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Quick answer: If you loved Thirteen Reasons Why, try All the Bright Places, Speak, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Looking for Alaska, It's Kind of a Funny Story and I Was Here. Each one is a powerful YA story about mental health, bullying, secrets or grief. Please check content notes; some deal with suicide.
Jay Asher's 2007 novel follows Clay Jensen, who receives a box of cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah Baker before her death by suicide. Each tape names a person whose actions affected her. Over one night, Clay listens and learns what happened. The book sparked discussion about bullying and mental health. These books share its emotion and its seriousness. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a crisis line.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| All the Bright Places | Jennifer Niven | 15+ | readers who want a love story about mental health |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | 14+ | readers who want a survivor's voice |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | 14+ | readers who like letters |
| Looking for Alaska | John Green | 15+ | readers who like grief |
| It's Kind of a Funny Story | Ned Vizzini | 14+ | readers who want hope |
| I Was Here | Gayle Forman | 14+ | readers who like friends searching for answers |
| We Were Liars | E. Lockhart | 14+ | readers who like twists |
| Every Last Word | Tamara Ireland Stone | 13+ | readers who like poetry |
| History Is All You Left Me | Adam Silvera | 15+ | readers who want grief |
| Turtles All the Way Down | John Green | 14+ | readers who want anxiety honestly |
| The Memory of Light | Francisco X. Stork | 14+ | readers who want recovery |
| Girl in Pieces | Kathleen Glasgow | 15+ | readers who want a recovery story |
| Hate List | Jennifer Brown | 14+ | readers who like aftermath stories |
| One of Us Is Lying | Karen M. McManus | 14+ | readers who want a mystery |
| Wintergirls | Laurie Halse Anderson | 15+ | readers who want honest struggles |
1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Two teens meet on a bell tower ledge.
Best for: readers who want a love story about mental health.
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A freshman stops speaking after a traumatic event.
Best for: readers who want a survivor's voice.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A shy freshman writes letters about friendship.
Best for: readers who like letters.
4. Looking for Alaska by John Green
A boy is changed by one girl.
Best for: readers who like grief.
5. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
A teen checks into a psychiatric ward.
Best for: readers who want hope.
6. I Was Here by Gayle Forman
A girl investigates her friend's death.
Best for: readers who like friends searching for answers.
7. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A girl's summers hide a secret.
Best for: readers who like twists.
8. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
A girl with OCD finds a poetry club.
Best for: readers who like poetry.
9. History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
A boy grieves his ex-boyfriend.
Best for: readers who want grief.
10. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
A girl with OCD looks for a missing billionaire.
Best for: readers who want anxiety honestly.
11. The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork
A girl recovers after an attempt.
Best for: readers who want recovery.
12. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
A teen rebuilds her life.
Best for: readers who want a recovery story.
13. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
A girl faces blame after a school shooting.
Best for: readers who like aftermath stories.
14. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Students are suspected of a death.
Best for: readers who want a mystery.
15. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
A girl struggles with an eating disorder.
Best for: readers who want honest struggles.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Thirteen Reasons Why: 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 Thirteen Reasons Why. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For a hopeful story about mental health, It's Kind of a Funny Story and The Memory of Light are good choices. All the Bright Places and I Was Here are closest in theme. If you want the mystery element, One of Us Is Lying and We Were Liars are twisty. Read these at your own pace.
Related: What Age Is Thirteen Reasons Why Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thirteen Reasons Why about?
A teen listens to tapes left by a classmate explaining the reasons behind her death.
What age is it for?
It is for readers 14 and up and deals with suicide and sexual assault.
Is there a TV show?
Yes. A Netflix series aired from 2017 to 2020.
Why is the book controversial?
Critics worried it could glamorize suicide; supporters say it opens conversations.
Who is Clay Jensen?
A classmate who had feelings for Hannah.
Where can I get help if I'm struggling?
In the US, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Should parents read it with teens?
Many experts suggest reading and discussing it together.