Katrina Leno writes thoughtful and imaginative young adult fiction. Her novels like Summer of Salt and Horrid blend reality with subtle magic, exploring themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery.
If you enjoy reading books by Katrina Leno then you might also like the following authors:
If you appreciate Katrina Leno's blend of magic and emotional honesty, A.S. King might become your next favorite author. King writes inventive stories that mix quirky magical realism into teenage struggles and family relationships.
Her book Please Ignore Vera Dietz revolves around a smart teen facing grief and secrets, capturing the messy truth of friendship and loss with a touch of the surreal.
Nova Ren Suma creates haunting, poetic stories that blur the boundaries between reality and the supernatural. Her novels explore the mysterious sides of adolescence, shining a light on secrets, identity, and connection.
In The Walls Around Us, she examines friendship, betrayal, and truth through a powerful narrative wrapped around dance, prison, and ghostly events. Fans of Katrina Leno will enjoy exploring Suma's beautifully eerie storytelling.
If you love how Katrina Leno effortlessly weaves magic into realistic struggles, check out Anna-Marie McLemore. McLemore's lyrical books are rooted in folklore and fairy tales, exploring LGBTQ+ identity, cultural heritage, and coming-of-age themes.
Their book, When the Moon Was Ours, is a vivid and emotional story filled with love, acceptance, and magical symbolism celebrating diverse identities.
Alice Hoffman's novels mix everyday life and human struggles with subtle, enchanting magical realism. Like Katrina Leno, she creates captivating, character-driven stories centered around relationships, secrets, and personal growth.
In Practical Magic, Hoffman follows the Owens sisters as they wrestle with family legacy, love, and finding their place within a rich, mystical atmosphere.
Francesca Lia Block writes stories that feel dreamy and lyrical but grounded in truthful emotions and authentic experiences of growing up. She uses vivid imagery and poetic language to explore complicated relationships, identity, and self-discovery.
Her classic novel Weetzie Bat is a short, memorable tale that captures a whimsical, enchanted vision of Los Angeles, celebrating friendship, love, and finding magic in life's small moments.
Emily X.R. Pan creates heartfelt novels filled with emotional depth and touches of magic. Her stories explore family connections, grief, and cultural heritage through gentle and imaginative storytelling.
Her novel The Astonishing Color of After follows Leigh, a teenager who believes her mother became a bird after death. The book beautifully blends magical realism and reality, similar to how Katrina Leno weaves magic into everyday life.
Sarah Addison Allen writes charming, whimsical stories set in cozy Southern towns. Her books often center on families, community bonds, and moments of gentle magic.
If you love Katrina Leno’s subtle ways of presenting magic, you'll appreciate Allen’s style in Garden Spells, which tells the story of the mysterious Waverley sisters, their enchanted garden, and the delicious magic they use to help the townspeople.
Laura Ruby creates imaginative and lyrical stories that make the impossible feel ordinary. Her narratives explore complex emotions, identity, and relationships, often adding touches of fantasy or mystery.
Her novel Bone Gap, about a girl who mysteriously disappears from a small town, blends magical realism, romance, and mystery in a way that’s intriguing and thoughtful—very appealing for fans of Katrina Leno.
Andrew Smith crafts funny, moving, and quirky coming-of-age stories. He captures teenage insecurities and friendships with authenticity and heart, often mixing reality with surprising, surreal elements.
His novel Grasshopper Jungle is both absurd and heartfelt, following teens navigating friendship, love, and a bizarre horror situation of giant insects. Smith’s authentic voice and offbeat imagination will resonate with readers who enjoy Katrina Leno’s unique storytelling style.
Maggie Stiefvater writes atmospheric, character-driven novels filled with magical realism and folklore. Her stories emphasize friendship, identity, and the complexities of relationships, creating immersive worlds you can easily lose yourself in.
Her novel The Raven Boys is about friendship, mythology, and the quest to discover a magical Welsh king. If you love Katrina Leno’s magic-infused realism and emotional depth, Stiefvater’s world-building might be a perfect match.
If you enjoy Katrina Leno's blend of magical realism and insightful storytelling, you'll appreciate Elana K. Arnold's thoughtful, emotional novels.
In Damsel, she examines classic fairy tale elements through a powerful feminist lens, crafting narratives that question societal expectations and encourage readers to look past surface appearances.
Readers who resonate with Katrina Leno’s eerie atmospheres and dark, enchanting storytelling will find Melissa Albert equally appealing.
Her book, The Hazel Wood, offers a rich exploration of dark fairy tale worlds combined with contemporary settings, capturing a haunting mood and complex, morally ambiguous characters.
Fans of Katrina Leno who connect with emotionally resonant themes and deeply personal stories should try Corey Ann Haydu.
In her novel Eventown, Haydu skillfully mixes reality with subtle fantasy elements, creating meaningful narratives around family, identity, and the painful yet important process of facing difficult truths.
If you're drawn to Katrina Leno's honest portrayal of friendship and relationships, Jeff Zentner might become a new favorite.
He's known for his emotionally powerful contemporary stories, like The Serpent King, that deal with grief, hope, and the complicated journey of embracing who you truly are.
If Katrina Leno's imaginative style and touch of the supernatural is appealing, you'll likely enjoy Libba Bray's engaging fiction.
Her atmospheric novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty, combines historical settings with magical elements, exploring friendship, empowerment, and self-discovery.