36 Books like Without Merit

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

Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen • 2008

When her mother disappears, a guarded teen must start over with the sister she barely knows.

3.99

153k+

👩‍👩‍👧 Estranged Sisters 🏡 Found Family 💊 Parent Addiction ⚠️ Domestic Abuse 🏠 Boy Next Door

Lock and Key 95%

When her mother disappears, a guarded teen must start over with the sister she barely knows.

by Sarah Dessen 2008

3.99

153k+ ratings

👩‍👩‍👧 Estranged Sisters 🏡 Found Family 💊 Parent Addiction ⚠️ Domestic Abuse 🏠 Boy Next Door

A Hue of Blu

by Marie-France Léger • 2023

Blue hair and silence are their shields, but their connection becomes a wound they cannot escape.

3.63

20k+

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🫂 Found Family 🍾 Alcoholic Parent 🛋️ Therapy Journey 💖 Self Love

A Hue of Blu 94%

Blue hair and silence are their shields, but their connection becomes a wound they cannot escape.

by Marie-France Léger 2023

3.63

20k+ ratings

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🫂 Found Family 🍾 Alcoholic Parent 🛋️ Therapy Journey 💖 Self Love

How to Walk Away

by Katherine Center • 2018

A plane crash leaves a bride-to-be paralyzed. A gruff therapist refuses to let her give up.

4.08

124k+

👯‍♀️ Estranged Sisters 🔥 Slow Burn 🌤️ Grumpy X Sunshine 🩹 Catastrophic Injury 🔍 Family Secrets

How to Walk Away 92%

A plane crash leaves a bride-to-be paralyzed. A gruff therapist refuses to let her give up.

by Katherine Center 2018

4.08

124k+ ratings

👯‍♀️ Estranged Sisters 🔥 Slow Burn 🌤️ Grumpy X Sunshine 🩹 Catastrophic Injury 🔍 Family Secrets

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

by Sonora Reyes • 2022

A closeted teen hides behind a fake boyfriend at Catholic school, then falls for the out girl.

4.24

31k+

🏳️‍🌈 Queer Coming Of Age 💍 Fake Boyfriend 🫂 Chosen Family 👫 Sibling Bond 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School Summary

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School 92%

A closeted teen hides behind a fake boyfriend at Catholic school, then falls for the out girl.

by Sonora Reyes 2022

4.24

31k+ ratings

🏳️‍🌈 Queer Coming Of Age 💍 Fake Boyfriend 🫂 Chosen Family 👫 Sibling Bond 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

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 92%

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

You Have a Match

by Emma Lord • 2021

A DNA test reveals a secret sister. So Abby crashes her summer camp, sparking instant rivalry.

3.55

39k+

🏕️ Summer Camp Romance 🔍 Family Secrets 💕 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🧬 Secret Sister 👭 Sisterly Bonding

You Have a Match 92%

A DNA test reveals a secret sister. So Abby crashes her summer camp, sparking instant rivalry.

by Emma Lord 2021

3.55

39k+ ratings

🏕️ Summer Camp Romance 🔍 Family Secrets 💕 Childhood Friends To Lovers 🧬 Secret Sister 👭 Sisterly Bonding

Burn Bright

by Krista Ritchie • 2025

A broke heir saves a guarded punk, and they become the one friend neither can lose.

4.21

8k+

🕯️ Slow Burn 🏠 Found Family 🌟 Famous Family 🧠 Ocd Rep 🛡️ Guarded Heroine

Burn Bright 93%

A broke heir saves a guarded punk, and they become the one friend neither can lose.

by Krista Ritchie 2025

4.21

8k+ ratings

🕯️ Slow Burn 🏠 Found Family 🌟 Famous Family 🧠 Ocd Rep 🛡️ Guarded Heroine

Addicted to You

by Krista Ritchie • 2013

A fake romance hides her sex addiction and his alcoholism, but their lies are destroying them.

3.70

197k+

🎭 Fake Relationship 🩷 Friends To Lovers 💔 Codependent Love 🖤 Gritty Romance 🩹 Addiction And Recovery

Addicted to You 93%

A fake romance hides her sex addiction and his alcoholism, but their lies are destroying them.

by Krista Ritchie 2013

3.70

197k+ ratings

🎭 Fake Relationship 🩷 Friends To Lovers 💔 Codependent Love 🖤 Gritty Romance 🩹 Addiction And Recovery

Forbidden

by Tabitha Suzuma

Lochan and Maya raised their siblings. They're in love, and their secret could destroy them.

3.95

76k+

🚫 Taboo Romance 🏠 Parentified Children 💔 Tragic First Love 🏚️ Parental Neglect 🌧️ Bleak Contemporary

Forbidden 92%

Lochan and Maya raised their siblings. They're in love, and their secret could destroy them.

by Tabitha Suzuma 2010

3.95

76k+ ratings

🚫 Taboo Romance 🏠 Parentified Children 💔 Tragic First Love 🏚️ Parental Neglect 🌧️ Bleak Contemporary

You'd Be Home Now

by Kathleen Glasgow • 2021

When a fatal crash exposes her brother's addiction, she becomes the family's invisible caretaker.

4.13

82k+

💊 Sibling Addiction 🤫 Secret Relationship 📢 Slut-Shaming 💉 Opioid Crisis 🕊️ Survivor Guilt

You'd Be Home Now 92%

When a fatal crash exposes her brother's addiction, she becomes the family's invisible caretaker.

by Kathleen Glasgow 2021

4.13

82k+ ratings

💊 Sibling Addiction 🤫 Secret Relationship 📢 Slut-Shaming 💉 Opioid Crisis 🕊️ Survivor Guilt

Bitterschokolade

by Mirjam Pressler • 1992

Eva hides her eating and her body from everyone, convinced thinness is the price of love.

2.88

830

🪞 Body Image 🩺 Eating Disorder Fiction 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Rift ☀️ Summer Romance 🤝 Friendship Lifeline

Bitterschokolade 92%

Eva hides her eating and her body from everyone, convinced thinness is the price of love.

by Mirjam Pressler 1992

2.88

830 ratings

🪞 Body Image 🩺 Eating Disorder Fiction 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Rift ☀️ Summer Romance 🤝 Friendship Lifeline

Antes de diciembre

by Joana Marcús • 2021

Her boyfriend demanded freedom. The boy next door made her want to close every door.

4.36

138k+

🎓 College Romance 💔 Toxic First Love 🩹 Addiction Recovery 💕 Friends To Lovers 🏚️ Family Trauma

Antes de diciembre 92%

Her boyfriend demanded freedom. The boy next door made her want to close every door.

by Joana Marcús 2021

4.36

138k+ ratings

🎓 College Romance 💔 Toxic First Love 🩹 Addiction Recovery 💕 Friends To Lovers 🏚️ Family Trauma

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 92%

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

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 92%

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

A pesar de ti

by Colleen Hoover • 2019

The same crash kills her husband and sister, exposing their affair. Now her daughter is spiraling.

4.10

964k+

🎭 Mother-Daughter Drama 🔍 Family Secrets 💘 Forbidden Romance 🎸 Teenage Rebellion 🏠 Found Family

A pesar de ti 93%

The same crash kills her husband and sister, exposing their affair. Now her daughter is spiraling.

by Colleen Hoover 2019

4.10

964k+ ratings

🎭 Mother-Daughter Drama 🔍 Family Secrets 💘 Forbidden Romance 🎸 Teenage Rebellion 🏠 Found Family

Only Love Can Hurt Like This

by Paige Toon • 2023

An architect flees her broken engagement for Indiana, where a farmer's secret makes love impossible.

3.96

45k+

🏘️ Small Town Romance 💔 Forbidden Love 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🫂 Found Family 👯 Sisterly Bonding

Only Love Can Hurt Like This 93%

An architect flees her broken engagement for Indiana, where a farmer's secret makes love impossible.

by Paige Toon 2023

3.96

45k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Romance 💔 Forbidden Love 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🫂 Found Family 👯 Sisterly Bonding

Dreamland

by Nicholas Sparks • 2022

A farmer-musician and aspiring singer fall in love on vacation, until family duty pulls him home.

3.95

105k+

🎵 Musician Romance 🏖️ Vacation Romance ⚖️ Duty Vs Love 🧠 Mental Health 📖 Dual Narrative

Dreamland 92%

A farmer-musician and aspiring singer fall in love on vacation, until family duty pulls him home.

by Nicholas Sparks 2022

3.95

105k+ ratings

🎵 Musician Romance 🏖️ Vacation Romance ⚖️ Duty Vs Love 🧠 Mental Health 📖 Dual Narrative

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 92%

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

Shattering Her Illusion

by Mackenzie Madden • 2026

Curvy Charlie trusts her boyfriend, but his silence when his friends mock her shatters her world.

3.81

1k+

🔁 Second Chance Love ☣️ Toxic Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chosen Family 💪 Plus-Size Heroine 🐍 Toxic Friend Group

Shattering Her Illusion 92%

Curvy Charlie trusts her boyfriend, but his silence when his friends mock her shatters her world.

by Mackenzie Madden 2026

3.81

1k+ ratings

🔁 Second Chance Love ☣️ Toxic Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chosen Family 💪 Plus-Size Heroine 🐍 Toxic Friend Group

Darling Venom

by Parker S. Huntington • 2021

Her friend's suicide left a novel to finish and a brother to resist. She's failing at both.

4.25

84k+

🖤 Grief Romance ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 💔 Suicide Grief 📚 Literary World 😞 Survivor's Guilt

Darling Venom 92%

Her friend's suicide left a novel to finish and a brother to resist. She's failing at both.

by Parker S. Huntington 2021

4.25

84k+ ratings

🖤 Grief Romance ⚔️ Enemies To Lovers 💔 Suicide Grief 📚 Literary World 😞 Survivor's Guilt

Clone

by Aleksandra Negrońska • 2022

Following her twin to England, she falls for a student president hiding brutal family secrets.

4.39

28k+

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 👥 Found Family 👯 Twin Sisters 📚 Dark Academia

Clone 93%

Following her twin to England, she falls for a student president hiding brutal family secrets.

by Aleksandra Negrońska 2022

4.39

28k+ ratings

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 👥 Found Family 👯 Twin Sisters 📚 Dark Academia

Kiss the Sky

by Krista Ritchie • 2014

Two academic rivals share a reality show house, but their real contest is who surrenders first.

4.19

94k+

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 📚 Academic Rivals 🏠 Forced Proximity ⛓️ Dominance And Submission 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

Kiss the Sky 93%

Two academic rivals share a reality show house, but their real contest is who surrenders first.

by Krista Ritchie 2014

4.19

94k+ ratings

🖤 Enemies To Lovers 📚 Academic Rivals 🏠 Forced Proximity ⛓️ Dominance And Submission 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

Variation

by Rebecca Yarros

A ballerina fakes dating her first love to remain near her dead sister's secret daughter.

4.16

202k+

🩰 Ballet Romance 🎭 Fake Relationship 💞 Second Chance Love 🔒 Family Secrets 🌊 Angsty Romance

Variation 92%

A ballerina fakes dating her first love to remain near her dead sister's secret daughter.

by Rebecca Yarros 2024

4.16

202k+ ratings

🩰 Ballet Romance 🎭 Fake Relationship 💞 Second Chance Love 🔒 Family Secrets 🌊 Angsty Romance

Bitter Sweet

by Hattie Williams • 2025

A grieving assistant falls for her married literary idol, and the secret affair nearly destroys her.

3.82

15k+

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship ⚖️ Power Imbalance 🤫 Secret Affair 🫂 Found Family 😢 Mother Loss

Bitter Sweet 92%

A grieving assistant falls for her married literary idol, and the secret affair nearly destroys her.

by Hattie Williams 2025

3.82

15k+ ratings

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship ⚖️ Power Imbalance 🤫 Secret Affair 🫂 Found Family 😢 Mother Loss

Sisterland

by Curtis Sittenfeld • 2013

She traded premonitions for PTA, until her twin predicted a disaster on live TV.

3.38

42k+

👯 Twin Bond 🏡 Domestic Drama 🤫 Family Secrets 🏘️ Suburban Anxiety 🤱 Ambivalent Motherhood

Sisterland 92%

She traded premonitions for PTA, until her twin predicted a disaster on live TV.

by Curtis Sittenfeld 2013

3.38

42k+ ratings

👯 Twin Bond 🏡 Domestic Drama 🤫 Family Secrets 🏘️ Suburban Anxiety 🤱 Ambivalent Motherhood

All-Night Pharmacy

by Ruth Madievsky • 2023

When her wild sister vanishes, a young woman claws toward sobriety and a long-buried self.

3.50

8k+

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Literary Fiction 💊 Addiction And Recovery 👯 Toxic Sisterhood 🔍 Missing Sister 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

All-Night Pharmacy 92%

When her wild sister vanishes, a young woman claws toward sobriety and a long-buried self.

by Ruth Madievsky 2023

3.50

8k+ ratings

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Literary Fiction 💊 Addiction And Recovery 👯 Toxic Sisterhood 🔍 Missing Sister 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

Ashes of Life

by Erica Lucke Dean • 2015

After her parents' sudden death, a grieving teen is trapped living with the stepmother she resents.

4.07

1k+

🪦 Parental Loss 🏠 Found Family 💔 Destructive Coping 🌱 Emotional Recovery 🔄 Alternating Pov

Ashes of Life 92%

After her parents' sudden death, a grieving teen is trapped living with the stepmother she resents.

by Erica Lucke Dean 2015

4.07

1k+ ratings

🪦 Parental Loss 🏠 Found Family 💔 Destructive Coping 🌱 Emotional Recovery 🔄 Alternating Pov

The Heartbreak Hotel

by Ellen O'Clover

Broke and betrayed, Lou opens a heartbreak retreat in her home, falling for her grieving landlord.

3.76

32k+

🏔️ Small Town Romance 🍂 Cozy Romance Energy 🩹 Healing Romance ☀️ Grumpy X Sunshine 🏠 Forced Proximity

The Heartbreak Hotel 92%

Broke and betrayed, Lou opens a heartbreak retreat in her home, falling for her grieving landlord.

by Ellen O'Clover 2025

3.76

32k+ ratings

🏔️ Small Town Romance 🍂 Cozy Romance Energy 🩹 Healing Romance ☀️ Grumpy X Sunshine 🏠 Forced Proximity

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

It Was Always You

by Judy Corry • 2018

A fake relationship between a shy band geek and her brother's best friend turns dangerously real.

3.91

6k+

🏫 High School Romance 🤝 Fake Dating 👫 Brother's Best Friend 🛏️ Forced Proximity 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

It Was Always You 92%

A fake relationship between a shy band geek and her brother's best friend turns dangerously real.

by Judy Corry 2018

3.91

6k+ ratings

🏫 High School Romance 🤝 Fake Dating 👫 Brother's Best Friend 🛏️ Forced Proximity 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

6 Times We Almost Kissed [and One Time We Did]

by Tess Sharpe • 2023

Six near-kisses and one liver transplant later, Penny and Tate are out of room to run.

4.15

13k+

🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🏠 Forced Proximity 💕 Mutual Pining 🩹 Hurt/Comfort 🌧️ Grief And Healing

6 Times We Almost Kissed [and One Time We Did] Summary

6 Times We Almost Kissed [and One Time We Did] 92%

Six near-kisses and one liver transplant later, Penny and Tate are out of room to run.

by Tess Sharpe 2023

4.15

13k+ ratings

🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🏠 Forced Proximity 💕 Mutual Pining 🩹 Hurt/Comfort 🌧️ Grief And Healing

Turtles All the Way Down

by John Green • 2017

She spirals. A missing billionaire, his son, and a reward pull her into the world.

3.87

648k+

🌀 Ocd Representation 💚 Mental Health Recovery 🕵️ Amateur Mystery 🏰 Billionaire Family 💔 Bittersweet Romance

Turtles All the Way Down 92%

She spirals. A missing billionaire, his son, and a reward pull her into the world.

by John Green 2017

3.87

648k+ ratings

🌀 Ocd Representation 💚 Mental Health Recovery 🕵️ Amateur Mystery 🏰 Billionaire Family 💔 Bittersweet Romance

El tiempo que tuvimos

by Cherry Chic • 2023

Ten years after leaving Ireland, she returns to the boy she left under the fairy tree.

4.31

10k+

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Second Chance Romance 🏡 Small Town Romance 💛 Eating Disorder 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

El tiempo que tuvimos 92%

Ten years after leaving Ireland, she returns to the boy she left under the fairy tree.

by Cherry Chic 2023

4.31

10k+ ratings

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Second Chance Romance 🏡 Small Town Romance 💛 Eating Disorder 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

Slammed

by Colleen Hoover • 2012

Her new neighbor shares her love of poetry and loss. Then she discovers he's her teacher.

4.14

454k+

🍎 Student Teacher Romance 🏠 Boy Next Door 🎤 Poetry Slam 💘 Forbidden Love 💀 Terminal Illness

Slammed 92%

Her new neighbor shares her love of poetry and loss. Then she discovers he's her teacher.

by Colleen Hoover 2012

4.14

454k+ ratings

🍎 Student Teacher Romance 🏠 Boy Next Door 🎤 Poetry Slam 💘 Forbidden Love 💀 Terminal Illness

Donde no puedas encontrarme

by Tamara Molina • 2024

Fleeing a toxic love, she finds refuge in Italy and a man who loves without breaking.

4.27

15k+

🩹 Toxic Love Recovery 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🫂 Found Family 💕 Friends To Lovers 💔 Emotionally Raw

Donde no puedas encontrarme 91%

Fleeing a toxic love, she finds refuge in Italy and a man who loves without breaking.

by Tamara Molina 2024

4.27

15k+ ratings

🩹 Toxic Love Recovery 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🫂 Found Family 💕 Friends To Lovers 💔 Emotionally Raw

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