Looking for an unforgettable collection of YA books like Willow by Julia Hoban? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger for over 10 years, I’ve personally read and analyzed the best novels on my bookshelves that answer this question.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorites in the roundup below. I’m confident you’ll find something new to read for Self Injury Awareness Day. The books in this list will break your heart. Some recommendations include eating disorders as well, which is more of an inadvertent method of self-harm that can also have devastating and lifelong consequences for young adults.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
“Sometimes my inside hurts so bad that I need to make the outside hurt worse so the inside will stop.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Absolutely gripping! For readers drawn to the emotional and physical scars of Julia Hoban’s popular novel Willow, The Cutting Edge of Friendship is for you. This realistic novel explores the wounds of self-harm, shame, and redemption following a sexual assault. I found Sadie’s resilience to be fierce and unforgettable, and the book’s raw, unfiltered pain hit me hard.
From the very first page, it’s clear that although Sadie and Elana have always shared everything, now they’re keeping secrets that could destroy them. On the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie—something she can’t even name. Instead, she turns to cutting to help her cope.
But Elana has secrets too. She’s been texting Hunter, making plans to meet in secret, and never questioning why he insists on hiding their relationship.
As their lives spiral deeper into danger, Sadie must find the strength to fight back—not just for herself, but for Elana—before a predator can strike again.
What made The Cutting Edge of Friendship truly unforgettable for me was how this novel didn’t shy away from the truth—it revealed, with painful honesty, how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant story about the trust involved in sharing our truest selves.
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
“People should know about us. Girls who write their pain on their bodies.” ― Kathleen Glasgow, quote from Girl in Pieces
This wonderful novel about self-harm was the kind of story that kept pulling me away to a quiet room to curl up with a cup of tea and a lamp until I finished. I had to know what was going to happen to Charlie. I had to know whether or not she was going to be okay in the end. Because although she seemed to be making progress, this guy in her life wasn't a good choice for her. And then her friend from the hospital shows up, and she doesn't seem to be a good direction either. And if you've ever known addiction or seen someone struggling with recovery from anything, you know that the line is so easy to cross.
For Charlie, crossing the line might have devastating consequences because she has her tender kit, and it's full of glass. It's not tender but slashes and cuts.
So I read and worried and loved this young girl, who was so alone and hungry and living on the edge. I wanted someone to help her. Someone good.
This YA book about self-harming and cutting―and this girl―will stay with me for a long while. Readers who enjoyed Willow are guaranteed to love this one.
Scars by Cheryl Rainifield
“Other times, I look at my scars and see something else: a girl who was trying to cope with something horrible that she should never have had to live through at all. My scars show pain and suffering, but they also show my will to survive. They're part of my history that'll always be there.” ― Cheryl Rainfield, quote from Scars
Wow! What a powerful, thrilling, emotional, heartbreaking book. Scars packs a real punch, touching on multiple tough topics, including cutting, sexual abuse, and relationships. Kendra was raped at a very young age by a man whose face she cannot remember. The story opens with her in therapy with a counselor who is helping her to cope with the painful memories that have started to surface, but the plot accelerates quickly as Kendra feels her abuser is stalking her. She copes with her pain through self-harming and also in her art, which is both beautiful and darkly disturbing. Descriptions of her art in this book are very vivid.
The revelation of her abuser is both a shock and a non-shock, and I was rooting for her to confront him and find a path to justice and healing. Scars is a great read if you’re looking for YA books similar to Willow by Julia Hoban.
By The Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
I want to tell them, "Chip, Kim, there is no way to suicide-proof a person.” ― Julie Anne Peters,quote from By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead
Daelyn is going to kill herself in 23 days.
Daelyn is a bullied girl who failed her first suicide attempt but intends to get it right the next time. A website named Through the Light provides support to wanna-be suicide “completers” like Daelyn, and she spends a lot of free time there. Counting down the days.
Then she meets a boy. She tries to ignore him, but he’s pushy. Persistent. Charming, even.
But is he charming enough to keep her from going through the light when the countdown ends?
This short, brutal novel is a fast read. It’s not easy, happy, or hopeful, but it’s a raw and real look at suicide, which is the ultimate form of self-harm. Fans of Willow will like this one for its voice and mood.
The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James & Nancy Rue
The Merciful Scar is a treatment and recovery story for self-harming. Kirsten ends up in this program after a self-harming incident appears to be a suicide attempt (but isn't). That's the only real incident of cutting in the story, at the beginning, and then she goes into a faith-based recovery program on a ranch.
I liked the writing and character, but the named inner voice seemed a bit unnatural. The changes Kirsten goes through on the ranch seem heartfelt and real, and I liked the story overall.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
“They tied me back together, but they didn't use double knots. My insides are draining out of the fault lines in my skin, I can feel it, but every time I check the bandages, they're dry.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, quote from Wintergirls
Readers consistently mention Wintergirls as a favorite in YA lists about self-harming—and for good reason! In addition to her severe eating disorder, Lia cuts herself.
This book is stark, beautiful, and also painful. Laurie Halse Anderson writes about many different tough topics, and Wintergirls addresses eating disorders, self-harming, friendship, grief, loss, and recovery. One girl is dead. The other one suffers from guilt, self-harming, and anorexia.
At times the book is disorienting and confusing, but this seemed to align with Lia’s state of mind. I was often uncomfortable while reading this story—which was the point, I think.
If you devoured Willow by Julia Hoban, you won’t want to miss this best-selling YA novel about self-harm and eating disorders.
Hollow Beauty by Khristina Chess
“I’d always called my body ‘athletic.’ Words like ‘stocky’ and ‘muscular’ described my figure. I was the fastest girl on the track and cross country teams. Muscular, stocky girls weren’t beautiful, though. Skinny girls were. Girls like Erica Miller.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Hollow Beauty
If you’ve ever suffered the pain of unkind criticism, Hollow Beauty is for you. What I loved about this authentic YA novel was how the story explored the slippery slope of pro-ana culture, excessive exercise, and the brutal consequences of chasing perfection. What made Hollow Beauty so special for me was the realistic portrayal of how Olivia falls into the self-esteem trap of trying to change herself for someone else. I loved seeing her journey and choices as the events escalated toward the story’s climax.
The story begins with a casual criticism from a cute boy: maybe you could use the next two months before prom to lose some weight.
That’s right. When tall, gorgeous Brody asks Olivia to prom, she’s ecstatic—until he suggests that she go on a diet!
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, 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.
Fans of Willow will love this one. It shines a harsh but necessary light on the world of self-harm through eating disorders.
Letting Ana Go by Anonymous
“If you want to change something, change it. Don't just sit around sighing all day like a balloon losing air.” ― Anonymous, quote from Letting Ana Go
The main character is an athlete, a long-distance runner, a good kid. The book, written in the form of a journal, begins with the end of her parents' marriage. Divorce is hard on kids, even teenagers. This seems to be the triggering event for what happens next.
Within the span of a year, she and her best friend Jill descend into compulsive restrictive eating, exercising like mad to burn calories, and even laxatives. Jill is a ballerina. She has to be as tiny as possible to win lead parts. The main character is trying to fit into a size 2 dress for homecoming.
I couldn't put this book down. It was a fast read. There were some some parts that seemed unrealistic, but it didn't slow down the story for me. If you're interested in YA books like Willow by Julia Hoban, Letting Ana Go is tragic and gripping.
Thinspo by Amy Ellis
“I’m not broken. I’m fine.”― Amy Ellis, quote from Thinspo
This novel is short, and the format makes it a fast read. Jenni shows her story through a series of blog posts, text messages, and statistics about her weight and calories consumed. For someone who does not know the lingo, words like thinspo and pro-ana might be confusing at first, but this novel immerses the reader into Jenni’s world and her obsession with food.
I enjoyed the snarky troll comments by “Anonymous” on Jenni’s blog. Thinspo is a top choice for fans of Willow.
Elena Vanishing by Elena Dunkle and Clare B. Dunkle
“Pity is the sea you drown in.” ― Elena Dunkle, quote from Elena Vanishing
Elana has anorexia. It's winning. Nothing her family does is able to turn the tide for long. She's like an addict who goes through the motions of recovery and rehab, but she's really just counting the seconds until she can return to old habits again.
Addiction is unlikable. Elana is unlikable. She'll lie and do anything to keep her anorexia going.
It's hard to join someone in a recovery journey like this one. It's ugly. Elana is often ugly in her thoughts and actions. There were many moments when I wished for more emotional connection and reflection, like when friends die or when she really thinks about the rape and how it changed her. Still, it was a fast read and presented new insights into the mind of someone struggling with this illness. Readers who are interested in more books like Willow should add this memoir about recovery from eating disorders to their TBR stack.
The Stone Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel
“The blade finds its way to her hip bone. Sethie’s favorite part, the part where the bone protrudes: the skinniest place on her body.” ― Alyssa B Sheimel, quote from The Stone Girl
This wisp of a book is a quick read, and its petite size seems to reflect the super-skinny shape of the heroine, Sethie Weiss. She’s such a disconnected character she’s almost hard to like. She’s so cold, made of granite, and not in touch with herself in any way. She makes bad choices. It takes awhile to realize that Sethie’s pain is part of this perfectionist state she’s iced herself into, and the things she does and says are linked to her illness.
Sethie focuses her love on Shaw, but he’s not good for her. As the relationship deteriorates, her weight drops, and health declines. The third person voice fits with the detachment she seems to have with herself, her body, and her situation.
In the end I rooted for her. I wanted her to become a real girl again.
If you liked Willow, you should have a look at this powerful story about anorexia, eating disorders, and insecurity.
The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
“It’s easier to think about food and the physical pain inside my body from not eating than the other pain of not having Kat. My sister would totally understand this. She would. As long as I’m connecting to her this way—our familiar, hungry old way—she’s with me.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Delinquent Hero
I loved the complex and tragic sibling relationship between Willow and her older brother. If you’re like me and enjoy great “tear jerkers,” The Delinquent Hero offers another raw and emotional exploration of close siblings and devastating heartbreak.
At its core is Molly, desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared. For Molly, reconnecting with Kat means slipping into their old patterns of relating to one another.
What made The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable for me was the heart-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened that night, but understanding Kat herself in the final months of her life. The novel didn’t just tell a story; it forced me to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
If Willow left you breathless, The Delinquent Hero is an absolute must-read.
Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
I read this one more than twenty years ago, but I remember how poignant and biting the writer’s voice was. Hornbacher doesn’t hold anything back. Her experience with anorexia, bulimia, mental illness, and everything else was painful, but she survived and shared it with us. She’s a brave person.
If you are someone who struggles with food or body image issues, do not take four decades to learn the lesson that I have learned: you are enough. You are small enough, good enough, smart enough. The number on the scale does not define who you are or who you will become.
Other YA Books Similar to Willow
If you are looking other books similar to Willow, check out the Books Similar to Willow list on Goodreads, YA Self-Harm and Cutting Fiction (25 books), and Books about Cutting Yourself (78 Books) on Goodreads.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic, including eating disorders, substance abuse, mental illness, and self-harming.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
