Does anyone have any book recs where the MC is dealing with mental health struggles/ struggling in general as a result of financial stress, and money is a constant problem? Preferably early 20s or college age. From a low-income or lower-middle class and not someone whose parents have money but the MC is broke. I really enjoy literary + psychological fiction with mental health themes but it's exhausting when the MC is out of touch with reality or rich.
Want something with:
- that feeling of everyone around you having it together while you're falling apart
- the loneliness that comes with being in a different financial situation than your peers or just the loneliness of dealing with financial issues
- feeling helpless and afraid for the future
- not having the "full college/youth experience" because you're just trying to survive
- first gen college student struggles
- character-driven
Preferably literary/contemporary fiction, I'm open to other genres too. I haven't really read any books like this but I would like something in the style of Sally Rooney, Mieko Kawakami, Kaveh Akbar or adjacent if possible. It also doesn't have to be hopeful or have a happy ending, I'm just looking for any book that covers these topics.
by Confident_Coast_1712
2 Comments
If you want the crime fiction/suspense genre with some wit and humor, maybe the **Stephanie Plum** series by **Janet Evanovich**.
MC has lost her job, had her car repossessed, and has pawned every piece of furniture and appliance in her apartment and is about to get evicted. Then her mother talks her into going to work for her (somewhat slimy) cousin’s bails bond company as an office clerk. Stephanie gets the idea that she can make quick money and all her problems will be solved if she steps up and becomes a bounty hunter instead of a paper pusher.
Her first “case” is a cop gone bad, a disgraced former vice cop accused of murder who has jumped his bail. Unfortunately for Stephanie she knows the guy…way too well, since he took her virginity back in High School. its a very fun read with a great female MC you really want to root for, just enough feel good/romance to go with a very well thought-out plot and characters. It hooks ya quick (or at least it did for me)
“I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue might fit the bull. I haven’t read it but “Margot’s Got Money Troubles” might be interesting, too.