Title: If I Were in My 20s Again
Author: Morenike Molehin
Year of Publication: 2026
Number of Pages: 205
Category: Self Help
The smile on Morenike Molehin’s If I Were in My 20s Again is almost an invitation: come, sit down, let’s talk. She looks like the big sister who will listen to your career wahala, relationship drama, money issues and general confusion without judging you and then calmly tell you the truth you probably didn’t want to hear. That is exactly the energy she brings to this book.
And honestly, this book couldn’t have come at a better time. Young people are trying to figure out careers, money, relationships and purpose while social media makes it seem like everyone else has life completely sorted. Someone is building a business, travelling the world or becoming a millionaire at 24, while you are still wondering what you actually want to do. Then comes the familiar, “Young people of today are lazy.” Instead of joining the noise, Morenike simply says, “Let me tell you what I learnt when I was your age.”
That is what makes If I Were in My 20s Again refreshing. The title may suggest that Morenike has a long list of things she wishes she could go back and change, but surprisingly, that isn’t the case. She looks back with gratitude. She made mistakes, certainly, but she also made good use of those years. She isn’t trying to rewrite her past; she is sharing what she learnt from it. Most importantly, she doesn’t sound like someone who has forgotten what being 20 feels like. She gets it.
Every chapter begins with a personal story, making the book feel more like a conversation than a lecture. You hear what happened to her before getting the lesson, so when she talks about character, friendships, boundaries, money, responsibility, health and personal development, you know she is speaking from experience.
One of her strongest messages is start early. This is where many 20-somethings may become uncomfortable because they believe they have plenty of time. Twenty-two? Plenty of time. Twenty-five? Still plenty of time. Twenty-eight? Okay, maybe we should start thinking about it. Morenike understands this mindset and wants you to reconsider it.
You may also like that she doesn’t do the familiar “See your mate!” routine. She isn’t interested in telling you that someone your age is already married, making millions, building a house or travelling the world. Instead, she asks: Are you using this season of your life well, or waiting to start? Now, that is a question worth answering.
The book is packed with practical lessons, and while some may sound familiar, not every young person has parents who can guide them or a mentor to turn to. For them, this book feels like having someone who has walked the road before and is willing to point out the potholes.
Morenike delivers all this without shouting. Her language is simple, her tone is calm, and there is no unnecessary motivational jargon. She isn’t trying to make you feel guilty because you haven’t become a millionaire yet. She is simply saying: start.
If you are in your 20s, read this book now, not when you are 29 and wondering where the years went. If you are a teenager preparing for your 20s, read it even earlier. And if you are over 30, don’t dismiss it. You may be surprised by how much it makes you reflect. You may even finish it thinking, “Where was Morenike when I was 23?”
Perhaps that is the real gift of this book. Morenike has turned years of experience into a conversation young people can actually understand. She isn’t saying, “I did everything right.” She is saying, “I have been there. I learnt a few things. Let me save you some time.” And really, who wouldn’t want that?
If you finish this book, pass it on to a young person around you. Because perhaps what young people need isn’t another adult complaining about Gen Z. Perhaps they need someone who will sit beside them and say: “I understand. I was once your age too. Now, let me tell you what I wish someone had told me.”
That is the conversation Morenike Molehin has created and it is one worth having.
About the reviewer
Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: [email protected] Social: @tiipreeofficial
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