Books like Keeping 13

A fiercely protective, emotionally raw exploration of first love acting as a lifeline in the face of devastating trauma. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Keeping 13.

angsty
tender
heavy
hopeful

01
The Chase
Elle Kennedy
A sizzling, banter-heavy college romance where forced proximity turns stubborn assumptions into undeniable attraction.
Feels:
- energetic
- charged
- cozy
02
Lucky in love
Kasie West
A sweet, sunlit exploration of what happens when a stroke of impossible luck complicates the simple joys of first love.
Shares:
- hopeful
- earnest
03
It Was Always You
Judy Corry
A sweet, butterfly-inducing exploration of what happens when the person you've always known suddenly becomes the person you can't stop thinking about.
Shares:
- hopeful
- earnest
04
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:
- tender
- hopeful
- earnest
05
Silence
Becca Fitzpatrick
A shadowy, high-stakes paranormal romance where forgotten memories collide with an undeniable, magnetic attraction.
Shares:
- angsty
- 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:
- tender
- earnest
07
Pucking Around
Emily Rath
A wildly indulgent, high-heat hockey romance that trades unnecessary angst for fierce devotion, endless banter, and a cozy polyamorous dynamic.
Shares:
- found family
08
Irish hope
Donna Fletcher · 2001
A spirited journey through historical Ireland where a clever disguise sparks a slow-burn romance built on proximity and hidden truths.
Shares:
- earnest
09
Body Check
Elle Kennedy
A steamy, high-energy romance where a single night of rebellion sparks a passionate campaign for forever.
Shares:
- earnest
10
Safety in Numbers
Sandra Field
A tender, character-driven romance about dismantling emotional walls and finding true safety in vulnerability rather than distance.
Shares:
- tender
- hopeful
- earnest
11
Where rainbows end
Cecelia Ahern
A decades-long dance of missed connections and enduring friendship told entirely through the intimate charm of letters, emails, and notes.
Shares:
- hopeful
- earnest
12
Slammed
Colleen Hoover
A heart-on-its-sleeve exploration of grief and forbidden love, where raw emotion is spoken aloud and every feeling is dialed up to ten.
Shares:
- angsty
- earnest
- intense

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