10 - A book with a main character in their 20's

[Jessica]

It looks like Fates and Furies would work.

[Heather]

does anybody know if Just One Day by Gayle Forman will work?

[Karol]

the help

[Karin]

Lock Every Door -- the main character is 25.

[Shawnna]

I was thinking How to Walk Away by Katherine Center for this one. I think the main character is in her late 20s. Can anyone confirm?

[Alex]

1.3.2020

Main character is 28 years old

[Rosanna]

Heather wrote: "does anybody know if Just One Day by Gayle Forman will work?"

Yes, Willem is 20.

[Rosanna]

I'm currently reading Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and that would also fit this prompt.

[Richelle]

I just finished The Governess of Penwythe Hall with the main character in her late 20's

[Errlee]

In doing some research on authors in their 20s, I also came across some books that might work for this prompt (I guess they write about what they know):

What Red Was by Rosie Price

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - I'm not positive about the ages here but it seems like they would be in their 20s from the description

Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener (she's in her 30s now but it's about her time in Silicon Valley when she was in her 20s)

[Amanda]

Rules of Civility

[LukasmummyReads]

The Woolworths Girls Sarah turns 21 on her wedding day, so it's mentioned specifically, but the other girls are similar ages except Freda who is younger.

[✨Rita]

The female lead in One Day in December is in her 20's.

[Aimee]

I read If We Were Villains at the end of 2019 and it was fantastic, and all the main characters are in their 20s (at college) when the events happen - although the MC is telling the story to someone else at a later date, but I think it still counts.

[Evil Secret]

Fire Falling by Elise Kova The prince is in his 20's he is one of the main characters

[Tanu]

Can anyone confirm Millie's age in Borderline?

[Chialin]

Miss Chopsticks by Xinran. The main character starts the book with 19 but the jump is 2 years after that... So I consider that the 20’s. 😊

[Rosanna]

Tanvi wrote: "Can anyone confirm Millie's age in Borderline?"

I did some googling, and it says this in the book:

I paused to sweep a hand pointedly around the room. Is there something that makes you think I can function?

"The twenty-five years of your life that elapsed before you did something colossally stupid."

So I guess that would make her 26 or something?

[✨Rita]

The Good Luck Charm and Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating also have characters in their 20’s 🙂

[Shannon]

In Times Like These.... all characters in their 20s. Nice easy read.

[Tracy]

I just ripped through Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo ( and Thank you, thank you, thank you to whoever mentioned it in this thread because I didn't even know about it). 5 Stars!! I absolutely loved it.

[Randee]

Such a Fun Age

[El]

I read Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell for this prompt and The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware for the book with a bird on the cover prompt. The latter also fits this prompt as the protagonist is 21.

[Sarah]

A Gentleman in Moscow was AMAZING!! First book I read for 2020 and it was so worth it. Fun to realize it was set 100 years ago :)

[Brandon]

Sarah wrote: "A Gentleman in Moscow was AMAZING!! First book I read for 2020 and it was so worth it. Fun to realize it was set 100 years ago :)"

I agree that it is an amazing book. I'm not sure how it fits in this topic, though. Wasn't Rostov in his 30's or more for most of the book? I don't remember anymore his age at the start.

[Sarah]

Brandon wrote: "Sarah wrote: "A Gentleman in Moscow was AMAZING!! First book I read for 2020 and it was so worth it. Fun to realize it was set 100 years ago :)"

I agree that it is an amazing book. I'm not sure ho..."

Nope, you're right ... I'm just a moron and posted it wrong ... thought it was the "set in the 1920s" chain. Ignore me :)

[Sarah]

Not YA at all, is Paul Doiron's series about Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. The first book in the mystery series is called "The Poacher's Son". They're easy to read but have more depth than an Evanovitch or Patterson

[Angelina]

The Talented Mr. Ripley
Never Let Me Go
The Great Gatsby
The Two Faces of January

I think these must be and is great
The Kind Worth Killing

[Cindy]

I read The Kings of Clonmel (Rangers Apprentice bk 8) by John Flanagan. The series begins when the main character is a young boy and progresses through his childhood, apprenticeship, and induction into the Ranger Corp. He is now in his early 20s. For those who enjoy adventure stories this is an excellent series.

[Eira]

Does anyone know if call me by your name fits this topic? Or schoolgirl by Osamu Dazai?

[Diana]

The Spellman series by Lisa Lutz would fit this. Izzy Spellman, the main character, is in her late 20s for at least the first few books in the series. She's a bit like a dysfunctional Nancy Drew. The entire series was a fun read.

[Sherri]

I used The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey.

[Linda]

Sherri wrote: "I used The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey."

That works for a book set in the 1920s too!

[Leona]

The main woman character, Avalon, is 23 years old in Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor

[Brooke]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet,...
Ghost story The Sun Down Motel will be released in February and features 2 main characters, each age 20. It is told in 2 timelines, with one of the main characters in each. I'm halfway through and love it!

[Linda]

Ludivine wrote: "I have just started Daisy Jones & The Six - I think Daisy Jones is 20-something when the book takes place, in the 70s?"

If I remember right, she was in her teens when the book started. But she is in her 20s for most of the book, so I would say it works!

[Alisia]

Does anyone know if the main characters in Red, White & Royal Blue are in their late teens or early 20's?

[Cheryl A.]

I read The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm and it fit just right for this prompt!

[Teri]

In Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the main character is 29.

[Ashleigh]

I read The Returned for this prompt. There are A LOT of main characters in this, but a few are in their 20s.

[Emily]

Know My Name by Chanel Miller- 5 stars. Incredibly moving and powerful.

[Angela]

I'm going to use The Boatman's Daughter for this one. Google tells me the main character is 21.

[Kim]

Zelda, the main character in When We Were Vikings is a 21 year old woman who is on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum.

[Shelley]

I read Crazy Rich Asians on the plane to Singapore. I <3 Astrid.


Also, turns out the best way to get Singaporeans to fight really is to ask them what the best hawker center is. Oops.

[L.]

Don't You Cry - Just finished this book for this prompt.

[E]

The Luck of the Vails by E.F. Benson (mystery story from 1901, I think) begins with the main character's 21st birthday.

[Jo]

Millenium series (Stieg Larsson). Lisbeth Salander is 24 or 25 I want to say?

[Ashley Marie]

Eujean2 wrote: "Annie wrote: "Alexia is 26 in Soulless"

Oh! Do you know how old Rue is in Prudence? I have been wanting to start that series."

I believe this would work - the Gail Carriger wiki states that Prudence takes place roughly 20 years after Timeless.

[Leona]

Kim wrote: "Zelda, the main character in When We Were Vikings is a 21 year old woman who is on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum."

I have this one to read from my library which is now closed.

[Ashley Marie]

I started reading Silent in the Grave yesterday and was delighted when the MC's elder brother stated she was "not yet thirty". Using it!