Greta’s dealing with an unrequited crush and her mother’s secrets. This tale of an eccentric Māori-Russian-Catalonian family mixes humour with drama and politics, and Rebecca K. Reilly’s acerbic tone is compulsively readable. Funny and relatable, it’s all about the pressures of early adulthood to have it all figured out – and it’s comforting to realise that nobody does.
The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley
Four years after the loss of her brother, Freya sets herself a challenge: she’s going to swim every tidal pool in Britain with Miri, a friend she met on a retreat for grieving siblings. With every invigorating swim, brush with hypothermia, and person they meet in the water, Freya finds herself reconnecting with her brother, moving forward, and falling in love. Told with honesty and strength, it’s an inspiring, adventurous story on the healing power of wild swimming, and might even convince you to seek a tidal pool of your own.
