Every generation shares common interests. For Millennials some topics include sustainability, iced coffee, and creating a life they enjoy as opposed to following previous generations’ social structures (think flexible work schedule and unlimited PTO to name a few).
Other than social trends, they grew up with the same stories so there are some books that will be loved by the entire generation. From series that were made popular among Millennials, to coming-of-age to books by Millennial authors, they capture the voice of a generation.
Check out these 10 cult classics for Millennials, meaning they are adored and most likely have been read once or twice by a vast majority of them. There is something for everyone, from a trip down memory lane to a Millennials’ popular book series, to books by some of today’s top Millennial writers, and maybe a few books that we all need to add to our TBR list.
Note
We wanted to discover some of the more popular cult classic books out there. In order to give it a fair ranking, we ranked these books based on the amount of GoodReads ratings they have and not on the 5-star rating itself.
10. All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks (72K ratings)
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Bell Hooks is a legend in feminist literature and theory, All About Love: New Visions should be mandatory reading for Millennials, and here’s why. She posits how love can heal all wounds, whether personal, generational, or cultural, and the experience that we gain from the trials that we endure over the course of our lives.
Hooks provides a deeply introspective look into society and offers solutions to a world that is simply lacking in companionship and connectedness. No matter the generation you’re part of, this book gives readers something to think about long after the final paragraph.
9. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (229K ratings)
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Another book that every Millennial has at least eyed in the airport bookstore since it was published in 2018 is Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton. The author reflects on the good, bad, and the ugly of her 20s, something that every Millennial is constantly dreading or reflecting on. Some of the most painful memories, cringy moments, and magical encounters happen during this time of life and Alderton captures it perfectly in her recollection.
For any Millennial who wants to feel seen, this collection of essays will make the weight of heartbreaks, adulting, and daily struggles feel shared by your cohort going through the same thing.
8. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (268K ratings)
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If Millennials haven’t read Tuck Everlasting as required reading in school, they definitely saw the 2002 movie starring Alexis Bledel. Winnie falls in love as all young people do, only to find out her lover is immortal. She must decide if she wants to live forever or let her life go on as planned. This is probably one of the first looks Millennials had at the concept of immortality, love, and what it means to live a full life.
This sweet love and coming-of-age story is definitely a cult classic favorite for the generation, even if it has been a few years since taking its place on the shelf.
7. Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner (354K ratings)
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Crying In H Mart by Japanese Breakfast’s lead singer Michelle Zauner is bound to be a Millennial classic, even though it was only written in 2021. It was critically acclaimed as one of the best books of the year, as well as one of Millennial voices best memoirs.
Zauner brings together a plethora of human emotions and dissects your own identity. She reflects on her relationship with her mother, home cooking, and their relationship to her Korean heritage. The identity search and understanding of intersecting perspectives is something that resonates strongly with Millennials and Zauner captures perfectly in this viral memoir.
6. Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld (649K ratings)
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Let’s take things back a little further than Harry Potter, to a series that Millennials who were just a little too old for the boy wizard were no doubt completely thrilled by.
The Uglies series is a young adult science fiction series about a world where when you reach a certain age you can have surgery to perfect your face and body – and it follows the story of our protagonist who chooses not to do so. See social ideals from the early 2000s reflected in this series about inner beauty and identity.
5. Normal People by Sally Rooney (1.26M ratings)
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There is no doubt that Normal people has been a social phenomenon among Millennials and Gen Z alike as the situationship trop resonates so strongly with the dating culture among 20-somethings.
Marianne and Connell have known each other their whole lives, but even in a small town in Ireland, growing up on different sides of the track can still feel like a completely different world. They cannot deny their growing attraction for each other in adolescence, but as the years pass and their situationship constantly changes, they find adulthood to be an entirely different world.
4. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1.3M ratings)
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The Outsiders is another novel that was probably required reading for most Millennials, and for good reason – it is a beautiful story of overcoming hardship, coming of age, and gaining life experience.
Ponyboy is the young narrator of the story. Growing up in a gang at 14, he finds himself in a fight with a rival gang, and his life changes forever. The story begins after the fight when Ponyboy and his friend are forced to skip town, face their demons, and start over. This emotional book also has an incredible film adaptation featuring all your favorite 80s actors like Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise.
3. Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer (6.3M ratings)
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Here is where the throwback begins – remember when it used to be cool to shop at Hot Topic and go to the midnight premiere of Twilight in 2008?
While over a decade has passed since the viral young adult dark fantasy series changed Millennials’ lives, the impact is still with them. This series may cause a cringy feeling in some older fans, but remember that this series used to make you giddy and guide you through adolescence. Say what you want, but The Twilight Saga is definitely a Millennial cult classic.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (8.3M ratings)
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Millennials are rejoicing as one of their favorite cult novel series is getting a film adaptation to reboot with the prequel to The Hunger Games having recently been released in theatres.
The Hunger Games is a dystopian young adult series set in a post-apocalyptic North America where each year a competition is held that requires a boy and girl from each district to compete in a competition to the death. A great feminine hero story featuring protagonist Katniss Everdeen who is witty, strong, and determined.
1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (9.6M ratings)
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A known rival to the Twilight Saga is The Harry Potter Series, most Millennials grew up with them over the publication of the novels as well as the 10-year film release, and it’s difficult to argue that the series continues to have an impact on each generation to this day.
You might also argue that Harry Potter was a gateway into the fantasy genre for most Millennials, making it cool to be intrigued by magic, dragons, and hero tropes. No matter what birth year of the Millennial spectrum you might be from, Harry Potter undoubtedly intersected with your own coming-of-age tale.
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
