Books like Holding Up the Universe

A tender, dual-perspective romance about the profound relief of finally being seen for who you truly are. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Holding Up the Universe.

tender
intimate
bittersweet
uplifting

01
All the Bright Places
Jennifer Niven
A tender, devastating exploration of two broken teenagers finding a fleeting, beautiful world in each other.
Shares:
- tender
- intimate
- bittersweet
- earnest
02
Dumplin'
Julie Murphy
A big-hearted, Dolly Parton-fueled anthem about taking up space and finding the courage to be unapologetically yourself.
Shares:
- vulnerable
03
The upside of falling
Alex Light
A sweet, trope-tastic high school romance that melts guarded hearts with cozy fake-dating antics.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- hopeful
04
The upside of unrequited
Becky Albertalli
A warm, witty, and deeply relatable exploration of the terrifying leap between crushing from afar and risking your heart in the real world.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- hopeful
- body acceptance
05
An Abundance of Katherines
John Green · 2006
A nerdy, footnote-heavy summer road trip about graphing the trajectory of heartbreak and learning to live outside your own head.
Shares:
- earnest
06
The earth, my butt, and other big, round things
Carolyn Mackler
A funny, fiercely honest journey of a girl learning to stop shrinking and start taking up the space she deserves.
Shares:
- intimate
- earnest
- vulnerable
- hopeful
07
Looking for Alaska
John Green · 2006
A bittersweet, smoke-ringed exploration of first loves, sudden losses, and the impossible task of truly knowing another person.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
08
I'll Give You the Sun
Jandy Nelson
A vibrant, paint-splattered explosion of grief, first love, and the fierce, fractured bond between twins.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
- vulnerable
09
The truth about forever
Sarah Dessen
A sun-soaked summer of chaotic catering gigs, found family, and learning to let go of the need to be perfect.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
- hopeful
10
Five Feet Apart
Rachael Lippincott
A high-stakes, tear-jerking romance about the agonizing distance between surviving and truly living.
Shares:
- tender
- bittersweet
- earnest
- vulnerable
11
Hold Still
Nina LaCour
A tender, aching exploration of the quiet spaces left behind by loss, and the slow, messy art of learning to breathe again.
Shares:
- tender
- bittersweet
- earnest
- hopeful
12
Faceless
Alyssa Sheinmel
A deeply internal exploration of what makes us who we are, set against the backdrop of a life-altering medical trauma.
Shares:
- earnest
- empathetic
- vulnerable

Back to Holding Up the Universe