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Quick answer: If you loved Everything, Everything, read Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star and Instructions for Dancing, then The Fault in Our Stars, Five Feet Apart and Eleanor & Park. All are YA love stories with heart and a twist of sadness.
Nicola Yoon's debut follows Maddy, a teen who has never left her house because of a rare illness, and Olly, the boy next door. It is a sweet, quick read with a surprising turn. The books below offer similar mixes of illness, first love and hope, mostly for readers aged 13 and up.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | 13+ | more Yoon |
| Instructions for Dancing | Nicola Yoon | 13+ | romance and magic |
| Five Feet Apart | Rachael Lippincott | 13+ | illness romance |
| The Fault in Our Stars | John Green | 13+ | tearjerker romance |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14+ | first love |
| The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight | Jennifer E. Smith | 13+ | travel romance |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Stephanie Perkins | 13+ | lighter romance |
| To All the Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | 12+ | rom-com YA |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 9-13 | empathy stories |
| Me Before You | Jojo Moyes | Adult | adult tearjerkers |
| If I Stay | Gayle Forman | 13+ | heartbreaking choices |
| All the Bright Places | Jennifer Niven | 14+ | emotional depth |
| Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | 13+ | funny and kind |
| Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Benjamin Alire Saenz | 14+ | quiet romance |
| Dumplin' | Julie Murphy | 13+ | body positivity |
1. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Natasha and Daniel meet in New York on a day when she faces deportation. Told from several perspectives, it is bright, thoughtful and romantic.
Best for: more Yoon.
2. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Evie sees couples' entire love stories and discovers a dance studio where she learns about her own heart. A magical romance with deep feeling.
Best for: romance and magic.
3. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Two teens with cystic fibrosis fall in love while having to stay six feet apart. Emotional and quick.
Best for: illness romance.
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel and Gus fall in love at a cancer support group. Funny, sad and beautifully written.
Best for: tearjerker romance.
5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a school bus in 1986. Tender and honest, with serious family issues.
Best for: first love.
6. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Hadley meets a boy on a flight to London and wonders if it is fate. Sweet and light.
Best for: travel romance.
7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
An American girl is sent to boarding school in Paris. Charming and slow-burn.
Best for: lighter romance.
8. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean's love letters are mailed to her crushes by mistake. Sweet, funny and cozy.
Best for: rom-com YA.
9. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A boy with a facial difference starts school. Told from many perspectives with kindness.
Best for: empathy stories.
10. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
A caregiver and a paralyzed man form a deep bond. Emotional and thought-provoking.
Best for: adult tearjerkers.
11. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Mia must decide whether to live after an accident. A moving look at family and love.
Best for: heartbreaking choices.
12. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Violet and Finch deal with grief and mental health. A powerful, heavy book.
Best for: emotional depth.
13. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon exchanges anonymous emails with a boy at school. Funny, warm and hopeful.
Best for: funny and kind.
14. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Two boys become friends in El Paso. A quiet, lyrical book about identity.
Best for: quiet romance.
15. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
A plus-size teen enters a pageant to challenge it. Fun, empowering and full of Dolly Parton.
Best for: body positivity.
How to Choose
For the same author, begin with The Sun Is Also a Star or Instructions for Dancing. For illness romances, choose Five Feet Apart, The Fault in Our Stars or Me Before You. For lighter love stories, pick Anna and the French Kiss, To All the Boys I've Loved Before or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Heavier reads include All the Bright Places and If I Stay, so check content notes. If you only read one other title, pick The Sun Is Also a Star for the same author or The Fault in Our Stars for the closest emotional match. Keep in mind the sadder picks, and read lighter ones in between.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Everything, Everything about?
Maddy lives in a sealed house because of an illness called SCID, until a boy moves in next door.
Is there a movie?
Yes, a 2017 film starred Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson.
What age is it for?
About 12 and up.
Is it sad?
It is emotional, but the ending is uplifting.
Is SCID a real condition?
Yes, severe combined immunodeficiency is real, though the book takes some liberties.
Who wrote Everything, Everything?
Nicola Yoon, whose debut novel was published in 2015.
Is the book different from the movie?
The film is close in plot but changes a few scenes and the pacing.
Is it a series?
No, it is a standalone, though Yoon's later novels are separate stories.
Is Everything, Everything good for reluctant readers?
Yes. It uses short chapters, emails, drawings and lists, which keeps the pace quick.