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Quick answer: If you loved John Green, read John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, then Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, then Becky Albertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. All are witty, heartfelt young adult novels.
John Green is best known for The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska. His novels pair clever dialogue with big feelings. These picks share that mood.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fault in Our Stars | John Green | 14+ | readers who want a cry |
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | 15+ | readers who like thoughtful, painful stories |
| Paper Towns | John Green | 14+ | readers who like mystery |
| An Abundance of Katherines | John Green | 14+ | readers who want a lighter tone |
| Turtles All the Way Down | John Green | 14+ | anxiety stories |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14+ | readers who like quiet romance |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | 13+ | readers who love books |
| Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | 13+ | readers who want a classic |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | 15+ | readers who want a letter-style story |
| Thirteen Reasons Why | Jay Asher | Teen | issue-driven stories |
| All the Bright Places | Jennifer Niven | 14+ | fans of heartbreaking romance |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | 14+ | readers who like a one-day romance |
| They Both Die at the End | Adam Silvera | 14+ | readers who like a bittersweet premise |
| If I Stay | Gayle Forman | Teen | the closest match |
| Tell Me Three Things | Julie Buxbaum | 13+ | new beginnings |
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel and Augustus, two teens with cancer, fall in love and travel to Amsterdam. Funny and sad in equal measure.
Best for: readers who want a cry.
2. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Miles joins a boarding school and meets the unforgettable Alaska Young. The story is split into before and after a tragic event.
Best for: readers who like thoughtful, painful stories.
3. Paper Towns by John Green
Quentin follows clues left by his neighbor Margo after she disappears. A mystery that questions how well we know people.
Best for: readers who like mystery.
4. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Colin, a former prodigy who was dumped by nineteen girls named Katherine, takes a road trip. Light, funny and nerdy.
Best for: readers who want a lighter tone.
5. 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.
6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits in 1986 Omaha fall in love over comics and mixtapes on the school bus. Honest and sweet.
Best for: readers who like quiet romance.
7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Cath, a fanfiction writer, struggles at college and finds love. Warm and nerdy.
Best for: readers who love books.
8. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon emails an anonymous boy at school and is blackmailed. Sweet and funny, and the basis for Love, Simon.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie writes letters about his freshman year and his new friends, while hiding a painful past. A modern YA classic with mature themes.
Best for: readers who want a letter-style story.
10. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Clay receives tapes from a classmate who died, explaining why she ended her life. Controversial and hard to forget.
Best for: issue-driven stories.
11. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Violet and Finch meet on a school bell tower and begin a project to explore their state. A moving story that deals with mental health.
Best for: fans of heartbreaking romance.
12. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Natasha and Daniel meet on a day when she faces deportation. Told from several perspectives with a focus on fate.
Best for: readers who like a one-day romance.
13. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Mateo and Rufus learn they will die within a day and spend it together. The title is honest, and the story is deeply human.
Best for: readers who like a bittersweet premise.
14. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
After a car crash, Mia is in a coma and decides whether to live or die. Short, sad and hopeful.
Best for: the closest match.
15. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
A teen moves to a new school after her mother's death and receives anonymous emails. Warm and funny.
Best for: new beginnings.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with John Green: 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 John Green. 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 more Green, read Paper Towns or Turtles All the Way Down. For young love, try Eleanor & Park. For sharp humour and heart, pick Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
Related: Printable List Of John Grisham Books In Chronological Order · John Sandford Books In Order Printable List
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Green?
An American author and YouTuber.
What is his best-known book?
The Fault in Our Stars.
Where do I start?
With The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska.