Books like 'Instructions for a Second-Hand Heart'
Readers who enjoyed Instructions for a Second-Hand Heart by Tamsyn Murray also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance realistic grief friendship teens coming-of-age
-
November Blues by Sharon M. Draper
16 ratingsWhen November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever, and now she's faced with the biggest decision she could ever imagine. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more... -
![Bronxwood by Coe Booth]()
Bronxwood by Coe Booth
12 ratingsThe acclaimed author of TYRELL and KENDRA returns to PUSH to continue Tyrell's astonishing story. Tyrell's father is just out of jail, and Tyrell doesn't know how to deal with that. It's bad enough that his brother Troy is in foster care and that his mother is no help whatsoever. Now there's another thing up in his face, just when he's trying to settle down... -
![The Day After Forever by Erin Skiffington]()
The Day After Forever by Erin Skiffington
6 ratingsThe Day After Forever is an emotional story centering around four teenagers who discover and demostrate the true meaning of friendship. It illustrates the agony surroundingf horrific events and how friendship will always stand strong against the circumstances. Jeff has leukemia... -
![Snitch by Allison van Diepen]()
Snitch by Allison van Diepen
16 ratingsIn a school run by gangs, staying out was harder than joining. We knew who our friends were, and were careful what we said. If people thought we were haters, it would only be a matter of time....Lines are clearly marked at South Bay High School. It's mixed territory for the Crips and the Bloods, which means the drama never stops. Julia DiVino wants none of it... -
-
![Accidentally Famous by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Famous by Lisa Papademetriou
10 ratingsMeet Amy Flowers, a seventh grader who marches to her own beat: Being the new girl at exclusive Allington Academy doesn't break her stride! Meet the League: They rule the school, and their queen is oh-so-mean Fiona, who doesn't exactly appreciate Amy's individuality. This time, Amy is helping League lieutenant Jenelle with a charity fashion show... -
![Reach for Tomorrow by Lurlene McDaniel]()
Reach for Tomorrow by Lurlene McDaniel
12 ratingsKatie O'Roark is thrilled to learn that Jenny House is being rebuilt. After the fire last year, Katie thought she could never return to the camp, where she spent the summers with teens like her who faced medical odds stacked against them. But thanks to Richard Holloway's efforts, Katie and her longtime friends Lacey and Chelsea will work as counselors once again... -
![Accidentally Friends by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Friends by Lisa Papademetriou
12 ratingsThe fourth book in our first Candy Apple mini-series from New York Times-bestselling author Lisa Papademetriou! Seventh grader Amy Flowers is at it again in her fourth fish-out-of-water adventure at super-snooty Allington Academy... -
![The Year I Almost Drowned by Shannon McCrimmon]()
The Year I Almost Drowned by Shannon McCrimmon
6 ratingsIn this continuation of The Summer I Learned to Dive, nineteen-year old Finley “Finn” Hemmings is living in Graceville, South Carolina with her grandparents. She's getting to know the family that she was separated from for the last sixteen years. Finn and Jesse's relationship seems to be going strong until they're forced to deal with obstacles that throw them off-track...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic book contemporary fiction new-adult womens-fiction -
![The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel]()
The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel
6 ratings"Readers will swoon over this story of love despite impossible odds."--Romantic TimesFrom the author of Don't Die, My Love comes this young adult novel that intertwines a family saga with a grand love story. This novel stands alone or can be read as the companion to The Year of Luminous Love and Wishes and Dreams. For fans of Sarah Dessen's The Moon and More and Ann Brashares's Forever in Blue... -
![A Flirtationship by love-o-holic12babe, Shreya Pandey]()
A Flirtationship by love-o-holic12babe, Shreya Pandey
6 ratings“God, I like him. I like my best friend. Oh, and he has a girlfriend.” Scarlett has been best friends with Aiden for a very long time. She's almost like a sister to him. Problem is, Scarlett does not see him as a brother at all; far from it, in fact. Her traitor of a heart loves him--yes, as more than a friend. They are polar opposites... -
![Afterglow by Phil Stamper]()
Afterglow by Phil Stamper
6 ratingsAfter a summer of life-changing, these four friends are finally ready for senior year.Gabriel is thrilled to create his school's first LGBTQ+ advocacy group, but his long-distance relationship is fading from summer love to something else... Heath feels secure for the first time in years, but with his future riding on a baseball scholarship, each pitch triggers his anxiety.. -
![The Half Orphan's Handbook by Joan F. Smith]()
The Half Orphan's Handbook by Joan F. Smith
6 ratingsFor fans of John Green and Emily X.R. Pan, The Half-Orphan's Handbook by Joan F. Smith is a coming-of-age story and an empathetic, authentic exploration of grief with a sharp sense of humor and a big heart.It’s been three months since Lila lost her father to suicide. Since then, she’s learned to protect herself from pain by following two unbreakable rules:1... -
![Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou
10 ratingsSeventh grader Amy Flowers is finally making her mark at ultra-exclusive Allington Academy, but there's always one thing standing in her way: the League. They rule the school, and their queen is oh-so-mean Fiona, who doesn't exactly appreciate a new girl invading her turf. This time, Amy's stuck working on a service project with Fiona and preppie know-it-all Preston... -
![Ethan Between Us by Anna Myers, Julia Laserna]()
Ethan Between Us by Anna Myers, Julia Laserna
10 ratingsEthan is different. He is gorgeous, easy to talk to, and a uniquely gifted pianist. But his musical talent is both a gift and a curse. The doctors label him a schizophrenic, as he claims to have been taught by a long-dead, 19th-century composer... -
-
![The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz]()
The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz
12 ratingsIt's the summer before freshman year in high school and Nina decides to follow what someone said at her middle-school graduation: "Be unnoticed, but be remarkable." Her best friend Jorie is focusing on boys, clothes, and popularity, her lawyer parents are diving into a new case, and this is the first summer without her beloved Grandma, so she's is feeling a little lost... -
![Now I'll Tell You Everything by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Now I'll Tell You Everything by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
12 ratingsIt's Alice—for the rest of her life! Yes, the very last Alice book, and it reveals every last bit you'd want to know about Alice, including whether she spends the rest of her life with Patrick! "This is the book where Alice, every girl’s girl, turns into every lady’s lady" (VOYA).Alice McKinley is going to college! And everything, from her room to her classes to her friends, is about to change... -
![The Princess Diaries Collection by Meg Cabot]()
The Princess Diaries Collection by Meg Cabot
12 ratingsThe set of books is noted for containing many popular culture references, which include singers, movies, and fads in modern culture. Many critics have taken unkindly to this form of storytelling. In response, Cabot wrote an English teacher into the book Princess In Training who criticizes Mia's writing, telling her that it relies too much on "slick pop culture references... -
![Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley]()
Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley
14 ratingsFans of Jandy Nelson and Marieke Nijkamp will love this deeply moving novel in verse about the aftermath of a gun accident. Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clay’s father’s gun... -
![Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy]()
Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy
18 ratingsScarlett's in trouble at school. Again. With black fingernails and dyed ketchup-red hair, she's not your average twelve-year-old Londoner. So her mum sick of trying to get her into "another" school ships Scarlett to her father's cottage in Ireland. Having to learn Gaelic in a one-room schoolhouse and enduring a new stepmum and younger stepsister is just too much... -
![Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer, Karissa Vacker]()
Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer, Karissa Vacker
16 ratings"Heartbreaking, painfully romantic, and deeply human." --Stephanie Garber, #1 bestselling author of CaravalFrom bestselling authors to booksellers and librarians, early readers are obsessed with this debut YA romance pitched as Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera, told in alternate timelines and perfect for fans of messy, complicated relationships...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic book contemporary family fiction friends-to-lovers -
![I Like Him, He Likes Her by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
I Like Him, He Likes Her by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
14 ratingsFind a Penny pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck…except, of course, if that Penny is charming and pretty and funny, and the person picking her up just happens to be your boyfriend. Alice McKinley’s freshman year is not as “lucky” as she was hoping it would be. But she’s is trying to look on the bright side... -
![Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
12 ratingsWouldn't it be great to go back to the time before Pam got pregnant, before Patrick left for the University of Chicago, before anyone was making any big decisions about sex or college or life in general? Wouldn't it be great to get the whole gang together again, just once? What it takes for this to happen will change Alice (and the whole gang) forever. A funeral is not a happy reunion... -
![Whisper by Chrissie Keighery]()
Whisper by Chrissie Keighery
12 ratingsI'm always trying to figure out what's really going on. Always having to fill in the gaps, but never getting all the details. It's like trying to do a jigsaw when I don't even know what the picture is, and I'm missing one of the vital middle pieces... -
![Guys Do Not Do Secret Santa by Miranda Kenneally]()
Guys Do Not Do Secret Santa by Miranda Kenneally
12 ratingsA Catching Jordan short story (9 months before Catching Jordan... -
-
![A Year In Europe by Rachel Hawthorne]()
A Year In Europe by Rachel Hawthorne
10 ratingsMEET THE GIRLS of "A Year in Europe, "a collection of three interconnecting novels about the adventures of traveling abroad. Robin: Her junior year abroad in London takes a surprising turn when she falls for British hottie Kit. Dana: Paris is the City of Love, and Dana's on a mission to find a gorgeous French boyfriend. Carrie: She's crazy about Antonio, her Italian dream guy... -
![The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher]()
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher
10 ratings"Ashley Schumacher's latest novel is a delightful read, with diverse characters and an irresistible setting. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway proves that there's no better place to find yourself than at a Renaissance Faire... -
![Don't Forget Me by Victoria Stevens]()
Don't Forget Me by Victoria Stevens
8 ratingsSeventeen-year-old Hazel Clarke is no stranger to heartbreaks, and being sent to live with a father she’s never met is the latest in a string of them. Even the beauty of eastern Australia isn’t enough to take her mind off her mother and the life she had to leave behind in England... -
![The Comeback by Marlene Perez]()
The Comeback by Marlene Perez
6 ratingsA novel about ruling high school, being exiled, and fighting your way back to your rightful throne.Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie's starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic book contemporary fiction high-school womens-fiction -
![Robyn by Jade Parker]()
Robyn by Jade Parker
6 ratingsA funny, sweet trilogy about three girls and the friendship and romance they find working summer jobs at a water park! Caitlin and Robyn, long time best friends, get summer jobs together working at The Splash, the local water park. While Caitlin gets to be a lifeguard, Robyn is stuck pushing little kids in inner tubes down a slide... -
![I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler]()
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler
18 ratings“For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy…” Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her... -
![Alice on Her Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Alice on Her Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
12 ratingsFreedom! It's the moment Alice has been looking forward to for years -- her sixteenth birthday is coming up, and that means getting her driver's licence, with the freedom that entails. And before that important milestone, there's another delicious taste of freedom awaiting Alice and her friends -- a class trip to New York City, promising some serious partying once chaperones have gone to bed... -
![Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles]()
Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles
12 ratingsAfter fathering a baby, a teenager moves in with his karate-loving uncle and tries to come to terms with his guilt — and find a way to forgive. This isn’t how Josh expected to spend senior year. He thought he’d be hanging out with his best friends, Dave and Caleb, driving around, partying, just like always... -
![Star-Crossed by Mimi McCoy]()
Star-Crossed by Mimi McCoy
10 ratingsA sweet new addition to the hit Candy Apple line! Will Abby's horoscope make her superstitious, or will she take fate into her own hands?A fabulous new title from Mimi McCoy, author of Candy Apple's debut title!Abby has it all together: she gets straight A's, she's a star on her junior high track team, and she's 7th grade class vice president... -
![The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees]()
The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees
10 ratingsFrankie Towers has always looked up to his older brother, Steve, and with good reason. Steve is a popular senior who always gets what he wants: girls, a soccer scholarship, and--lately--street cred. Frankie, on the other hand, spends his time shooting off fireworks with his best friend Zach, working at his parents' restaurant, and obsessing about his longtime crush, Rebecca Sanchez... -
-
![Sometimes Love Isn't Enough by Lurlene McDaniel]()
Sometimes Love Isn't Enough by Lurlene McDaniel
8 ratingsJunior high will be a blast," promises Andrea Manetti's best friend. But while exciting things are happening at school-new friends, boys, and a chance to star in the musical-Andrea's home life is falling apart. Her parents are always fighting; her mom's new job means Andrea has to help more with the family. And then there's Andrea's brother... -
![I'll Tell You Mine by Pip Harry]()
I'll Tell You Mine by Pip Harry
6 ratingsKate Elliot isn't trying to fit in – that's the whole point of being a goth, isn't it?Everything about her – from her hair to her clothes – screams different and the girls at her school give her a wide berth. How can Kate be herself, really herself, when she's hiding her big secret? The one that landed her in boarding school in the first place...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic boarding-school book contemporary fiction high-school -
![Pwned by Shannen Crane Camp]()
Pwned by Shannen Crane Camp
6 ratingsReagan West has a perfect life. She’s at the top of the high school food chain as co-captain of the cheerleading squad and she’s best friends with the most evil girl in Albany, Tawny Perez, which means she’s never on the receiving end of her wrath... -
![Claire Gets Caught by Katherine Applegate]()
Claire Gets Caught by Katherine Applegate
6 ratingsClaire just can't mind her own business. It may be meddling, but she knows deep down inside, her friends desperately need her guidance. How would they every get by without her? The gang is going on a ski trip to Killington and everyone is sure they'll have a fantastic time. But with Claire along, there may be more trouble than fun...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic book contemporary female-author fiction womens-fiction -
![What Zoey Saw by Katherine Applegate]()
What Zoey Saw by Katherine Applegate
6 ratingsIn the sixth book in this popular series, Zoey makes a shocking discovery. What Zoey saw is turning her life upside down. She used to think her family was perfect, that ehr parents were really in love. But what she saw changed all that. And it's making Zoey think about love in a whole different way...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship realistic book contemporary female-author fiction womens-fiction -
![Loves Me, Loves Me Not by Claudia Gabel]()
Loves Me, Loves Me Not by Claudia Gabel
6 ratingsAre you IN or are you OUT? Find out in the launch of this exciting new YA series that explores the drama of high school friendship -- the ups & downs, the scandals & secrets, the romance & rivalries.Nola and Marnie were BFFs for years. But their friendship ended at the start of 9th grade, when Marnie tried to join Lizette Levin and her IN crowd, while Nola chose to stay OUT... -
![Unfriend You: Masihkah Kau Temanku? by Dyah Rinni, Nico Rosady]()
Unfriend You: Masihkah Kau Temanku? by Dyah Rinni, Nico Rosady
6 ratingsAku adalah noda untuk dosa yang tak kulakukan.Aku mencoba bertahan, berusaha mengerti;mungkin ada bagian dari dirimu yang tak bisa kuraih... -
![All Mates Together by Cathy Hopkins]()
All Mates Together by Cathy Hopkins
6 ratingsEverything's about to change for Cat. She's moving house, so she'll have a room of her own at last, and her dad's about to marry Jen, which means a shopping trip to London and a chance to meet up with her new mates, Nesta, Lucy, Izzie and TJ, as well as see Jamie. But nothing goes as expected -- Cat's dream room looks like a non-starter, Jamie does a disappearing act, and wedding plans fall apart... -
![Caitlin by Jade Parker]()
Caitlin by Jade Parker
6 ratingsA funny, sweet trilogy about three girls and the friendship and romance they find working summer jobs at a water park!Now that Robyn is dating her older brother (ew!) Caitlin is feeling distinctly boyfriend-less in her lifeguard chair. But that's where she meets Jason, the water park's resident hottie.. -
![Whitney by Jade Parker]()
Whitney by Jade Parker
6 ratingsA funny, sweet trilogy about three girls and the friendships and romance they find working summer jobs at a water park!Whitney's Summer Goals:1. Throw the best parties ever at the water park -- and avoid backstabbing nemesis Marci.2. Stop eating so much ice cream from Jake's ice cream cart. Who cares that he's really cute and sweet?3. Figure out Caitlin and Robyn.. -
-
![Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner]()
Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner
6 ratingsFifteen-year-old JL Markham's life used to be filled with carnival nights and hot summer days spent giggling with her forever best friend Aubrey about their families and boys. Together, they were unstoppable. But they aren't the friends they once were...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship romance young-adult contemporary fiction mental-illness -
![The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding]()
The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding
16 ratingsThings I know about Reece Malcolm: 1. She graduated from New York University. 2. She lives in or near Los Angeles. 3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week. 4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon. 5. She’s my mother... -
![Amazing Grace by Megan Shull]()
Amazing Grace by Megan Shull
14 ratingsGrace Ace Kincaid has it all. She's a teen sports sensation. Her face and body are on the cover of every magazine. She's front and center on the red carpet. She has the world at her feet, as long as she toes the line. But then she says three little words. Three words that take her out of the spotlight to Medicine Hat, Alaska. Population 272.Grace has the chance to start all over again... -
![Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
12 ratingsGet ready to start your own incredible, amazing life…right? Alice McKinley is standing on the edge of something new—and half afraid she might fall off. Graduation is a big deal—that gauntlet of growing up that requires everyone she’s known since forever to make huge decisions that will fling them here and there and far from home... -
![Heavy Metal And You by Christopher Krovatin]()
Heavy Metal And You by Christopher Krovatin
12 ratingsIf Nick Hornby had a metalhead little brother, he'd write a book as clever, music-drenched, and observationally direct as this, Christopher Krovatin's rock-solid PUSH debut, now in paperback. Boy listens to lots of loud music and hangs with his friends. Boy meets girl. Boy falls dippy-happy-scared-as-hell in love with girl. Friends meet girl -- and aren't impressed... -
![Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler]()
Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler
12 ratingsJanet Gurtler's latest contemporary YA novel is by turns gripping, heart-wrenching, and joyous as one teen girl has to find the courage to carry on after a devastating tragedy. She never thought a kiss could kill... As the new girl in town, Samantha just wants to fit in. Being invited to a party by her fellow swim team members is her big chance...especially since Zee will be there...
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
