So I have this friend I’ve gotten into YA (hi KELS!!). It started with The Hunger Games and her wanting a list of books to read after finishing. Then she went on a dystopian bender because of that list. Then this year she was looking for more books to read while at my apartment so I pulled out If I Stay by Gayle Forman out (my review of If I Stay). If you don’t know me, I am a HUGE Gayle Forman fan. Her books are just MY KIND OF BOOKS. So, I told her the movie was going to come out this year so she took If I Stay for that reason and I get a text a day later about how she devoured it. And then passed it on to her sister-in-law. So then she was like WHAT DO I READ NEXT??? This made me contemporary YA loving heart happy so naturally, like I do anybody who asks me for book recommendations, I gave her some books to read now that she’s read If I Stay. They aren’t total readalikes because Gayle books are one of a kind but they are what I think make me feel things like Gayle’s books do and are among my favorites.
So in honor of IF I STAY hitting theaters Friday (with some showings Thursday which I AM TOTALLY GOING TO OBVIOUSLY), I’m sharing the list that I gave her so that perhaps other recent If I Stay fans can find some new books to read! Buy some tissues for some of these…just saying!!
A list if you can’t read my awful handwriting + want to see book covers:
Where She Went, Just One Day, Just One Year
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
ROAD TRIP BOOK! Also check out her books Second Chance Summer and Since You’ve Been Gone because they are fantastic!!(my review of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour)
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
OH MY HEART. Plus Jandy’s prose is beautiful and poetic. Her newest book I’ll Give You The Sun is equally as brilliant! (my review of The Sky is Everywhere)
Something Like Normal AND Where Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Her books are some of my favorites and I feel like she deserves to be WAY more popular than she is!! These books were just great! (My review of Something Like Normal, my review of Where The Stars Still Shine)
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
This was one of my FAVORITE books of last year and I can’t recommend it enough. (My review of This Song Will Save Your Life)
Jessi Kirby’s books: Golden, Moonglass and In Honor
I put them in the order that I prefer them but all her books are just really solid and I can’t wait for more from her!! (My review of Golden, review of Moonglass, review of In Honor)
Twenty Boy Summer AND The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
If I had to pick out of the two The Book of Broken Hearts might win out by a smidge but both of these books made me cry SO THERE’S THAT. (My review of Twenty Boy Summer, review of The Book of Broken Hearts)
Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira
This book OH MAN. Told in letter form. SO GOOD.
Not as emotional as If I Stay and the above books but good if you loved the romance aspect of the book/movie:
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
MATT FINCH FOREVER. If you liked that Adam was musical in If I Stay…welcome Matt Finch into your life. And so sweet! (My review of Open Road Summer)
Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
TRAVEL. South America. SO GOOD & I loved Bria. (my review of Wanderlove)
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
SO SWEET. PARIS. LOVE. ST. CLAIR. (Although there are some people who don’t like this one because of something in it but I don’t want to say whaaaat bc SPOILERS but let me know if you want to know what their dealbreaker was) (my review of Anna and the French Kiss)
Do you have any recommendations you would add, dear readers? Because I know I personally would take any and all books you think fans of If I Stay would like because OBVIOUSLY I LOVE THAT BOOK!!
Tori @ Bookish Affairs says
First off, no way!! Your handwriting is adorable. I wish my handwriting was like yours. Secondly, thank you so much for all the recommendations. I haven’t read If I Stay yet, but it’s definitely on my immediate TBR. Plus, I’ve been really into contemporary lately, and I ‘ve been looking for some good reads, so thank you for this list. It’s really sad because I own half of this list yet I haven’t read any of them! I feel so pathetic D;
Anyway, thanks again! I love your blog <3
Tori @ Bookish Affairs
Jamie says
Aw thank you for the kind words!! I feel like my handwriting is atrocious. And it’s gotten worse because all I do is type these days and not write!
EEE I hope you love If I Stay like I did. Where She Went may have been even better…it’s hard to say bc they were both SO GOOD.
You have some good contemporary reading ahead of you, girl!!
Trisha says
Bookmarked this page! Thanks for all the excellent book recommendations, Jamie!! 🙂
Jamie says
No problem! Let me know if you need help with where to start!! 🙂
Johannah says
I LOVED LOVED If I stay & Where She Went! Gayle can rip your heart out like no other! lol.
I need to read a lot of the ones you listed – I own them, so it’s just a matter of breaking the spine. ha ha!
Jamie says
She’s unparalleled in that way!! Maybe Melina Marchetta is the only one who can do that to me! BREAK THOSE SPINES, lady!! xoxo
Michelle says
Don’t forget about Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver! I have most of those, have read a few and want to read them all. I wish there was more time in the day.
Jamie says
I haven’t read that one yet though I’ve owned it since it came out..OOPS! Might start a “reader recommended” section at the bottom of this post so I can put that on there!
Trina says
Yup, I second Before I Fall being on this list!
Carla says
remembering the little post it notes I scribbled book recommendations on you YOU 🙂 miss you my lovely x
Jamie says
That was the best ever!! I read a good chunk of those. I still have that list I’m sure..but either way it’s forever here on this blog somewhere!
Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net says
Aww, your handwriting is great! Very clear 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ve saved it on Bloglovin for future reference. I recently ordered If I Stay so I’ll finally get around to reading it! xD
Jamie says
Aw thanks! I hate my handwriting!
You’ll have to let me know what you think about If I Stay! I hope the hype won’t affect your opinion. Years ago when it came out I went in with VERY low expectations because on the cover it said “for fans of Twilight” (which WHAT?) and so I figured it was probs some cheap Twilight knockoff but I LOVED IT SO MUCH OBVIOUSLY. Have Where She Went on hand!! The wait was excruciating!!
Mel says
I want to re read If I stay before seeing the movie so in this way, pay attention on all the details muahahaha I loved If I stay, I remember when I finished I couldn’t stop crying… it was so beautiful reading!! There are some books you recommend us that I haven’t read yet so I’m going to write all their names!! ♥
PD: Your handwriting is really beautiful! ♥
Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages says
I’m saving this list. I’m going to read books off of this list. My copy of Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson is coming on Friday and I’m ready to binge read this author. Thanks for the great recommendations Jamie.
Jamie says
OOOH A MORGAN MATSON BINGE!!! You are so lucky. Have tissues for SCS though!! Let me know what you think — she is up there with Gayle Forman for me!
Kelly Gunter says
I’ve wracked my brain and I am at a total loss! What is the deal breaker in Anna and the French Kiss? I just finished rereading it and I can’t think of anything that would be a deal breaker. In books (for me) anything goes. Thanks!!!
Oh!!! I LOVE your blog!!!! Keep up the good work!
Jamie says
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS, DEAR COMMENT READERS*
The fact that St. Clair cheated on his gf because of him and Anna! I know a lot of people couldn’t get past that and disliked the book and couldn’t ship it at all. For some reason it didn’t bother me hahah!
And thank you for the kind words. Seriously <33
Kelly Gunter says
I think I might have been more upset if Ellie was fully fleshed out. And what is a deal breaker in real life is a bump in the road in a book. Anna & the French Kiss was all about the HEA for me. I was more upset about Merideth because she was a true presence in the story. But everyone gets their opinion. 🙂
Critica says
This reminds me of me so much XD One of my friends recently told me that he’d like to hear more of the band Within Temptation (who are tied as my favorite band of all time) so I made up this huge guide of songs for him to check out! I’ve also convinced him to read certain books and watch certain movies over the years… it’s fun to get someone interested in the stuff you love! 🙂 And don’t be silly, your handwriting is perfectly clear to me!
I actually haven’t read If I Stay yet, but I have a feeling I’ll love it. And I should probably get to Anna and the French Kiss sometime soon.
Jamie says
I love it!! I do that with music too. One of my fave pasttimes is making people mixes to get them into new music!!
Ahh you have two books I love to experience for the first time. JEALOUS!
Tilly @ Hardcore Heroines says
Love this so much!!!! If I Stay was one of my favourite books last year and so was where she went.
Gayle forman is just amazing.
What was the thing that people didn’t like in Anna??!! IMO Anna was the best of the series! I think St Clair won me over haha (although Anna is just brilliant).
Jamie says
RIGHT SO AMAZING??! I can’t even pick which one I loved more!!
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS*
They didn’t like the fact that St. Clair cheated that first time he and Anna kissed!
Jamie says
RIGHT SO AMAZING??! I can’t even pick which one I loved more!!
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS*
They didn’t like the fact that St. Clair cheated that first time he and Anna kissed!
Emily says
I feel so ashamed! I’ve practically only read 4 books in your list, Jamie! D: WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. Okay sorry >< But it's a bummer! Have you read Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott? 🙂 That book absolutely broke me too boohoo D: Gayle Forman is amazing, I only just read If I Stay about two months ago? And I was waiting at the doctor's and sobbing my eyeballs out I think people were staring… BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. I WILL CRY OVER A GAYLE FORMAN BOOK ANYTIME IN PUBLIC. Love this list, Jamie! 🙂 Thank you for sharing! 😀 Now I have to crawl out of my hole and get started on some of these great recommendations you have! Hope you enjoy the If I Stay movie too 😀 (is it possible to be watching the trailer and already feeling the need to cry?!)
Julie says
This is awesome 🙂 Great idea for a post, and some great recs. Sharing.
Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie says
SUCH GOOD BOOKS. Every book I’ve read from this list has been magical. And those I haven’t read? Well…they’re getting put in my TBR right now. As usual, you have good taste in books.
Amanda @ Vivalabooks says
Awww I loved your handwritten list! So cute! I’m definitely sending this along to my friends who just finished If I Stay.
And, I always recommend If I Stay & The Sky Is Everywhere together!
Eeep! Cannot wait to start Love Letters To The Dead now that my summer reading for school is officially done!
Alexa S. says
Not going to lie, I’m very pleased that I’ve read most of the books that you’ve recommended in this post, and consider them top shelf reads (to take the term from Betty)! I love that you got your friend into loving YA novels; it’s an experience that I’ve been having lately with one of my real life BFFs as well, and it’s awesome!
Cat says
Oh my gosh, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was one of my FAVORITES. I can’t believe I haven’t checked out her other books, which I will now be adding to my list.
Jamie says
Be prepared to bawl your eyes out with Second Chance Summer! Since You’ve Been Gone is a bit lighter of the two and such a great friendship book!