If you are a fan of Jenny Han, you probably enjoy stories about first love, the awkwardness of growing up, and characters that feel like real friends. Her books often feature heartfelt moments, relatable family dynamics, and that sweet ache of young romance.
If you are searching for authors who capture a similar feeling in their books, then this article is for you.
Sarah Dessen writes heartfelt novels about teenage life, relationships, and self-discovery. Readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s genuine characters will find a similar warmth and sincerity in Dessen’s stories.
One of her popular books, “The Truth About Forever,” follows Macy Queen during a difficult time after losing her dad. Macy tries to maintain a perfect image, but her life starts to shift after meeting a quirky catering crew and a boy named Wes.
Their friendship encourages Macy to face her hidden emotions and step beyond her comfort zone. This book captures the challenges of grief, the importance of finding your voice, and the courage it takes to live authentically.
Kasie West writes heartwarming and fun young adult romances full of relatable characters and charming dialogue. Readers who enjoyed Jenny Han’s books like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” will likely connect with West’s novel “P.S. I Like You.”
In this story, Lily secretly scribbles lyrics and thoughts on her chemistry desk, never expecting someone to reply. But then someone else starts writing responses back.
Lily becomes eager to discover who’s behind the notes, setting her off on a sweet, humorous, and romantic journey filled with unexpected twists. It’s an engaging read perfect for anyone who loves tender YA romances and delightful surprises.
If you enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt, character-driven stories about friendship, love, and family, you might really connect with Morgan Matson’s novels.
Matson has a way of creating authentic characters and capturing relatable teenage experiences, and her book “Since You’ve Been Gone” is a standout example.
It follows Emily, whose outgoing best friend, Sloane, suddenly disappears at the start of summer, leaving behind only a mysterious to-do list full of adventures and risks Emily must try herself.
As Emily tackles each item on the list—everything from riding horses to dancing until dawn—she learns more about friendship, courage, and herself than she’d imagined.
If you’re a fan of Jenny Han’s emotional storytelling, “Since You’ve Been Gone” promises similar warmth, humor, and heartfelt moments.
Books by Stephanie Perkins are perfect for readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s sweet, heartfelt style. Perkins writes genuine characters with emotional depth and relatable experiences.
Her novel “Anna and the French Kiss” follows Anna, an American teen sent to a boarding school in Paris. Anna struggles at first, feeling out of place in a new culture far from home.
Things become complicated when she meets Étienne St. Clair, a charming classmate who soon captures her heart. But Étienne isn’t exactly available, forcing Anna to navigate friendship, feelings, and the beauty of Paris.
Perkins weaves romance, humor, and thoughtful moments into a story that captures young love and self-discovery.
Books by Rainbow Rowell capture heartfelt stories and genuine teenage emotions that readers of Jenny Han will enjoy.
One standout novel is “Eleanor & Park,” set in 1986, a realistic romance centered around two misfit teens who find comfort and connection through comics, music, and quiet bus rides. Eleanor is a girl with unruly red hair, odd clothes, and a complicated home life.
Park is introspective and cautious around peers, yet their shared bus seat becomes the beginning of an unexpected bond. Their friendship blossoms slowly, filled with small discoveries, thoughtful gestures, and tender moments that readers won’t soon forget.
If you enjoy Jenny Han’s heartwarming romances and relatable characters, you may want to explore books by Sandhya Menon. Menon’s novel “When Dimple Met Rishi” introduces readers to Dimple Shah, a spirited young woman eager to escape her parents’ traditional expectations.
She’s thrilled when accepted into a summer tech program that’s a step closer to her dreams of becoming an app developer.
But her excitement quickly takes a turn when she learns her parents secretly arranged her meeting there with Rishi Patel—a hopeless romantic who happily embraces his family’s traditions.
The novel humorously captures the awkwardness, warmth, and surprise attraction between these two very different teens. With its lively storytelling and authentic portrayal of first loves, “When Dimple Met Rishi” is a delightful story worth discovering.
If you enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt and relatable stories, author Nicola Yoon might also catch your interest. Her novel, “Everything, Everything,” follows Maddy, a teenage girl who suffers from a rare illness that forces her to stay indoors.
Her careful isolation is put to the test when Olly moves next door. He’s a spirited and adventurous boy who shows her a world she’s never known.
Filled with genuine teenage emotions and memorable characters, Yoon creates a story about taking risks, young love, and the courage to dream beyond limitations.
If you enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt stories and charming characters, Becky Albertalli might become your next favorite author.
Albertalli’s novel, “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” introduces Simon Spier, a high school junior who is secretly exchanging emails with a classmate known only as Blue.
When Simon’s emails fall into the wrong hands, his quiet life gets complicated, and he must navigate friendship, family, and high school drama while protecting Blue’s identity—and his own.
The story is warm and funny, filled with memorable characters and moments of genuine emotion that fans of Jenny Han’s novels often appreciate.
Books by Marie Lu offer relatable characters, vivid worlds, and a perfect blend of adventure and heartfelt emotion. Readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s stories about young love and personal growth may find something special in Lu’s novel “Warcross.”
The book follows Emika Chen, a teenage hacker barely making ends meet. When Emika accidentally glitches herself into the international championship of Warcross—a virtual reality game played globally—she draws the attention of the game’s young creator, Hideo Tanaka.
He invites her to work undercover inside the game’s dazzling Tokyo tournament to investigate a risky security breach. As Emika navigates hidden dangers and complicated feelings, layers of betrayal, trust, and loyalty unfold.
Fans of Jenny Han’s relatable relationships and realistic teenage voices might connect easily to Emika’s compelling journey.
Readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt stories might also connect with Jennifer E. Smith’s novels. Smith specializes in contemporary YA romances filled with sweet, authentic characters and relatable relationships.
Her book “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight” introduces readers to Hadley Sullivan, a girl who misses her flight to London by just a few minutes.
That missed connection sets her life on a different path when she meets Oliver, a charming stranger also waiting for a later flight. During their spontaneous encounter, Hadley and Oliver find an unexpected bond that highlights how chance moments can change lives.
Smith’s writing feels genuine, offering the kind of warmth that fans of Jenny Han will appreciate.
Tahereh Mafi is an author known for emotional stories and vivid characters, ideal for readers who enjoy authors like Jenny Han. Her novel, “A Very Large Expanse of Sea,” follows sixteen-year-old Shirin, a Muslim teen navigating high school shortly after 9/11.
Shirin faces prejudice daily but finds an unexpected connection with Ocean, a classmate who genuinely wants to know the person behind the stereotypes. Their friendship grows deeper and more complicated, challenging Shirin in ways she didn’t expect.
Fans of heartfelt, realistic young adult fiction will appreciate how Mafi portrays first love alongside the struggles of identity and belonging.
Readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt and emotional stories may also find themselves drawn to novels by Rachael Lippincott.
Her book “Five Feet Apart” tells the story of Stella and Will, two teenagers who meet in a hospital where they are both being treated for cystic fibrosis. They are instantly connected, even though they must remain six feet apart at all times because of their health.
Stella decides to reclaim one foot of space, choosing five feet as their new rule—a small rebellion with big emotional stakes. The story explores love, friendship, and the courage it takes to embrace life despite difficult circumstances.
Readers who appreciated Jenny Han’s genuine characters and relatable romances are likely to be moved by the sincerity and warmth of Lippincott’s storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Jenny Han’s heartfelt and authentic storytelling might also appreciate Siobhan Vivian’s novels. Vivian captures teenage life with honesty and depth, tackling friendship, identity, and growing up with warmth and sincerity.
In her book “The List,” Vivian explores high school life transformed by an annual tradition—a list naming the prettiest and ugliest girl from each grade.
The book follows eight girls chosen this year, revealing how each one responds, copes, or rebels against labels placed on them. Vivian portrays their experiences with care and insight, showing how a simple piece of paper can change everything.
If you enjoy Jenny Han’s relatable characters and heartfelt stories, Emery Lord is another author worth discovering. Her novel “The Start of Me and You” follows Paige Hancock as she navigates life after losing her first boyfriend to a tragic accident.
Paige sets out with a plan to take control of her life again, determined to get involved in new things and possibly find new love. This journey leads Paige to unexpected friendships, a surprising romance, and important realizations about herself.
Emery Lord explores friendship, grief, and teenage life with warmth and humor that fans of Jenny Han will appreciate.
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of two best friends, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, who create witty contemporary romances. Fans of Jenny Han’s romantic, charming storytelling might connect easily with their book “Love and Other Words.”
This story is about Macy and Elliot, former childhood friends who meet again years later. The book alternates between past and present, capturing their shared love for reading, their teenage adventures, and the misunderstanding that separated them.
Readers who enjoy emotional depth, relatable characters, and heartfelt romances will likely find this an enjoyable read.