If, like many, you've picked up a copy of Good Material, Ghosts or Everything I Know About Love at some point in your early 20s, and subsequently plowed through British author Dolly Alderton's entire back-catalogue of written works (perhaps you even became an avid listener to her podcast The High Low?), then you are most certainly not alone.

The author – who is Sydney-side this week for an appearance at the Sydney Opera House – has made a name for herself for her relatable, witty explorations of love, friendship, and the messy beauty of adulthood, capturing the universal nuances of modern life with warmth and humour. Her writing resonates deeply with readers, offering a candid and compassionate voice that feels both refreshingly honest and like an old friend’s advice.

But if you're at the end of her (relatively short) canon of work, and aren't quite ready to relinquish the thrill of a new read – then we have a list ready to go for you. Whether you're looking to continue your exploration of love or just want to read about other messy, young peoples' lives, we've got you covered with the books like Dolly Alderton we think you should add to your reading list.

1. Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord

Annie Lord dives deep into the raw, unfiltered experience of love lost, capturing the messy, bittersweet essence of heartbreak in all its visceral intensity. With poetic vulnerability, this book explores the lingering weight of memories and the resilience required to piece oneself back together, making it a tender guide for anyone navigating the pain of letting go.

2. Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

Peeling back the layers of digital intimacy and disconnection in the modern world, Gray's novel delves into the subtle complexities of online relationships and the haunting allure of the internet’s green light. Through an emotionally resonant narrative, she exposes how digital presence and absence shape our lives, revealing a nuanced exploration of connection, longing, and the spaces in between.

3. Normal People by Sally Rooney

Is there any book that cuts to the core of young love and miscommunication quite like Rooney's Normal People? I'd consider Rooney like Alderton's Irish, capitalist-hating twin – still hitting all those same notes on heartbreak, femininity, growing pains and finding love in places you wouldn't expect. Normal People is a tender and astute exploration of the complicated dance between love and friendship, following the lives of Marianne and Connell as they navigate the tangled web of connection, class, and self-discovery.

4. The Work by Bri Lee

If Rooney and Alderton are twins, then Lee is probably akin to their long-lost Australian cousin. In her debut novel released earlier this year, Lee channelled her astute observations of ambition, art, and the often invisible toll of striving for success into an intricately woven story about intercontinental romance between Lally, a devoted Manhattan gallerist, and Pat, an ambitious scholarship student from Sydney, who clash over art and politics – sparking an undeniable chemistry.

5. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Zevin's story of a group of friends who reconnect to create a groundbreaking video game is heart-wrenching and heartwarming at once, a story where, through their partnership, Zevin explores themes of love, ambition, and the blurred lines between art and life, painting a vivid portrait of the bonds that shape us. It's so good, it made it to The New York Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list, too.

6. My Body by Emily Ratajkowski

Maybe a little left-of-field, but for those interesting in books that tear apart the traditional ideals of love and feminism (much like Everything I Know About Love), then you might enjoy Ratajkowski's memoir on beauty, the modelling industry and her warped relationship to her body. A personal favourite extract I have written in my notes app: "Men never notice the over-calculating that women do. They think things happen ‘for some weird reason’ while women sing songs and do backbends and dance elaborate moves to make those things happen."

7. all about love by bell hooks

For those seeking a more philosophical approach to the question 'what is love?', then look no further than Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks. The American author, theorist, educator, and social critic penned all about love as a profound exploration of love as a transformative force, challenging conventional ideas and urging a shift toward compassion and honesty in our personal and societal relationships.

8. Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given

British artist and activist Florence Given's bold manifesto for self-worth and independence is an obvious next step for Alderton readers, an encouraging text to unlearn harmful societal expectations and embrace your own beauty and value. It's a relatively light read, and great for those just stepping foot into the world of feminism in their early 20s.

9. Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz

Babitz is something of a literary icon in her own right, beloved for her unapologetic, sun-soaked portrayal of 1960s and 70s Los Angeles that blends wit, sensuality, and sharp social insight to capture the hedonistic yet deeply human essence of a city and era. This novel of hers follows protagonist Jacaranda Leven, a young woman navigating the glitzy yet hollow world of Los Angeles and New York, as she grapples with identity, creativity, and self-discovery amid the seductive pull of fame and excess. It's also fun for the cover alone.

10. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

Rooney's debut and arguably one of her best, Conversations With Friends takes all the introspection and sharp-wittedness of Normal People but with a lot more complications. Delving into the tangled lives of Frances and her ex-girlfriend-turned-best-friend Bobbi as they form a complicated connection with a married couple, Nick and Melissa, the book creates a raw portrait of modern relationships. A must-read for those who loved Alderton's Good Material and Ghosts.

11. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I stand by my opinion that Julia Roberts' film adaptation of this book ruined its reputation, but that it remains one of the most seminal self-actualising texts I've ever read (and my friends agree). Gilbert's memoir of her travels post-divorce through Italy, India and Indonesia are not only beautifully retold but cuttingly relatable. Recommended for the directionless and peripatetic.

12. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

One of Alderton's own recommendations – direct from her Instagram – is Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck. It's a witty and heartfelt collection of essays from the esteemed American filmmaker and writer, for which Alderton also wrote the foreword in its new edition. "I first read it in my early twenties, and I’ve given every friend a copy for their birthday at some point. It’s warm, reassuring, hilarious – one of my most quoted books in my writing – and you’ll return to it time and time again."

13. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Another of Alderton's Instagram recommendations was this novel by Meg Wolitzer, one of several books discussed on The High Low, her former podcast with author Pandora Sykes. Wolitzer's novel follows six friends as they journey from their teenage years into adulthood, tracing their evolution from promising youths to adults who embody "interesting" in diverse ways.