What Happened to Millennials: In Defense of a Generation

by Charlie Wells

From an award-winning journalist, a reflective, smart, and deeply reported look at the millennial generation, drawing on the experiences of five diverse individuals and exploring where we go from here

What happened to millennials? You’ve heard the litany of obsessed with avocado toast, addicted to the Internet, hapless job hoppers, not as cool as Gen Z, enabling a Great Resignation, too woke to function, and too wedded to unrealistic dreams to accomplish what our parents did by the time they were 40—an age many of us are within striking distance of, if not there already.

But these takes are lazy. They fail to capture the diversity of this generation, and more significantly, they fail to examine how we got here.

Consider, for Millennials grew up in boom times that went bust. Our 1990s childhoods took place during the second-longest period of economic expansion in US history, when unemployment was falling dramatically and new technologies promised a brighter, easier, more efficient future that never quite came, or at least not in the way we had planned.

Meanwhile, divisions were taking shape in our nation. CNN was born just before the oldest millennials, Fox News was born alongside the very youngest, and as we grew up, America found itself plunging back into the culture wars with newfound vitriol. How did all of these factors shape our generational identity and fate, on levels both micro and macro?

With What Happened to Millennials, award-winning journalist Charlie Wells sets the record straight. Tracking five subjects—the first DREAMer, a polyamorous tech worker, a veteran struggling with opioid addiction, a child of 9/11, and a stay-at-home dad—Wells shows how millennials arrived at this disappointing present, and where we can—and must—go from here.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Sociology, Audiobook, Journalism

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Wells is an American journalist and millenial; his 2025 book What Happened to Millenials: In Defense of a Generation, is another addition to the growing genre of American millennials (born 1981-1996 by Wells' definition) reflecting on their formative years and their current status. Wells shares details about his own childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, though much of the book is focused around interviews of five other millenials, all identified by their real names (several have some degree of prominence outside of this book):

- Olivia Vilardi-Perez, also known as 9/11 girl, a Latina woman from New Jersey whose father tragically passed away on 9/11 inside the World Trade Center
- Tereza Lee, a Brazilian-born woman of Korean ancestry who grew up undocumented in Chicago and inspired the DREAM act
- Miju Han, a mixed Korean and white woman raised in Virginia and working in Silicon Valley who identifies as bisexual and practices polyamory
- Aaron Roach, a Black man from an area of Northeast Ohio heavily impacted by opioids, who has struggled with addiction himself
- Justin Knapik, a white man who grew up in California but moved to North Carolina for economic reasons, and is currently a stay-at-home dad to two kids while his wife works outside the home

I think Wells did a nice job of selecting interesting interview subjects from a diverse array of backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses. The book is engagingly-written and provides insightful viewpoints, both from the interview subjects and the broader narrative Wells weaves in. Though many cultural touchstones are referenced that will be familiar to fellow millennials, this book doesn't lean as heavily into nostalgia as other similar books.

Still, it's hard to generalize a generation by half a dozen examples, and while our story is still being written (so without the hindsight we'll have in 30-50 years as we all become actual 'elder millennials'). I think it's definitely true that large economic events have impacted us all in ways different from our older and younger generational cohorts, though a lot of the other variability is down to our socioeconomic status growing up, our choice of education/careers, our choice of having a family or not, and luck.

It's probably obvious from this review, but I'm also of the millennial cohort, and fit the stereotypes/zeitgeist in some ways but not others:

- like many millenials, I consider 9/11 the end of my childhood (though for me, I was 14 and had just started high school a few weeks prior with a group of almost entirely new classmates separate from the K-8 set I'd know for the last 10 years, so it was more a combination of the two things)
- like many millenials, I was impacted by the Great Recession, graduating college in 2009 and joining tons biding their time in grad school
- unlike many millenials, I became a homeowner at 22, and have since owned 3 homes as the sole titleholder
- unlike many millenials, I didn't get a smartphone until I was nearly 30 (mostly for income reasons)
- unlike many millenials, I chose to not marry or have kids
- unlike many millenials, I spent decades in school/training (and didn't get a job with retirement benefits until I was in my mid-30s), so I've lived at many rungs of the tax bracket scale

Further reading: books by millenials about millenials
Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen
Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara
Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert
Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millennial Los Angeles by Kate Flannery
One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything by Colette Shade

My statistics:
Book 325 for 2025
Book 2251 cumulatively

[Rhonda Rubalcaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Millennial myself 😅 I just HAD to read this book!!!! After growing up hearing how entitled and lazy my generation is....how we ruined American industries like AppleBees and buying diamonds LOL...I mean I've heard it all. So of course when I saw this title I just had to hear about this defense for our generation.

I was surprised at how the book was structured, following 5 Millennial subjects around and discussing how growing up during this time has impacted them. (I mean I could have just read the blurb and figured this out but what can I say I jump into books because of flashy covers and eye catching titles 🫣) I had expected this book to be about grievances called out by other generations and statistics and refutes regarding those issues....the stuff you usually see in news articles but more expanded and organized. So, I was a little taken aback but I did end up really enjoying learning about the 5 people featured in this book. I liked how the author picked very different people to interview 🤔 I also found myself gasping at some of the new information that I did not know before. It makes sense that growing up during a generation doesn't necessarily mean you are an expert on that generation.

I think one of the things I ended up enjoying MOST about this book was the ending. The message of change and writing your own story. The idea that even if we are all put into a group of "Millennial" (or whatever generation you fall under) that we are all unique. That wasn't a message I was expecting from this book but I was pleasantly surprised at how it was conveyed. 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review was written voluntarily 😊

I think that if you are a Millennial and you want to learn more about events and political policies that shaped our generation then you would really enjoy this book. I think this book is written in a very informative and yet entertaining way (I know sometimes non-fiction isn't EVERYONEs cup of tea but this was very good). I would definitely recommend it to others 😊

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I have been waiting for a long time for a book like this to come out and it was so worth the wait. As a millennial myself, I finally felt seen and heard and it was very nostalgic to read about my generation, our upbringing, and how we live now. I loved that the author focused on real people and shared their lives and stories which made it even more relatable. For some reason, this book makes me feel less alone at a time when other generations just don’t understand us.

[Francisco Peralta-Cerda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I find a book that I can’t put down, this is one of those times. I appreciate that the prose reads like a friend telling me a story rather than a lengthy report filled with statistics.

[Kati Stupka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I LOVED this book. I have never connected and felt so seen with a book. It really gave a good explanation of the “arc” while walking through multiple timelines of multiple people who we all had so much in common with. I also loved the connections made from the beginning of the book with many other parts of other timelines told.

Using Britney’s timeline starting from new years of 2000 was an excellent setup. It all meshed together beautifully with the conclusion.

I felt very connected to rhe stories in this book, and it kind of made me feel less guilty about myself, not owing a house in my 30’s.

If i could give this book more than 5 stars I would!

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up. It was so nostalgic it hurt, bringing me back to those times—9/11, the war on terrorism, the 2008 recession, opioid addiction, society changing due to tech advancements, massive protests, Me Too, Black Lives Matter, COVID, and two Trump presidencies—all happening while trying to figure out how to be a successfully functioning adult.

I loved how it weaved what was happening in the world and how it impacted the lives of the 5 people interviewed for this book.

I listened to this one, but I think it would have been better to read it because at times it was hard to keep up with the transitions. I would have benefited from seeing how sections were spaced.

Maybe it is so millennial of me to love a book about millennials, but I appreciate the explanation of what happened to us and how it shaped us. It makes me feel more connected to others in my generation.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happened to Millennials was such a great read. It really puts into words why our generation feels the way it does, without making us sound dramatic or lazy like so many people do. The stories and research gave me a deeper understanding of how many of the events from our formative years have impacted our perceptions and behaviors, while also being engaging and entertaining. I would highly recommend the book!

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was certainly written by a Millennial.

[Paola Fajardo Makarchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

- A non-fiction detailing what happened and didn’t happen to millennials written by a millennial within the context of US history. Highlights key historical events that happened in the generation from the early 2000s to the present, including 9/11, the 2008 recession, the Obama presidency, Trump 1.0 - 2.0, COVID-19, technological developments, etc.
- While it’s a non-fiction, I appreciate how historical facts and data are blended with real-life storytelling of a group of millennials who were going through personal milestones against the backdrop of rapid, political, economic, technological, and societal changes. It made the book more engaging, relatable, and palatable, not just a bunch of data being fed to readers.
- We don’t know that history is being made as we are preoccupied with living in the present. So despite growing up in the Philippines, I enjoyed looking back at the events in my childhood and early adulthood that shaped our society, and continue to do so. In a way, I feel blessed living in a sort of bubble during specific major events and not directly suffering from the aftermath.
- I’ve not had a desire to read non-fiction recently, so I’m glad that the book felt fast-paced and readable the same way I feel about some fiction books.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

This book should really be called “What Didn’t Happen to Millennials” because millennials have gone through a lot of stuff. I mean, we all have, but I think this generation is particularly prone to historical/critical events. They were old enough to remember and be directly impacted by the 9/12 terrorist attack. They faced the opioid epidemic. They encountered the 2008 housing crisis and its effect on jobs. They also had the COVID-19 pandemic. A drastic switch of political leaders. The rise of gender identity and sexuality. The wave of immigrants and the opposition to that specific group of people. It’s really interesting to see how much has happened in the last 25 years and how that has made millennials this interesting generation of people.

The only issue I had with this book was formatting. There are 4 chapters/sections. So it feels like a super long ramble with no sense of structure. You switch between people’s narratives then it goes to facts then back to another person’s narrative.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the millennials is one that's unique and worthy of thorough exploration. They're the biggest generation that's ever existed, they grew up alongside the emergence of the internet we know today, pop culture has transformed rapidly around them, and not only did they witness the transformative effects of 9/11, they collectively had their bright and prosperous future unexpectedly pulled from underneath them just as they began entering the job market, by the negligence of the generations that came before them. It's a fascinating, frustrating tale that I unfortunately lived through myself, and I was hoping that Wells could commit this complicated experience into a well constructed analysis that explores the economic and cultural conditions which resulted in an entire generation being shortchanged and betrayed.

Sadly, the author doesn't deliver. Instead of exploring the big picture, he instead chooses to relay the story of a handful of millennials (specifically Americans), and how going from one crisis to another affected their lives. A subject such as this isn't done justice when viewed under a microscope - it requires us to step back and take inventory of all the conditions that resulted in disappointment on such a grand scale, and why the generations that preceded millennials were more than happy to mortgage the comfort and safety of the generation they brought into this world, to satisfy their own desires for seemingly endless wealth - only then to chastise millennials when they complain that all they were left with was crumbs.

Wells shares some interesting anecdotes with the reader, and these are stories that most of us can identify with - but not only are they are told through the narrow lens of American life in the 21st century (full disclosure, I'm not American), the fact that they are anecdotal to begin with is the issue. I understand that this format provides a level of intimacy with an experience many people simply write-off, but it remains a missed opportunity to paint a far more important picture that an entire generation could relate to.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book because it was reviewed in The New York Times, and that prompted me to pick it up. Going in, I assumed it would be more of a straightforward explanatory book, something along the lines of bridging the gap between generations, with millennials being interpreted for an older audience, particularly Boomers. But it turned out to be something quite different, and in a good way. Instead of functioning as a kind of sociological guide, it read more like narrative nonfiction, with the broader story of a generation being illuminated through the personal accounts of five individuals’ lives. That framing gave it a richness I wasn’t expecting. It was also very readable: fast-paced enough to get through quickly without feeling light or superficial. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Happened to Millennials by Charlie Wells is validation that we're pretty great--if flawed and mentally unwell--despite what Boomers say.

So what happened? It's not really a secret but I was nonetheless fascinated and horrified to be diving back into the world when my generation came of age. It was 9/11 and the housing crisis. It was the first Black president. It was technology becoming more relevant in everyday life. It was our parents giving us participation trophies...while also complaining about them?? We're in debt from student loans and don't have money to buy a house. We are having children later, or fewer children, or no children at all.

I enjoyed the structure of following five different people and their unique, yet universal, experiences.

I hope we joke about avocado toast forever.

Thanks to the publisher and NG!

[Collin Stiglbauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Press for the ARC!

A defense and explanation of Millennials, and why we are the way we are, by a Millennial. An enjoyable, fast paced tour through several presidencies and five decades, covering cultural phenomena, economic forces, political upheavals, military and terrorist actions, and social and technological shifts, all through the touchpoint view of five diverse millennials across the country.

Though the book careened from topic to topic, often without a clear structure, the millennials the author chose to follow remained interesting to learn about, easy to relate to, and the book was very accessible. A great depiction of how diverse both the generation, and the problems facing the generation, are.

[Claire Ballentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so impressed with what Charlie Wells has done with this book -- he captures the unique issues facing this generation with such insight and precision. I loved how he structured the narrative around key individuals and brought their stories us so vividly. He writes in an incredibly engaging way that kept me fully invested in the story from beginning to end. So many members of the millennial generation will feel seen and heard by this book.

I also learned so much from his reporting on outcomes for the millennial generation, and how the common perceptions of this generation being lazy are inaccurate. I hope to read more from him in the future!

[Risa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc! 🫶🏼

This was one of those books that’s going to stick with me for a long time. As a 92 baby, it feels like the world was SO slow… until it wasn’t. I tell my husband all the time about how we were the generation where things just started going and it accelerated at a pace we could never have accounted for—and this book validated that feeling for me.

I thought this book was going to be a lot more “I’m going to tell you what’s wrong with all of us” but I was wrong in the best ways. Sometimes the best books are ones that remind you that you aren’t alone. And this does exactly that.

[Suzanne Woolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly readable book told through the experiences of five very different millennials. The stories are an engaging and fresh (and sometimes heartbreaking, with the Sept. 11 one) way to tell a story about this generation without it feeling dry or too academic. I whizzed through the book and loved the ending.

[Amanda Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What I found from all this is that to make it through the strangeness of these times, the best way is to stop believing the story other people think they know about you—and to start living the one that only you know”

I really enjoyed this book- and felt that summarized it. If you are a millennial- I highly recommend. It was a good reminder of all the outside factors that shaped our lives.

[Susan Scribner · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing new in Charlie Wells' cri de coeur about his fellow millennials, but it's a helpful reminder of the unique factors that made their generation's navigation between expectations and realities especially precarious. The five individuals he focuses on are varied and interesting, but I didn't feel a strong sense of connection to any of them. My millennial children might disagree.

[Ferris Mx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, I only read this because a colleague of mine is in it (discussing her polyamory), and that was the only part that was any good. Millennials don't need any defense, and they don't need any sympathy either. Reading about the particular challenges Millennials have faced - I've faced functionally the same challenges as an early Gen-X er. It's just not an interesting framing.

[Anya Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really hit home as a millennial.
The author interviewed five individuals over several years, and their stories each offer a fresh perspective on growing up during a time rapid political, technological, and cultural. It left me feeling nostalgic and missing those good ole’ AIM days.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting premise since I am a sucker for nostalgia, but the writer’s style was a little dryer and research-heavy than I was prepared for. Great writing and ideas, just a me problem.

[Cassie Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me relive all the best and worst parts of the early 2000's - my favorite being AIM screen names. I found the stories of the individuals involved to be relatable and engaging. Overall, not a bad read.

[Antonio Iglesias · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched read that is able to get the core of the millennial experience and make sense of our current experience. The This-American-Life-like interlacing of the five people we meet along the way allows for thoughtful depth and grounding.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book I wonder how the Millennials ever accomplish anything that they can rightly belongs to them because they seem to need advice from at least one other person before they can do anything that requires thought.

[Tejas Sathian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well reported and narrated account covering themes including 9/11, unstable employment post GFC, opioids, open relationships, the shock of 2016, and more. I would have loved a bit more consideration of the generation’s overall economic outlook as of the mid 2020s.

[Loukia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Moving and hilarious, and a real page turner. I loved it.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, the answer to a question that has been gnawing at us all.

This is poignant, relatable, readable, deeply reported.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Words can't describe how perfectly this book encapsulates my experience as a Millennial. If you were born between 1981 and 1996, Read. This. Book!