Looking for more amazing authors like Kathleen Glasgow? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger of YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending authors who write impactful novels that address tough issues like drug abuse, self-harming, and grief.
You’ll find detailed reviews of many favorites below in the roundup below. It’s a broad compilation. Some authors here may be names you’ve heard before, but there are others you may have not discovered yet.
If you’re looking for authors similar to Kathleen Glasgow, you’ve come to the right place. Happy reading!
Khristina Chess
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
A prolific author with a broad range of novels across multiple genres, including contemporary, romantic, thriller, dystopian, mystery, historical, and adventure. All of her stories explore tough topics, including alcohol & drug abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, mental illness, human trafficking, and more.
Which novels are my favorite
Forgotten But Never Gone - A girl walks up the road and vanishes from sight, and the town’s apathy proves as terrifying as the darkness that swallowed her.
Junior Missing — A seductive and chilling thriller about a runaway teen, drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
Coywood Creek —A lighthearted dystopian thriller about teen battling anxiety and binge eating disorder, forced to adopt new coping strategies as society crumbles around her.—proof that Chess doesn’t fit neatly into any box.
Why I Love her
Khristina Chess’ books hook me from page one, grab my heartstrings, keep the pages turning, and leave me thinking long after the last chapter. Her novels explore heavy themes through engaging and poignant storytelling. Like Kathleen Glasgow, every story is so unique, so immersive, and issue-driven. With more than twelve gripping novels, Chess dives into tough, unfiltered topics, yet always balances them with hope, wit, and often a touch of romance. Some of her books are raw, emotional journeys; others are pulse-pounding thrillers that will leave you breathless.
If you’re looking for an author whose books will keep you hooked from page one, look no further—Khristina Chess is pure binge-reading gold. But don’t just take my word for it—hundreds of Goodreads and Amazon reviewers rave about her binge-worthy books.
Mindy McGinnis
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Like Kathleen Glasgow, Mindy McGinnis writes page-turning novels with cross-genre appeal. Her novels are gripping, complex, and driven by strong female protagonists. Think of them as “tough topics with a twist.”
Which novels are my favorite
The Female of the Species - An unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal YA book about rape and sexual assault that will shock you to the core.
Heroine - A powerful story of addiction and recovery after a teen girl wakes up to find all of her friends dead.
Be Not Far From Me - After becoming lost and injured, a teenage girl must hike out of the wilderness barefoot with only her wits to keep her alive.
Why I love her
Honestly, I have loved every one of her books. She has a rich and diverse library of YA novels to choose from (too many to show on this page). They’re unique and thrilling! If you are looking for authors similar to Kathleen Glasgow to binge this summer, check out Mindy McGinnis.
Laurie Halse Anderson
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Laurie Halse Anderson’s characters are authentic and heartfelt, and she writes issue-driven fiction about topics like eating disorders, self-harm, bullying, sexual assault, and academic pressure.
Which novels are my favorite
Speak - A teen struggles to reclaim her voice and her life after being raped at a high school party.
Wintergirls - After her friend is found dead, a grieving teen starves herself as a coping mechanism for grief.
Twisted - A story about an ugly duckling who turns into a “hot guy” over one summer.
Why I Love her
Laurie Halse Anderson is a fantastic and classic author of issue-driven fiction. Her characters are complex and deeply emotional. Although most of her books are standalone, Anderson does have one series in her collection; the first book is Chains, which addresses the issues of slavery and race in colonial America during the start of the Revolutionary War. It’s wonderful, too.
You can find my detailed review of one of her most popular novels, Wintergirls, in my blog, Which YA Books about Eating Disorders Should You Read. Her critically-acclaimed novel, Speak, was also one of my favorites, and you can find my thoughts about it on Which Poignant YA Books about Rape and Sexual Assault Should You Read Next.
Nicola Yoon
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Nicola Yoon writes sweet love stories set in the context of tough topics, such as immigration or disease.
Which novels are my favorite
Everything Everything - A girl with an illness that keeps her locked indoors falls in love with the boy next door, who transforms her life.
The Sun Is Also a Star - A boy and a girl fall in love in a single day—the day when the girl is being deported with her family.
Why I Love her
Yoon’s characters are authentic and relatable, and the romance in her stories is just wonderful. Fans of Kathleen Glasgow books will definitely enjoy her work.
Angie Thomas
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Angie Thomas writes about heavy themes like racism and social justice with evocative storytelling and characters.
Which novels are my favorite
The Hate You Give - A young girl witnesses the police shooting of her friend, and she must find the courage to speak out.
On the Come Up - A teenage girl who aspires to be a rapper must deal with the challenges of family and community expectations.
Why I Love her
There’s a reason why Angie Thomas’ novels win awards. Her novels are gripping and honest, and her characters grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go.
When it first released, I saw The Hate You Give everywhere and picked it up, wondering what all the fuss is about. Wow. I couldn't put it down. Starr is an amazing character in a perfectly-crafted situation that screams with tension, suspense, and emotion. Her emotions are raw and authentic. You can feel her little-girl timidity in the grand jury testimony and her grief and rage in the scene with Hailey. Her world is vivid and real. The pain of her dual life and the conflict it causes her is palatable. I loved this book. I love this girl. I love this author.
E. Lockhart
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
E. Lockhart’s novels combine themes of family dynamics and mental health into compelling plots with lots of twists.
Which novels are my favorite
We Were Liars - A hypnotic, disorienting story about lifelong friends and a secret that threatens all of them.
Family of Liars - A prequel to popular We Were Liars shows that the Sinclairs have been liars from the beginning.
Why I love her
If you like twisty, thrilling novels with secrets and unreliable narrators, E. Lockhart’s books might be for you. I discovered her first with We Were Liars, which was completely unexpected and surprising, and its prequel, Family of Liars, is just as amazing. You won’t be able to put either of them down! Genuine Fraud is a modern-day take on The Talented Mr. Ripley. E. Lockart is a must-have author to add to your list of authors like Kathleen Glasgow that you’ll want to binge.
Jennifer Niven
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Jennifer Niven writes romantic novels about tough topics like divorce, suicide, and eating disorders.
Which novels are my favorite
Breathless - The story of Claude's summer trip to a remote island off the coast of Georgia after graduation with her mom following the sudden separation of her parents, where she finds unexpected love.
All the Bright Places - A boy and a girl form an unlikely relationship that ends badly.
Why I love her
I love, love, love Jennifer Niven! She knows how to tug on reader heartstrings. If you’re a fan of author Kathleen Glasgow, you will love Breathless and All the Bright Places. No question.
Breathless is the story of Claude's trip to a remote island off the coast of Georgia after graduation with her mom following the sudden separation of her parents. She meets a boy and falls in love. So simple. Yet Jennifer Niven beautifully captures that lovely, breathless feeling of first love. Passionate kisses. Romantic trysts. Mosquito bites on sunburned skin.
You get the idea.
Kate Alice Marshall
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Kate Alice Marshall does not write issue-driven fiction, but like Kathleen Glasgow, her novels are unputdownable. These pulse-pounding stories are often about survival from ghosts, the wilderness, and supernatural monsters.
Which novels are my favorite
Rules for Vanishing - A teen girl and her friends embark on a journey to find a missing sister, but they encounter supernatural danger on “The Road.”
I Am Still Alive - After strangers murder her father in front of her, Jess and a dog are stranded in the Canadian wilderness and must find a way to survive—and get revenge.
Why I Love her
If you’re looking for dark and creepy YA novels, read Kate Alice Marshall. I loved, loved, loved both Rules for Vanishing and Our Last Echoes, which are deliciously eerie. After reading these two novels, I immediately put this author on my Amazon Follow list. Although I prefer her earlier books more than her more recent ones, all of her books are pretty amazing.
John Green
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
John Green’s characters are authentic and heartfelt, and he writes issue-driven fiction about topics like mental illness, dying, alcohol abuse, and teen runaways.
Which novels are my favorite
The Fault in Our Stars - A boy and a girl with terminal illnesses fall in love.
Looking for Alaska - A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
Why I Love him
Just in case you have somehow missed this author, let me introduce you to John Green. A co-worker told me about him at lunch one day; she was reading The Fault in Our Stars, a YA book and told me how wonderful it was. I picked it up. After reading that one, I read everything he’d ever written. Immediately. John Green’s books are that good.
But don’t take my word for it. Check them out for yourself.
Jandy Nelson
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Jandy Nelson’s writing is beautiful, and she writes about “tough topics” like grief and painful family dynamics.
Which novels are my favorite
The Sky Is Everywhere - 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.
I’ll Give You the Sun - Told in alternating points of view, twins grow apart after a family tragedy and must find a way back to each other.
Why I Love her
I wish Jandy Nelson would writemore books. Truly. I love, love, loved The Sky Is Everywhere and I’ll Give You the Sun. These wonderful YA novels about siblings, love, loss, and life are lyrical. Beautiful! The language is breathtaking. If you haven’t read them yet, do yourself a favor.
Jenny Han
how this Author is Like Kathleen Glasgow
Do you just want super sweet romance? Then author Jenny Han is for you!
Which novels are my favorite
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before - A “fake-dating” love triangle about a sweet girl finding her way in love.
Why I love her
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was my introduction to Jenny Han’s lovely work. Lara Jean is a super sweet adorable character, and even though the story seems like a common love triangle, there are enough twists to keep the pages turning. Plus, Lara Jean herself is such a star. She’s naive and on her own for the first time, and she’s making all kinds of mistakes. She’s basically a train wreck. I love her immensely. Two plot points surprised me, and I thought I had those wrapped up early on.
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but I finished it in two sittings. All of her books will give you the heart-tingling feels, so if you haven’t read Jenny Han yet, be sure to check her out.
Other Authors Like Kathleen Glasgow That You’'ll Want to Binge
If you’re still looking for other authors like Kathleen Glasgow that you’ll want to binge, Goodreads offers a great book list: Members Who Read Kathleen Glasgow Also Read. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews by type of tough topic, as well as “books like” roundups.
Author Bio
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.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
