13 Books You Must Read Before Moving To New York

Is there any city in the world that's been more mythologized than New York? From TV shows like Friends and Girls to every Woody Allen movie ever, pop-culture portrayals of life in NYC rarely come close to showing outsiders what it's really like to live here. And, it's not just the apartments that they get wrong. If your knowledge of the city's geography is based on Gossip Girl, you probably think the Upper East Side is not only enormous, but just a stone's throw from Dumbo. Also, a warning to Sex and the City fans: If you and your three best friends ever try to walk down a crowded sidewalk linking arms, you will get yelled at. Repeatedly.

Have we scared you off yet? Yeah, we didn't think so. But, we do suggest educating yourself on the realities of New York City life before you get here. And, for that kind of truth bomb, there's only one place to turn: literature. While we can't find you a roommate, we can make sure you know what you're getting yourself into — the good, the bad, and the ugly.