Books like The earth, my butt, and other big, round things

A funny, fiercely honest journey of a girl learning to stop shrinking and start taking up the space she deserves. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The earth, my butt, and other big, round things.

angsty
intimate
hopeful

01
Dumplin'
Julie Murphy
A big-hearted, Dolly Parton-fueled anthem about taking up space and finding the courage to be unapologetically yourself.
Shares:
- wry
- vulnerable
- taking up space
02
Seventeen and in Between
Barthe DeClements · 1984
An earnest, nostalgic journey through the messy intersection of lingering childhood insecurities and the complicated dawn of young adulthood.
Shares:
- earnest
03
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade
Barthe DeClements · 1981
A raw, honest look at the cruelty of the classroom that slowly thaws into a story of unexpected solidarity and grace.
Shares:
- earnest
04
Holding Up the Universe
Jennifer Niven
A tender, dual-perspective romance about the profound relief of finally being seen for who you truly are.
Shares:
- intimate
- hopeful
- vulnerable
- earnest
05
Diary of a teenage Girl
Melody Carlson
An intimate, faith-filled glimpse into the everyday struggles and spiritual awakenings of a high schooler finding her place in the world.
Shares:
- intimate
- hopeful
- earnest
06
Get Well Soon
Julie Halpern
A hilarious, unfiltered, and deeply vulnerable dispatch from the psych ward that feels like a late-night conversation with your most sarcastic friend.
Shares:
- intimate
- wry
- vulnerable
07
What girls are made of
Elana K. Arnold
A raw, blood-and-bone exploration of teenage girlhood that tears down the myth of unconditional love.
Shares:
- vulnerable
08
Then Again, Maybe I Won't
Judy Blume · 1971
A frank, deeply relatable time capsule of adolescent anxiety, moral confusion, and the literal stomachaches of growing up.
Shares:
- earnest
09
Pants on Fire
Meg Cabot
A sun-drenched, chaotic summer romp about the exhausting work of keeping up appearances and the relief of finally letting go.
Feels:
- summery
- chaotic
- romantic
10
Girls under pressure (Girls #2)
Jacqueline Wilson · 1998
A fiercely honest, chatty dive into the agonizing mirror-checks and intense friendships of early adolescence.
Shares:
- angsty
- intimate
- wry
11
The best little girl in the world
Steven Levenkron
A claustrophobic and urgent psychological portrait of a teenager's desperate quest for control.
Shares:
- earnest
12
The yes girl
Kathryn Makris
A relatable teen romance about the exhausting trap of people-pleasing and the courage it takes to finally say no.
Shares:
- earnest

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