Families who loved Life Sucks by Jessica Abel often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is feeling disillusioned with the daily grind, complaining about the unfairness of entry-level jobs, or feeling like they lack control over their own life. While the setting is a fantastical vampire world, the emotional core is deeply relatable to any teen navigating the awkward transition into independence and the reality that adulthood often involves boring chores and difficult bosses. Dave is a vampire, but his life is far from glamorous. He works the night shift at a convenience store for a demanding boss and struggles with unrequited love and peer pressure. This graphic novel uses dark humor and urban fantasy to normalize feelings of frustration and loneliness. It is best suited for older teens due to some mature language and situations, offering a refreshing, cynical take on the 'chosen one' trope that helps young adults find humor in their own mundane struggles.