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Quick answer: If you loved Scott Pilgrim, read Check, Please!, Heartstopper, Nimona and Blankets, then Persepolis and Smile. All are funny, heartfelt graphic novels about young people, awkward love and growing up.
Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series follows a slacker bassist in Toronto who must defeat the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers, in a mix of video-game action, indie music and relationship comedy. It is quick, stylish and full of heart. The books below offer similar graphic novels and comics with humour, romance and youthful energy.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life | Bryan Lee O'Malley | Adult | the series start |
| Nimona | ND Stevenson | Teen | shape-shifting sidekick |
| Blankets | Craig Thompson | Adult | graphic memoir |
| Ghost World | Daniel Clowes | Adult | indie classic |
| Lumberjanes | Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis | Teen | summer camp adventure |
| Check, Please! | Ngozi Ukazu | Teen | graphic novel fans |
| Heartstopper | Alice Oseman | Teen | graphic romance |
| Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | college romance |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | 14 and up | slow-burn love |
| Persepolis | Marjane Satrapi | Adult | graphic memoir fans |
| Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth | Judd Winick | 7-11 | robot adventures |
| Smile | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | graphic novel fans |
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | 14+ | gamers |
| High Fidelity | Nick Hornby | Adult | funny lovelorn men |
| Boyfriend Material | Alexis Hall | Adult | British banter and fake dating |
1. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
Scott meets Ramona and must fight her seven evil exes. Funny, stylish and quick.
Best for: the series start.
2. Nimona by ND Stevenson
A shape-shifter becomes a villain's sidekick. Funny, sharp and surprisingly moving.
Best for: shape-shifting sidekick.
3. Blankets by Craig Thompson
A boy recalls first love and growing up in a strict family. Tender and beautiful.
Best for: graphic memoir.
4. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Two friends drift apart after high school. Dry, sad and sharp.
Best for: indie classic.
5. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
Girls at a summer camp face supernatural mysteries. Funny and joyful.
Best for: summer camp adventure.
6. Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
A former figure skater joins a college hockey team and bakes pies for his teammates. This graphic novel collection is joyful, funny and sweet, with a slowly building romance at its center.
Best for: graphic novel fans.
7. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Two schoolboys fall in love. Gentle and joyful.
Best for: graphic romance.
8. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A shy writer starts university and slowly opens up. Warm and bookish.
Best for: college romance.
9. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a bus in 1986. Tender and painful.
Best for: slow-burn love.
10. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
A graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the revolution. Funny and sad.
Best for: graphic memoir fans.
11. Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick
A robot boy falls to Earth and makes friends. Funny, sweet and action-packed.
Best for: robot adventures.
12. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Raina knocks out her front teeth and faces years of dental surgery. A graphic memoir, honest and funny.
Best for: graphic novel fans.
13. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Wade searches a virtual world for an Easter egg left by its creator. Nostalgic and fast.
Best for: gamers.
14. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
A record-store owner revisits his top five breakups. Funny, self-deprecating and far gentler than Oxygen Thief.
Best for: funny lovelorn men.
15. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
After a newspaper scandal, Luc needs a respectable boyfriend and hires Oliver to play the part. British humour, fast dialogue and a very satisfying fake-dating arc make this a natural next read.
Best for: British banter and fake dating.
How to Choose
For more O'Malley read the rest of the Scott Pilgrim series in order. For graphic novel humour choose Nimona, Lumberjanes or Hilo. For romance pick Heartstopper or Check, Please! For indie classics read Ghost World or Blankets. For music and pop-culture fun try High Fidelity and Ready Player One. Scott Pilgrim is fast and playful, so these picks suit readers who like comics with attitude. The Scott Pilgrim comics were turned into a 2010 film and an animated series, and a colour edition of the books was released later. Readers who liked the video-game touches often enjoy Ready Player One and similar pop-culture adventures.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scott Pilgrim about?
A young man in Toronto fights his girlfriend's seven evil exes.
Who wrote it?
Bryan Lee O'Malley.
When did it start?
The first volume appeared in 2004.
How many volumes are there?
Six.
Is there a film?
Yes, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and an animated series.
Is it for teens?
It suits older teens and adults, with some mature themes.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes.
What should I read next?
Try Nimona or Check, Please!
Which book here is best for indie classic?
Try Ghost World by Daniel Clowes, which suits readers looking for indie classic.
Which book here is best for graphic romance?
Try Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, which suits readers looking for graphic romance.
Which book here is best for graphic memoir fans?
Try Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, which suits readers looking for graphic memoir fans.
Which book here is best for gamers?
Try Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, which suits readers looking for gamers.