34 Books like Holding Up the Universe

Yo te inventé

by Francesca Zappia

Her first friend was a hallucination. Now he's her chemistry partner, and she's falling.

4.02

31k+

🧠 Mental Health Ya 💥 Enemies To Lovers 👁️ Unreliable Narrator 🫂 Found Family 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

Yo te inventé 93%

Her first friend was a hallucination. Now he's her chemistry partner, and she's falling.

by Francesca Zappia 2015

4.02

31k+ ratings

🧠 Mental Health Ya 💥 Enemies To Lovers 👁️ Unreliable Narrator 🫂 Found Family 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

100 Days of Sunlight

by Abbie Emmons • 2019

A blind poet clashes with a boy with a hidden amputation hired to type her poems.

4.20

12k+

🩻 Hidden Disability 🗣️ Dual Perspective 🖋️ Poetic Love Interest 🦿 Disabled Love Interest 💌 Clean Teen Romance

100 Days of Sunlight 95%

A blind poet clashes with a boy with a hidden amputation hired to type her poems.

by Abbie Emmons 2019

4.20

12k+ ratings

🩻 Hidden Disability 🗣️ Dual Perspective 🖋️ Poetic Love Interest 🦿 Disabled Love Interest 💌 Clean Teen Romance

The DUFF

by Kody Keplinger • 2010

After the playboy calls her the ugly friend, she sleeps with him in secret to escape.

3.79

196k+

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🤫 Secret Relationship 😈 Bad Boy Romance 💔 Body Image Issues 😏 Snarky Heroine

The DUFF 93%

After the playboy calls her the ugly friend, she sleeps with him in secret to escape.

by Kody Keplinger 2010

3.79

196k+ ratings

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🤫 Secret Relationship 😈 Bad Boy Romance 💔 Body Image Issues 😏 Snarky Heroine

Scars Like Wings

by Erin Stewart • 2019

A fire orphaned her. Her scars made her a spectacle. High school demands she be seen.

4.05

7k+

🩹 Visible Difference 🎭 School Theater 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🏠 Chosen Family

Scars Like Wings 93%

A fire orphaned her. Her scars made her a spectacle. High school demands she be seen.

by Erin Stewart 2019

4.05

7k+ ratings

🩹 Visible Difference 🎭 School Theater 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🏠 Chosen Family

La vie en vrai

by Emma Green • 2022

After her suicide attempt, a bullied girl is pulled to the cruel boy who saved her.

4.15

6k+

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🥀 Bully Romance 💔 Suicide Recovery 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Hidden Identity

La vie en vrai 93%

After her suicide attempt, a bullied girl is pulled to the cruel boy who saved her.

by Emma Green 2022

4.15

6k+ ratings

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🥀 Bully Romance 💔 Suicide Recovery 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Hidden Identity

Breathe and Count Back from Ten

by Natalia Sylvester • 2022

A Peruvian American teen hides her dream of becoming a mermaid performer from her immigrant parents.

3.82

4k+

🏡 Boy Next Door 👨‍👩‍👧 Strict Parents 🎭 Performing Arts 💔 Chronic Illness 💕 First Love

Breathe and Count Back from Ten 93%

A Peruvian American teen hides her dream of becoming a mermaid performer from her immigrant parents.

by Natalia Sylvester 2022

3.82

4k+ ratings

🏡 Boy Next Door 👨‍👩‍👧 Strict Parents 🎭 Performing Arts 💔 Chronic Illness 💕 First Love

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (2008) Paperback

by Simone Elkeles • 2007

He's back from juvie. She still limps. Their small town can't hold the secret between them.

3.99

44k+

💕 Ya Contemporary Romance 😈 Bad Reputation Hero 🩹 Scarred Heroine 🔒 Forced Proximity 💢 Enemies To Lovers

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (2008) Paperback Summary

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (2008) Paperback 93%

He's back from juvie. She still limps. Their small town can't hold the secret between them.

by Simone Elkeles 2007

3.99

44k+ ratings

💕 Ya Contemporary Romance 😈 Bad Reputation Hero 🩹 Scarred Heroine 🔒 Forced Proximity 💢 Enemies To Lovers

Letters to the Lost

by Brigid Kemmerer • 2017

Two grieving teens bare their souls in anonymous letters, never realizing they clash in real life.

4.31

52k+

✉️ Anonymous Pen Pals 😈 Good Girl Bad Boy 👥 Dual Pov Romance 💔 Shared Grief 🌧️ Melancholy Romance

Letters to the Lost 92%

Two grieving teens bare their souls in anonymous letters, never realizing they clash in real life.

by Brigid Kemmerer 2017

4.31

52k+ ratings

✉️ Anonymous Pen Pals 😈 Good Girl Bad Boy 👥 Dual Pov Romance 💔 Shared Grief 🌧️ Melancholy Romance

Joined at the Joints

by Marissa Eller • 2024

An arthritis support group brings two guarded teens together. Neither knows how to stay apart.

4.14

717

🩺 Chronic Illness Romance 🫂 Found Family 💕 First Love 🍞 Healing Through Food 🧠 Anxiety Representation

Joined at the Joints 92%

An arthritis support group brings two guarded teens together. Neither knows how to stay apart.

by Marissa Eller 2024

4.14

717 ratings

🩺 Chronic Illness Romance 🫂 Found Family 💕 First Love 🍞 Healing Through Food 🧠 Anxiety Representation

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry • 2012

A scarred girl and a foster kid collide in therapy, where healing means risking everything.

4.04

123k+

🖤 Good Girl Bad Boy 👥 Dual Pov 🧠 Repressed Memory 🏠 Foster Care 💕 Found Family

Pushing the Limits 92%

A scarred girl and a foster kid collide in therapy, where healing means risking everything.

by Katie McGarry 2012

4.04

123k+ ratings

🖤 Good Girl Bad Boy 👥 Dual Pov 🧠 Repressed Memory 🏠 Foster Care 💕 Found Family

Verona Comics

by Jennifer Dugan • 2020

Two teens bond at Comic-Con, only to discover their families are bitter business rivals.

3.58

4k+

⚔️ Rival Families 🤫 Secret Relationship 💘 Forbidden Romance 👥 Dual Pov 💔 Angsty Romance

Verona Comics 92%

Two teens bond at Comic-Con, only to discover their families are bitter business rivals.

by Jennifer Dugan 2020

3.58

4k+ ratings

⚔️ Rival Families 🤫 Secret Relationship 💘 Forbidden Romance 👥 Dual Pov 💔 Angsty Romance

Tanz der Tiefseequalle

by Stefanie Höfler • 2017

A bullied boy's quiet imagination catches a popular girl's eye. A class trip brings them together.

3.27

772

🏫 School Story 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 👁️ Dual Perspective 🪞 Body Image 🌱 Quiet Resilience

Tanz der Tiefseequalle 92%

A bullied boy's quiet imagination catches a popular girl's eye. A class trip brings them together.

by Stefanie Höfler 2017

3.27

772 ratings

🏫 School Story 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 👁️ Dual Perspective 🪞 Body Image 🌱 Quiet Resilience

The Problem with Forever

by Jennifer L. Armentrout • 2016

A near-mute survivor of abuse starts high school and finds her childhood protector in speech class.

3.96

66k+

🫂 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🏠 Foster Care Survivors 🩹 Trauma Recovery 🎤 Finding Your Voice 💔 Tearjerker Romance

The Problem with Forever 92%

A near-mute survivor of abuse starts high school and finds her childhood protector in speech class.

by Jennifer L. Armentrout 2016

3.96

66k+ ratings

🫂 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🏠 Foster Care Survivors 🩹 Trauma Recovery 🎤 Finding Your Voice 💔 Tearjerker Romance

Cruel King

by Rina Kent • 2019

An elite school's cruel king becomes obsessed with the one girl who wants to stay invisible.

3.89

103k+

🖤 Bully Romance 🔥 Possessive Hero 🌸 Wallflower Heroine 🏰 Elite Private School 💔 Angsty Romance

Cruel King 92%

An elite school's cruel king becomes obsessed with the one girl who wants to stay invisible.

by Rina Kent 2019

3.89

103k+ ratings

🖤 Bully Romance 🔥 Possessive Hero 🌸 Wallflower Heroine 🏰 Elite Private School 💔 Angsty Romance

All the Bright Places

by Jennifer Niven • 2015

A grieving girl meets a troubled boy on a ledge. Wandering Indiana, they fall in love.

4.11

633k+

🖤 Tragic Teen Love 💔 Mental Health Romance 🧠 Bipolar Representation 💧 Grief And Guilt 🏘️ Midwest Small Town

All the Bright Places 92%

A grieving girl meets a troubled boy on a ledge. Wandering Indiana, they fall in love.

by Jennifer Niven 2015

4.11

633k+ ratings

🖤 Tragic Teen Love 💔 Mental Health Romance 🧠 Bipolar Representation 💧 Grief And Guilt 🏘️ Midwest Small Town

Un amigo gratis

by Inma Rubiales • 2019

A guarded boy falls for the girl whose free-friendship project won't let him stay invisible.

4.16

3k+

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Tragic Romance 🏠 Found Family ☀️ Grumpy X Sunshine 👥 Dual Pov

Un amigo gratis 92%

A guarded boy falls for the girl whose free-friendship project won't let him stay invisible.

by Inma Rubiales 2019

4.16

3k+ ratings

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Tragic Romance 🏠 Found Family ☀️ Grumpy X Sunshine 👥 Dual Pov

Eliza and Her Monsters

by Francesca Zappia • 2017

An anonymous webcomic creator falls for her classmate, its top fanfic writer. He can't know.

4.14

65k+

💻 Online Fandom 🎭 Secret Identity 💕 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Social Anxiety ✉️ Notes And Letters

Eliza and Her Monsters 92%

An anonymous webcomic creator falls for her classmate, its top fanfic writer. He can't know.

by Francesca Zappia 2017

4.14

65k+ ratings

💻 Online Fandom 🎭 Secret Identity 💕 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Social Anxiety ✉️ Notes And Letters

All Our Broken Pieces

by L.D. Crichton • 2019

Her OCD demands ritual. His scars hide the past. A school project cracks their walls.

4.10

3k+

🎭 Dual Pov Romance 🧠 Mental Health Romance 🏠 Boy Next Door 🩹 Scarred Hero 💔 Star-Crossed Lovers

All Our Broken Pieces 93%

Her OCD demands ritual. His scars hide the past. A school project cracks their walls.

by L.D. Crichton 2019

4.10

3k+ ratings

🎭 Dual Pov Romance 🧠 Mental Health Romance 🏠 Boy Next Door 🩹 Scarred Hero 💔 Star-Crossed Lovers

My Wattpad Love

by Ariana Godoy • 2012

A shy teen clashes with a brooding poet online, sparking an obsession she can't shake.

3.54

23k+

🔥 Enemies To Lovers 💻 Online Romance 💔 Traumatized Hero 🌧️ Angsty Romance ✍️ Writing Community

My Wattpad Love 93%

A shy teen clashes with a brooding poet online, sparking an obsession she can't shake.

by Ariana Godoy 2012

3.54

23k+ ratings

🔥 Enemies To Lovers 💻 Online Romance 💔 Traumatized Hero 🌧️ Angsty Romance ✍️ Writing Community

Catch the Sun

by Jennifer Hartmann

When a killer's sister returns home, her only shelter is the boy next door who loved her first.

4.24

39k+

🩹 Trauma Recovery Romance 🏘️ Small Town Romance 🌅 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🛡️ Protective Hero 💘 Boy Falls First

Catch the Sun 91%

When a killer's sister returns home, her only shelter is the boy next door who loved her first.

by Jennifer Hartmann 2024

4.24

39k+ ratings

🩹 Trauma Recovery Romance 🏘️ Small Town Romance 🌅 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🛡️ Protective Hero 💘 Boy Falls First

Shark Girl

by Kelly Bingham • 2007

A shark takes her drawing arm. Now she must learn who she is without it.

3.85

4k+

🖋️ Novel In Verse 🦾 Acquired Disability 🎨 Artist Protagonist 🩹 Trauma Recovery 🕊️ Quiet And Lyrical

Shark Girl 91%

A shark takes her drawing arm. Now she must learn who she is without it.

by Kelly Bingham 2007

3.85

4k+ ratings

🖋️ Novel In Verse 🦾 Acquired Disability 🎨 Artist Protagonist 🩹 Trauma Recovery 🕊️ Quiet And Lyrical

Broken Hill High

by Sheridan Anne • 2019

Tora lands in her bully's house. Surviving Nate Ryder means resisting the boy beneath the monster.

3.96

6k+

💔 Enemies To Lovers 🖤 Bad Boy Romance 😈 Bully Romance 🏠 Forced Proximity 🩹 Trauma Healing

Broken Hill High 91%

Tora lands in her bully's house. Surviving Nate Ryder means resisting the boy beneath the monster.

by Sheridan Anne 2019

3.96

6k+ ratings

💔 Enemies To Lovers 🖤 Bad Boy Romance 😈 Bully Romance 🏠 Forced Proximity 🩹 Trauma Healing

Heartache and Hope

by Jay McLean • 2019

A mother broken by war. A basketball dream. Two teens collide, knowing love cannot save them.

4.07

10k+

🏫 High School Romance ⏰ Right Person Wrong Time 💔 Bittersweet Ending 👥 Dual Pov 🩺 Young Caregiver

Heartache and Hope 91%

A mother broken by war. A basketball dream. Two teens collide, knowing love cannot save them.

by Jay McLean 2019

4.07

10k+ ratings

🏫 High School Romance ⏰ Right Person Wrong Time 💔 Bittersweet Ending 👥 Dual Pov 🩺 Young Caregiver

Call It What You Want

by Brigid Kemmerer • 2019

He carries his father's crimes. She hides her disgrace. A calculus project forces them together.

4.01

18k+

🕯️ Slow Burn Romance 📝 Forced Proximity 💔 Social Outcasts 🫂 Found Family 🌧️ Teen Angst

Call It What You Want 91%

He carries his father's crimes. She hides her disgrace. A calculus project forces them together.

by Brigid Kemmerer 2019

4.01

18k+ ratings

🕯️ Slow Burn Romance 📝 Forced Proximity 💔 Social Outcasts 🫂 Found Family 🌧️ Teen Angst

Love from A to Z

by S.K. Ali • 2019

Two Muslim teens in Doha bond over life's wonders and wrongs, hiding a suspension and a diagnosis.

4.09

24k+

🕌 Muslim Teen Romance 🩺 Chronic Illness 📓 Journal Format ☯️ Opposites Attract 🚫 Confronting Islamophobia

Love from A to Z 91%

Two Muslim teens in Doha bond over life's wonders and wrongs, hiding a suspension and a diagnosis.

by S.K. Ali 2019

4.09

24k+ ratings

🕌 Muslim Teen Romance 🩺 Chronic Illness 📓 Journal Format ☯️ Opposites Attract 🚫 Confronting Islamophobia

Better Than Before

by Lynn Painter • 2023

The boy Bailey clashed with mid-flight just became her next-door neighbor for the summer.

4.13

16k+

🌞 Ya Summer Romance 💘 Rivals To Lovers ✈️ Meet Cute 🏠 Boy Next Door 💬 Witty Banter

Better Than Before 91%

The boy Bailey clashed with mid-flight just became her next-door neighbor for the summer.

by Lynn Painter 2023

4.13

16k+ ratings

🌞 Ya Summer Romance 💘 Rivals To Lovers ✈️ Meet Cute 🏠 Boy Next Door 💬 Witty Banter

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends

by Tia Williams • 2025

A perfectionist hires a mysterious newcomer for summer dares: no falling in love allowed.

4.05

6k+

💕 Friends To Lovers ☀️ Summer Romance 🧬 Generational Trauma 🧠 Anxiety Rep 📋 Summer Bucket List

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends 91%

A perfectionist hires a mysterious newcomer for summer dares: no falling in love allowed.

by Tia Williams 2025

4.05

6k+ ratings

💕 Friends To Lovers ☀️ Summer Romance 🧬 Generational Trauma 🧠 Anxiety Rep 📋 Summer Bucket List

I Wish You All the Best

by Mason Deaver • 2019

Thrown out by their parents, a nonbinary teen builds a home with a sister long estranged.

4.14

55k+

🏳️‍⚧️ Queer Coming Of Age 💛 Found Family ✨ Nonbinary Protagonist 💕 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Mental Health Journey

I Wish You All the Best 91%

Thrown out by their parents, a nonbinary teen builds a home with a sister long estranged.

by Mason Deaver 2019

4.14

55k+ ratings

🏳️‍⚧️ Queer Coming Of Age 💛 Found Family ✨ Nonbinary Protagonist 💕 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Mental Health Journey

The Loner

by Riley Hart • 2023

His secret hookups with a famous actor had one rule: no feelings. A decade later, he's breaking it.

4.20

4k+

🩹 Hurt/Comfort ☀️ Grumpy Meets Sunshine 🫂 Found Family ⭐ Celebrity Romance 💔 Damaged Hero

The Loner 91%

His secret hookups with a famous actor had one rule: no feelings. A decade later, he's breaking it.

by Riley Hart 2023

4.20

4k+ ratings

🩹 Hurt/Comfort ☀️ Grumpy Meets Sunshine 🫂 Found Family ⭐ Celebrity Romance 💔 Damaged Hero

The Sea of Tranquility

by Katja Millay • 2012

A mute girl, a grieving boy, and a garage where silence says everything.

4.28

89k+

🖤 Trauma Romance 💔 Broken Boy Broken Girl 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🏠 Found Family 😢 Tearjerker

The Sea of Tranquility 91%

A mute girl, a grieving boy, and a garage where silence says everything.

by Katja Millay 2012

4.28

89k+ ratings

🖤 Trauma Romance 💔 Broken Boy Broken Girl 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🏠 Found Family 😢 Tearjerker

Until Friday Night

by Abbi Glines • 2015

A mute, traumatized girl and a quarterback losing his father collide: she speaks only to him.

3.86

69k+

🏈 High School Football 🤐 Selective Mutism 🩹 Trauma Bonding 💔 Shared Grief 🖤 Wounded Hero

Until Friday Night 91%

A mute, traumatized girl and a quarterback losing his father collide: she speaks only to him.

by Abbi Glines 2015

3.86

69k+ ratings

🏈 High School Football 🤐 Selective Mutism 🩹 Trauma Bonding 💔 Shared Grief 🖤 Wounded Hero

Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles • 2008

A gang member's bet to seduce the golden girl turns real the moment they become chemistry partners.

4.04

264k+

⭐ Star Crossed Lovers ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 🔬 Forced Proximity 🔥 Reformed Bad Boy 🎲 Bet Trope

Perfect Chemistry 91%

A gang member's bet to seduce the golden girl turns real the moment they become chemistry partners.

by Simone Elkeles 2008

4.04

264k+ ratings

⭐ Star Crossed Lovers ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 🔬 Forced Proximity 🔥 Reformed Bad Boy 🎲 Bet Trope

Words on Bathroom Walls

by Julia Walton • 2017

A boy hides schizophrenia at his new school, but the drug keeping him stable is temporary.

4.06

16k+

🧠 Living With Schizophrenia 🤫 Hidden Diagnosis 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 💬 Witty Narrator 📓 Journal Format

Words on Bathroom Walls 91%

A boy hides schizophrenia at his new school, but the drug keeping him stable is temporary.

by Julia Walton 2017

4.06

16k+ ratings

🧠 Living With Schizophrenia 🤫 Hidden Diagnosis 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 💬 Witty Narrator 📓 Journal Format

My Mechanical Romance

by Alexene Farol Follmuth • 2022

A scrappy improviser joins her school's robotics team and collides with its perfectionist captain.

3.82

26k+

⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 🔬 STEM Romance 🔥 Slow Burn 👀 Dual Pov 🤝 Forced Proximity

My Mechanical Romance 91%

A scrappy improviser joins her school's robotics team and collides with its perfectionist captain.

by Alexene Farol Follmuth 2022

3.82

26k+ ratings

⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 🔬 STEM Romance 🔥 Slow Burn 👀 Dual Pov 🤝 Forced Proximity

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