If you loved the warmth and authenticity of Eleanor and Park, you’ll find much to enjoy in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. This novel captures a similar voice: funny, honest, and heartfelt.
Cath, the protagonist, struggles with social anxiety as she navigates her first year of college apart from her twin sister. A passionate fanfiction writer, she finds comfort in fandom communities but faces challenges connecting with new people.
With sweet romance, relatable characters, and insights into pop culture obsession, Fangirl offers a comforting but realistic exploration of personal growth, first love, and finding your place.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower features Charlie, a quiet freshman grappling with trauma, loss, and the complications of high school. Through letters, readers experience Charlie's unique perspective, loneliness, and longing for friendship.
Similar to Eleanor and Park, this book authentically portrays outsiders entering meaningful relationships and discovering love and belonging.
With vibrant supporting characters, honest depictions of teen struggles, and a nostalgic backdrop of early '90s music and culture, it offers readers a deeply moving journey through adolescence, friendship, and healing from past wounds.
If you connected deeply with the emotional intensity of Eleanor and Park, you may appreciate this book’s lyrical, heartfelt storytelling.
Set in late '80s Texas, the novel follows Ari and Dante, two Mexican-American teenagers who forge an unlikely friendship that slowly blossoms into something deeper. Both boys wrestle with their identity, family expectations, and understanding their place in the world.
With poetic prose and thoughtful character exploration, Sáenz beautifully portrays the confusion, longing, and exhilaration of young love and the complexity of discovering who you truly are.
Set at a boarding school in Alabama, Looking for Alaska offers a similar coming-of-age experience filled with first-love intensity, loss, and deep emotional questions about life and existence.
Like Eleanor and Park, this book vividly captures the passion and uncertainty of adolescence, while authentically handling tough emotional themes.
Green's memorable characters, sharp dialogue, and insightful exploration of grief and growing up make it resonate deeply with readers who appreciate honest storytelling.
Speak portrays freshman Melinda, who becomes an outcast after calling the police at a summer party. Silent and isolated, Melinda struggles to find her voice after suffering a trauma no one else knows about.
Much of the novel captures Melinda's inner turmoil along with her sarcastic, honest, often humorous observations about high school.
Like Eleanor and Park, it empathetically portrays outsider experiences while unpacking serious topics around family issues, trauma, and emotional resilience.
Melinda’s powerful journey towards healing gives readers a poignant, inspiring story of self-discovery, courage, and reclaiming one’s voice.
Told through dual perspectives of twins Jude and Noah, I'll Give You the Sun vibrantly explores love, art, and family secrets. Nelson vividly portrays both protagonists and their complicated sibling relationship, immersing readers deeply in each character's emotional world.
Fans of Eleanor and Park will appreciate the nuanced characterization and exploration of identity and first love.
As Jude and Noah's narratives overlap and diverge, the novel offers an emotional rollercoaster filled with heartbreak, forgiveness, and the transformative power of art and connection.
Albertalli's debut delivers the kind of sweet, genuine romance fans of Eleanor and Park will adore. Simon, trying to keep his sexuality private, exchanges anonymous emails with a boy who attends his school.
Balancing humor, emotional warmth, and relatable teenage experiences, the novel thoughtfully depicts coming out, friendships, and authenticity.
Readers will savor Simon’s endearing voice, fondness for Oreos, and the supportive friendships and family relationships portrayed with warmth. This uplifting and charming story emphasizes self-discovery, courage, and authenticity in young love and friendship.
Emergency Contact captures a fresh modern romance rooted in technology and connection through texting, resonating with anyone who loved the heartfelt sincerity of Eleanor and Park.
The protagonists, Penny and Sam, awkwardly meet but quickly develop an intimate relationship shaped entirely by digital messaging. Choi beautifully weaves in themes of social anxiety, family relationships, and loneliness in college.
With realistic dialogue and relatable yet flawed characters, this novel authentically portrays the challenges faced when seeking true connection and vulnerability in today’s world.
Set over one unforgettable night in New York City, this music-infused novel will resonate with readers of Eleanor and Park who loved its rich pop culture references.
Nick asks Norah to pretend to be his girlfriend to avoid an awkward encounter, which sparks a whirlwind night of spontaneity, music, and connection.
Alternating viewpoints reveal both characters’ insecurities and hopes, authentically capturing the excitement, vulnerability, and unpredictability of young love. Full of energy and heart, Nick and Norah’s adventure feels heartfelt, fun, and refreshingly authentic.
Violet and Finch, two outsiders in their Indiana high school, form a bond while dealing with their own mental health struggles. Finch battles depression and unpredictable moods, while Violet grieves a personal tragedy.
All the Bright Places shares the intense connection and emotional complexities present in Eleanor and Park, carefully exploring how relationships can offer both comfort and pain when navigating mental illness.
Niven courageously portrays the beauty and fragility of first love, friendship, and healing in a novel that's emotionally compelling yet sincere.
Featuring a fun, witty rivalry turned romance fueled by social media, Tweet Cute sits comfortably alongside Eleanor and Park for its authentic teen voices and humor.
Pepper and Jack unexpectedly go viral when their parents’ businesses start a Twitter war, unknowingly developing feelings for each other offline. The characters’ realistic struggles with family expectations, identity, and self-confidence enhance the story’s sincerity and depth.
Readers will find this novel delightful and genuine, perfectly balancing humor, heart, and contemporary relevance.
Nicola Yoon offers a fresh take on first love by adding a splash of magical realism into a contemporary YA romance.
Evie witnesses visions of couples’ relationships from beginning to inevitable heartbreak, making her wary of her own romance with charming X. Similar to Eleanor and Park, this novel explores the vulnerability and bravery involved in falling in love, but with an imaginative, magical twist.
Yoon beautifully crafts relatable characters while thoughtfully addressing fears of being hurt and hopes of true connection.
Starr Carter navigates two worlds: her predominantly white private school and her neighborhood community. After witnessing the police shooting of her friend, Starr's voice gains urgency startlingly relevant today.
Though tackling heavier topics, this novel resonates similarly to Eleanor and Park through its honest teen voice, deeply depicted family dynamics, and authentic relationships.
Starr’s experiences with friendship, identity, trauma, and first love create a gripping, sincere portrait of a young woman courageously speaking out for justice and becoming empowered.
Felix Ever After, a trans teenager in New York, struggles with identity and dreams of romance. When faced with transphobic bullying, he responds by trying to unravel hidden truths, inadvertently landing in a complicated love triangle.
Callender explores powerful themes of gender identity, belonging, and self-love with care and honesty.
For fans of Eleanor and Park, the novel beautifully portrays finding connection despite feeling different, managing family relationships, and navigating heartfelt, complex first love.
This delightful new-adult romance features Alex, the First Son of the United States, and Henry, an English prince, who develop an initially adversarial relationship turned romance. McQuiston infuses the novel with humor, warmth, and genuine emotion capturing intense first love.
Though target audiences differ slightly from Eleanor and Park, its portrayal of unexpected connections, cultural differences, and affectionate relationships strongly resonates.
With witty banter and heartfelt passion, this novel easily charms readers seeking heart and humor alongside sincerity.