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I Graduated: Now What?: An Essential Guide to Adulting and Life Skills
Learn essential life skills, set goals, and ace adulting after graduation
Becoming a grown-up is no easy feat. Many new grads find themselves How do I find a place to live? How do I land a job interview? How do credit cards work? Whether this is you, or you know someone at this exciting but challenging stage of their life, worry help is on the way! This book gives you the basics to face the “real world” head-on.
But adulting isn’t just about DIY repairs and budgeting like a pro (though you’ll find that in here too!). It’s about figuring out what success looks like to you. Setting goals and sticking to them. Finding joy and purpose in independence.
Filled with fun prompts, exercises, and checklists, I Now What? goes beyond other “life skills” books to provide the tools young people need not just to survive, but to thrive at adulting. Easy-to-read and organized by topics like Home How-Tos, Money, Work & Career, Relationships, Set Goals, and Structure Your TimePacked with useful tips and bite-sized hacks at the end of every sectionThe ideal graduation The guide you wish you had when you entered the real world—perfect for any student about to graduate, just graduated, or even a few years out of high school or college. Practical meets inspirational in this essential guide to building your best life in adulthood.
Becoming a grown-up is no easy feat. Many new grads find themselves How do I find a place to live? How do I land a job interview? How do credit cards work? Whether this is you, or you know someone at this exciting but challenging stage of their life, worry help is on the way! This book gives you the basics to face the “real world” head-on.
But adulting isn’t just about DIY repairs and budgeting like a pro (though you’ll find that in here too!). It’s about figuring out what success looks like to you. Setting goals and sticking to them. Finding joy and purpose in independence.
Filled with fun prompts, exercises, and checklists, I Now What? goes beyond other “life skills” books to provide the tools young people need not just to survive, but to thrive at adulting. Easy-to-read and organized by topics like Home How-Tos, Money, Work & Career, Relationships, Set Goals, and Structure Your TimePacked with useful tips and bite-sized hacks at the end of every sectionThe ideal graduation The guide you wish you had when you entered the real world—perfect for any student about to graduate, just graduated, or even a few years out of high school or college. Practical meets inspirational in this essential guide to building your best life in adulthood.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 13, 2025
This is hands down the best, most comprehensive guide to adulting after high school that I have ever read. It’s phenomenal. Everything you can think of is covered in here, from finance to relationships, from cleaning to navigating the workforce. It even has links to helpful checklists (and you can download the pdf versions to print).
This would be especially helpful if you’ve had to go no contact with parents, or if you in general don’t have a trusted adult to ask about these things. The book will provide you with all or at least most of the answers you need as you’re starting your adult life.
I wholeheartedly recommend reading this if you’re a parent, teen, or young adult. I got a lot out of it, and I’m closer to fifty with each passing day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
This would be especially helpful if you’ve had to go no contact with parents, or if you in general don’t have a trusted adult to ask about these things. The book will provide you with all or at least most of the answers you need as you’re starting your adult life.
I wholeheartedly recommend reading this if you’re a parent, teen, or young adult. I got a lot out of it, and I’m closer to fifty with each passing day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
September 8, 2024
THE MOST PRACTICAL SELF HELP BOOK EVER! It includes the best of what’s needed to make it in the world of adults being adults and what we need to do!
No school or college or workplace or anyone will tell you all these. It includes all the basic realistic requirements on being independent, finding jobs and income sources, how we can work well with others, realistic relationships, budgeting, taxes and what NOT!
The author wastes no time, doesn’t waste words and yes, I am older and wiser but it took me years to learn all these making mistakes. You don’t need to repeat the same. Just pick up this book!
Sorry to say this book WILL HELP the confused adults more who are already working. So yes, let’s think how much this book will help when you pick it up when you are graduating!
Thank you, Zeitgeist, for the ARC.
No school or college or workplace or anyone will tell you all these. It includes all the basic realistic requirements on being independent, finding jobs and income sources, how we can work well with others, realistic relationships, budgeting, taxes and what NOT!
The author wastes no time, doesn’t waste words and yes, I am older and wiser but it took me years to learn all these making mistakes. You don’t need to repeat the same. Just pick up this book!
Sorry to say this book WILL HELP the confused adults more who are already working. So yes, let’s think how much this book will help when you pick it up when you are graduating!
Thank you, Zeitgeist, for the ARC.
September 8, 2024
As someone that literally just graduated university, is still in my early twenties trying to navigate being a young adult, and is admittedly terrified of adulting, this self help book is a genuine LIFELINE. So, so practical, realistic and relevant – it almost felt like fate that this book was available to read on NetGalley and I am so grateful for it. Amanda McLaughlin the lifesaver you are.
One thing I loved first and foremost is that it is very easy to read, fast-paced and wastes no time in getting straight to the point. I love how the author does not sugar coat anything, is self aware of our needs as young adults, relatable, and does a great job addressing the reader personally to make you feel reassured, validating your emotions and normalizing that it is okay to be scared for the future and to be clueless about certain things, even explaining what a credit card is. Yes, that is how realistic this self-help book is.
The author’s self-help book covers all the essential life topics: home, money, work and career, relationships, setting goals, time management, and breaks them down with realistic advice, strategies and methods which personally work for the author. It is also very up-to-date and current, listing websites and apps currently relevant to the 21st century, showing that the author has clearly done her research in such matters. Not only that, the author takes this a step further, adding additional links, reflective questions and resources to aid in the reader’s journey. You feel the author’s care for readers in this book and I found that it genuinely answered a lot of the questions I had as somebody that just graduated.
While the book talks about what to do after graduation, I found that it was also relevant to my past and is suitable for readers who are still in university or about to go off to one. It highlights things I wish I had done differently when I was still in university, e.g. setting better boundaries with roommates or living healthier. It was a good reflection looking back at my uni days and made me wish I had this self help book back then. I was able to reflect on what I did right, what I wish I had done, and what I can still do to change things in the future.
An important thing to note, some of the advice can be more on the general side and may come off as common knowledge, but often the simplest advice can be the most effective. I loved the parts where the author talks about her personal experience and I may be nitpicking here, but I would have loved it if she expanded more on her own experiences and which methods worked for her in greater detail. It would have made the book feel more personalized and stand out more than what can be found through a quick Google search, but overall it is a very helpful, insightful read. Some sections may not be as applicable to me now, but I can see it becoming more relevant the more I grow older and navigate my twenties. It is definitely a timeless self-help book. You’ll want to come back to it when some of the topics become more relevant.
All in all, it is a great, realistic self-help book that allows the readers to reflect on the past, present and future. I am so grateful for this book and it made me feel less scared of being an adult.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
One thing I loved first and foremost is that it is very easy to read, fast-paced and wastes no time in getting straight to the point. I love how the author does not sugar coat anything, is self aware of our needs as young adults, relatable, and does a great job addressing the reader personally to make you feel reassured, validating your emotions and normalizing that it is okay to be scared for the future and to be clueless about certain things, even explaining what a credit card is. Yes, that is how realistic this self-help book is.
The author’s self-help book covers all the essential life topics: home, money, work and career, relationships, setting goals, time management, and breaks them down with realistic advice, strategies and methods which personally work for the author. It is also very up-to-date and current, listing websites and apps currently relevant to the 21st century, showing that the author has clearly done her research in such matters. Not only that, the author takes this a step further, adding additional links, reflective questions and resources to aid in the reader’s journey. You feel the author’s care for readers in this book and I found that it genuinely answered a lot of the questions I had as somebody that just graduated.
While the book talks about what to do after graduation, I found that it was also relevant to my past and is suitable for readers who are still in university or about to go off to one. It highlights things I wish I had done differently when I was still in university, e.g. setting better boundaries with roommates or living healthier. It was a good reflection looking back at my uni days and made me wish I had this self help book back then. I was able to reflect on what I did right, what I wish I had done, and what I can still do to change things in the future.
An important thing to note, some of the advice can be more on the general side and may come off as common knowledge, but often the simplest advice can be the most effective. I loved the parts where the author talks about her personal experience and I may be nitpicking here, but I would have loved it if she expanded more on her own experiences and which methods worked for her in greater detail. It would have made the book feel more personalized and stand out more than what can be found through a quick Google search, but overall it is a very helpful, insightful read. Some sections may not be as applicable to me now, but I can see it becoming more relevant the more I grow older and navigate my twenties. It is definitely a timeless self-help book. You’ll want to come back to it when some of the topics become more relevant.
All in all, it is a great, realistic self-help book that allows the readers to reflect on the past, present and future. I am so grateful for this book and it made me feel less scared of being an adult.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
June 27, 2025
It took me so long to find this book on here but I did yay! I read it this last month and it was SO good! It’s full of life skills you’ll want after college or just in your 20’s to be honest. I recommend for any young adult. Seriously! I will reread this over and over.
December 15, 2024
I received a free copy of the book with no obligation in hope for an honest review.
Amanda McLaughlin provides a fun and user-friendly guide to getting started in life after graduation - after high school, trade school, or college. Her tone celebrates the reader’s recent accomplishment while providing a comprehensive guide to setting things up and getting started in adulthood, from setting up a bank account, to getting a job, and money management.
I really liked the layout of the book and how it included checklists and pages graphic as well as text formats, making it very readable and inviting to page through to find a section one might want to read now or at a later date when it’s most relevant.
The book is broken up into two parts.
Part One: Learn the Basics
Covers getting set up in your first home, including some easy recipes and DIY repairs in case you haven’t had to do any of those since sometime early in high school.
Chapter 3 addresses Money. I appreciate how she addresses both taxes and credit card management including budgeting. Managing money is so different in adulthood rather than high school. McLaughlin establishes a good foundation for young adults to be better established financially a few years ahead.
Part Two: Build Your Best Life
McLaughlin introduces an important concept not many often think of until their late 20’s. In Chapter 5 she invites the reader to define success to them and identify what matters most to them. Chapter 6 the reader gets to start to identify and establish goals. Chapter 7 invites the reader to manage and structure their time to reach those goals. Many young adults would simply not even think about that unless it was suggested to them. McLaughlin makes the topic very approachable and practical to think about without making it too complicated or philosophical.
Her whole tone makes getting started in adulting very inviting and engaging.
I’m thinking it would make for a thoughtful gift for a number of different occasions to give to a young adult in your life.
I highly recommend it.
Amanda McLaughlin provides a fun and user-friendly guide to getting started in life after graduation - after high school, trade school, or college. Her tone celebrates the reader’s recent accomplishment while providing a comprehensive guide to setting things up and getting started in adulthood, from setting up a bank account, to getting a job, and money management.
I really liked the layout of the book and how it included checklists and pages graphic as well as text formats, making it very readable and inviting to page through to find a section one might want to read now or at a later date when it’s most relevant.
The book is broken up into two parts.
Part One: Learn the Basics
Covers getting set up in your first home, including some easy recipes and DIY repairs in case you haven’t had to do any of those since sometime early in high school.
Chapter 3 addresses Money. I appreciate how she addresses both taxes and credit card management including budgeting. Managing money is so different in adulthood rather than high school. McLaughlin establishes a good foundation for young adults to be better established financially a few years ahead.
Part Two: Build Your Best Life
McLaughlin introduces an important concept not many often think of until their late 20’s. In Chapter 5 she invites the reader to define success to them and identify what matters most to them. Chapter 6 the reader gets to start to identify and establish goals. Chapter 7 invites the reader to manage and structure their time to reach those goals. Many young adults would simply not even think about that unless it was suggested to them. McLaughlin makes the topic very approachable and practical to think about without making it too complicated or philosophical.
Her whole tone makes getting started in adulting very inviting and engaging.
I’m thinking it would make for a thoughtful gift for a number of different occasions to give to a young adult in your life.
I highly recommend it.
November 16, 2024
Thoughts: I wish I had had this book years ago–when I graduated, and then when my kids did. But I know for certain, this is going to go to my grandkids. I’ll probably buy multiple copies so each one has one.
The book is full of good advice and information on what to do once you’ve graduated. I loved the checklists like finding a roommate (if necessary), renting a place, buying groceries, budgeting, and more. It also helps you set long- and short-term goals. And what you need to do to reach them. There is so much information in this book that you can’t go wrong with picking up a copy of it. With this in hand, you’ll have a decent roadmap for your future.
Definitely recommended.
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Zeitgeist (Penguin Random House) with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
@zeitgeist #partner
@penguinrandomhouse #partner
#sponsored or #ad @penguinrandomhouse
Thank you for the free book! @PenguinRandomHouse
The book is full of good advice and information on what to do once you’ve graduated. I loved the checklists like finding a roommate (if necessary), renting a place, buying groceries, budgeting, and more. It also helps you set long- and short-term goals. And what you need to do to reach them. There is so much information in this book that you can’t go wrong with picking up a copy of it. With this in hand, you’ll have a decent roadmap for your future.
Definitely recommended.
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Zeitgeist (Penguin Random House) with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
@zeitgeist #partner
@penguinrandomhouse #partner
#sponsored or #ad @penguinrandomhouse
Thank you for the free book! @PenguinRandomHouse
April 18, 2025
It’s graduation season, and this book makes the perfect gift for all the high school and college graduates on your list. Whether they are off to college or starting their career, this book has all kinds of great tips for living on your own and adulting. Plus, it doesn’t get bogged down in details; it gives the basics in bulleted lists or short paragraphs to hold their attention.
The book provides readers with all the steps, from renting their first apartment to getting groceries or doing laundry for the first time. Is the graduate on the job hunt? They will find basic interview questions and ways to answer them to practice their interview skills.
In the social/emotional area, this book offers tips for building relationships, from how to find a roommate to dating and social situations in the office. Will they be working from home? There are tips for creating a home office and setting up a successful morning routine.
This essential guide packs a punch are offers tips for becoming the best adult you can be without being pushy or going over the top. It offers the basics of adult living in a handy little paperback. Don’t miss out on gifting this to all the graduates on your list. Stock up today!
The book provides readers with all the steps, from renting their first apartment to getting groceries or doing laundry for the first time. Is the graduate on the job hunt? They will find basic interview questions and ways to answer them to practice their interview skills.
In the social/emotional area, this book offers tips for building relationships, from how to find a roommate to dating and social situations in the office. Will they be working from home? There are tips for creating a home office and setting up a successful morning routine.
This essential guide packs a punch are offers tips for becoming the best adult you can be without being pushy or going over the top. It offers the basics of adult living in a handy little paperback. Don’t miss out on gifting this to all the graduates on your list. Stock up today!
January 9, 2025
I Graduated: Now What? (ARC) Review
My rating: 4⭐️
This book was a short and informative read that is better suited and tailored to American readers/graduates. The book was divided very nicely with numerous subsections relating to the different topics. The author provided many examples and templates such as ones for resumes, cover letters, budgeting, and even rental inspection checklists. Throughout the book, the author asked a lot of questions which helped reflect upon certain topics such as your values or what you define as success. All in all, it was an interesting read. Not quite what I expected, but still useful.
If you like books that contain:
👩🏻🎓 Reflection questions
📜 Checklists
🧑🎓 Resources
📜 Interesting statistics
👩🏻🎓 And more
This book is for you.
👩🏻🎓 This book has since been released 👩🏻🎓
Thank you to @netgalley for this copy!
My rating: 4⭐️
This book was a short and informative read that is better suited and tailored to American readers/graduates. The book was divided very nicely with numerous subsections relating to the different topics. The author provided many examples and templates such as ones for resumes, cover letters, budgeting, and even rental inspection checklists. Throughout the book, the author asked a lot of questions which helped reflect upon certain topics such as your values or what you define as success. All in all, it was an interesting read. Not quite what I expected, but still useful.
If you like books that contain:
👩🏻🎓 Reflection questions
📜 Checklists
🧑🎓 Resources
📜 Interesting statistics
👩🏻🎓 And more
This book is for you.
👩🏻🎓 This book has since been released 👩🏻🎓
Thank you to @netgalley for this copy!
November 22, 2024
This is a useful book for new graduates and anyone struggling to get started with ‘adulting’. The writer never condescends, instead coming from an equal and understanding viewpoint. Concepts are clearly explained in a light-hearted tone like talking with a knowledgeable friend.
Chapters cover practical topics like house maintenance, how to find a rental, and dealing with taxes. More philosophical matters are also covered, including advice on making and keeping relationships, setting goals and time management.
This book could be good for an Adult-prep class for high schoolers or a Freshmen Experience course for college-aged students. Career counselors, life coaches and academic advisors may also find the book helpful for students.
Thanks for the free book, @penguinrandomhouse
Chapters cover practical topics like house maintenance, how to find a rental, and dealing with taxes. More philosophical matters are also covered, including advice on making and keeping relationships, setting goals and time management.
This book could be good for an Adult-prep class for high schoolers or a Freshmen Experience course for college-aged students. Career counselors, life coaches and academic advisors may also find the book helpful for students.
Thanks for the free book, @penguinrandomhouse
December 18, 2024
I love this book so much and wish I could’ve had this sooner! This is a book that every teenager should have especially before their 20s. I would say teens as early as high school freshman should read this, though it can still be read in fresh 20s. It covers a lot of important topics and gives insightful advice. It even comes with easy recipes and instructions for almost everything. The author did an amazing job and is very thorough in this book. This is a book that should be included in ALL schools!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone. This is a must have resourceful tool.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone. This is a must have resourceful tool.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
September 29, 2024
I actually really loved and appreciated this book ❤️
I found this on Netgalley, and I think it's so helpful. As a fresh graduate myself, I found this to be such an easy read because it lays out everything I need to know without making all the information too overwhelming. The author includes tips and pointers encompassing career/work, relationships, money, and more that one might take into consideration after graduating.
Overall, very well-written and structured in a way that the information presented can easily be understood and absorbed.
I found this on Netgalley, and I think it's so helpful. As a fresh graduate myself, I found this to be such an easy read because it lays out everything I need to know without making all the information too overwhelming. The author includes tips and pointers encompassing career/work, relationships, money, and more that one might take into consideration after graduating.
Overall, very well-written and structured in a way that the information presented can easily be understood and absorbed.
September 27, 2025
This was a straightforward book that would be great for any young adult starting out. It covers everything from living arrangements to work to personal relationships. Some of the information may seem like common sense but it can help to have it written out. I was even able to find some new information in there I hadn’t really considered.
This would be a great gift to any new high school or college graduate or any young adult just starting their life. I will be picking up a physical copy for my children to read as well.
This would be a great gift to any new high school or college graduate or any young adult just starting their life. I will be picking up a physical copy for my children to read as well.
January 8, 2026
Cá nhân mình thấy đây là một cuốn sách bổ ích cho các bạn chuẩn bị tốt nghiệp và học tính tự lập. Tác giả ghi chú rất kĩ về từng phần nhỏ nhặt như làm sao để lên thực đơn cho một tuần, tìm nhà ở như thế nào hay cần lưu ý những gì về tài chính sau khi tốt nghiệp và kiếm việc làm. Thật ra cuốn sách này giống một “từ điển” hơn vì nếu đọc một lần cả cuốn thì sẽ có những đoạn người đọc cảm thấy hữu ích trong tương lai nhưng chưa phải là cần thiết trong thời điểm đọc.
October 25, 2024
I loved this book! It's great for other millennials who did the whole "get good grades, graduate, get multiple degrees, and you'll automatically do great", with no knowledge of healthcare, taxes, mortgage, investing, etc. Definitely buying a handful and giving out to grads.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews