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Barely Functional Adult: It’ll All Make Sense Eventually
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2021)From the creator of Barely Functional Adult, a painfully relatable webcomic with over 125k followers on Instagram, comes a hilariously poignant collection of beautifully illustrated short stories that chronicle the ever-evolving perspectives of your twenties on work, therapy, identity, heartbreak, friendship, and more.
Wielding her trademark balance of artful humor, levity, and heartbreaking introspection, Meichi Ng’s indisputably relatable collection of short stories holds a mirror to our past, present, and future selves.
Featuring a swaddled, gender-neutral, Barely Functional Adult as its protagonist, who says all the things we think but cannot say, this book is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking as it spans a spectrum of topics including imposter syndrome, therapy, friendships, first loves, letting go of exes, and just trying to find your purpose in the world. Prepare to excitedly shove this book in your friend’s face with little decorum as you shout, “THIS IS SO US!”
In this beautiful, four-color collection compiled completely of never-before-seen content, Meichi perfectly captures the best and worst of us in every short story, allowing us to weep with pleasure at our own fallibility. Hilarious, relatable, and heart-wrenchingly honest, Barely Functional Adult will have you laughing and crying in the same breath, and taking solace in the fact that we’re anything but alone in this world
Wielding her trademark balance of artful humor, levity, and heartbreaking introspection, Meichi Ng’s indisputably relatable collection of short stories holds a mirror to our past, present, and future selves.
Featuring a swaddled, gender-neutral, Barely Functional Adult as its protagonist, who says all the things we think but cannot say, this book is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking as it spans a spectrum of topics including imposter syndrome, therapy, friendships, first loves, letting go of exes, and just trying to find your purpose in the world. Prepare to excitedly shove this book in your friend’s face with little decorum as you shout, “THIS IS SO US!”
In this beautiful, four-color collection compiled completely of never-before-seen content, Meichi perfectly captures the best and worst of us in every short story, allowing us to weep with pleasure at our own fallibility. Hilarious, relatable, and heart-wrenchingly honest, Barely Functional Adult will have you laughing and crying in the same breath, and taking solace in the fact that we’re anything but alone in this world
401 pages, Hardcover
First published November 24, 2020
169 people are currently reading
15384 people want to read
About the author
Meichi Ng
1 book148 followersMeichi is the creator of Barely Functional Adult, a webcomic series she started back in 2015. She makes comics and tells nonsense stories from her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her first book, Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually, is filled with incriminating short stories and is nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2021 for Best Humor. Vote for Barely Functional Adult via Goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-humor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 573 reviews
December 14, 2020
RELATABLE, Y'ALL.
Want to read
November 6, 2020this cover art character looks like a concept art sketch for Among Us and somehow that really pleases me
November 16, 2021
I went into this book expecting only comics. What I got was very word-heavy and at first, it was okay but it kind of soured after I read the first HP reference. Color me surprised that there were quite a few of them sprinkled throughout the book. After what the author of HP did any mention of her or that series makes me cringe and back away slowly. It's mentioned that this book took around 3 years to write, but I still wish that the author just removed the series she name-dropped with something vague. After that, it kind of took the sparkle away from this book. The topics were very relatable but I don't know how much better or worse the comics made it. The comics were just there. The writing was fine though.
December 19, 2020
Are you going through a particularly anxious period? Worries plaguing your mind, keeping you awake? Or are you simply feeling just a bit extra emotional about everything in life right now?
Meichi Ng’s Barely Functional Adult will perhaps give you a few answers. She somehow manages to make you laugh, think, amused, and nod along in heartfelt empathy. You will nod along because her experiences are so unflinchingly honest, so recognisable. Ng talks about dealing with heartbreak, the loss of a pet, getting around to the idea of therapy, getting acquainted with therapy, of letting go, and the importance of “friendships that required little or no maintenance. The kind of friends who if I asked to help bury a dead body, would simply respond, “How many and where?”
I loved that Ng took the relatability factor up by several notches with her mostly gender-neutral characters. By making her story and the characters inclusive she makes that arc of oneness stronger. With that she also reinforces the all-important message of being kind to ourselves and of being vulnerable.
I procrastinate. I struggle to find a footing in social settings. I had much rather be with a book or with my handful of friends who will help me bury dead bodies. I have been known to suddenly break away in the middle of a conversation to chase a colourful butterfly or a bright ladybug for the perfect click. I feel I don’t fit in to certain things that most people seem to easily do. Essentially, I feel like a barely functional adult many a time.
But as Ng says, “in trying to figure out what makes us happy, we're bound to feel a little lost at times. But maybe this sense of feeling lost is necessary. Maybe feeling lost is just the prerequisite of adventure—the first chapter of any good story.”
An insightful yet quick read. Highly recommended!
Meichi Ng’s Barely Functional Adult will perhaps give you a few answers. She somehow manages to make you laugh, think, amused, and nod along in heartfelt empathy. You will nod along because her experiences are so unflinchingly honest, so recognisable. Ng talks about dealing with heartbreak, the loss of a pet, getting around to the idea of therapy, getting acquainted with therapy, of letting go, and the importance of “friendships that required little or no maintenance. The kind of friends who if I asked to help bury a dead body, would simply respond, “How many and where?”
I loved that Ng took the relatability factor up by several notches with her mostly gender-neutral characters. By making her story and the characters inclusive she makes that arc of oneness stronger. With that she also reinforces the all-important message of being kind to ourselves and of being vulnerable.
I procrastinate. I struggle to find a footing in social settings. I had much rather be with a book or with my handful of friends who will help me bury dead bodies. I have been known to suddenly break away in the middle of a conversation to chase a colourful butterfly or a bright ladybug for the perfect click. I feel I don’t fit in to certain things that most people seem to easily do. Essentially, I feel like a barely functional adult many a time.
But as Ng says, “in trying to figure out what makes us happy, we're bound to feel a little lost at times. But maybe this sense of feeling lost is necessary. Maybe feeling lost is just the prerequisite of adventure—the first chapter of any good story.”
An insightful yet quick read. Highly recommended!
September 11, 2023
I'm too old to have much interest in this young whippersnapper's self-help/inspirational thoughts on becoming an adult, though I do admit I recognize a lot of her qualities in my own daughter. I'd recommend it to my daughter, but I think large chunks would be too relatable and just make her sad, so nah.
I didn't like that this is one of those hybrid graphic novels where the cartoon panels act as humorous accent pieces interspersed between blocks of text of varying sizes. I enjoyed the cartoons, but then was punished with boring words before I could have another. Unfortunately, the pictures don't make a great deal of sense without the words, so I couldn't just ignore them.
Convert more words to cartoons and this might not have been the book/reader mismatch it ended up being.
I didn't like that this is one of those hybrid graphic novels where the cartoon panels act as humorous accent pieces interspersed between blocks of text of varying sizes. I enjoyed the cartoons, but then was punished with boring words before I could have another. Unfortunately, the pictures don't make a great deal of sense without the words, so I couldn't just ignore them.
Convert more words to cartoons and this might not have been the book/reader mismatch it ended up being.
January 2, 2021
This book was hilarious! Meichi Ng shares her tales as a kinda sorta / trying my best / WTF am I even doing type of adult. Three words: frog butthole pebbles. I cannot. 😂
August 28, 2020
This is more of a 3.5, but I couldn't find any good reason to round down to a 3. This isn't what I expected at all, but it's a nice little nonfiction collection of comics and essays. I thought it was going to be exclusively comics and more humor-based, but it's about half comics and half text, and it's a lot more serious than I was anticipating! That said, there are some fun conversations to be had here and a few chapters offer extremely helpful perspectives on things like therapy, mental illness, impostor syndrome, and even simply not knowing what you want to do with your life when you feel like you've reached an age where you should have it all together.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 12, 2022
Decent humorous illustrated memoir type thing. A quick read. Unfortunately, it's kind of impossible for me to not compare this to Allie Brosh, and while this definitely has some funny moments, it's nowhere near the oh my god fucking stop i can't breathe level that Brosh routinely achieves. I also thought the attempts to weave together two separate incidents on a sort of theme or whatever didn't really work well.
My favorite chapters were probably the "The Long Con" which deals mostly with imposter syndrome type stuff and connected some dots on discomfort with praise that I'd never connected myself, and "Oldpocalypse".
Some stuff I highlighted:
3.? rounding up.
My favorite chapters were probably the "The Long Con" which deals mostly with imposter syndrome type stuff and connected some dots on discomfort with praise that I'd never connected myself, and "Oldpocalypse".
Some stuff I highlighted:
“Well you see, he’s ugly cute,” I would later explain to people who never asked. It was a label that acknowledged his homely looks, but also insisted there was some redeeming beauty to be slowly uncovered, like an acquired taste for your eyes.
When you first break up, your friends are there for you. They’re there because they love you, and more importantly, they’re there because they need to talk shit about your ex and this is the window of opportunity they’ve been patiently waiting for.
I grew wary of recognition and even began to fear it. It was as though praise was a powerful spotlight, and every time I stood in it, I risked revealing my true incompetence.
It was hard to explain my feelings without coming across as though I was fishing for compliments, so I stopped trying to explain altogether.
3.? rounding up.
February 28, 2021
This one is worth reading when you have nothing better to do or just want to have the company of a human being that is real but in printed format. Yes, I made it sound so horrible just now. But you know what I mean.
The author would understand me the most when I say this. So I don't see any issues here. Sorry though for those who still think I write horrible things.
Yes, it's people like me who would enjoy books like this. Yes, everyone who can relate to adulting struggles can relate to this collection but us, those who actually cannot move on easily or get attached too easily, can relate more I feel.
The entire book is just not comics though I wish it was! There's actual paragraphs of words and sentences. You see, I cannot write normal anymore 🤦
I love how funny the writing is. Depending on the day you read this book, you might appreciate the writing more than the comics or comics more than the former or just both. For me, it happened to be the comics which I feel was too less in the entire book as compared to the writing and I was expecting a whole lotta comic from the artist in this one.
So putting aside the heartshattering disappointment, I still felt quite entertained while reading the whole book.
This book won't take up much of your time but yes, you will be able to relate to a lot of things in it.
The author would understand me the most when I say this. So I don't see any issues here. Sorry though for those who still think I write horrible things.
Yes, it's people like me who would enjoy books like this. Yes, everyone who can relate to adulting struggles can relate to this collection but us, those who actually cannot move on easily or get attached too easily, can relate more I feel.
The entire book is just not comics though I wish it was! There's actual paragraphs of words and sentences. You see, I cannot write normal anymore 🤦
I love how funny the writing is. Depending on the day you read this book, you might appreciate the writing more than the comics or comics more than the former or just both. For me, it happened to be the comics which I feel was too less in the entire book as compared to the writing and I was expecting a whole lotta comic from the artist in this one.
So putting aside the heartshattering disappointment, I still felt quite entertained while reading the whole book.
This book won't take up much of your time but yes, you will be able to relate to a lot of things in it.
September 13, 2020
My wife received an Advance Readers Copy of this book from the publisher. I stumbled across it sitting on the kitchen table. I flipped it open to see what it was... and I ended up accidentally reading the whole thing.
Reading this brought to mind David Sedaris by way of Allie Brosh/Hyperbole and a Half, leaning more toward the latter than the former. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found much that resonated with me. Since I wasn't aware of the author's work previously, I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading; but the prose mixed with/illustrated by comics definitely worked for the stories being told, in my opinion.
Reading this brought to mind David Sedaris by way of Allie Brosh/Hyperbole and a Half, leaning more toward the latter than the former. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found much that resonated with me. Since I wasn't aware of the author's work previously, I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading; but the prose mixed with/illustrated by comics definitely worked for the stories being told, in my opinion.
December 15, 2020
There are some books I read that make me feel like the author is an old friend of mine. And I would love to give that old friend a hug and pat them on the head. Meichi Ng’s ‘Barely Functional Adult’ is one of those books.
This book is so warm and relatable. So honest and endearing. And so achingly funny. I read it on my sister’s tab and it was worth doing so as the colors came alive. The colors that Meichi Ng paints are our colors. All colors of our rainbow-filled life. Aich. This is a beautiful book that just touched me. You can’t really go wrong recommending this book. Or reading it.
This book is so warm and relatable. So honest and endearing. And so achingly funny. I read it on my sister’s tab and it was worth doing so as the colors came alive. The colors that Meichi Ng paints are our colors. All colors of our rainbow-filled life. Aich. This is a beautiful book that just touched me. You can’t really go wrong recommending this book. Or reading it.
March 28, 2022
Cute. Relatable. Funny. Somewhat sad. Quick, easy reading.
Meichi Ng is from Vancouver, and I love reading local authors.
I enjoyed the comics. I laughed out loud more than a few times. And I loved the chapter titled Oldpocalypse.
“It was hard to watch. One by one, my friends became unrecognizable monsters as they evolved from their beautiful, barely functional selves into deplorably responsible humans. I, on the other hand, had no intention of surrendering my youth. If my previously cool best friends wanted to be painfully sober, fiscally responsible, well-rested adults, that was fine. To each their own.”
Meichi Ng is from Vancouver, and I love reading local authors.
I enjoyed the comics. I laughed out loud more than a few times. And I loved the chapter titled Oldpocalypse.
“It was hard to watch. One by one, my friends became unrecognizable monsters as they evolved from their beautiful, barely functional selves into deplorably responsible humans. I, on the other hand, had no intention of surrendering my youth. If my previously cool best friends wanted to be painfully sober, fiscally responsible, well-rested adults, that was fine. To each their own.”
November 23, 2020
I really love it when I discover a book that covers major real life events that is relatable and I can easily connect with.
Barely Functional Adult by Meichi Ng is a witty and comical novel that is part memoir and part comic strip. It is a collection of illustrated short stories that depict the best and worst of adult life and the joy and fear that we face when learning to navigate it’s difficulties. These laugh out loud illustrations tackles topics such as impostor syndrome, therapy, friendship, letting go of exes, finding your purpose in life, getting older, anxiety, and the stress we encounter in finding the right career. This novel is filled with humor and honesty. It is a reminder that no matter who you are or what struggles you’re dealing with, you are not alone.
I am completely in awe of this amazing book. I mean, I literally finished it in one day and cannot stop gushing about it. While reading, I felt like the author and I were the same person. Every chapter was accurate and 100% relatable. There were moments when I had to pause and take in every detail of what I was reading. This book sure as hell hit close to home. It was scary how much of a connection I made with every topic discussed in each chapter. The stories that the author shared are insightful and full of wisdom. The graphic illustrations made the book very enjoyable. From the moment I sat down to read, I knew I was in for an exciting ride. One minute I was laughing so much and the next I was in my feelings. Barely Functional Adult will make you laugh from start to end. You do not want to miss out on this book.
Thank you to the publishers for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Barely Functional Adult by Meichi Ng is a witty and comical novel that is part memoir and part comic strip. It is a collection of illustrated short stories that depict the best and worst of adult life and the joy and fear that we face when learning to navigate it’s difficulties. These laugh out loud illustrations tackles topics such as impostor syndrome, therapy, friendship, letting go of exes, finding your purpose in life, getting older, anxiety, and the stress we encounter in finding the right career. This novel is filled with humor and honesty. It is a reminder that no matter who you are or what struggles you’re dealing with, you are not alone.
I am completely in awe of this amazing book. I mean, I literally finished it in one day and cannot stop gushing about it. While reading, I felt like the author and I were the same person. Every chapter was accurate and 100% relatable. There were moments when I had to pause and take in every detail of what I was reading. This book sure as hell hit close to home. It was scary how much of a connection I made with every topic discussed in each chapter. The stories that the author shared are insightful and full of wisdom. The graphic illustrations made the book very enjoyable. From the moment I sat down to read, I knew I was in for an exciting ride. One minute I was laughing so much and the next I was in my feelings. Barely Functional Adult will make you laugh from start to end. You do not want to miss out on this book.
Thank you to the publishers for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
Very relatable as someone who has always had anxiety and was considered "weird". I was also in the perfect age range to have most of the topics covered in the book feel relevant.
With memoir style books it can feel like the person has experienced a very interesting life and at some point I start lose my attachement to the writer. This never happened with BFA. I liked that most of the chapters focused on fairly common events and anything that set the author apart was nothing more than set dressing.
Not quite a graphic novel but also not quite a novel either. It is written almost like a children's storybook with text and comics intermingled. Certainly worth picking up if youre the type of introvert who suffers from emotional baggage and imposter syndrome.
With memoir style books it can feel like the person has experienced a very interesting life and at some point I start lose my attachement to the writer. This never happened with BFA. I liked that most of the chapters focused on fairly common events and anything that set the author apart was nothing more than set dressing.
Not quite a graphic novel but also not quite a novel either. It is written almost like a children's storybook with text and comics intermingled. Certainly worth picking up if youre the type of introvert who suffers from emotional baggage and imposter syndrome.
November 19, 2020
If, like me, you’ve been having a hard time finding a book to hold your attention, I highly recommend this one. It’s funny. It’s relatable. It’s honest. It’s a fast read that is a little short story and a little graphic novel. It’s the 2020 read we are all in need of.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
March 11, 2024
This was such a good read 348 was super relatable like who doesn't love cows this definitely made me feel less bad for not knowing what I want in life
Want to read
November 24, 2020Hey, the release date is actually today. cOinCIDeNCe?
June 20, 2022
I was initially uncomfortable because this book was too real, but then it got so real that it was fun again! I suspect that if the author and I ever met, we could become THE BESTEST OF FRIENDS if only we ever got past our own social awkwardness.
January 2, 2021
“Barely Functional Adult” was a nice surprise and turned out to be way more relatable than I thought it would be! This is a humorous memoir with about half graphics/comics and half text about the author’s experience finding her place in the world. It’s a funny and fast read that covers topics such as imposter syndrome, work struggles, and “getting over” people. I gave this one 4.5 stars based mostly on how relatable the topics were and how helpful I found it to read this and know I’m not alone with these struggles! Thank you so much to Harper Perennial for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 14, 2020
Love it!
I assumed it would be a collection of funny comics, mostly reposts of what's already seen on social media, but I am happy to report it is not.
Definitely recommend reading it. I loved the chapters therapy, oldpocalypse and the finale the grass on the other side the most.
She writes about mental health and anxiety in a very part of life way, just how it should be.
I assumed it would be a collection of funny comics, mostly reposts of what's already seen on social media, but I am happy to report it is not.
Definitely recommend reading it. I loved the chapters therapy, oldpocalypse and the finale the grass on the other side the most.
She writes about mental health and anxiety in a very part of life way, just how it should be.
December 22, 2020
I demand that everyone get their very own beach, complete with 68 cows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2022
I loved this, it's SO relatable!
December 30, 2020
מקסים, מצחיק, אמיתי ומאוייר יפה. מומלץ מאוד!!
August 17, 2025
Instantly one of my favorite books!
December 10, 2021
Very very relatable. Must read
November 26, 2020
I came to know about this book while scrolling through instagram and saw one of the accounts had posted a review of the book, after which i dove into the book right away.
Barely functional adult is the most relatable book one can read. I finished this book in one go and boy was it worth it (quitely shed a tear or two also while reading some chapters). The books appeal lies in its simplicity, the comics that it has and the sheer easiness with which it flows through. Loved how brilliantly written it is, loved how it has a universal appeal and most of all loved to know that there's someone else who feels the exact same way I do sometimes. I can go on and on about the book but one needs to savour it on their own, connect with it on their own to enjoy it. Its definitely worth the time and comes highly recommended atleast from end.
Barely functional adult is the most relatable book one can read. I finished this book in one go and boy was it worth it (quitely shed a tear or two also while reading some chapters). The books appeal lies in its simplicity, the comics that it has and the sheer easiness with which it flows through. Loved how brilliantly written it is, loved how it has a universal appeal and most of all loved to know that there's someone else who feels the exact same way I do sometimes. I can go on and on about the book but one needs to savour it on their own, connect with it on their own to enjoy it. Its definitely worth the time and comes highly recommended atleast from end.
November 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book for its humour and adorkable art, but it was strangely generic in its exploration of anxiety. I was hoping for a deeper look into mental health, but I assume that’s not the intention here (so that’s on me!). However, I did have issues with some lines that showcase Meichi Nag’s classism. I was honestly so surprised to read these because, for me, being a barely functional adult often aligns with my struggle to adapt to capitalism.
“There is something to be said about the people who are able to give us the exact kind of junk we love. Not the expensive gifts, because anyone can give those…” (31)
Uhhhhh. No. I can confirm that not everyone can afford pricey gifts.
“For the record, only an idiot doesn’t negotiate their pay.” (134)
I have never negotiated my pay—and not from a lack of intelligence or understanding, but from a lack of opportunity. And more specifically, due to a fear of homelessness.
“There is something to be said about the people who are able to give us the exact kind of junk we love. Not the expensive gifts, because anyone can give those…” (31)
Uhhhhh. No. I can confirm that not everyone can afford pricey gifts.
“For the record, only an idiot doesn’t negotiate their pay.” (134)
I have never negotiated my pay—and not from a lack of intelligence or understanding, but from a lack of opportunity. And more specifically, due to a fear of homelessness.
January 13, 2021
For me, the balance between comic and text narration didn't quite hit the mark, and neither did the balance between personal memoir and de-personalizing the characters. I wish the plot of each story or life lesson was carried more by the drawings if she's going for sharing her personal experience. Or, cut out most of the text and have them be a generally relatable humorful, all-too-accurate moments that fit better with the generic looking images. I loved Hyperbole and a Half, which goes the first route, and Sarah Scribbles, which goes more the second route. Either way would still work well with her storytelling device of relaying experiences that are really about something deeper, like a mouth full of wasps or waiting for shooting stars.
August 16, 2020
This is not written for me, well past my 20s, but I get it, though seen through a hazy past, so the humor is more, oh that is funny rather than laughing out loud at it.
What Meichi writes about work being boring, and repetitive, and how you should do what you love, and balance that with money, is very true, and has been something I have said quite a lot. Never good to hate your work. I did for about six months and it was miserable.
She covers work, mental healthy, getting older, the glory of being able to quit a job any time you want, among other things.
Life is new for her, and she explores it with gusto.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
What Meichi writes about work being boring, and repetitive, and how you should do what you love, and balance that with money, is very true, and has been something I have said quite a lot. Never good to hate your work. I did for about six months and it was miserable.
She covers work, mental healthy, getting older, the glory of being able to quit a job any time you want, among other things.
Life is new for her, and she explores it with gusto.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
January 28, 2021
Meichi aptly articulates emotions through her own lived experiences in self-aware, nonsensical-rational webs of thought which are mostly comedic, semi-horrifying, sometimes maddening, and might even channel your own ill-defined feelings on just trying to maintain barely functioning adulthood while feeling like an imposter in various aspects of life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 573 reviews