Are you a member of Nerdfighteria, opens a new window who can’t wait to get your hands on John Green’s newly released Turtles All the Way Down, opens a new window? Whether you’re waiting for your hold or have already blasted through it, we’ve made you a list of books and authors similar to John Green’s quirky style.
Like Green’s novels, these books are hilarious, introspective and pack an emotional punch. Check them all out and don’t forget to be awesome!
Books like The Fault in Our Stars, opens a new window
1. Everything, Everything, opens a new window by Nicola Yoon
A life-threatening disease has forced Madeline to stay inside for all of her 18 years. When a new boy moves in next door, the outside world becomes more irresistible than ever. Like Hazel, Maddy is a strong girl in a hard situation, and must decide how much she’ll risk for love., opens a new window
Everything, Everything is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window. There’s also a movie version, opens a new window.
2. Eleanor & Park, opens a new window by Rainbow Rowell
Long bus rides, mix tapes and comics bring misfits Eleanor and Park together. As their feelings for each other intensify, stronger and darker forces threaten to tear them apart. If Hazel and Gus’ connection in The Fault in Our Starts left you wanting more, this is the book for you., opens a new window
Eleanor & Park is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, opens a new window by Jesse Andrews
Greg doesn’t have any friends. What he does have is a “co-worker,” Earl, who he makes movie parodies with and Rachel, a sick girl from school who Greg’s mom forces him to visit. As Rachel gets sicker, Greg and Earl try to make a movie to cheer her up. Hilarious and devastating, this book will appeal to fans of the jokes and the tears in The Fault in Our Stars., opens a new window
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window. There is also a movie version, opens a new window.
Books like Will Grayson, Will Grayson, opens a new window
4. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, opens a new window by Becky Albertalli
Simon thinks the school musical is going to be the only drama in his life, until a private e-mail falls into the hands of a vindictive classmate threatening to out him before he’s ready. Much like will grayson in John Green and David Levithan’s jointly authored novel, Simon must navigate sexual identity and first love while deciding how much of himself he’s willing to reveal to the world., opens a new window
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
5. Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story, opens a new window by David Levithan
Couldn’t get enough of larger-than-life Tiny Cooper? Read the gut-busting script of his autobiographical musical in this sort-of-sequel to Will Grayson, Will Grayson., opens a new window
Hold Me Closer is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
Books like Paper Towns, opens a new window
6. Going Bovine, opens a new window by Libba Bray
A diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human form of mad cow, leads slacker Cameron on a hallucinogenic road trip with a video-game addicted dwarf. Road trips across Florida and a dark sense of humor are just a few of the things this book shares with John Green’s Paper Towns., opens a new window
Going Bovine is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
7. Please Ignore Vera Dietz, opens a new window by A.S. King
Vera Dietz has been secretly in love with her best friend Charlie Khan forever. When Charlie dies, only Vera knows what truly happened, but will she tell? Dark and moving, this novel will appeal to those drawn to the mystery at the centre of Paper Towns., opens a new window
Please Ignore Vera Dietz is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
Books like An Abundance of Katherines, opens a new window
8. The Lucy Variations, opens a new window by Sara Zarr
At 14, child prodigy Lucy walks away from her promising career as a concert pianist. Now 16, Lucy feels lost. Starting over isn’t easy, and Lucy makes more mistakes—and discoveries—than she ever has in the process. Like An Abundance of Katherines, this book explores who you become when the life you were destined for ends., opens a new window
The Lucy Variations is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, opens a new window by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
With a brother in prison and a father who barely speaks, Aristotle feels lost and angry most of the time—if he could only discover the secrets of the universe, maybe his life would be happier. A friendship sparked at a swimming pool brings Dante into Ari’s life, and together they begin to realize that the answers they were looking for are very different than they imagined., opens a new window
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
Books like Looking for Alaska, opens a new window
10. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks , opens a new windowby E. Lockhart
Frankie Landau-Banks’ gorgeous new boyfriend is part of an all-male secret society, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, who plan elaborate pranks and create chaos wherever they go. Frankie, smart and capable, wonders why the boys get to have all the fun, and sets into motion a plan that just might turn her into a criminal mastermind. If boarding school pranks were your favourite part of Looking for Alaska, this is a perfect next read., opens a new window
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is available from the Edmonton Public Library as an eBook, opens a new window as well as an instant eBook, opens a new window via hoopla.
11. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, opens a new window by Stephen Chbosky
Through a series of letters, Charlie tells an unnamed stranger the story of his life so far, from the secrets he keeps for his sister to the traumatic car crash that killed his Aunt Helen. Like Alaska, Charlie seeks a Great Perhaps in this searching, heartfelt novel., opens a new window
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook, opens a new window, downloadable audiobook, opens a new window and large print edition, opens a new window. There’s also a movie version on DVD, opens a new window or Blu-ray, opens a new window and a book club kit, opens a new window.
Books like Turtles All The Way Down, opens a new window
12. It’s Kind of a Funny Story, opens a new window by Ned Vizzini
Craig Gilner is an ambitious teen who, overwhelmed with anxiety and depression, begins a stay at a mental hospital. There, Craig makes unusual friends, and is finally able to face the source of his anxiety. Like John Green, author Ned Vizzini wrote this novel based on his own struggles with mental health., opens a new window
It’s Kind of a Funny Story is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, instant eBook, opens a new window via hoopla, downloadable audiobook, opens a new window and streaming audiobook, opens a new window. There’s also a movie version, opens a new window.
13. I Kill Giants , opens a new windowby Joe Kelly (illustrated by J. M. Ken Nimura)
Barbara Thorson sees things other people can’t. Uninterested in her difficult life, Barbara sinks into a fantasy world of pixies and fairies, and is the only one who can help when giants threaten to destroy everything. A graphic novel that asks what reality really is, this is a great companion read to Turtles All The Way Down., opens a new window
I Kill Giants is available from the Edmonton Public Library as a print edition, opens a new window and as a downloadable volume, opens a new window via hoopla.
What are your favourite John Green-esque young adult novels? Share them with us in the comments!
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