In high school, we read all the classics. From “To Kill A Mockingbird” to “The Great Gatsby,” our teachers did their best to make the books relatable to us. Who would think that there are books that speak specifically to the troubles of our generation? Valley searched the bookshelves—okay, Amazon Books—to find the best relatable novels for our generation.
“Friendship” by Emily Gould
Bev and Amy have been best friends for so long, but can that last as they’re forced into adulthood? Read and see how Amy and Bev deal as the two friend’s dreams pull them away from each other.
“I’ll Give You The Sun” by Jandy Nelson
Although Noah and Jude are younger than millennials, at 16 the twins are forced to deal with issues that many millennials can relate to. Jude must handle a mother’s disapproval while Noah must deal with being gay as a child and young teenager. One event will change the twins’ lives forever when the most unexpected hits them.
“The Circle” by Dave Eggers
Mae Holland, a girl only a few years older than any college student, arrives at her first day of work at the Circle and thinks she’s in heaven. The powerful Internet company has one main goal—total transparency. Privacy turns insignificant. Any internet obsessed millennial—pretty much any millennial—needs to read this book. While millennials still value a little bit of privacy, this book shows where our society could end up if we do not set the rules for how far the internet can go.
“Citrus County” by John Brandon
Toby is another younger character that millennials can relate to in certain ways. Toby is just looking for ways to add excitement to his mundane suburban life. Most Penn Staters can agree that in middle school, they would have loved some ways to keep entertained. While Toby makes some odd choices, we can understand his need for some thrill.
“Shoplifting from American Apparel” by Tao Lin
Sam, a twenty-something writer living in New York City, is dating several girls. He spends his days reading, going to parties and seeing bands. He shoplifts twice and goes to jail both times. Whatever he is doing, he is never fully engaged with the situation. Millennials will be able to identify with Sam’s anxiety, detached attitude and broke kid problems.
We think it might be time to ditch the relatable Netflix shows and opt for a book that you can connect with. You never know what lessons lie inside those pages.
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