Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you grew up on Judy Blume's Forever…, try Speak, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Looking for Alaska and Eleanor & Park. All offer honest, unembarrassed stories about teenage love, sex and growing up.
Judy Blume's 1975 novel was among the first to show teen love and first sex honestly, and it has been challenged for that. Readers who liked its frankness and warmth can find the same approach in newer young adult books. The picks below mix teen classics with adult novels by Blume. Most contain mature themes, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deenie | Judy Blume | 12 and up | more Blume |
| Tiger Eyes | Judy Blume | 12 and up | grief and healing |
| Summer Sisters | Judy Blume | Adult | grown-up Blume |
| Wifey | Judy Blume | Adult | adult fans |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | 14 and up | serious topics |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | 14 and up | letter-format stories |
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | 14 and up | first love and loss |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14 and up | slow-burn love |
| The Fault in Our Stars | John Green | 14 and up | tear-jerkers |
| Sloppy Firsts | Megan McCafferty | 14 and up | funny teen voice |
| Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | 13 and up | queer teen romance |
| Boy Meets Boy | David Levithan | 14 and up | joyful love stories |
| Weetzie Bat | Francesca Lia Block | 14 and up | offbeat teen fiction |
| Dumplin' | Julie Murphy | 13 and up | confidence-building stories |
| Normal People | Sally Rooney | Adult | older teens and adults |
1. Deenie by Judy Blume
A girl is told she needs a back brace while her mother pushes her to model. A direct, funny story about body image.
Best for: more Blume.
2. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
A girl moves to New Mexico after her father's murder. Grief, family and a first romance.
Best for: grief and healing.
3. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Two friends share summers on Martha's Vineyard for decades. Blume's adult novel about friendship and desire.
Best for: grown-up Blume.
4. Wifey by Judy Blume
A bored suburban wife looks for more. Blume's first adult novel, funny and frank.
Best for: adult fans.
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
After being assaulted, Melinda stops speaking at school. A short, honest novel about trauma and finding a voice.
Best for: serious topics.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie writes letters about high school, friends and secrets. A moving coming-of-age classic.
Best for: letter-format stories.
7. Looking for Alaska by John Green
A boy at boarding school falls for a wild girl, then faces loss. Funny, sad and sharp.
Best for: first love and loss.
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a bus in 1986. Tender and painful.
Best for: slow-burn love.
9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Two teens with cancer fall in love. Witty, tender and sad.
Best for: tear-jerkers.
10. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Jessica Darling narrates her high school life with sharp humor. First of a long series.
Best for: funny teen voice.
11. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon is outed by a classmate while anonymously falling for another boy. Warm and funny, with real stakes.
Best for: queer teen romance.
12. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
A gay teen in a welcoming town navigates love and friendship. Sweet and hopeful.
Best for: joyful love stories.
13. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
A punk girl in Los Angeles makes a family of friends. Short, glittery and dreamlike.
Best for: offbeat teen fiction.
14. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
A plus-size Texas girl enters a beauty pageant. Funny and body-positive.
Best for: confidence-building stories.
15. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Two Irish teens drift together and apart over several years. Honest and close to the bone.
Best for: older teens and adults.
How to Choose
For other Judy Blume books, begin with Deenie or Tiger Eyes, then try Summer Sisters. For tougher topics, read Speak. For sweet and funny romance, pick Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda or Dumplin'. For adult readers, Normal People continues the honest approach. Many of these books deal with sex, trauma and grief, so parents may want to read them first or together with teens. If you are a parent, reading alongside your teen is a good way to start honest talks about relationships, consent and self-respect. If you are a teen, remember that you can put any book down if it is not right for you now.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Forever… challenged?
It portrays teens having sex and was banned in some schools for its content. Blume wrote it after her daughter asked for a book on the subject.
What age is Forever… for?
Most readers are 14 and up, though some schools use it earlier.
Is Forever… a love story?
Yes. It follows Katherine and Michael through their first love, and what happens when summer separates them.
Are there other Judy Blume books for teens?
Yes. Deenie and Tiger Eyes are for young teens and Blubber is for younger readers.
Which book is best for parents to share?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda open many conversations.
Is Forever… too explicit for teens?
It is frank but not graphic by modern standards. Many librarians suggest it for ages 14 and up, with a parent's guidance.
Is Forever… still relevant?
Its themes of first love and decisions remain familiar, though the setting feels dated.