Families who loved Life Without Nico by Andrea Maturana 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 child is facing a major transition, particularly the move of a best friend or the loss of a constant playmate. It addresses that specific, heavy hollow feeling that follows a significant goodbye, offering a slow and honest look at the grieving process children go through when their social world changes. Maia and Nico are inseparable until Nico moves across the ocean. The story follows Maia as she navigates the emptiness left behind, eventually discovering that while Nico cannot be replaced, her world can grow large enough to hold new experiences and friends alongside his memory. It is a beautiful choice for children aged 4 to 8, providing a secular and grounded roadmap for emotional resilience and the enduring nature of long distance friendship.