Last Updated Date: January 18, 2026
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. While many lists only suggest popular bestsellers, I’ve curated this eclectic collection of books because they because they mirror the profound storytelling about loss and grief I loved in The Fault in Our Stars by John Green:
At a Glance:
The Hidden Gem: The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
The Goodreads Choice Award Nominee: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
The New York Times Bestseller: Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
(1) The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess: An Overlooked Jewel about Grief
How the Fatal Accident Story in The Delinquent Hero Mirrors the Two Kids Battling Cancer in The Fault in Our Stars
For readers who love “tear-jerkers” and hospital-based fiction like The Fault in Our Stars, The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess offers a tragic and raw exploration of sisterhood, grief processing, and devastating heartbreak. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, this contemporary medical YA novel speaks directly to the grief of saying goodbye.
One-sentence summary of The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess: As her sister dies in the ICU, a grieving teen investigates the mystery surrounding the suspicious and tragic accident―and the truth is unbearable.
The Taste Test
“I stare at my sister in this bed. She is mine. She is here, and I cannot imagine that she is not. That she will never be here again. How can it be true? I see her before me. Her chest is rising, falling, rising, falling. Her hand is warm in mine.” ― Khristina Chess from The Delinquent Hero
What Set This Apart for Me: The Most Poignant Character Exploration I’ve Read This Year
Fans of The Fault in Our Stars will discover lesser-known and heartbreaking characters in The Delinquent Hero.
At the core of this contemporary YA is Molly, a teen 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.
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its gut-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened to Molly’s sister on that fateful day, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
The Delinquent Hero is a perfect match for readers looking for quiet, emotionally resonant stories about grief and healing with low hype.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Delinquent Hero
“I won’t spoil what happens as far as that is concerned, but be prepared to have a tissue handy. It’s a heartbreaking book that had me in tears. It’s a story of two sisters and the bond they share.” - Melody, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Delinquent Hero is 5/5 stars based on the ugly cry factor (bring lots of tissues!).
(2) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: An Older Masterpiece That Still Delights
How the Layered and Romantic Plot of The Sky Is Everywhere Reinvents the Grief in The Fault in Our Stars
An award winning YA novel published in 2010, The Sky Is Everywhere uses gorgeous writing to portray a duality of grief and joy that John Green fans will love.
One-sentence summary for The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: A beautiful novel about a grieving girl who falls in love with two boys: the cute new kid in school and her dead sister’s boyfriend.
The Taste Test
“What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her sister’s boyfriend the previous night? Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister’s boyfriend, period?” ― Jandy Nelson from The Sky Is Everywhere
Why I’m Still Thinking About This Goodreads Choice Nominee More Than 25 Years Later
I love, love, loved this book! The writing is so lyrical, and the story is incredibly sad. It begins with protagonist Lennie, who is grieving the sudden death of her sister. Although Bailey is dead, the relationship between these siblings is very much alive on the pages of this novel. Lennie writes beautiful poems, and she spends time in their room and shares so many memories that I feel I know Bailey.
A charismatic new boy shows up at school, and Lennie ends up entering into 2 romances at the same time. This is the love triangle. One romance is with the new boy at school, and the other is with her dead sister’s grieving boyfriend. Sooner or later, she has to decide which one of these guys is the one she’s going to stick with. Oh, boy.
All of the characters are vivid, and the story is captivating. The creative visual aspect of the novel is also a nice touch; Lennie writes her poems on scraps and scatters them everywhere, and these appear at the beginning of chapters.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Sky Is Everywhere
“This book is full of life and despite dealing with loss, it is uplifting. Beautiful story.” ― Shannon, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Sky Is Everywhere is 5/5 stars on second reading (updated for 2026) based on its poignant writing style.
(3) Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews: A Mashup of Grief and Humor
How Me, Earl, & the Dying Girl Offers a More Lighthearted Yet Heartbreaking “Tear Jerker” for John Green Fans
Readers who loved the “ugly cry” aspect of The Fault of Our Stars will be surprised at the combination of humor and sorrow in Jesse Andrews’ bestseller.
One-sentence summary for Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl: A quirky and hilarious amateur filmmaker sets out with his friend to make a movie about a dying girl—which fails spectacularly.
The Taste Test
“We used to be pretty good friends, but fourteen-year-old girls are psychotic.” ― Jesse Andrews from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
What Set This Apart for Me: The Most Inventive Plot I’ve Read in Ages
I loved this book. It was so comical, which is an odd thing to say about a book about a girl dying from cancer. But it’s true. It’s sad humor in the face of tragedy.
Greg and Earl are weird, unlikely friends and amateur filmmakers who manage to fly below the radar at school and enjoy their private world. Then Greg’s mom makes him reach out to Rachel, a childhood friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a friend.
Earl turns out to be the more compassionate of the pair, and the two of them set out to make a movie about Rachel. Their brilliant idea fails in execution and is the Worst Film Ever Made.
This wonderful novel is full of crude humor, heart, honesty, and surprises as Greg learns things about his long-time friend Earl, as well as himself, though this journey with the dying girl, Rachel.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl
“There were some real laugh out loud moments in the book and I could easily relate to Greg, the main character.” ― Olivia, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl is 4/5 stars because of the snarky and often crude voice of the narrator, Greg.
(4) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon: A Cinematic Disease Romance
How Yoon’s “Bubble Girl” Love Story Mirrors the Two Kids Battling Cancer in The Fault in Our Stars
One-sentence summary for Everything, Everything: A girl with an illness that keeps her locked indoors, unable to experience physical touch, falls in love with the boy next door.
The Taste Test
“Maybe growing up means disappointing the people we love.” ― Nicola Yoon from Everything, Everything
My Expert Take: Yoon’s Novel Is the Cure for Fans of The Fault in Our Stars Who Need Something New
This lovely YA book is an all-the-feels love story about a girl locked in a tower and the prince who cannot reach her.
Actually, they are two ordinary teenagers. Well, Maddie is not ordinary. She has a rare immunodeficiency disease that makes her allergic to the whole world, so she lives inside a bubble. It’s not a literal plastic bubble, but she can’t go outside. She has an airtight, clean, totally isolated life in an allergen-free environment.
Until a boy moves in next door.
They meet electronically, and their relationship develops with all that emotional falling-in-love-for-the-first-time wonderfulness. Nicola Yoon writes it beautifully. The story is unique, and the sweet love story gives all the feels.
But, there’s more. Much more. Because teenagers press boundaries. They must kiss, even if a kiss could be deadly.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Everything, Everything
“…this one is by far my favorite of the year so far. To me, it was just miles ahead of everything else I have read this year.” ― April, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Everything, Everything is 5/5 stars because of its unusual premise and surprise ending.
(5) Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippencort: Hospital Star-Crossed Lovers
How the CF Love Story in Five Feet Apart Mirrors the Two Kids Battling Cancer in The Fault in Our Stars
If you somehow missed the star-crossed romance between two teens with cystic fibrosis, buy it now. Fans of John Green’s classic heart breaker will love this Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2019).
One-sentence summary of Five Feet Apart: A boy and a girl with terminal illnesses fall in love in the hospital.
The Taste Test
“If I’m going to die, I’d like to actually live first.” ― Rachael Lippincott from Five Feet Apart
My Reading Experience: Why Lippincott’s Tearjerker Belongs Beside The Fault in Our Stars
Stella and Will are two kids with cystic fibrosis who literally have to stay away from one another to survive. Infections are bad, possibly deadly, and Will is like kryptonite to Stella, who doesn’t want to lose her place on the transplant list.
But the heart wants what the heart wants—even when the lungs are failing.
Stella and Will disobey all kinds of orders in their love pursuits and put their lives at risk. They have so much positive energy that you want them to beat the odds. Tragedy won’t touch them.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Five Feet Apart
“This is a heartfelt and emotional read that will pull right on your heartstrings. It's a powerful story of living life to your fullest and falling in love.“ ― Christy, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Five Feet Apart is 4/5 stars. And the movie is great too!
(6) All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: A Powerful Novel That Makes Readers Sob
How the Mental Illness Story in All the Bright Places Mirrors the Two Kids Battling Cancer in The Fault in Our Stars
Fans of John Green’s classic heart breaker will love this Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2015).
One-sentence summary for All the Bright Places: In their shared grief and sadness, a boy and a girl form an unlikely relationship.
The Taste Test
“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.” ― Jennifer Niven from All the Bright Places
My Expert Diagnosis: A Profoundly Sad But Wonderful YA Book
Theodore Finch has more than a touch of the blues.
Violet Markey wants to escape the grief that lives in her hometown where her sister recently died.
Violet and Theodore are an unlikely couple, paired together on a school project to explore the natural wonders of their state. At first, Theodore seems to be the one helping Violet with her sadness, but Violet doesn’t have any understanding about the depth of Theodore’s despair. Along their journey, they make several unexpected discoveries about one another.
After re-reading this book a second time, I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first. I liked the writing, the dual character viewpoints, the story, the language, and the symbolism.
Blue is a primary color.
This lovely YA book is about grief and loss, and Niven handles these difficult topics with honesty and resonance. All the Bright Places is one of my all-time favorites. Fans of The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy this one.
What Other Readers Are Saying about All The Bright Places
“I finished this with tears streaming down my face. This book is not for everyone - it's dark and it's tragic .“ ― BernLuvsBooks, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for All the Bright Places is 4/5 stars for its poignant writing, dual character viewpoints, and resonant storytelling
(7) How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow: When Parents Die
Why How to Make Friends with the Dark Is the Ultimate Grief and Loss Follow-up for Fans of The Fault in Our Stars
Fans of John Green’s novels will love Kathleen' Glasgow’s thought-provoking and heartbreaking YA book that wrestles with grief and loss.
One sentence summary of How to Make Friends with the Dark: A girl's mother dies suddenly, leaving her adrift in the foster care system.
The Taste Test
“You are carrying so many heavy feelings. There just isn’t enough room for them all.“ ― Kathleen Glasgow from How to Make Friends with the Dark
My Honest Review - Glasgow’s Bestseller Causes Ugly Cry
After Tiger Tolliver's mom dies of a brain aneurysm, she becomes a ward of the state, an orphan, suddenly faced with an uncertain future. She doesn't have any living relatives. She doesn't know anything about her father. It's just her and her mom--and now just her. A minor.
What Tiger begins to learn is that her mom kept some important secrets from her. For example, she has a living dad. And a sister.
This YA novel about death and dying is a real tear jerker! Tiger strikes me a sheltered girl with little real life experience; on the day her mom died, she was kissing a boy for the first time. She wasn't prepared for the events that followed as she entered the system. Yet, despite her tragic circumstances, she makes a path for herself. She makes mistakes but doesn't fall off a cliff. She keeps people at a cautious distance, but she does make friends and finds a way to build a new family for herself.
What Other Readers Are Saying about How to Make Friends with the Dark
“Utter pain and sadness. This is the only book that has made me cry whilst reading.“ ― Daisy, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for How to Make Friends with the Dark is 5/5 stars because of its hopeful and resilient themes.
(8) Looking for Alaska by John Green: A Prince Award Winner by John Green
Why This Similar John Green Novel Brings the Tears
In Looking for Alaska, Green portrays relatable and complex characters in a tragic situation with the most beautiful writing style.
One-sentence summary for Looking for Alaska: A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
The Taste Test
“There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets dragged out to sea by the undertow-that, in short, we are all going.” ― John Green from Looking for Alaska
Why I’m Still Thinking About This Acclaimed Award Winner Almost 20 Years Later
Some books stick with you. Looking for Alaska is one of them. The story seems simple: Miles Halter goes away to boarding school, where he makes new friends, takes up drinking and smoking, breaks some rules, and meets a hot girl named Alaska Young. She’s the ringleader of the merry group’s adventures. She’s the one who can get alcohol and cigarettes.
She’s a bit wild.
Then one night while they’re all partying, she receives a phone call and takes off in her car. She never returns.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Looking For Alaska
“This one may have been better than The Fault In Our Stars, but it is a close race because both books are so good.“ ― Matthew, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Looking for Alaska is 5/5 stars because of its lyrical writing and character development.
Other YA Books Similar to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
There are so many other popular titles to recommend:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - A star-crossed love story
Hello, Goodbye, & Everything in Between by Jennifer Smith - A star-crossed love story about a boy and a girl who prepare to separate their lives and head off to college.
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao - After the sudden death of her boyfriend Sam, a grieving teenager named Julie Nguyen tries to reconnect with him through otherworldly experiences.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - A hypnotic, disorienting story about lifelong friends and a tragic secret that threatens all of them.
If you are looking other books similar to The Fault in Our Stars, check out the Readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars and Books Like The Fault in Our Stars lists 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.
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.
