📚 6 Classic Books for People Figuring Out Their Next Move
Old souls, big questions, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.
In this post..
✨ Big decision looming?
✨ Feeling lost (again)?
✨ Ready for a plot twist, but unsure what chapter you're in?
If you're in a season of change—new job, no job, breakup, move, identity crisis, spiritual reboot—these classic books get it. Seriously. They're not just homework from high school. They're oddly timeless little lighthouses that remind us: you’re not the first person to wonder what the heck you’re doing.
Here are six that won’t tell you what to do next, but might help you ask better questions along the way.
📖 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
When you know there’s more to life than being polite and quiet and marrying the first weird man who likes you.
Jane chooses her self-worth over security again and again. Fierce, feminist (kind of), and surprisingly modern.
📖 David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
When your past feels like a mess and your future’s still under construction.
David stumbles, learns, loves, loses—repeat. It’s long, yes, but so is life. This one’s for the slow bloomers and late bloomers and confused bloomers alike.
📖 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
When you're torn between duty and desire (or New York and home).
Jo March wants a creative life. The world wants her to settle down and behave. Sound familiar? A story about ambition, sisterhood, and finding your own version of success.
📖 The Odyssey by Homer
When you're trying to get home—to a place, a purpose, or maybe just yourself.
Odysseus takes forever to figure things out. Like, decades. Along the way: monsters, detours, regrets. But also resilience. A poetic reminder that the journey is the point.
📖 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
When you're sick of doing what’s expected and kind of want to blow it all up.
Young Stephen Dedalus tries religion, school, rebellion. Nothing fits—until he makes art out of the mess. Abstract, but weirdly accurate for anyone breaking free.
📖 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
When your values are clashing with your reality—and your zip code.
Margaret Hale moves from a pastoral town to a gritty industrial city. Cue culture shock, moral dilemmas, slow-burn romance, and one of the best character arcs in literature.
💌 Wherever you are—mid-move, mid-doubt, mid-dream—these books won’t fix everything. But they might make you feel a little more seen. And sometimes, that’s enough to get through the next page.
Unlock the Magic of Classic Literature—Without the Overwhelm!
Do you love the idea of reading classic literature but feel intimidated by dense language, historical context, or complex themes? You’re not alone! But don’t let that stop you from experiencing the richness of these timeless stories.
That’s why I created "Unlocking the Classics: A Guide to Reading (and Loving) Classic Literature." This FREE guide gives you the tools to approach classics with confidence—so you can actually enjoy them.
What’s Inside?
✔️ A beginner-friendly roadmap to tackling classics without feeling lost.
✔️ Simple explanations of key themes, literary devices, and character archetypes.
✔️ Proven strategies to engage with the text, annotate effectively, and retain more.
✔️ A handpicked book list for every reading level—whether you're easing in with shorter works or ready to dive into Russian epics.
📚 Download your free guide now and start your journey into classic literature with ease!
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting my little library of recommendations—it helps keep the pages turning!
With love from the in-between,
Karen 🌿
Literary Fancy
Love this idea! For a contemporary read, we'd add The Parisian by Isabella Hammad - it feels sweeping and grand but also deeply personal.