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Quick answer: If you liked My Life with the Walter Boys, read The Summer I Turned Pretty, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Anna and the French Kiss and Perfect Chemistry. All are sweet teen romances with big families, love triangles and first love.
Ali Novak's 2014 novel, which began on Wattpad, follows fifteen-year-old Jackie Howard, who moves to Colorado to live with a family of twelve and finds herself caught between two brothers. It is light, funny and romantic. The books below offer similar teen love stories with lively families and summer settings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Summer I Turned Pretty | Jenny Han | Teen | summer love triangle |
| To All the Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | Teen | love letters |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Stephanie Perkins | Teen | study abroad romance |
| Perfect Chemistry | Simone Elkeles | Teen | opposites attract |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | Teen | dystopian dating contest |
| The Kissing Booth | Beth Reekles | Teen | friends and a brother |
| Love and Gelato | Jenna Evans Welch | Teen | Italy romance |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | Teen | one day in New York |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | first love in the 80s |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | college romance |
| Along for the Ride | Sarah Dessen | Teen | summer at the beach |
| Since You've Been Gone | Morgan Matson | Teen | summer to-do list |
| A Walk to Remember | Nicholas Sparks | Teen | sweet tragic romance |
| Pushing the Limits | Katie McGarry | Teen | damaged teens |
| Isla and the Happily Ever After | Stephanie Perkins | Teen | love in Paris |
1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly spends another summer at the beach house and everything changes. Warm and nostalgic.
Best for: summer love triangle.
2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean's secret love letters get mailed out. Sweet, funny and cosy.
Best for: love letters.
3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anna is sent to a boarding school in Paris. Swoony and charming.
Best for: study abroad romance.
4. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
A cheerleader and a gang member become lab partners. Steamy and dramatic.
Best for: opposites attract.
5. The Selection by Kiera Cass
Thirty-five girls compete for a prince. Fast and dreamy.
Best for: dystopian dating contest.
6. The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles
A girl falls for her best friend's older brother. Light and quick.
Best for: friends and a brother.
7. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
A girl travels to Tuscany after her mother's death. Light and cosy.
Best for: Italy romance.
8. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
A girl and a boy fall in love on the day she faces deportation. Beautiful and moving.
Best for: one day in New York.
9. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a school bus. Tender and honest.
Best for: first love in the 80s.
10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A shy writer starts university and slowly opens up. Warm and bookish.
Best for: college romance.
11. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
A girl who cannot sleep spends the summer with a night-owl boy. Gentle and thoughtful.
Best for: summer at the beach.
12. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
A shy girl completes her best friend's list. Sweet and funny.
Best for: summer to-do list.
13. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
A popular boy falls for a quiet girl. Gentle and sad.
Best for: sweet tragic romance.
14. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
A popular girl and a foster kid with a hard past are drawn together. Emotional and intense.
Best for: damaged teens.
15. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Isla finally gets the chance to be with the boy she has loved. Dreamy and fun.
Best for: love in Paris.
How to Choose
For more love triangles choose The Summer I Turned Pretty or The Selection. For sweet romances pick To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Love and Gelato or Isla and the Happily Ever After. For more depth try Eleanor & Park or The Sun Is Also a Star. For summer reads read Along for the Ride or Since You've Been Gone. These are all light and fast reads. Novak's novel was adapted into a Netflix series in 2023, which brought it new readers, but the book remains a quick and sweet read for fans of teen romance. Teen romances are best enjoyed with a little distance, as many books use similar tropes. If you liked the large family setting, try the Penderwicks for younger readers. If you liked the love triangle, The Summer I Turned Pretty has a similar structure. Most of these are on audio.
Related: 15 Best Dr Seuss Books with Life Lessons That Transform Hearts · 15 Books Like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue You’ll Love: Immortality, Bargains and Love Across Time
Frequently Asked Questions
What is My Life with the Walter Boys about?
A girl lives with a family of twelve after losing her parents and falls for two brothers.
Who wrote it?
Ali Novak.
When was it published?
2014.
Did it start on Wattpad?
Yes, and it was later published as a book.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, a Netflix series.
What age is it for?
Teens, usually ages 13 and up.
Is it a love triangle?
Yes.
What should I read next?
Try The Summer I Turned Pretty or To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
Is My Life with the Walter Boys on Wattpad?
It began there and was then published as a book.
Is the book different from the TV series?
Yes, the series changes several plot points.