Books like I'll Give You the Sun

A vibrant, paint-splattered explosion of grief, first love, and the fierce, fractured bond between twins. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with I'll Give You the Sun.

luminous
vibrant
bittersweet
emotionally charged

01
The sky is everywhere
Jandy Nelson
A vibrant, messy, and deeply poetic exploration of how a heart can simultaneously break from grief and burst with new love.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
- vulnerable
- lyrical
02
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
A ticking-clock romance that breaks your heart while desperately urging you to live.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
03
Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowell
A tender, mixtape-fueled exploration of first love that feels as visceral and fragile as a bruised heart.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- emotionally charged
- earnest
- vulnerable
04
Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell
A cozy, anxiety-laced love letter to fandom, first loves, and the terrifying leap of leaving your comfort zone.
Shares:
- earnest
- vulnerable
05
All the Bright Places
Jennifer Niven
A tender, devastating exploration of two broken teenagers finding a fleeting, beautiful world in each other.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
06
You've Reached Sam
Dustin Thao
A tender, tear-soaked exploration of first love and the agonizing, beautiful difficulty of saying a final goodbye.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
07
Far from the tree
Robin Benway
A beautiful, interweaving exploration of what it means to find, keep, and love a family.
Shares:
- earnest
08
Tell the wolves I'm home
Carol Rifka Brunt
A tender, tear-jerking exploration of grief, hidden loves, and the unexpected friendships that pull us back to life.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
09
Ander and Santi Were Here
Jonny Garza Villa
A tender, sun-drenched queer romance that celebrates the vibrant sanctuary of community before confronting the heartbreaking realities of the American immigration system.
Shares:
- vibrant
- bittersweet
- earnest
- passionate
10
A Thousand Boy Kisses
Tillie Cole
A devastatingly emotional exploration of first love and inevitable loss that demands to be read with a box of tissues nearby.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
11
Only mostly devastated
Sophie Gonzales
A queer reimagining of a classic summer-nights romance that balances laugh-out-loud banter with the tender ache of real-world grief.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
12
The gravity of us
Phil Stamper
A swoony, high-stakes queer romance about finding your anchor when the whole world is watching.
Shares:
- earnest

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