Boomerang Nation: How to Survive Living with Your Parents...the Second Time Around

Rents aren't getting cheaper, high-paying jobs aren't getting easier to find, and the result is that financial independence can be tough for young adults to create. For many, the answer is moving back home with their parents; it's a phenomenon that gets more sitcom jokes than thoughtful discussion. Enter Boomerang Nation, a how-to guide that helps ease family frustrations when the empty nest is suddenly full again.

Author Elina Furman's (The Everything After College Book) mix of sympathy and snarky humor manages to simultaneously give you a hug and a firm kick in the rear. Rather than focusing on her own experience (many years of living with mom after college), Furman covers a full range of possible reasons for moving in with the folks: break ups, job loss, grad school, parents in need of assistance, and saving money for a specific goal are all included. Tidbits from a number of interviews with boomerangers are found in every chapter; though short, the personal stories add a friendly touch.

The advice covers highly specific topics with pleasing bluntness. Her insistence on helping out around the house and chipping in financially will have parents delightedly highlighting sections, while her understanding of modern dating and examination of parenting styles helps the younger generation sort though complex issues. Don't let the lighthearted writing style fool you: Furman's sensible suggestions can help everyone in the family straighten out the wrinkles of redefined relationships. Jill Lightner