Families who loved On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly 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 teen is struggling with the high stakes of freshman year social pressure or feels like their personal quirks and physical insecurities make them unlovable. It follows Pacy and Cecil, two ninth graders who fall for each other but nearly ruin everything through social anxiety, bad advice, and some very relatable, embarrassing medical mishaps. Through their eyes, parents will find a story that validates the 'cringe' of adolescence while modeling how to push through self-doubt. This YA romance manages to be both hilariously funny and deeply empathetic. It tackles the weight of family expectations and the paralyzing fear of looking foolish in front of a crush. By centering two protagonists who feel 'uncool' due to IBS and clumsiness, it offers a refreshing alternative to polished teen dramas. It is a perfect choice for parents wanting to normalize the messiness of growing up while offering a hopeful, lighthearted perspective on first love.