Does Anyone Else Feel This Way? Essays on Conquering the Quarter-Life Crisis

TikTokker Rallo (I Didn’t Know I Needed This) reflects on navigating the turbulence of one’s 20s in these candid, confessional essays. Many of the entries zero in on the perils of comparison; “Does Anyone Else Know WTF to Do About Imposter Syndrome?” explores the author’s struggles with feeling out of place in school and social settings, and calls for an accepting culture where young people can more openly “commiserate and explore and find ourselves together.” Elsewhere, “Does Anyone Else Feel Like They Need to Stop Scrolling?” analyzes social media’s role in facilitating both connection and alienation that stems from comparison culture. “Does Anyone Else Feel Like They’re Having a Quarter-Life Crisis?” unpacks the grief of revising “invisible timelines” for marriage, career, and stability, while also reckoning with the freedom of rewriting expectations. Rallo’s voice is conversational and refreshingly funny, particularly when she’s skewering the contradictions of “adulting,” though the essays tend to circle the same themes—imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the search for purpose—without offering much in the way of fresh insight. Still, Rallo’s candid approach will go a long way toward reassuring young adults that they’re not alone. (Oct.)