Families who loved My First Love and Other Disasters by Francine Pascal 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 experiencing the dizzying highs and embarrassing lows of their first major crush. It is a perfect choice for the adolescent who is perhaps focusing a bit too much on social status or trying to change themselves to win someone else's affection. Victoria Martin's summer as a mother's helper on Fire Island is a comedic journey through jealousy, schemes, and the eventual realization that chasing the school hottie isn't as glamorous as it seems. Parents will appreciate how it uses humor to address serious topics like self-worth and responsibility. While it captures the classic 1990s teen voice, the feelings of awkwardness and the desire to be noticed remain timeless. It serves as an excellent gateway to discuss the difference between infatuation and reality, all while normalizing the mistakes kids make when they are first falling in love.
