13 Moving Books Like All the Bright Places

New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven has captivated readers all over the world ever since its debut in 2015. Niven captures and portrays the struggles of mental illness with such power, helping to educate readers without being patronizing. 

Finch and Violet, the protagonists who meet on the brink of their mental struggles, are two memorable characters who are truly three-dimensional. They help show us that people who suffer from mental illness are unique individuals who have more to show than the label of their diagnoses. 

Books to Read If You Liked All the Bright Places

So, if you’ve enjoyed the emotional roller coaster from reading All the Bright Places, here are some books we believe you may like: 

1. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven 

This next book by the same author revolves around Libby Stout, an overweight girl who has spent years in grief over her mother, but who now wants to move forward. She meets Jack Masselin in a counseling group. He’s 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 her sister’s sudden death, and she is torn between two boys: the seductive but quiet Toby, and the vibrant and musical Joe. Lennie knows each boy has something she needs desperately, but she also can’t risk having her whole world explode if the two boys collide. 

3. Wintergirls 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 being consumed with guilt for not responding to the 33 calls from Cassie on the night she died. 

4. Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis 

This novel follows Ashley and her friends as they go to the Smoky mountains for a night of partying. An unexpected turn of events leaves Ashley injured 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 around for her decision. She details this list in a box of audiotapes she sends to her friend, Clay Jensen. 

6. Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario 

The author uses free verse to tell the story of sisters Rowena and Ariana, who have lost their mother and find themselves slowly drifting apart. One night, Ariana leaves the house, and Rowena wakes up to begin a journey of looking for her sister, as well as finding out why she disappeared without a word. 

7. Miss You Hate You Love You Bye by Abby Sher

Hannah and Zoe have been best friends all the way from elementary school, with Zoe the more popular and confident one of the pair. But when Zoe’s parents get a divorce, her world falls apart and she falls into bulimia, an eating disorder that Hannah needs to help her through. 

8. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten 

Adam has a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder that keeps him from forming healthy friendships with others. In his young adult support group for OCD, he only starts to engage when he meets Robyn, who was recently discharged from a residential treatment center. Read this gripping story of how two teenagers cultivate a romantic relationship in the midst of a debilitating illness. 

9. Paper Towns by John Green 

Nine years ago, Quentin and his neighbor Margo were in the park and found the body of someone who committed suicide. They don’t really grow in their friendship until the day Margo climbs into Quentin’s bedroom asking for help to take revenge on people who have hurt her. 

10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

Charlie is a freshman in high school who’s used to being on the sidelines. But when he meets Sam, who quickly becomes the center of Charlie’s life, he’s thrown into a world of dates, sex, drugs, and plenty of drama. 

11. I Was Here by Gayle Forman 

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 searches desperately for answers to why Meg ended her life. 

12. Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay 

Filipino-American Jay Reguero is a high school senior who suspects his cousin Jun’s death is more than meets the eye. He flies from Michigan to the Philippines, where he encounters the heartbreaking politics surrounding the drug wars in the country. 

13. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson 

Hayley is a teenager whose dad suffers from severe PTSD after serving in Iraq. His coping mechanism involves drugs and alcohol. Hayley is constantly terrified he might hurt himself or another person, so she sacrifices her own childhood to take care of her father. 

Reading Books About Mental Illness 

These books offer a great look into many different mental illnesses and eating disorders, showing us how these conditions affect the lives of both the people who have them and those who love them. 

However, books are not meant to be a substitute for professional help. If you or someone you know is undergoing difficulty, be sure to consult a professional. You can also check out our list of recommended books for depression and books for anxiety.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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