13 must-read realistic fiction books like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Cover of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why

By: Jay Asher

3.84

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover

You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret . . . is …

"I’m sorry."

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"I’m sorry."

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"Everything...affects everything"

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"Everything...affects everything"

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

If you liked the realistic fiction plot in Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher , here is a list of 13 books like this:

Cover of Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) by E.L. James

1. Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

By: E.L. James

3.66

Format: 356 pages, Paperback

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she e… read more

Similar categories in E.L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • fiction
  • contemporary
"Laters, baby."

-E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

"I'd like to bite that lip."

-E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

"We aim to please Miss Steele"

-E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

"I've never wanted more, until I met you."

-E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

Cover of The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

2. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

By: Suzanne Collins

4.34

Format: 374 pages, Hardcover

Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see th… read more

Similar categories in Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • fiction
  • teen
  • young adult
  • audiobook
"Peeta,"

-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

"Katniss, the girl who was on fire!"

-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

"No. Now, shut up and eat your pears."

-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Cover of Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer

3. Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

By: Stephenie Meyer

3.66

Format: 498 pages, Paperback

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was … read more

Similar categories in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • fiction
  • teen
  • young adult
"Do I dazzle you?"

-Stephenie Meyer, Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

"You are my life now."

-Stephenie Meyer, Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

"My mom is part albino."

-Stephenie Meyer, Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

"Go sit down and look pale."

-Stephenie Meyer, Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

Cover of If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman

4. If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

By: Gayle Forman

3.92

Format: 208 pages, Hardcover

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; s… read more

Similar categories in Gayle Forman's If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"Mia,"

-Gayle Forman, If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

"Fake it 'till you make it."

-Gayle Forman, If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

"Dying is easy. Living is hard"

-Gayle Forman, If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

"I do have a point to all this,"

-Gayle Forman, If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

Cover of The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) by James Dashner

5. The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

By: James Dashner

4.05

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover

There are alternate cover editions for this ASIN here and here. If you ain’t scared, you ain’t h… read more

Similar categories in James Dashner's The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • fiction
  • teen
  • young adult
  • audiobook
"You da boss"

-James Dashner, The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

"WICKED is good"

-James Dashner, The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

"I want to be a Runner."

-James Dashner, The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

"Zart the fart, you start."

-James Dashner, The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Cover of To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1) by Jenny Han

6. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)

By: Jenny Han

4.04

Format: 355 pages, Paperback

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crus… read more

Similar categories in Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • high school
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"It was over before I even had a chance."

-Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)

"I hate change more than almost anything."

-Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)

"It was the promise of maybe, maybe one day."

-Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)

"Firsts are best because they are beginnings."

-Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)

Cover of Looking for Alaska by John Green

7. Looking for Alaska

By: John Green

3.97

Format: 221 pages, Paperback

Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big no… read more

Similar categories in John Green's Looking for Alaska book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • high school
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • mystery
"Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die."

-John Green, Looking for Alaska

"We are greater than the sum of our parts."

-John Green, Looking for Alaska

"Have you really read all those books in your room?"

-John Green, Looking for Alaska

"I'm sorry. I know you loved her. It was hard not to."

-John Green, Looking for Alaska

Cover of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

8. The Outsiders

By: S.E. Hinton

4.13

Format: 208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

The Outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Pon… read more

Similar categories in S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • fiction
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • contemporary
"We saw the same sunset."

-S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

"Nothing sparkly can stay."

-S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

"Things are rough all over."

-S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

"Okay greasers, you've had it."

-S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

Cover of Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins

9. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

By: Suzanne Collins

4.33

Format: 391 pages, Hardcover

Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge. Against all odds, K… read more

Similar categories in Suzanne Collins's Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • teen
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"Tick, tock."

-Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

"Remember, girl on fire,"

-Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

"You could do a lot worse."

-Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

"I had to do that. At least once."

-Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Cover of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1) by Ransom Riggs

10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

By: Ransom Riggs

3.92

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover

Alternate Cover edition for ISBN 9781594744761 A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A st… read more

Similar categories in Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • mystery
  • fiction
  • young adult
  • audiobook
"Will you quit shouting and let me bleed in peace!"

-Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

"...slow and drunk is no match for fast and scared shitless."

-Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

"That was our friendship: equal parts irritation and cooperation."

-Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

"Forgive me. I continue to underestimate the breadth of your ignorance."

-Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

Cover of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

11. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By: Stephen Chbosky

4.23

Format: 213 pages, Paperback

standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see wha… read more

Similar categories in Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • mental health
  • fiction
"We accept the love we think we deserve."

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"It’s much easier not to know things sometimes."

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"I would die for you. But I won't live for you."

-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Cover of The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1) by Angie Thomas

12. The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

By: Angie Thomas

4.47

Format: 454 pages, Hardcover

An alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062498533 can be found here. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carte… read more

Similar categories in Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"Hoedom is universal."

-Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

"But I'm tired of them just assuming."

-Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

"A’ight, so what do you think it means?"

-Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

"You need Saturday to recover and Sunday to repent."

-Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

Cover of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

13. The Fault in Our Stars

By: John Green

4.13

Format: 313 pages, Hardcover

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been a… read more

Similar categories in John Green's The Fault in Our Stars book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
"The marks humans leave are too often scars."

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

"I've gotten really hot since you went blind."

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

"Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you."

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Cover of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

14. Eleanor & Park

By: Rainbow Rowell

3.94

Format: 328 pages, Hardcover

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says. "So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers. "I'm … read more

Similar categories in Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • high school
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"You look like a protagonist."

-Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

"Goodbye. Just tonight. Not ever."

-Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

"His eyes missed her as much as the rest of him."

-Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

"He made her feel like more than the sum of her parts."

-Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

Cover of The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry

15. The Giver (The Giver, #1)

By: Lois Lowry

4.12

Format: 208 pages, Paperback

At the age of twelve, Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is singled out… read more

Similar categories in Lois Lowry's The Giver (The Giver, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • fiction
  • young adult
"Memories are forever."

-Lois Lowry, The Giver (The Giver, #1)

"Thnks fr th mmrs- Gabe"

-Lois Lowry, The Giver (The Giver, #1)

"Didn't life consist of the things you did each day?"

-Lois Lowry, The Giver (The Giver, #1)

"It's just that...without the memories, it's all meaningless."

-Lois Lowry, The Giver (The Giver, #1)

Cover of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

16. Thirteen Reasons Why

By: Jay Asher

3.84

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover

You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret . . . is … read more

Similar categories in Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • high school
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • mental health
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • mystery
  • audiobook
"I’m sorry."

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"Everything...affects everything"

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"I can't. You can't rewrite the past."

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

"A lot of you cared, just not enough."

-Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

Cover of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, None

17. All the Bright Places

By: Jennifer Niven , None

4.12

Format: 378 pages, Hardcover

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story a… read more

Similar categories in Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • mental health
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"Is today a good day to die?"

-Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

"Never bullshit a bullshitter."

-Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

"People rarely bring flowers to a suicide."

-Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

"Because it's not a lie if it's how you feel."

-Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

Cover of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, None

18. Everything, Everything

By: Nicola Yoon , None

3.97

Format: 312 pages, Hardcover

My disease is as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basical… read more

Similar categories in Nicola Yoon's Everything, Everything book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"A photograph is a kind of time machine."

-Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything

"Life is a gift. Don't forget to live it."

-Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything

"My guilt is an ocean for me to drown in."

-Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything

"You're not living if you're not regretting."

-Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything

Cover of Paper Towns by John Green

19. Paper Towns

By: John Green

3.71

Format: 305 pages, Paperback

Who is the real Margo? Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurou… read more

Similar categories in John Green's Paper Towns book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • high school
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • mystery
"Imagine others complexly."

-John Green, Paper Towns

"At least I carpe'd that one diem."

-John Green, Paper Towns

"Maybe all the strings inside him broke."

-John Green, Paper Towns

"I spy with my little eye a great story."

-John Green, Paper Towns

Cover of Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

20. Divergent (Divergent, #1)

By: Veronica Roth

4.14

Format: 487 pages, Paperback

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated … read more

Similar categories in Veronica Roth's Divergent (Divergent, #1) book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • romance
  • teen
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"Okay, okay."

-Veronica Roth, Divergent (Divergent, #1)

"Lies require commitment."

-Veronica Roth, Divergent (Divergent, #1)

"What is it with you today?"

-Veronica Roth, Divergent (Divergent, #1)

"Human reason can excuse any evil."

-Veronica Roth, Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Cover of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

21. Speak

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

4.05

Format: 224 pages, Hardcover

The first ten lies they tell you in high school. "Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you… read more

Similar categories in Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak book and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

  • high school
  • teen
  • realistic fiction
  • young adult
  • mental health
  • fiction
  • contemporary
"Gym should be illegal. It's humiliating."

-Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

"I have never heard a more eloquent silence."

-Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

"To keep up appearances, I stomp my room and slam the door."

-Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

"Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance."

-Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

21 must-read fiction books like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Transform Your Habits

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

E.L. James

3.66

Transform Your Habits

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

4.34

Transform Your Habits

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

Stephenie Meyer

3.66

Transform Your Habits

If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

Gayle Forman

3.92

View all the books

11 best-selling fantasy books like Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Transform Your Habits

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Suzanne Collins

4.09

Transform Your Habits

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins

4.34

Transform Your Habits

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

Stephenie Meyer

3.66

Transform Your Habits

Matched (Matched, #1)

Ally Condie

3.34

View all the books

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