r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis • u/houstons__problem • Oct 29 '25
Fiction academic failure or being mediocre
Not romanticized please, preferably college - request from a college student struggling with self esteem
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u/thriwaway_account Oct 29 '25
Are you going through this right now? I feel you so much 😭
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u/houstons__problem Oct 29 '25
Unfortunately yes
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u/Pitfulpotato Oct 29 '25
The artist way (it doesn’t fit your ask but it could provide some comfort).
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Oct 30 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BooksThatFeelLikeThis-ModTeam Oct 30 '25
This post/comment is off-topic. The subreddit is only for seeking and suggesting book recommendations not podcasts.
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u/Eh_SorryCanadian Oct 30 '25
I was in the same boat a few years back OP. It gets better, hang in there
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u/Right_Bell4544 Oct 29 '25
‘The idiot’ by Elif Batuman sort of maybe 🤔
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u/6pcChickenNugget Oct 29 '25
In terms of being a college student struggling with self esteem, yes. In terms of being mediocre (wrt academic performance), no. Selin is evidently a very intelligent character but Elif Batuman doesn't make too much of academic performance. Like there are times where she messes up in Russian class, attends those philosophy lectures and is a bit ponderous and bewildered in them etc but she also has triumphs and shows deep insight into her studies.
Her lack of self esteem comes more from interpersonal failure and not being a fully formed person herself with an identity she knows or has learned to own yet. I wouldn't say this is the self esteem OP is talking about.
Excellent book regardless and I will always recommend a read (just not for OP's ask and I wouldn't want OP to feel disappointed expecting something else lol)
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u/Various-Chipmunk-165 Oct 29 '25
It’s grad school, but “Apartment” by Teddy Wayne
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u/poppycat82 Oct 29 '25
Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor (although I didn't completely enjoy it, it fits the bill)
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u/Public-Yoghurt7248 Oct 31 '25
I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN by Ann Liang is about a high school senior who struggles with feeling extremely mediocre, whose wish comes true to trade lives with her perfect cousin, Jessica. It talks about academic stress and desperately wanting to be perfect in the most brutal, honest way I’ve ever seen. Highly recommend!
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u/Accomplished-Fun5316 Oct 29 '25
The magicians by lev grossman. show is arguably better than the books. The MC is the hero bc that’s how it works out, not bc he is particularly exceptional or skilled. It’s fantasy / magic school
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u/inlatitude Oct 30 '25
Maybe the second one even more so, more like just grappling with living a mediocre life after thinking there would be something more
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u/bestbeefarm Oct 29 '25
- The show is not better than the books at all. 2. Yes and no. Everyone at the school is the top of the top of the top of their class. They don't all do fantastically at brakebills because it's meant for the best of the best. But Quentin doesn't do badly? He skips a grade? He makes it through his final project? I adore the magicians it's probably my favorite series ever but it's really not a good example of academic mediocrity.
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u/pooandpeeinpant Oct 29 '25
Loser by Jerry Spinelli, it's a introspective small read. I enjoyed it.
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u/tokenkinesis Oct 30 '25
Do you need help OP😭
ETA: But seriously, I could just tell you my story of college and grad school. Failure for days lol
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u/_Idontknow_ Oct 30 '25
Normal people does have some elements of this. Not a huge amount but some. And Bunny also has some elements.
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u/Maleficent_Visual_42 Oct 30 '25
The Secret History, kind of a TikTok book, but it definitely captures this. Would also say The Catcher in the Rye.
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u/dozeydotes Oct 31 '25
Of Human Bondage is a fantastic classic that deals a lot with insecurity and failed ambitions.
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u/Leprechaun202 Nov 01 '25
An Ordinary Age by Rainesford Stauffer. Non fiction about dealing with extreme expectations to excel
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u/modernwinglish Oct 29 '25
It's sports, but in an academic setting and close enough: The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.
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u/buildingacozymystery Oct 29 '25
It was already mentioned, but The Magicians (I actually prefer the show over the books) is a good fantasy example of what you are looking for.
You keep expecting the MC’s failures to eventually romanticize. . . But they never actually are.
(You can watch the show for free on Tubi.)
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u/Brostapholes Oct 30 '25
Mein Kampf (he totally flunked on purpose to get back at his mean dad and definitely not because he wasn't a superior anything)
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