If you’ve already watched Netflix’s new TV series Heartstopper three times since it came out a couple months ago, don’t worry: I’ve got some book recs that will help fill the void until season two!
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Okay, obviously, if you haven’t read the graphic novels that the TV show is based on, you have to start there! Alice Oseman is a wonderful storyteller, so also be sure to check out her other novels, notably Radio Silence and Loveless. The graphic novel version of Heartstopper is worth reading even after watching the show – while Netflix was pretty faithful to the source material, they added some conflict to increase tension, which, while understandable, part of what makes the graphic novels so wonderful is that they’re just the sweetest characters trying to figure themselves out.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
When an anonymous student begins sending Felix transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle…
But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.
This is still one of my favorite YA romances – it came out a couple years ago, and is such a perfect blend of tender moments of friendship, characters overcoming hardship, and sweet romance moments.
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
Elouise (Lou) Parker is determined to have the absolute best, most impossibly epic summer of her life. There are just a few things standing in her way:
• She’s landed a job at Magic Castle Playland . . . as a giant dancing hot dog.
• Her crush, the dreamy diving pirate Nick, already has a girlfriend, who is literally the princess of the park. But Lou’s never liked anyone, guy or otherwise, this much before, and now she wants a chance at her own happily ever after.
• Her best friend, Seeley, the carousel operator, has always been up for anything, but she’s decidedly not on board when it comes to Lou’s quest to set her up with the perfect girl or Lou’s scheme to get close to Nick.
• And it turns out that this will be their last summer at Magic Castle Playland–ever–unless she can find a way to stop it from closing.
Listen, if any book has a fake dating scheme, I’m immediately on board. This one is so well-written, and made me laugh out loud, while also capturing the complicated feelings of being in high school looking over the precipice into the rest of your life.
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
When Humaira “Hani” Khan comes out to her friends as bisexual, they immediately doubt her. Apparently, she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Cornered into proving her sexuality, she tells them she’s dating someone—Ishita “Ishu” Dey, the straight A student who seems more concerned with studying than relationships.
When Hani approaches her about fake dating, she agrees on one condition–that Hani help her become more popular so she can win the school’s head girl election. It’s the perfect plan to help them achieve their goals, until Hani’s friends become jealous that she’s spending more time with Ishu. They’ll do everything they can to drive a wedge between them and ruin Ishu’s chances of becoming head girl.
Now, Hani has a decision to make: does she break off her relationship with Ishu for the sake of her friends? Or does she tell Ishu how she really feels and turn their “fake” relationship into something real?
See above: my love for fake dating plots! This one adds in enemies-to-lovers, which means it checks all my boxes.
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters. There’s just one problem–all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans readers across the globe.
When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. The only way to save the Diary is to convince everyone that the stories are true, but he doesn’t have any proof. Then Drew walks into Noah’s life, and the pieces fall into place: Drew is willing to fake-date Noah to save the Diary. But when Noah’s feelings grow beyond their staged romance, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t quite the same as finding love on the page.
Yes, another fake dating trope, but it’s not as much of a focus in this one. This book is genuinely funny, while also being sweet and exploring what it means to navigate figuring out who you are, and who matters most to you.
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop. Their bumpy start the only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along.
Alright, I’ll be honest, when I was putting this list together, I didn’t realize until now that 4 out of 5 feature fake dating… so I clearly have a type! But this one is SO good – it adds in the enemies-to-lovers trope, and just has such quirky characters that are impossible not to love!
Have you read any of these? How excited are you for Heartstopper season 2? Let me know in the comments!
