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Quick answer: If you loved Geek Girl, read Holly Smale's later books, then Dork Diaries, Anna and the French Kiss, To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Fangirl. All are funny, warm young adult stories about awkward girls finding their place.
Holly Smale's 2013 novel follows Harriet Manners, a quirky teenager who loves facts and gets discovered by a modelling scout, leading to a whirlwind of embarrassment and adventure. It is light, funny and full of heart. The books below offer similar comic teen stories with lovable misfits.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life | Rachel Renee Russell | Ages 9-13 | girls' diary |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Stephanie Perkins | Teen | sweet romance |
| To All the Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | Teen | family and romance |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | college romance |
| Since You've Been Gone | Morgan Matson | Teen | friendship first |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14 and up | slow-burn love |
| Dumplin' | Julie Murphy | 13 and up | confidence-building stories |
| Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | 13 and up | queer teen romance |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | Teen | royal competitions |
| Love and Gelato | Jenna Evans Welch | Teen | Italy romance |
| Isla and the Happily Ever After | Stephanie Perkins | 13+ | readers who like second chances |
| Along for the Ride | Sarah Dessen | Teen | beach vibes |
| The Summer I Turned Pretty | Jenny Han | Teen | beach summers |
| Emergency Contact | Mary H.K. Choi | Teen | modern romance |
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | 14 and up | first love and loss |
1. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell
Nikki Maxwell navigates a new school. Fun and popular.
Best for: girls' diary.
2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anna is sent to a Paris boarding school and falls for a charming classmate. Swoony and fun.
Best for: sweet romance.
3. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean's secret love letters are mailed by mistake. Sweet, funny and full of family warmth.
Best for: family and romance.
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A shy writer starts university and slowly opens up. Warm and bookish.
Best for: college romance.
5. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Emily follows her best friend's to-do list across one summer. Funny, warm and about friendship.
Best for: friendship first.
6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a bus in 1986. Tender and painful.
Best for: slow-burn love.
7. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
A plus-size Texas girl enters a beauty pageant. Funny and body-positive.
Best for: confidence-building stories.
8. 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.
9. The Selection by Kiera Cass
Thirty-five girls compete for the prince's hand. Light and romantic.
Best for: royal competitions.
10. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
A girl travels to Tuscany after her mother's death. Light and cosy.
Best for: Italy romance.
11. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Isla finally gets the boy she has loved for years, and fears losing him. A slower and more serious story.
Best for: readers who like second chances.
12. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Auden spends a summer at the beach and finds friends and first love. Quiet and heartfelt.
Best for: beach vibes.
13. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly spends summers at a beach house with two brothers. Warm, nostalgic and romantic.
Best for: beach summers.
14. Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
Two teens connect by text. Realistic and sweet.
Best for: modern romance.
15. 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.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Geek Girl: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Geek Girl. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For funny diaries choose Dork Diaries. For sweet romance pick Anna and the French Kiss, To All the Boys I've Loved Before or Isla and the Happily Ever After. For bookish misfits read Fangirl or Eleanor & Park. For warm confidence stories try Dumplin' or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Geek Girl is light and quick, so these picks suit readers who like humour with their romance. Geek Girl was followed by many sequels and a Netflix adaptation, and Smale has talked about her own experience of being a model and a self-described geek. The books are set in London.
Related: 15 Books Like The Girl on the Train You’ll Love: Twisty Domestic Thrillers · 15 Books Like Gone Girl You’ll Love: Dark Psychological Thrillers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Geek Girl about?
A quirky teen is spotted by a modelling scout and plunges into the fashion world.
Who wrote it?
Holly Smale.
When was it published?
2013.
Is it a series?
Yes, with several sequels.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 12 and up.
Is it funny?
Yes, very.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, a Netflix series.
What should I read next?
Try Dork Diaries or Anna and the French Kiss.
Which book here is best for college romance?
Try Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, which suits readers looking for college romance.
Which book here is best for confidence-building stories?
Try Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, which suits readers looking for confidence-building stories.
Which book here is best for Italy romance?
Try Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch, which suits readers looking for Italy romance.