The swank apartment, the killer job, and the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend haven't yet fallen into place. Is this reallyadulthood? Welcome to life before the mortgage. Here's what you need to know.

Christina Amini and Rachel Hutton have brought together the very best writing on this unpredictable -- and often hilarious -- time. This book features essays by celebrated writers such as Joel Stein, Thisbe Nissen, Thomas Beller, Foundmagazine's Davy Rothbart, and ReadyMade's Shoshana Berger, as well as exciting new writers.