Find your next great read for National Reading Month by exploring my reviews of these YA books for fans of Just Listen.
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is one of those sweet books about discovering who you really are and falling in love. It also deals with eating disorders and the themes of beauty, self-image, and secrets. If you’re looking for a lighter read along the lines of Just Listen, then my list will appeal to you.
Like Sarah Dessen’s book Just Listen, the picks in this list explore complex relationships between many characters in rich and dynamic ways. The romantic relationships, the friendships, and the family relationships matter deeply to the protagonists, and therefore, they matter to the reader.
Hollow Beauty by Khristina Chess
“I wondered what it would feel like if he rolled over and kissed me. Would I feel that panicked need to escape that I always felt when Brody kissed me? When I thought about kissing Ross, I felt nothing but excitement.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Hollow Beauty
This dreamy YA romantic love triangle will appeal to fans of Just Listen. Olivia has a date with tall, gorgeous Brody to the prom, and she’s super ecstatic about that--until he suggests that she use the two months before the dance to lose some weight.
But how thin is thin enough?
What starts as a few skipped meals spirals into a dangerous obsession—hours spent scrolling pro-ana and thinspo forums, tracking calories like a lifeline, and watching the number on the scale plummet. The more weight she sheds, the more she disappears.
Ross, the new prep cook at the diner, sees her differently. He doesn’t suffer the same suffocating self-doubt, and the only time Olivia feels like herself is when she’s riding dirt bikes and cave-hunting with him. But with Brody, romance feels more like devour or be devoured.
She’s almost perfect for prom. Almost thin enough.
Until the unthinkable happens.
What makes Hollow Beauty special is the realistic portrayal of how Olivia falls into the self-esteem trap of trying to change herself for someone else. I worried about her. I loved seeing her journey and choices as the events escalated toward the story’s climax. It’s a great positive message that exposes the slippery slope of pro-ana culture and the brutal consequences of chasing perfection.
If you loved Just Listen, you will definitely want to check this one out. In fact, Khristina Chess has written several awesome YA books about eating disorders, self harm, and body image. She’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she has so many titles to choose from!
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen
“Flawed, we're truly interesting, truly memorable, and yes, truly beautiful.” ― Justina Chen, quote from North of Beautiful
Sometimes the flaw isn’t about weight.
Terra Cooper doesn’t have a body image problem; it’s her face. She’s blonde, beautiful, talented as an artist, and she’s fit. The problem is the birthmark on her cheek the size of Texas.
For me, this novel was a slow burn because of the complexity of the family relationships and the distance Terra had to travel to find her way. It’s not an easy road for her. Mid-way, a light begins to shine, and through a geography change to China and a series of maps and geocaching experiences, Terra begins a journey. There is a romantic interest. In the end she discovers acceptance, self-healing, and the real meaning of beauty.
If you’re looking for books similar to Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen, be sure to check out North of Beautiful.
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
“His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.” ― Huntley Fitzpatrick, quote from My Life Next Door
This adorable YA love story is compelling and has an unexpected ending. Everything about the messy Garrett house draws Samantha into it, but especially the good-looking son, Jase. He’s one of several children in the house. His little brother, George, has some of the best lines. I laughed out loud. The sneaking around teen love stuff was pretty wonderful. Samantha’s best friend is a jerk, and her sister is too. No wonder she’s so drawn to the loving family next door.
Samantha is keeping this relationship with Jase a secret from her mom and everyone else in her life, but eventually that blows up in her face. In the process, she learns some lessons about who she is and who she wants to be.
Fans of Sarah Dessen will definitely love this one. It evokes all those light feelings of happiness, joy, and romantic love. You just can’t help sighing about that first kiss. You can’t wait for Samantha and Jase to take their relationship to the next level, and your heart breaks when things get rocky. This is such a sweet story. So cute!
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
“The last laugh, the last cup of coffee, the last sunset, the last time you jump through a sprinkler, or eat an ice-cream cone, or stick your tongue out to catch a snowflake. You just don’t know.” ― Lauren Oliver, quote from Before I Fall
Samantha Kingston is dead.
In this YA-version of Groundhog Day, a “mean girl” gets a chance to relive her last day and the party she attended with her friends before the fatal car crash. She has an opportunity to make the same choices over and over, until she makes different ones.
This beautiful novel is a mystery about redemption. Samantha’s character arc really blew me away, and although I disliked her in the beginning, I was cheering for her by the end, and I love the way Lauren Oliver wrote the ending.
Like the others in this list, Before I Fall presents the themes of self-image and secrets.
Other YA Books If You Liked Just Listen
In addition to my list of favorites, you can find other Books Similar to Just Listen on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of other YA books reviews, as well as my review of Books You’ll Enjoy If You Liked Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland.
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.