Books like Girls in Love (Girls #1)

A fiercely relatable, laugh-out-loud confessional about the messy, heartbreaking, and hilarious realities of being thirteen. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Girls in Love (Girls #1).

energetic
nostalgic
turbulent
warm

01
Girls Out Late (Girls #3)
Jacqueline Wilson · 1999
A chaotic, heartfelt plunge into the dizzying highs of first crushes, strict curfews, and the unbreakable bond of best friends.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- humorous
- angsty
- earnest
02
Girls under pressure (Girls #2)
Jacqueline Wilson · 1998
A fiercely honest, chatty dive into the agonizing mirror-checks and intense friendships of early adolescence.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- chatty
- confessional
- angsty
03
Girl Online
Zoe Sugg
A warm, diary-style journey of healing a broken heart through new friendships and creative passions.
Shares:
- earnest
- female friendship
04
What girls are made of
Elana K. Arnold
A raw, blood-and-bone exploration of teenage girlhood that tears down the myth of unconditional love.
Feels:
- aching
- claustrophobic
- provocative
05
Cherry Crush Cathy Cassidy
Cathy Cassidy
A sun-drenched, chocolate-scented exploration of the messy, bittersweet thrill of first love and finding your place in a brand-new family.
Shares:
- confessional
- angsty
- earnest
06
First Term at Malory Towers
Enid Blyton · 1997
A cozy, spirited plunge into a world of midnight feasts, lacrosse matches, and the earnest trials of growing up.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
- female friendship
07
How to Be Popular
Meg Cabot
A bubbly, laugh-out-loud exploration of high school social climbing that proves the best version of yourself is usually the one you left behind.
Shares:
- nostalgic
08
Gossip Girl
Cecily von Ziegesar
A deliciously toxic, brand-name-dropping plunge into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's teenage elite.
Feels:
- glitzy
- indulgent
- toxic
09
Summer Term at St. Clare's
Enid Blyton · 1990
A sunlit, spirited romp through the dormitories and playing fields of a classic mid-century boarding school.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
10
Ruby Redfort look into my eyes (Ruby Redfort #1)
Lauren Child
A stylish, retro-tinged puzzle box of a book that crackles with deadpan wit and high-stakes espionage.
Shares:
- energetic
11
The fill-in boyfriend
Kasie West
A sweet, trope-driven high school romance where a desperate prom-night lie blossoms into a genuine, swoon-worthy connection.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
12
Seventeen and in Between
Barthe DeClements · 1984
An earnest, nostalgic journey through the messy intersection of lingering childhood insecurities and the complicated dawn of young adulthood.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
- coming of age

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