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Quick answer: If you liked Paper Towns, read John Green's Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines, then The Fault in Our Stars, Eleanor & Park, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I'll Give You the Sun. All are funny, honest young adult novels about friendship, first love and the people we idealise.
John Green's 2008 novel follows Quentin Jacobsen, who spends the end of high school searching for Margo Roth Spiegelman, the girl next door who disappears, leaving clues. It is funny, smart and ends up being about seeing people clearly. The books below offer similar teen mysteries, road trips and heartfelt stories.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | Teen | grief and friendship |
| An Abundance of Katherines | John Green | Teen | road trip |
| The Fault in Our Stars | John Green | Teen | love and illness |
| Turtles All the Way Down | John Green | Teen | anxiety |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | first love in the 80s |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | college romance |
| Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | Teen | coming out with humour |
| I'll Give You the Sun | Jandy Nelson | Teen | twin siblings |
| Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Benjamin Alire Saenz | Teen | coming of age |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | Teen | letters from a shy teen |
| We Were Liars | E. Lockhart | Teen | family secrets |
| All the Bright Places | Jennifer Niven | Teen | love and depression |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | Teen | one day in New York |
| Dumplin' | Julie Murphy | Teen | body positivity |
| A Good Girl's Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson | Teen | amateur sleuth |
1. Looking for Alaska by John Green
A boy at boarding school falls for a charismatic girl. Funny and sad.
Best for: grief and friendship.
2. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
A former child prodigy sets out on a road trip after a breakup. Funny and clever.
Best for: road trip.
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Two teens with cancer fall in love. Funny and heartbreaking.
Best for: love and illness.
4. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
A girl struggles with obsessive thoughts. Honest and clear.
Best for: anxiety.
5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a school bus. Tender and honest.
Best for: first love in the 80s.
6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A shy writer starts university and slowly opens up. Warm and bookish.
Best for: college romance.
7. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
A boy falls for an anonymous email friend. Sweet and funny.
Best for: coming out with humour.
8. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Twins tell their story at different ages. Lyrical and emotional.
Best for: twin siblings.
9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Two Mexican American boys become friends in 1980s El Paso. Gentle and moving.
Best for: coming of age.
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A shy teenager writes about high school and friendship. Warm and classic.
Best for: letters from a shy teen.
11. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A girl tries to recall what happened on her family's private island. Short and shocking.
Best for: family secrets.
12. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Two teens meet on a ledge and form a bond. Moving and heavy.
Best for: love and depression.
13. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
A girl and a boy fall in love on the day she faces deportation. Beautiful.
Best for: one day in New York.
14. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
A plus-size teen enters a beauty pageant. Funny and warm.
Best for: body positivity.
15. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
A student investigates a closed murder case for a school project. Gripping.
Best for: amateur sleuth.
How to Choose
For more Green begin with Looking for Alaska or An Abundance of Katherines. For emotional love stories choose The Fault in Our Stars or All the Bright Places. For warmer romance pick Eleanor & Park, Fangirl or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. For mystery read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder or We Were Liars. Paper Towns is funny and thoughtful, so these picks suit readers who like clever teen voices. Paper Towns was adapted into a 2015 film starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne. The title refers to fake towns that mapmakers insert to catch copyright thieves, a metaphor that gives the novel its theme.
Related: The Paper Palace Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes) · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paper Towns about?
A boy searches for the girl next door, who disappears and leaves clues.
Who wrote it?
John Green.
When was it published?
2008.
What is a paper town?
A fictitious place on a map, used to catch copiers.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 2015 film.
What age is it for?
Teens, usually 14 and up.
Is it a love story?
It is more about friendship and seeing people as real.
What should I read next?
Try Looking for Alaska or An Abundance of Katherines.
Which book here is best for anxiety?
Try Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, which suits readers looking for anxiety.
Which book here is best for coming out with humour?
Try Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, which suits readers looking for coming out with humour.