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If you loved
Books like What's eating Gilbert Grape
A darkly funny, deeply tender portrait of a young man suffocating under the weight of his own family tree in a town where nothing ever happens. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with What's eating Gilbert Grape.
- claustrophobic
- bittersweet
- stagnant
- poignant
- 01
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Ned Vizzini
A candid, surprisingly funny exploration of teenage depression and the unexpected moments of light found within a psychiatric hospital.
- 02
Paper Towns
John Green
A restless, witty road trip that dismantles the myth of the perfect girl next door.
- 03
About a Boy
Nick Hornby · 2002
A sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender exploration of growing up, whether you are twelve or thirty-six.
- 04
The Last Picture Show
Larry McMurtry · 1966
A quiet, melancholic exploration of adolescent isolation in a desolate Texas town.
- 05
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Judi Barrett
A deadpan, mouth-watering tall tale where culinary dreams escalate into a delightfully chaotic fight for survival.
- 06
Shopgirl
Steve Martin · 2000
A tender, wry, and quietly devastating portrait of urban loneliness and the unequal geometry of modern romance.
- 07
High Fidelity
Nick Hornby · 2000
A sharp, hilarious, and painfully relatable dive into the mind of a pop-culture obsessive terrified of growing up.
- 08
Empire Falls
Richard Russo · 2001
A warm, wry, and ultimately heartbreaking immersion into the fading pulse of a blue-collar New England town.
- 09
Seedfolks
Paul Fleischman · 1999
A mosaic of distinct voices coming together to grow something beautiful out of forgotten ground.
- 10
She's come undone
Wally Lamb · 1992
A raw, darkly funny, and deeply empathetic plunge into the messy business of surviving your own life.
- 11
The Year of Billy Miller
Kevin Henkes
A warm, reassuring hug of a book that celebrates the quiet triumphs of everyday childhood.
- 12
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
A hilarious, highly visual survival guide to the everyday humiliations of middle school.
