Families who loved Layers: A Memoir by Pénélope Bagieu often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the embarrassing weight of their past or struggling to see how their current 'messy' choices fit into a larger identity. Pénélope Bagieu offers a vulnerably honest collection of vignettes from her own youth, exploring everything from awkward first loves and body image to the spark of creative ambition. It is a secular, raw, and often hilarious look at the layers of memory that make up a person. Parents will appreciate how it validates the intensity of teenage emotions without being overly sentimental. It is best suited for older teens due to its frank discussions of puberty and experimentation, providing a perfect opening to talk about self-forgiveness and the fact that everyone is a work in progress.