Graduates in Wonderland by Jessica Pan and Rachel Kapelke-Dale (5 ★)

Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults by Jessica Pan and Rachel Kapelke-Dale

I was blessed to be turned onto this book by a random post in a traveling book club I follow on Facebook. I never would’ve thought I could enjoy an epistolary novel told through emails, but if my emails to friends were as funny and sweet and honest as these, I would publish them too. I’m not sure what even led me to decide to pick this up besides that I saw “post-college” and “Paris” and it was instantly available on my library’s app, but I am so happy I did. 

Graduates in Wonderland follows the real lives of Jessica Pan and Rachel Kapelke-Dale, two college best friends who graduate and move to opposite ends of the world. The book is told entirely through their emails to each other and we follow them through the highs and lows of being a young adult working abroad in a foreign country over three years. We get to follow the girls through New York City, Paris, Beijing, Melbourne, and more!

The girls are young and sweet and naive and privileged, and I can see how this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I absolutely loved it. The stories heavily follow their personal lives, their experiences with friends and trying to find love, but I was even more intrigued by the process of finding meaningful work as entry-level professionals and native English speakers in foreign countries with strict visa requirements. Some readers might be hoping for more description of the countries they visit and live in, but I personally found it engaging and relatable, and I think it helps to keep in mind that these were real emails between friends, not a travel memoir. I loved the descriptions of loneliness and routine being part of an expat community. I loved being able to follow their decision-making process as they made huge changes in their lives. Not all of us are blessed to have friends as good as these two are, so being able to peek in at their supportive relationship was such a delight to read. 

This book made me think endlessly of my best friend who I have been too far away from for too long. This book is so wonderful. I recommend it to anyone who thinks they can relate. 

Rating: ★★★★★
5/5 stars