jennifer niven’s new york times bestseller all the bright places has captivated readers around the world since its debut in 2015. niven captures and portrays the struggles of mental illness so powerfully that it helps educate readers without being condescending.
finch and violet, the protagonists on the verge of their mental struggles, are two memorable characters that are truly three-dimensional. they help show us that people with mental illness are unique individuals who have more to show than the label of their diagnoses.
You are reading: Books like all the bright places
books to read if you liked all the bright places
So, if you’ve enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of reading all the bright places, here are a few books we think you might like:
1. holding up the universe by jennifer niven
This upcoming book from the same author revolves around Libby Stout, an overweight girl who has spent years grieving her mother, but now wants to move on. She meets Jack Masselin at a counseling group. he is a charming and confident boy who fits in well with others, but secretly has trouble recognizing people’s faces.
2. the sky is everywhere by jandy nelson
Lennie’s life falls apart after the sudden death of his sister, and he is torn between two boys: the seductive but quiet Toby and the vibrant and musical Joe. Lennie knows that each child has something she desperately needs, but she also can’t risk her whole world exploding if the two children collide.
3. winter girls by laurie halse anderson
cassie and lia are best friends whose relationship suffers when they challenge each other to lose weight. The author successfully portrays the struggles of eating disorders, opening the story with Cassie’s death and Lia consumed with guilt for not answering all 33 calls from Cassie the night she died.
4. don’t walk away from me by mindy mcginnis
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This novel follows Ashley and her friends as they head to the Smoky Mountains for a night out. An unexpected turn of events leaves Ashley hurt and alone, struggling to survive and showing us the power of the mind when it comes to surviving difficult and seemingly impossible situations.
5. thirteen reasons why by jay asher
This book tells the story of Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide and blamed everyone for her decision. She details this list on a box of audio tapes that she sends to her friend Clay Jensen.
6. turtle under the ice of juleah del rosario
The author uses free verse to tell the story of sisters Rowena and Ariana, who have lost their mother and are slowly drifting apart. One night, Ariana leaves the house and Rowena wakes up to begin a journey in search of her sister, as well as discovering why she disappeared without saying a word.
7. i miss you i hate you i love you bye bye for abby sher
hannah and zoe have been best friends since grade school, with zoe being the more popular and trusting of the two. But when Zoe’s parents divorce, her world falls apart and she falls into bulimia, an eating disorder that Hannah needs to help her overcome.
8. the unlikely hero of room 13b by teresa toten
adam has a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder that prevents him from forming healthy friendships with others. At his OCD young adult support group, he only becomes involved when he meets Robyn, who was recently released from a residential treatment facility. Read this gripping story of how two teenagers nurture a romantic relationship in the midst of a debilitating illness.
9. john green paper towns
Nine years ago, Quentin and his neighbor Margo were in the park and found the body of someone who had committed suicide. They don’t really grow in friendship with her until the day Margo comes up to Quentin’s room asking for help in getting revenge on the people who have hurt her.
10. the perks of being an outcast by stephen chbosky
charlie is a high school freshman who is used to being on the sidelines. But when he meets Sam, who quickly becomes the center of Charlie’s life, he finds himself thrust into a world of dating, sex, drugs and plenty of drama.
11. i was here for gayle forma
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When Cody’s best friend Meg commits suicide, Cody is devastated. But when she finds hidden files on her friend’s computer, she delves into Meg’s secret life and desperately searches for answers as to why Meg ended her life.
12. nothing patterns by randy ribay
Filipino-American Jay Reguero is a high school senior who suspects there’s more to his cousin Jun’s death than meets the eye. He flies from Michigan to the Philippines, where he encounters the harrowing politics surrounding the country’s drug war.
13. the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson
hayley is a teenager whose father suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in iraq. her coping mechanism involves drugs and alcohol. Hayley is constantly terrified that she might hurt herself or someone else, so she sacrifices her own childhood to take care of her father.
read books about mental illness
These books offer an excellent look at many different mental illnesses and eating disorders, showing us how these conditions affect the lives of those who suffer from them and those who love them.
However, the books are not intended to be a substitute for professional help. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty, be sure to consult a professional. You can also check out our list of recommended books for depression and books for anxiety.
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