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Quick answer: If you liked All the Bright Places, read Holding Up the Universe, Turtles All the Way Down, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Eleanor & Park. These young adult novels deal honestly with mental health, love and loss without losing hope.
Jennifer Niven's novel follows Violet and Finch, two teens who meet on a school bell tower and begin to change each other's lives. It deals with suicide and depression, so it is a heavy but important read. The books below treat difficult topics with care. Check the notes, because some include self-harm, eating disorders or abuse.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holding Up the Universe | Jennifer Niven | 13+ | more Niven |
| Turtles All the Way Down | John Green | 14+ | anxiety stories |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | 14+ | letters and growing up |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14+ | first love |
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | 14+ | boarding school drama |
| Paper Towns | John Green | 13+ | mystery and road trips |
| It's Kind of a Funny Story | Ned Vizzini | 14+ | humour with depth |
| Challenger Deep | Neal Shusterman | 14+ | inventive and moving |
| Girl in Pieces | Kathleen Glasgow | 16+ | recovery stories |
| Wintergirls | Laurie Halse Anderson | 14+ | eating disorder stories |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | 13+ | finding your voice |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | 13+ | fate and love |
| Words in Deep Blue | Cath Crowley | 14+ | bookish love |
| Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Benjamin Alire Saenz | 14+ | friendship and identity |
| The Spectacular Now | Tim Tharp | 15+ | honest coming-of-age |
1. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
Libby, once known as America's fattest teen, and Jack, who cannot recognize faces, find each other. A warm and empowering story from the same author.
Best for: more Niven.
2. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Aza lives with obsessive thoughts while she and her friend search for a missing billionaire. A thoughtful portrait of anxiety.
Best for: anxiety stories.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie writes letters about freshman year, friendship and trauma. A quiet and honest cult classic.
Best for: letters and growing up.
4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a bus in 1986. Sweet and sad, with difficult family situations.
Best for: first love.
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green
A boy at boarding school falls for a magnetic girl before a life-changing event. Funny, sad and widely read.
Best for: boarding school drama.
6. Paper Towns by John Green
Quentin follows clues left by his neighbor Margo before she disappears. A road-trip mystery with heart.
Best for: mystery and road trips.
7. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
A stressed teen checks himself into a psychiatric ward. Funny and honest, and based on the author's own experience.
Best for: humour with depth.
8. Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Caden slips into mental illness and imagines a voyage on a ship. Inspired by the author's son, it won the National Book Award.
Best for: inventive and moving.
9. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
Charlotte leaves a hospital and tries to rebuild her life after self-harm. Raw and emotional, with a hopeful ending.
Best for: recovery stories.
10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Lia struggles with anorexia after her friend's death. Intense and lyrical, so read with care.
Best for: eating disorder stories.
11. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Melinda stops talking after a traumatic event and finds her voice through art. A classic that is often taught in schools.
Best for: finding your voice.
12. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Two teens meet on a day when one faces deportation. Told from several viewpoints, with a wide view of fate and chance.
Best for: fate and love.
13. Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
Rachel returns to the secondhand bookshop where she once loved Henry. Gentle and bookish, with themes of loss.
Best for: bookish love.
14. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Two boys in El Paso become close one summer. A quiet and moving story of identity and friendship.
Best for: friendship and identity.
15. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Sutter is a popular, hard-drinking senior who falls for a quiet girl. Honest and uncomfortable, with a sad undercurrent.
Best for: honest coming-of-age.
How to Choose
If you want a gentler read, start with Holding Up the Universe, Words in Deep Blue or Aristotle and Dante. For mental health stories, choose Turtles All the Way Down, It's Kind of a Funny Story or Challenger Deep. For first love with sadness, try Eleanor & Park or The Sun Is Also a Star. Wintergirls, Girl in Pieces and The Spectacular Now are heavier, so they suit older teens. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a trusted adult or a local crisis line.
Related: 15 Books Like All the Light We Cannot See You’ll Love · What Is the Best-Selling Book of All Time?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is All the Bright Places about?
Violet and Finch team up on a school project and begin to explore Indiana together while dealing with grief and depression.
Is it okay for 13-year-olds?
Many schools recommend it for ages 14 and up because of suicide themes.
Is there a movie?
Yes, Netflix released a film in 2020 starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith.
What is the best Niven book after this?
Holding Up the Universe is the most popular.
Are these books sad?
Most are, but they also include hope and humour.
What if I want hopeful stories?
Holding Up the Universe, Words in Deep Blue and Aristotle and Dante all end on a warm note.
Is All the Bright Places a romance?
It has a love story at its center, but it is mainly about mental health, grief and friendship.