From Nora Ephron’s hilarious musings on motherhood to Jenny Offill’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful thoughts on marriage to Toni Morrison’s masterful portrayal of friendship’s complexities, the books on this list lend a particular perspective to womanhood that all 30-somethings can appreciate at this moment in their lives. Ranging from timeless classics to enlightening memoirs and works of contemporary fiction, here are 12 life-changing books to read in your 30s.
Nora Ephron I Feel Bad About My Neck ( $8 ) ($15)
Reading Nora Ephron’s laugh-out-loud funny, tell-it-like-it-is honest, surprisingly moving book should be considered a rite of passage for every woman in her thirties.
Ariel Levy The Rules Do Not Apply ( $27 ) ($16)
Ariel Levy’s profound memoir about love, loss, and finding your path in life will have you laughing, crying, and nodding in agreement.
Roxane Gay Bad Feminist ( $16 ) ($11)
Roxane Gay’s collection of honest, insightful essays belongs on every 30-something’s reading list.
Zadie Smith Swing Time ( $17 ) ($12)
Zadie Smith’s latest novel depicts complex friendships that are so absorbing you’re not going to want to put it down until you’ve turned the last page.
Jenny Offill Dept. of Speculation ( $15 ) ($7)
You’re going to want to devour this beautiful, moving novel about a marriage in distress in a single sitting.
Lucia Berlin A Manual for Cleaning Women ( $16 ) ($9)
This collection of nuanced, incredibly crafted short stories tells stories of women from all walks of life, from mothers to nurses to cleaning women.
Margaret Atwood The Handmaid’s Tale ( $16 ) ($11)
Made popular by Hulu’s recent adaptation, this dystopian novel is particularly poignant given today’s political climate.
Toni Morrison Sula ( $15 ) ($10)
This novel follows two friends as they grow up and drift apart as their fierce devotion to each other ends in unforgivable betrayal.
Charolette Bronte Jane Eyre ($6)
Featuring one of literature’s most compelling protagonists, this classic is the definition of essential reading.
Ivelisse Rodriguez Love War Stories ($17)
This collection of stories about love, heartache, and betrayal from a new poignant voice in literature, Ivelisse Rodriguez, is a must-read.
Terese Marie Mailhot Heart Berries ($16)
Mailhot’s heart-breakingly honest memoir about love and loss belongs on every woman’s bookshelf, regardless of age.
Sayaka Murata Convenience Store Woman ($17)
In Murata’s novel, a 36-year-old woman who’s worked in the same convenience store for 18 years contemplates life, love, and what it means to be “normal.”
Nắng Việt Nam 