Person in Progress: A Road Map to the Psychology of Your 20s

by Jemma Sbeg

A roadmap to navigating the personal and professional transitions of your twenties, with practical insights and reassurance that you’re not alone, from the host of the top podcast The Psychology of Your 20s

“Like sharing a cup of tea with a very knowledgeable ‘near peer,’ Person in Progress will help you feel better about your twenties.”—Meg Jay, PhD, author of The Defining Decade and The Twentysomething Treatment

Jemma Sbeg launched her wildly popular podcast, The Psychology of Your 20s, in the back seat of her car, driven (no pun intended) by the simple desire to understand the universal experiences of twentysomethings through psychological research. She’s done the hard work and lived through these years, and now she shares advice, personal stories, and research-based insights to help you navigate this jungle of a decade, too.

Whether you’re wrestling with a sweaty case of imposter syndrome, doing your best not to self-sabotage, attempting to settle your anxious mind, or trying to keep your head above water in the murkiness of the dating pool, Sbeg will help you deal with the most chaotic personal and professional moments of this decade by understanding the psychology behind them. For example:

• You have a multitude of choices about your career before you. Learn how to reframe the way you think about your future so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the options.
• Whether you’re feeling the stigma of being single, stuck in a probably-going-nowhere situationship, or still hurting after heartbreak, discover how to understand and articulate what you’re looking for in a relationship.
• It’s normal to make mistakes. Unpack how to get comfortable with your mistakes and let them teach you instead of ruminating on them.

To enhance your own self-growth journey, the book includes questions and self-guided moments for your own reflection in each chapter. An invaluable guidebook to your twenties that will help you make the most of this formative decade, Person in Progress reminds us that it’s okay to embrace uncertainty and transitions.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Audiobook, Personal Development, Mental Health, Education

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Romy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars

When I heard Jemma was about to publish a book, I was delighted! I have been listening to her podcast "The Psychology of Your 20s" for a while now and think she offers great insights on a variety of topics. Since she almost feels like a friend talking to me by now, I decided to listen to the audio version of this book too. And it was just that - a big hug from a supportive friend. The content was good, don't get me wrong, but if you are a fan of her podcast and have a general background in psychology the insights are not going to be very groundbreaking. In fact, I think her podcasts episodes go deeper and are therefore more helpful because they allow her to deal with topics at greater length. For those who enjoyed this, I would thus really recommend listening to the podcast too! What Jemma did offer witu this book was reassurance and comfort. She uses personal examples to illusrate how crazy the period of your 20s is. I thought it was fun that she focused on a specific period of time as it was very relatable, being 24 and all. Another 6 years of chaos to go, hey!

[Kenzie McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to the Psychology of your Twenties podcast for a year now. I learn so much and feel so validated with every episode and every chapter of this book. It’s a great tool for anyone feeling lost in their twenties (everyone).

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who just turned twenty-one, I am incredibly thankful to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read Person in Progress! I feel as though this was the perfect time to read a nonfiction guide to how to survive my twenties. Throughout reading, I really appreciated the different case studies and experiments that were mentioned. It gave a clear insight and connection to the psychological examples the author used. Additionally, the author's tone throughout the book was my favorite part of my reading experience. Whenever I opened my Kindle to read a few chapters, it felt like I was listening to an older sister or trusted friend give me valuable advice. As someone who typically reads fiction, I really enjoyed reading something different and will definitely be looking into the author's podcast!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came into my life at a time where I really needed it and for that I am forever indebted. Also shout out to Sydney for getting me hooked on the podcast that lead to this book <3

[Paige Huther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this on audio and enjoyed it but it wasn’t anything earth shattering.

[Ailsa S.]

I might come back to this, I might not. I think that right now, I don’t need any more self-help books written by people my own age

[Elizabeth Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend wrote a book. What the fuck. This was a great introductory book into wellness! I’d be pretty keen to see Jemma revisit this in her 30s and if her lens on life shifts

[Aleksander Tudorin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good read for anyone navigating their 20s. It’s structured in a way that makes complex psychological concepts really easy to understand, and the author does a solid job of breaking down common struggles with clarity and empathy. I appreciated how relatable and grounded the insights were – it felt like a genuine guide rather than something overly clinical. It didn’t quite hit a full 5 stars for me, but it’s definitely a book I’d recommend to others in this stage of life.

[Alexis Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ As someone who is in their early twenties, this was definitely a helpful and insightful read! Being a twenty year old is filled with confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety. The tips Jemma gave were realistic and could be used on a daily basis. It could be somewhat repetitive or obvious at times, but it’s nice to hear these ideas in the form of a rule book. Kind of like the do’s and don’ts as a person trying to figure their life out. I think Person In Progress can help many young people. 💛

Thank you so much Rodale for the e-arc on Netgalley!

[Brentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟🌟🌟💫

This book was good, just not really my cup of tea. Certain parts of it I enjoyed and felt as though they were applicable to my life, but other sections i found to be increasingly repetitive and they did not seem to provide practical advice. Overall, I can see the appeal of this book for people who are interested in psychology specifically, but it may not be for everyone in their 20s.


Thank you Net Galley, Penguin Random House, and Rodale Books for the advanced copy!

[Sidia Mustapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Jemma announced that she was writing a book, I’d been counting down the days until it was released. It was worth the wait because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I’m a bit biased as I enjoy Jemma Sbeg’s podcast, The Psychology of Your 20s and also have a degree in Psychology and an obsession with neuroscience. With that being said, this book is not an and all be all and it doesn’t hold all of the answers to the confusion we experience in this decade. I think that’s what I enjoy about the book the most, the author doesn’t pretend to know it all or give an easy fix because the themes we encounter as 20 something’s aren’t black and white, they’re complex. Jemma does a wonderful job explaining that our woes can be explained by science and by understanding that, we’re able to think about them differently and learn how to navigate them more efficiently. If you’re looking for a book to give you all the answers to fixing your life right at this moment, this is not the book for you. It leans towards learning why we think, feel and act the way we do in our 20s and tools to manage and work through this decade and the ones to follow, and honestly isn’t that what psychology is all about?

[Hope Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 27 year old college student reading this books was something I didn’t know I needed in my life. It was very eye opening that I’m not the only person in the world who is going through an identity crisis or even having thoughts that I’m not mean to be a teacher.
However, reading Person In Process I felt better about myself and my feeling, this also made me want to go back to therapy.
5/5 stars!

[Ayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a mesh between Dolly Alderton, my psychology readings from university & a conversation with a friend. Most sections weren’t mind blowing in terms of the revelations or advice they provided, but were nonetheless welcomed reminders that we are not alone & are all just a person in progress.

[jess f &#x1f331; · Rating 4 out of 5]

all hail jemma sbeg 💞💞💞

[Bianca Busch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very encouraging and reassuring book. One star off because I knew a lot of what she wrote about already, from life or I had heard it in her podcast (Psychology of your 20s - check it out :))

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to get the physical book because DAMN does she have poignant advice. 💕 her

[Abby Foust · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t relate to ~everything~ in the book, but she articulated a lot of the 20yo experience. And I’m convinced no one lives a unique life...in fact I think she read my journal to write this book. (I don't have a journal.)

[Charissa Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a book I’ll keep coming back to as I round out the rest of my 20s, also it’s given me a new podcast to dive into while I figure out what’s next for me in this 30-flirty-thriving era in the next couple of years.

Thank you Rodale for the eARC in exchange for an honest review :)

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think because I listen to her podcast this book didn’t have that much new/groundbreaking stuff in it for me. In saying that I think I would like to have it as a physical book at home cause I think it could be good to read certain parts when going thru different life events.
I think it also would be good to read if u haven’t listened to psychology of your twenties or have only listened to one or two eps and you like her vibe.

[Emily Frymark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that gave action items that were realistic to apply

[dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

very much what i needed to hear at this point in my life

[Amy Carswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

All hail Jemma Sbeg ✨ I didn’t get much new from this that I hadn’t heard on her podcast but still really enjoyed it!

[Anett Jamecna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love The Psychology of Your 20s podcast, so naturally, I had to pre-order this book! It didn't disappoint. It's super easy to read, yet beautifully written!!

I'd highly recommend it to anyone in their 20s, but also to those in their teens, 30s, or 40s—honestly, anyone really—as so many of the themes are relevant at any age. Things like experiencing imposter syndrome, connecting with your inner child, feeling lonely, and learning to be your authentic self are universal.

Although I'm a regular listener of the podcast and was already familiar with some of the concepts around navigating our 20s and the psychology behind it, the book still felt like a comforting reminder. It helped calm and ground me as I navigate my 20s—feeling uncertain, feeling lost, feeling like there's too much going on yet nothing at all. Trusting my timeline. Trusting the process. And embracing it all.

I also loved the mantras at the end of each chapter, and I’ll definitely be using some of them as journaling prompts. Thank you Jemma!!

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like The Psychology of Your 20s podcast, you’ll like this book. To be honest, most of it was essentially excerpts from the podcast, making it pretty repetitive for someone that’s listened to her for a long time.
My biggest issue with the book, though, is that she wrote it from the perspective of someone that’s experienced this decade, rather than someone who’s in the middle of it. She uses anecdotes from her early twenties without acknowledging that she hasn’t experienced her late twenties yet. I think this book is well written and overall a solid read for people in their late teens/early twenties, but it lacks hindsight and would’ve been better if she had wrote it at 30 or 35 instead of 26.

[Hana Butkevicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was alright, but it's not for everyone, and I'll explain why I think so.

I like how the book addresses many common concerns and thoughts shared by individuals in their twenties (I'm in my mid twenties myself), and it's nice to know other people feel lost just like I do at times. The book is certainly aimed at people it the age group of twenty-somethings and is relatable in many aspects. A lot of individuals in their twenties are seeking jobs, starting or graduating college, moving around, failing and succeeding in many aspects, and just learning to 'adult'. This book is almost like a conversation with a motivational friend, someone who is going through this phase with you, and trying to remind you that it's important not to give up if your dreams come crashing down, and that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. This is the time for you to fail, fail, and fail before finally finding success and personal fulfillment.

There are some qualms I have with the reading however. Such as some assumptions the author makes about the readers, the lack of examples from very many sources but the author's experience, and some topics that weren't covered. For one, only a single group of twenty year olds is heavily focused on. Specifically those people who are actively attending college/graduated, career seeking, and unmarried or single. Very few, if any of the chapters, cover the topic of twenty-somethings with children or families. Being 26 and with a family of my own, I confess I found the book was personally less relatable at times, as if I didn't fit into what a twenty-something should look like. I also found myself disagreeing with several opinions the author shared, which I think would've been more approachable if in their stead some sound science or examples through statistics and research had been shared. After all, although this is the psychology of the 20's, every twenty-something is going to be somewhat different.

I understand though, that this was the author's first book, and I can see they pooled a lot of effort and research into this work. For the demographic I feel this is pitched towards, I think it could be helpful and insightful, but it would certainly benefit from more real world examples from various sources, and studies on every type of twenty-something demographic. I imagine as the author grows and develops, her future publications will be ones to look forward to.

I recieved early access to this reading through NetGalley.com. I was not compensated for my review and these thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Anisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

This book captures the chaos and tenderness of our twenties in a way that feels deeply familiar. It explores so many of the harsh realities and confusing emotions that define this decade, from loneliness to fear to relationships to identity and the quiet work of becoming ourselves. I loved the small exercises scattered throughout; I actually paused to do them, and they genuinely shifted something in me.

For the first 70%, this felt like a solid 4 to 4.5 star read. It is inclusive, expressive, and often insightful, although there were moments of contradiction. The author describes our twenties as if they follow a specific, age-based map, and then later insists that there is no timeline and everyone moves at their own pace. Once I learned she is in her mid-twenties herself, it made me wish she had framed those timelines as societal expectations rather than universal experiences. She is married too, which really highlighted the contrast for me. I could not imagine being married for a long time, and even though she and I are less than a year apart in age, we are in such completely different phases of life. The same goes for my friends. Some are married, some are unemployed, some are travelling, some are living at home. Those inconsistencies made certain parts of the book feel less grounded.

The final 30% is where my rating dipped. The focus shifts heavily toward mental health and inner-child healing, but the examples and assumptions felt narrow and tied to a very specific kind of upbringing and cultural background. It suddenly felt like the book was speaking only to readers whose experiences mirrored her own, and that shift broke the sense of inclusivity that defined the earlier chapters. Because the first part of the book was broad, open, and relatable to many different kinds of twenty-something lives, this sharp turn made the last section feel disconnected and less universal than it aimed to be.

I also found myself thinking that it could be genuinely interesting to see her revisit these themes at the end of her twenties, writing with a bit more distance and hindsight. Looking back on an entire decade of growth might give her a wider lens and a stronger foundation for the kind of guidance she is trying to offer here.

Overall, this book is thoughtful and sincere, but its uneven structure and narrowing perspective kept it from fully landing. Still, there is enough honesty and heart here to make it worth the read.

[Katie Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @prhaudio for the ALC #PRHAudioPartner

Release date: April 29, 2025

Jemma Sbeg, creator of The Psychology of Your 20s podcast, offers research-backed advice, personal stories, and reflection prompts to help you navigate the chaos of your twenties. From overcoming imposter syndrome to reframing career choices and healing from heartbreak, this relatable, empowering guide helps you embrace mistakes, growth, and the unknown.

I'm actually not familiar with her podcast (though I'm curious to check it out now), but I wanted to see what new advice was out there for navigating this special decade. I'm 29, so I didn’t really go into this looking for advice for myself; I went into it hoping to glean greater insight and guidance for the young adults I pastor. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of research presented. This isn’t Jemma’s personal dissertation or anything—she’s simply sharing others’ research she’s found useful and explaining it all through the lens of her personal stories. That being said, there’s limited scope because her experience is that of a single, college-educated, career focused twenty-something without kids.

I think I would have learned and appreciated this the most if it was my first year post-college. That’s primarily who I’d say it’s designed for and who will benefit from it. And maybe that’s my problem—I went in assuming this “wasn’t for me,” so I missed out on some parts I still could have learned from. A great reminder for us to always enter a book open to learning, even if we’re not the primary audience. I know I could have learned more personally. Though I don't agree with some of the conclusions she reaches (particularly her opinions on what teens should be free to experience), the research throughout is well worth the read.

I breezed through the audio—partly because it’s evident she’s a gifted podcaster, and partly because of her fun Australian accent (gotta love a girl who pronounces z(ed) correctly 😉). Definitely recommend this format!

Perfect for you if you like:
Learning from mistakes instead of fearing them
Personal stories blended with psychology

Similar to:
The Hard Twenty-Somethings by O. Brent Dongell (my professor and friend)
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay (I have not read)
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

⚠️explicit language (infrequent)

[Denise J. &#x1f98b; · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts off well, with straightforward and common-sense advice. It serves as a gentle reminder about personal growth and progress. The beautiful message in the first part is that when you're feeling lost, you should embrace risk and become the "main character" of your own mid-life or quarter-life crisis. This section focuses on self-development during times of uncertainty.

In the second section, which discusses relationships, I was struck by the content before even finishing the first chapter. The realistic advice resonated deeply with me. The key message was simple yet powerful: in any relationship—whether platonic or romantic—both parties must invest equal energy!

The third section focuses on building self-esteem and preventing self-sabotage. This uplifting chapter helps readers recognize their worth. I learned that it's important to stop questioning your abilities and other positive qualities about yourself. The book provides step-by-step guidance for self-improvement. When it comes to setting boundaries as part of personal growth, implementation can be challenging. Sometimes practical realities—like needing to pay bills—force us to compromise. The effectiveness of boundary-setting varies by situation, but the book's advice offers valuable strategies you can apply when circumstances allow.

Lastly, the fourth section's first three chapters feel redundant and overly long. This section attempts to cover developmental stages from early childhood through adulthood, but presents too much information in a less straightforward way than previous sections. Based on experiences during different developmental stages, the content is informative but not as focused as earlier parts of the book. As noted, this final section dragged on.

Overall, this was such a great book. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. It’s so hard to find a good self-help books and so far Atomic Habits and this book hit me so hard. I think this one resonates with me most as I am ending my 20s soon and the my mindset was mostly in this book. Honestly, if you feel lost at the moment with your life or need a new perspective this is a perfect book to read.

[Sav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read this in my earlier 20s! It feels like the familiar existential debriefs you have in college with a friend over chips and salsa at a restaurant: what the hell are we doing with our lives?

There is a suffocating amount of pressure you experience in your early 20s, where you feel utterly lost and like everyone has it figured out except you, yet everyone is telling you that you're supposed to be having the best years of your life. Sbeg reassures you that's not the case. Everyone feels exactly as you do; nobody has it figured out. More conversational and geared towards the current online generation than Meg Jay's "The Defining Decade," but very similar in messaging and equally as helpful with the self-guided prompts. I do think it focuses on Sbeg's audience of a specific type of 20-something (starting college, being in college, or just graduated and are job-hunting, or those in the shackles of situationships, unsatisfied relationships, or single) and won't be applicable to everyone in their 20s.

It would make a great gift for someone who has recently gone off to college or is graduating from college. It didn't feel as relatable to me now, but it's the kind of book I would've read when I was 20 or 21!

Thank you Penguin Random House, Rodale Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[serysbookspace · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Thank you so much to Rodale books for the gifted eARC of this title! 🫶🏻

✨ @wellenough #partner

🤍Person In Progress: A Roadmap to the Psychology of Your 20s
✨by Jemma Sbeg
🤍Available April 29th!

This book was my first non-fiction read of the year and it did not disappoint! Being an adult in your 20s can sometimes be a tough thing to navigate. You’re no longer that same teenager that you once were with all of. your goals planned out as a certain “roadmap” of life.

🤍As a woman in my 20s, I absolutely loved how this book touched on those topics while also covering important insights into our lives and the way that our brain works.

✨Jemma has such a special gift of being able to describe what it’s like being a new adult onto the page and really allows us a whole new perspective of figuring out different ways to navigate this new chapter.

🤍This book covers so many different topics, emotions, and stages of our lives as well as has a wonderful collection of quotes that had me annotating on my kindle!

✨Thank you @jemmasbeg for writing this story and for hosting your Podcast! You definitely have a new reader AND listener in me. 🫶🏻🤍

*I received a gifted copy of this title and am leaving this review voluntarily. Opinions are my own.*