Every summer we have a family reunion/crab feast in Maryland and every year that we go my teen cousins always have a Sarah Dessen book. I’ve literally never seen them without one of her books on this vacation. They are huge fans of Sarah Dessen’s books — as am I! I’ve talked to them a bit about what else they like to read but they always mention how they are always looking for books like Sarah Dessen’s books and some other go-to authors similar to hers….but they can’t find them so they just re-read her books over and over.
Of course, me being me, I’m like “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. I will totally make you a list of books to read similar to Sarah Dessen books.” So I put together a list of my favorite contemporary YA books for fans of her books. So if you’ve got Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, This Lullaby or any other of her books on repeat….I hope you will find this list of authors and books for fans of Sarah Dessen helpful!
Authors Similar To Sarah Dessen That I Always Recommend
I’m going to recommend a few authors similar to Sarah Dessen to just jump right into next because I’ve read their whole body of work and think they are great authors for fans of Sarah Dessen and you can’t go wrong with any of their books. Click each cover to learn more!
Morgan Matson
Morgan’s books are always the first books I recommend to fans of Sarah Dessen!! I love everything she’s written.
Jessi Kirby
Jessi Kirby is a super underrated Sarah Dessen readalike author and I love her books! My favorite 3 are Moonglass, Golden and In Honor.
Emery Lord
Emery is writing some of my favorite YA contemporary right now and I think she’s a fresh voice in the genre! While When We Collided (which I loved) might be a little different than Sarah Dessen, I genuinely think her other books are perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen’s books!
Sarah Ockler
Sarah Ockler’s books are criminally underrated and they are fantastic books for people looking for authors like Sarah Dessen!
Other Books To Read If You Like Sarah Dessen
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han: A classic if you love contemporary YA! Her To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series is really great too but I think The Summer I Turned Pretty is so reminiscent to me of that early Dessen charm. (My review of The Summer I Turned Pretty)
Related: Books To Read If You Liked To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Tell Me Three Things & Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum: These two books by Julie Buxbaum remind me of some of Sarah’s books that delve into some harder/sadder topics in that they balance the hard with the lighter stuff/romance. Really great books!!
Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian: This is the ultimate summer novel that feels so reminiscent of a Sarah Dessen novel! Summer + friendships + romance!!! I just really loved this book and so wished I had my summer job in high school at Meade Creamery!
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo: So cute and funny this one is! The main character gets banished to working her family’s food truck all summer after a prank gone wrong and ends up with a classmate she can’t stand and maybe a new crush as co-workers.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Paris! St. Clair! One of my favorites!! The other two companion novels Lola and Isla are must reads too!! It’s like Sarah Dessen’s books but in bigger city settings! (My review of Anna and the French Kiss)
Related: Books for John Green Fans
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland: If you love how strong the settings in Sarah Dessen’s novels can be you will LOVE Nantucket Blue! (my review of Nantucket Blue)
So tell me…what other books would you recommend for Sarah Dessen fans?
P.S. Here are your 2020 must read YA books!
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Christy @TheReaderBee says
I love Sarah Dessen! I’ve read a few of these, but a few are still on my list to read. 🙂
Rachel Patrick says
I’m a huge fan of Sarah Dessen, and I’ve only read two books off your list–ANNA and STATISTICAL. (And I basically DNF’d NATUCKET.) I want to read so many of these, especially AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR. It looks so good, and I have a copy so there’s really no excuse. Cool topic pick!
Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf
Vale says
I absolutely love Anna & the French Kiss and The Statistical Probability. Two of my favorite contemporary books ever. Now I feel like rereading them haha.
Other recs could be The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg and Saving June by Hannah Harrington 🙂
Chrissi Reads says
I agree with your choices even though I have yet to read some of them. They’re definitely on my radar. It reminds me I should read more Sarah Dessen. I’ve only read one of her books! Oops.
Alyssa @ Swept Away By Books says
Agree with ALL OF THEM! Such an awesome list Jamie! I love great summer reads
My Top Ten 🙂
Shannon says
Great list, although I really did not like Amy & Rogers Epic Playlist.
Here’s My TTT: http://adventuresofateenagebookworm.blogspot.ie/2013/11/top-ten-tuesday-top-dystopian.html
Christianna says
This is such a clever list of books! You’re cousin is going to have some fun reading ahead of her!
My TTT
BarefootMedStudent says
I haven’t read ANY Dessen yet. I’m not entirely sure it will be my cup of tea. I hope your cousin tries some of these books though!
Lieder Madchen says
Anna and the French Kiss made it onto my list, too! And If I Stay is one of my favorites. 🙂
Allie @ Little Birdie Books says
There is no way someone can NOT love Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour! If she’s a fan of Dessen then she’s clearly a fan of awesome – so she should fall in love with Amy & Roger 😀
Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is another one she might like if she’s a Dessen fan!
Christina says
Fantastic list, Jamie! I love Dessen and have read every book on that list except Sky is Everywhere and Statistical Probability. I will have to move both books up on my TBR list!
Reviews From A Bookworm says
Great list! So many of these that I loved myself – If I Stay, The Sky is Everywhere, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, Anna & the French Kiss, The Summer I Turned Pretty; all such amazing books. Will definitely be adding a lot of the others to my own TBR list. My TTT.
Andi says
I have read and loved almost all of those books. Great list and great picks for your cousin. You know how I feel about Anna and the French Kiss. 🙂
My TTT List
Dreams says
I haven’t read much contemporary YA to recommend anything, but I’ve added several of those to my TBR list.
my TTT
Rebecca @ The Library Canary says
I haven’t read any of these. I don’t read a whole lot of contemporary, but am starting to dip my toe into the genre so maybe I will try a few of these out. Definitely Gayle Foreman. I’ve heard such good things.
April says
That whole list is full of WIN! :o) I’ve been meaning to get The Sky is Everywhere because I’ve heard so many good things
Jacque says
I loved the three Sarah Dessen books I have read so far as well as Anna and the French Kiss. Several of these books are already on my TBR list. I guess I should get to them sooner rather than later. Great list!!
Here is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/11/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-would-recommend.html
Tiffany (AboutToRead) says
I love a lot of the books on your list – especially Nantucket Blue. Great choices!
Sash says
Anna Anna Anna Anna.
These are great recs for Sarah Dessen fans! 🙂
Lucy @ Queen of Contemporary says
I loved Anna and the French Kiss (and Lola too!) and The Sky is Everywhere. I need to read more contemporary but I need to be in the right mood at the time, which can be a pain. I’m definitely adding the ones I haven’t read to my wishlist though!
Dragana @ Bookworm Dreams says
I’m still tentatively starting to read books from ya contemporary genre, so I haven’t read any book from your list. But they are mentioned a lot in a list of recommendations from my bookish-ya-lovin friends.
I would add My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick , it was so cute and convinced me that I should start reading more ya contemporaries.
Great list!
Here’s my Top Ten Books I’d Recommend To Food Lovers
Christine @ The Bookish Daydreamer says
I used to be one of those girls who would literally read nothing but Sarah Dessen. She was the perfect summertime read for me and I’m still sad I’ve already finished all of her books so far. (This is a completely unimportant side note: I can’t wait for her next book! But I feel like she takes a lot more time than other authors :/ ) I love this list! These are all books I’ve been meaning to read but now that I’m book blogging, I just don’t have the time. I did just buy ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS a couple of weeks ago and plan on reading it when I need a contemp fix. I had to double check to make sure you included Susane Colasanti! She was my other go-to author during the summer. I’ve only read 2 books by her so far but I really enjoyed her style. My 12 year old cousin is the Susane version of me and has read all of her books.
Doris says
Perfect list for your cousin! I adore The Summer I Turned Pretty <333
Our TTT
Doris @ OABR
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic says
I love the Sky is Everywhere, one of my all-time favourite books! I also want to read If I Stay, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, Anna and the French Kiss and Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour! I also ADORED the Summer trilogy! 🙂
Great list! 😀
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My TTT Post! 🙂
Molli says
I agree with your list entirely, Jamie! ANNA and NANTUCKET are such such great choices. Are you going to give this list to her? I hope so, because I think she might find some new favorite books. 😀
Kait says
I was a huge SD fan in high school too. I think you should also suggest The Jessica Darling Series because it’s amazing and hilarious and is still my favorite contemporary series ten years later. John Green is another great author to suggest. Just One Day[I was surprised you didn’t suggest this one] is also one I recommend.
Great list!
Cora @ This Northern Reader says
Oh, anything by Sarra Manning!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives says
My sister is very much like your cousin – I’m afraid she’s going to run out of Dessen books soon enough! I’m always really careful about what I give her to read (since I pick her books pretty much 99% of the time since she’s sensitive to certain content), but I’m pretty sure she’d like all of these, except for If I Stay. That one might be too heavy for her 😀
Sarah @ YA Love says
My girls who adore Sarah Dessen also like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, RIVAL by Sara Bennett Wealer, FIXING DELILAH by Sarah Ockler, IN HONOR by Jessi Kirby, LIKE MANDARIN by Kirsten Hubbard, EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL by Simmone Howell, and LOVE AND LEFTOVERS by Sarah Tregay.
They also enjoy the books on your list. Someone left the suggestion in the comments for SAVING JUNE and THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. I agree with both of those recommendations 🙂
katy says
I’ve never actually read Sarah Dessen, but I love Amy & Roger, Anna and the French Kiss, If I Stay and Nantucket Blue! If it’s mainly contemporary, I think Melina Marchetta would be a good recommendation, like Saving Francesca!
Kaley @ Books Etc says
This is the YA list for me. I’ve been reading (and loving) Sarah Dessen since I was an actual teen and, if you’ll recall, I want to read more awesomesauce current YA and I totally trust your opinion. I have Just One Day here right now to read from the library. I’ve already read and loved Anna (and Lola). I also own Moonglass and The Summer I Turned Pretty (random winnings from blog contests) so I should get on those…and all the others on the list! 🙂
Alexa Y. says
If your cousin loves Sarah Dessen, I’m pretty sure she’s going to love most of these books (I’ve read 7/10). They have a lot of similar settings, situations and feels, and I think she’ll respond to that. Great set of recommendations J!