Books like The Art of Being Normal

A tender, big-hearted exploration of friendship, secrets, and the terrifying thrill of finally showing the world who you really are. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The Art of Being Normal.

angsty
tender
uplifting

01
Luna
Julie Anne Peters
A poignant, secretive exploration of sibling bonds and the tense, beautiful journey of a transgender teen preparing to show her true self to the world.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- empathetic
- hopeful
02
Almost Perfect
Brian Katcher
A messy, emotionally turbulent exploration of teenage heartbreak, prejudice, and the rocky road to genuine understanding.
Shares:
- angsty
- earnest
03
If I Was Your Girl
Meredith Russo
A tender, anxiety-laced, and ultimately triumphant exploration of the terrifying leap required to let yourself be truly seen.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- hopeful
- the weight of secrets
04
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children
Kirstin Cronn-Mills
An intimate, music-fueled journey of a trans teen flipping the record to let his true self play.
Shares:
- earnest
- hopeful
05
Boy2girl
Terence Blacker · 2004
A chaotic, multi-perspective middle-school comedy where a prank meant to humiliate accidentally dismantles the entire social hierarchy.
Shares:
- earnest
- unlikely friendships
06
Golden boy
Abigail Tarttelin
A tense, emotionally charged exploration of a picture-perfect family fracturing under the weight of its own secrets and a young man's search for his true self.
Shares:
- earnest
- empathetic
07
This Book is Gay
James Dawson
A witty, warm, and radically candid handbook for navigating the messy, joyful realities of queer identity.
Shares:
- candid
08
Faking normal
Courtney C. Stevens
A raw and tender journey of two traumatized teenagers who become each other's safe harbor in the aftermath of unspeakable pain.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- empathetic
- hopeful
09
The Boy in the Dress
David Walliams
A cheeky, big-hearted romp about the liberating power of wearing exactly what you want, even if it surprises everyone.
Shares:
- uplifting
- empathetic
10
Gracefully Grayson
Ami Polonsky
A tender, theatrical journey of a young girl stepping out of the shadows and onto the stage as her true self.
Shares:
- tender
- uplifting
- earnest
- hopeful
11
This is how it always is
Laurie Frankel
A big-hearted, messy, and deeply tender exploration of how far parents will go to protect their child's right to simply be.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
- hopeful
12
Symptoms of Being Human
Jeff Garvin
A tense, big-hearted exploration of identity, anxiety, and the terrifying leap from internet anonymity to real-world vulnerability.
Shares:
- earnest
- empathetic
- hopeful
- the weight of secrets

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