36 Books like Patron Saints of Nothing

Seconds Away

by Harlan Coben

A Nazi photo of his father's paramedic pulls a teen athlete into a classmate's mother's murder.

4.06

20k+

🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief-Driven Investigation 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🤐 Protective Lies

Seconds Away 90%

A Nazi photo of his father's paramedic pulls a teen athlete into a classmate's mother's murder.

by Harlan Coben 2012

4.06

20k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief-Driven Investigation 🖤 Dark Family Secrets 🤐 Protective Lies

All My Rage

by Sabaa Tahir • 2022

Sal sells drugs to save his motel, hiding it from Noor, the girl he loves.

4.48

66k+

🌄 Immigrant Dreams 🕌 Pakistani-American 💞 Friends To Lovers 🍺 Parent With Addiction 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

All My Rage 92%

Sal sells drugs to save his motel, hiding it from Noor, the girl he loves.

by Sabaa Tahir 2022

4.48

66k+ ratings

🌄 Immigrant Dreams 🕌 Pakistani-American 💞 Friends To Lovers 🍺 Parent With Addiction 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

Death in the Cards

by Mia P. Manansala • 2025

Blamed for a classmate's disappearance, a teen tarot reader joins the family detective agency.

3.70

2k+

🕵️ Teen Detective 🃏 Tarot Readings 🫂 Found Family 🤝 Unlikely Allies 🔍 Missing Person Case

Death in the Cards 91%

Blamed for a classmate's disappearance, a teen tarot reader joins the family detective agency.

by Mia P. Manansala 2025

3.70

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Detective 🃏 Tarot Readings 🫂 Found Family 🤝 Unlikely Allies 🔍 Missing Person Case

Bitter Melon

by Cara Chow • 2010

A Chinese American teen hides her speech trophies from a mother who scripts her entire future.

3.86

2k+

👧 Immigrant Coming Of Age ⛓️ Maternal Control 🎭 Secret Double Life 🏮 Filial Piety 🕯️ Generational Trauma

Bitter Melon 90%

A Chinese American teen hides her speech trophies from a mother who scripts her entire future.

by Cara Chow 2010

3.86

2k+ ratings

👧 Immigrant Coming Of Age ⛓️ Maternal Control 🎭 Secret Double Life 🏮 Filial Piety 🕯️ Generational Trauma

The Accidental Malay

by Karina Robles Bahrin • 2022

A Chinese-Malaysian heiress learns she was born Muslim, and her pork empire hangs in the balance.

3.49

1k+

🧬 Mixed-Race Identity 🏢 Family Business Saga 🔐 Family Secrets 💔 Forbidden Love 💼 Women In Business

The Accidental Malay 90%

A Chinese-Malaysian heiress learns she was born Muslim, and her pork empire hangs in the balance.

by Karina Robles Bahrin 2022

3.49

1k+ ratings

🧬 Mixed-Race Identity 🏢 Family Business Saga 🔐 Family Secrets 💔 Forbidden Love 💼 Women In Business

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

by Erika L. Sánchez • 2017

Her perfect sister is dead. What the closet hides could break her immigrant family.

4.00

85k+

🧬 Generational Trauma 🌎 Immigrant Family 📦 Secret Life Uncovered 🩹 Mental Health Healing 🗣️ Sharp-Tongued Heroine

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Summary

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 90%

Her perfect sister is dead. What the closet hides could break her immigrant family.

by Erika L. Sánchez 2017

4.00

85k+ ratings

🧬 Generational Trauma 🌎 Immigrant Family 📦 Secret Life Uncovered 🩹 Mental Health Healing 🗣️ Sharp-Tongued Heroine

All That’s Left to Say

by Emery Lord • 2023

A girl goes undercover at her dead cousin's prep school to find who supplied the pills.

3.67

2k+

🏫 Prep School Mystery 🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Hidden Identity 😔 Survivor's Guilt

All That’s Left to Say 90%

A girl goes undercover at her dead cousin's prep school to find who supplied the pills.

by Emery Lord 2023

3.67

2k+ ratings

🏫 Prep School Mystery 🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🎭 Hidden Identity 😔 Survivor's Guilt

Le carnet rouge

by Annelise Heurtier • 2011

A teen's identity hinges on a red notebook and the Nepalese grandmother she never knew.

3.81

110

📖 Dual Timeline Narrative 🔐 Family Secrets 🌏 Bicultural Identity 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Rift 💔 Intergenerational Trauma

Le carnet rouge 90%

A teen's identity hinges on a red notebook and the Nepalese grandmother she never knew.

by Annelise Heurtier 2011

3.81

110 ratings

📖 Dual Timeline Narrative 🔐 Family Secrets 🌏 Bicultural Identity 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Rift 💔 Intergenerational Trauma

Mexican WhiteBoy

by Matt de la Peña • 2008

Half-Mexican, can't speak Spanish, he spends a summer in his father's barrio, looking for home.

3.85

6k+

🌗 Biracial Identity 👤 Absent Father 🤝 Unlikely Friendship ⚾ Baseball Fiction 🌴 Southern California

Mexican WhiteBoy 90%

Half-Mexican, can't speak Spanish, he spends a summer in his father's barrio, looking for home.

by Matt de la Peña 2008

3.85

6k+ ratings

🌗 Biracial Identity 👤 Absent Father 🤝 Unlikely Friendship ⚾ Baseball Fiction 🌴 Southern California

Shelter

by Harlan Coben

A dead father, a missing girl, and a stranger who swears the grave is empty.

3.95

35k+

🕵️ Amateur Teen Sleuth 🔍 Missing Girl 🏘️ Suburban Secrets 🎭 Hidden Identities 💛 Found Family

Shelter 90%

A dead father, a missing girl, and a stranger who swears the grave is empty.

by Harlan Coben 2011

3.95

35k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Teen Sleuth 🔍 Missing Girl 🏘️ Suburban Secrets 🎭 Hidden Identities 💛 Found Family

Notes from the Midnight Driver

by Jordan Sonnenblick • 2006

A sixteen-year-old's drunken crash earns him a hundred hours with a hostile, jazz-obsessed old man.

4.05

10k+

🫂 Intergenerational Bond ⚖️ Community Service 🏥 Nursing Home 🎶 Music Heals 💕 Friends To Lovers

Notes from the Midnight Driver 90%

A sixteen-year-old's drunken crash earns him a hundred hours with a hostile, jazz-obsessed old man.

by Jordan Sonnenblick 2006

4.05

10k+ ratings

🫂 Intergenerational Bond ⚖️ Community Service 🏥 Nursing Home 🎶 Music Heals 💕 Friends To Lovers

Everything I Never Told You

by Celeste Ng • 2014

She was the daughter they pinned their hopes on. The lake knew what they never asked.

3.83

622k+

🧬 Biracial Family 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 😰 Parental Expectations 🖤 Quiet Devastation 🇺🇸 1970s America

Everything I Never Told You 90%

She was the daughter they pinned their hopes on. The lake knew what they never asked.

by Celeste Ng 2014

3.83

622k+ ratings

🧬 Biracial Family 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 😰 Parental Expectations 🖤 Quiet Devastation 🇺🇸 1970s America

The Letters We Keep

by Nisha Sharma • 2024

When rival students uncover hidden love letters, the past dares them to write a braver ending.

3.86

5k+

🔰 Campus Romance 💕 Rivals To Lovers ✉️ Hidden Love Letters 🏠 Family Expectations 🇺🇸 South Asian American

The Letters We Keep 90%

When rival students uncover hidden love letters, the past dares them to write a braver ending.

by Nisha Sharma 2024

3.86

5k+ ratings

🔰 Campus Romance 💕 Rivals To Lovers ✉️ Hidden Love Letters 🏠 Family Expectations 🇺🇸 South Asian American

Firekeeper’s Daughter

by Angeline Boulley • 2021

After a murder, an Ojibwe teen spies on her reservation for the FBI, falling for her handler.

4.30

205k+

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 💔 Family Betrayal 🕵️‍♀️ Unlikely Informant 💋 Forbidden Romance

Firekeeper’s Daughter 90%

After a murder, an Ojibwe teen spies on her reservation for the FBI, falling for her handler.

by Angeline Boulley 2021

4.30

205k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 💔 Family Betrayal 🕵️‍♀️ Unlikely Informant 💋 Forbidden Romance

Six Truths and a Lie

by Ream Shukairy

On July Fourth, an oil rig explodes and six Muslim teens take the fall.

3.89

1k+

📁 Legal Thriller ⚖️ Wrongful Conviction 🌙 Islamophobia 🥀 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Allies

Six Truths and a Lie 90%

On July Fourth, an oil rig explodes and six Muslim teens take the fall.

by Ream Shukairy 2024

3.89

1k+ ratings

📁 Legal Thriller ⚖️ Wrongful Conviction 🌙 Islamophobia 🥀 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Allies

Clap When You Land

by Elizabeth Acevedo • 2020

After a plane crash kills their father, two girls on opposite shores learn they are sisters.

4.22

110k+

📖 Novel In Verse 🫂 Secret Siblings 🇩🇴 Dominican Diaspora 🤫 Family Secrets 👯‍♀️ Sisterhood

Clap When You Land 90%

After a plane crash kills their father, two girls on opposite shores learn they are sisters.

by Elizabeth Acevedo 2020

4.22

110k+ ratings

📖 Novel In Verse 🫂 Secret Siblings 🇩🇴 Dominican Diaspora 🤫 Family Secrets 👯‍♀️ Sisterhood

Room to Dream

by Kelly Yang • 2021

A corporation wants her family's motel. Seventh-grader Mia Tang has a column and something to prove.

4.37

6k+

🧳 Immigrant Experience 🌏 Cultural Identity 💔 Shifting Friendships 📰 Girl Reporter ✊ Community Resistance

Room to Dream 90%

A corporation wants her family's motel. Seventh-grader Mia Tang has a column and something to prove.

by Kelly Yang 2021

4.37

6k+ ratings

🧳 Immigrant Experience 🌏 Cultural Identity 💔 Shifting Friendships 📰 Girl Reporter ✊ Community Resistance

Love Letters to the Dead

by Ava Dellaira • 2014

A grieving freshman writes letters to dead icons, searching for a voice after her sister's death.

3.78

93k+

🖋️ Epistolary Novel 💔 Sister Grief ✍️ Healing Through Letters 🫂 Found Family 🌈 Queer Coming Of Age

Love Letters to the Dead 89%

A grieving freshman writes letters to dead icons, searching for a voice after her sister's death.

by Ava Dellaira 2014

3.78

93k+ ratings

🖋️ Epistolary Novel 💔 Sister Grief ✍️ Healing Through Letters 🫂 Found Family 🌈 Queer Coming Of Age

Charming as a Verb

by Ben Philippe • 2020

His neighbor catches his dog-walking hustle and demands a social makeover to keep quiet.

3.84

8k+

🎓 College Admissions 🏙️ NYC Private School 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🌍 Immigrant Family 💄 Social Makeover

Charming as a Verb 89%

His neighbor catches his dog-walking hustle and demands a social makeover to keep quiet.

by Ben Philippe 2020

3.84

8k+ ratings

🎓 College Admissions 🏙️ NYC Private School 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🌍 Immigrant Family 💄 Social Makeover

The Last Story of Mina Lee

by Nancy Jooyoun Kim • 2020

A daughter finds her immigrant mother dead in a Koreatown apartment. Thirty years of secrets follow.

3.53

46k+

📖 Literary Mystery 💔 Mother-Daughter Rift ⏳ Dual Timeline 🔍 Hidden Family Past 🧳 Undocumented Immigrant

The Last Story of Mina Lee 89%

A daughter finds her immigrant mother dead in a Koreatown apartment. Thirty years of secrets follow.

by Nancy Jooyoun Kim 2020

3.53

46k+ ratings

📖 Literary Mystery 💔 Mother-Daughter Rift ⏳ Dual Timeline 🔍 Hidden Family Past 🧳 Undocumented Immigrant

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

by Jesse Q. Sutanto • 2023

A lonely widow finds a dead man and turns the suspects into family.

4.02

209k+

🖤 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👵 Meddling Protagonist 🌱 Grief And Healing 🤝 Unlikely Friendships

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Summary

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers 89%

A lonely widow finds a dead man and turns the suspects into family.

by Jesse Q. Sutanto 2023

4.02

209k+ ratings

🖤 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👵 Meddling Protagonist 🌱 Grief And Healing 🤝 Unlikely Friendships

Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

by Patricia Park • 2023

A racist remark makes a scholarship kid the face of her prep school's diversity campaign.

3.96

2k+

🏫 Prep School 🎓 Scholarship Kid 🌐 Code-Switching 🧬 Hybrid Identity 🌏 Immigrant Family

Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim Summary

Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim 90%

A racist remark makes a scholarship kid the face of her prep school's diversity campaign.

by Patricia Park 2023

3.96

2k+ ratings

🏫 Prep School 🎓 Scholarship Kid 🌐 Code-Switching 🧬 Hybrid Identity 🌏 Immigrant Family

Love Me Tomorrow

by Emiko Jean • 2026

A cynical teen wishes for proof that love endures. Letters from the future start arriving.

3.76

2k+

💌 Anonymous Love Letters 🫶 Friends To Lovers 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Blended Family Drama 🪄 Magical Realism 🍂 Bittersweet

Love Me Tomorrow 90%

A cynical teen wishes for proof that love endures. Letters from the future start arriving.

by Emiko Jean 2026

3.76

2k+ ratings

💌 Anonymous Love Letters 🫶 Friends To Lovers 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Blended Family Drama 🪄 Magical Realism 🍂 Bittersweet

Girl, Missing

by Sophie McKenzie

An adopted teen finds her face on a missing-children poster and flies to America for answers.

3.80

19k+

🔍 Missing Child Case 🧩 Adoption Search 🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🔒 Family Secrets 🧬 Biological Family

Girl, Missing 89%

An adopted teen finds her face on a missing-children poster and flies to America for answers.

by Sophie McKenzie 2006

3.80

19k+ ratings

🔍 Missing Child Case 🧩 Adoption Search 🕵️ Teen Sleuth 🔒 Family Secrets 🧬 Biological Family

The Downstairs Girl

by Stacey Lee • 2019

A Chinese maid's secret column challenges 1890 Atlanta, but discovery would cost her everything.

3.95

41k+

🎭 Hidden Identity 🫂 Found Family 📜 Secret Lineage 💎 Class Divide 🧧 Chinese American Identity

The Downstairs Girl 89%

A Chinese maid's secret column challenges 1890 Atlanta, but discovery would cost her everything.

by Stacey Lee 2019

3.95

41k+ ratings

🎭 Hidden Identity 🫂 Found Family 📜 Secret Lineage 💎 Class Divide 🧧 Chinese American Identity

Cuts Both Ways

by Candice Brathwaite • 2022

After her brother's murder, a London teen falls for a boy who might know the killer.

3.74

830

🖤 Black British 🏫 Elite Private School 💔 Sibling Grief ☠️ Forbidden Love 🔺 Love Triangle

Cuts Both Ways 89%

After her brother's murder, a London teen falls for a boy who might know the killer.

by Candice Brathwaite 2022

3.74

830 ratings

🖤 Black British 🏫 Elite Private School 💔 Sibling Grief ☠️ Forbidden Love 🔺 Love Triangle

The Inheritance Games

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A broke teen inherits stranger's fortune and must survive four grandsons in a puzzle-filled mansion.

4.12

1.1M+

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 💰 Wealthy Family Secrets 🏚️ Gothic Mansion 🐟 Fish Out Of Water

The Inheritance Games 89%

A broke teen inherits stranger's fortune and must survive four grandsons in a puzzle-filled mansion.

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 2020

4.12

1.1M+ ratings

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 💔 Love Triangle 💰 Wealthy Family Secrets 🏚️ Gothic Mansion 🐟 Fish Out Of Water

Real Americans

by Rachel Khong • 2024

Nick's DNA test reveals the father he never knew, whose genetic legacy upends his identity.

3.94

98k+

🏠 Multigenerational Saga 👤 Absent Father 🔒 Family Secrets 💰 Class Divide 🧬 Genetic Engineering

Real Americans 90%

Nick's DNA test reveals the father he never knew, whose genetic legacy upends his identity.

by Rachel Khong 2024

3.94

98k+ ratings

🏠 Multigenerational Saga 👤 Absent Father 🔒 Family Secrets 💰 Class Divide 🧬 Genetic Engineering

This Is My America

by Kim Johnson • 2020

Her father faces execution, her brother a murder charge. A Texas teen hunts the real killer.

4.44

10k+

⚖️ Wrongful Conviction 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🌳 Generational Trauma 👫 Sibling Loyalty

This Is My America 90%

Her father faces execution, her brother a murder charge. A Texas teen hunts the real killer.

by Kim Johnson 2020

4.44

10k+ ratings

⚖️ Wrongful Conviction 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🌳 Generational Trauma 👫 Sibling Loyalty

From Little Tokyo, with Love

by Sarah Kuhn • 2021

Searching for her secret movie-star birth mother, a biracial teen falls for the actor helping her.

3.66

2k+

🧬 Mixed-Race Identity 🌟 Celebrity Romance 🔍 Secret Parentage 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 😤 Angry Heroine

From Little Tokyo, with Love 89%

Searching for her secret movie-star birth mother, a biracial teen falls for the actor helping her.

by Sarah Kuhn 2021

3.66

2k+ ratings

🧬 Mixed-Race Identity 🌟 Celebrity Romance 🔍 Secret Parentage 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 😤 Angry Heroine

Là où naissent les nuages

by Annelise Heurtier • 2014

An overlooked teen travels alone to a Mongolian shelter, where a silent boy needs her.

3.59

158

🪞 Body Image 💔 Mother-Daughter Rift 🌍 Volunteer Abroad 🏔️ Mongolian Steppe 🔍 Secret Parentage

Là où naissent les nuages 89%

An overlooked teen travels alone to a Mongolian shelter, where a silent boy needs her.

by Annelise Heurtier 2014

3.59

158 ratings

🪞 Body Image 💔 Mother-Daughter Rift 🌍 Volunteer Abroad 🏔️ Mongolian Steppe 🔍 Secret Parentage

You're Next

by Kylie Schachte • 2020

Her ex-girlfriend's murder sends a teen sleuth into a secret fight club where power kills.

3.77

2k+

🔍 Teen Sleuth 🔒 Secret Society 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🏳️‍🌈 Queer Protagonist ❄️ Cold Case

You're Next 90%

Her ex-girlfriend's murder sends a teen sleuth into a secret fight club where power kills.

by Kylie Schachte 2020

3.77

2k+ ratings

🔍 Teen Sleuth 🔒 Secret Society 🏛️ Political Conspiracy 🏳️‍🌈 Queer Protagonist ❄️ Cold Case

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

by Chanel Miller • 2024

A laundromat's lost socks send two lonely girls on a summer mystery through New York City.

4.18

4k+

🔍 Child Detectives 🧐 Neighborhood Mystery 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🧺 Immigrant Family ☀️ Summer Adventure

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All 90%

A laundromat's lost socks send two lonely girls on a summer mystery through New York City.

by Chanel Miller 2024

4.18

4k+ ratings

🔍 Child Detectives 🧐 Neighborhood Mystery 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🧺 Immigrant Family ☀️ Summer Adventure

Family of Liars

by E. Lockhart

Summer on a private island: first love, a dead boy, and a family that hides everything.

3.76

160k+

📚 Literary Thriller 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 💰 Old Money Secrets 🤫 Family Cover-Up 👯 Sister Rivalry

Family of Liars 89%

Summer on a private island: first love, a dead boy, and a family that hides everything.

by E. Lockhart 2022

3.76

160k+ ratings

📚 Literary Thriller 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 💰 Old Money Secrets 🤫 Family Cover-Up 👯 Sister Rivalry

Hello, Universe

by Erin Entrada Kelly • 2017

A deaf girl and psychic hunt for the shy boy a bully trapped in a well.

3.92

26k+

🦻 Deaf Protagonist 👥 Multiple Perspectives 🏘️ Neighborhood Adventure 💪 Quiet Courage 🐹 Animal Companion

Hello, Universe 89%

A deaf girl and psychic hunt for the shy boy a bully trapped in a well.

by Erin Entrada Kelly 2017

3.92

26k+ ratings

🦻 Deaf Protagonist 👥 Multiple Perspectives 🏘️ Neighborhood Adventure 💪 Quiet Courage 🐹 Animal Companion

The Bridge Home

by Padma Venkatraman • 2019

Protecting her disabled sister, Viji flees their father and builds a family on a Chennai bridge.

4.26

12k+

🫂 Found Family 🌆 Street Children 👧 Sibling Caretaker 💙 Disability In Family ✉️ Epistolary Novel

The Bridge Home 89%

Protecting her disabled sister, Viji flees their father and builds a family on a Chennai bridge.

by Padma Venkatraman 2019

4.26

12k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 🌆 Street Children 👧 Sibling Caretaker 💙 Disability In Family ✉️ Epistolary Novel

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