Books like Lola Rose

A bittersweet, gripping journey of a young girl forced to grow up too fast when her family's glamorous escape collides with harsh reality. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Lola Rose.

anxious
hopeful
gritty
vulnerable

01
The Diamond Girls
Jacqueline Wilson · 2005
A chaotic, big-hearted exploration of sisterhood and survival in a messy, deeply flawed, but fiercely loyal family.
Shares:
- earnest
- resilient
02
Candyfloss
Jacqueline Wilson
A bittersweet, deeply empathetic exploration of a child's fierce loyalty amidst the messy, unpredictable realities of adult struggles.
Shares:
- anxious
- earnest
- bittersweet
- conversational
03
Girls in tears (Girls #4)
Jacqueline Wilson / Nick Sharratt (Illust.) · 2002
A deeply relatable, tissue-soaking dive into the messy, high-stakes world of teenage friendship and first heartbreaks.
Feels:
- chaotic
- emotionally charged
- intimate
04
Lola and the boy next door
Stephanie Perkins
A vibrant, costume-filled exploration of first love and second chances that feels like a warm hug on a breezy San Francisco day.
Shares:
- earnest
05
Mr Stink
David Walliams
A cheeky, laugh-out-loud comedy that hides a surprisingly tender heart beneath layers of grime and bodily humor.
Feels:
- heartwarming
- whimsical
- uplifting
06
Sweet Honey
Cathy Cassidy
A sun-drenched but emotionally turbulent journey of a rebellious teen searching for a safe harbor in all the wrong places.
Shares:
- vulnerable
- earnest
07
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:
- earnest
- bittersweet
08
Nowhere to run
Kate William · 1986
An earnest exploration of teenage passion clashing with parental authority, driven by the steady beat of a young musician fighting for her art.
Shares:
- earnest
09
Don't Hurt Laurie!
Willo Davis Roberts · 1977
A tense, emotionally urgent story about the crushing weight of a secret and the life-saving power of finally being heard.
Shares:
- anxious
- hopeful
- earnest
10
Awful Auntie
David Walliams
A delightfully macabre and zany romp where a plucky underdog outwits a monstrously wicked relative.
Feels:
- zany
- spooky-lite
- suspenseful
11
Rose
Holly Webb
A gaslit, magical mystery where a young servant girl discovers her own hidden power in a house full of secrets.
Shares:
- earnest
12
The Tulip Touch
Anne Fine
A tense, psychological descent into the intoxicating and ultimately sinister grip of a toxic friendship.
Feels:
- uneasy
- sinister
- darkly thrilling

Back to Lola Rose