If you don’t really like fantasy, science fiction, or supernatural stuff, then here’s a list of more realistic fiction. Boys, girls, parents, sports, school, music, friends, anxieties, family — real things that could plausibly be experienced by real people! Here are 31 of our faves.

Updated May 2020

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
2. The Haters, Jesse Andrews
3. Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
4. Floored, Sara Barnard
5. The Boy in the Olive Grove, Fleur Beale
6. The Bunker Diary, Kevin Brooks
7. Dying to Know You, Aidan Chambers
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
9. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
10. I Wish You All the Best, Mason Deaver
11. Sanctuary, Kate De Goldi
12. Just Listen: A Novel, Sarah Dessen
13. Alex, Tessa Duder
14. Wildman, J. C. Geiger
15. The Fault in our Stars, John Green
16. The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jenny Han
17. Kick the Moon, Muhammad Khan
18. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, David Levithan and John Green
19. Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta
20. Analee, In Real Life, Janelle Milanes
21. Feeling Sorry for Celia, Jaclyn Moriarty
22. All the Right Stuff, Walter Dean Myles
23. Recovery Road, Blake Nelson
24. Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
25. Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins
26. How to Disappear, Sharon Huss Roat
27. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
28. Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
29. The Wave, Todd Strasser
30. The List, Siobhan Vivian
31. Bridge of Clay, Markus Zusak