Books Like Stay
Families who loved Stay by Deb Caletti often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Stay by Deb Caletti often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent should reach for this book when they suspect their teenager is trapped in an unhealthy, controlling, or obsessive relationship. It is a vital tool for families needing to discuss the difference between intense love and dangerous obsession. The story follows Clara, who flees to a remote coastal town with her father to escape her manipulative boyfriend, Christian. This realistic contemporary novel explores the terrifying loss of self that occurs when a partner uses fear and surveillance as a form of devotion. Appropriate for ages 14 and up, Stay serves as both a mirror and a warning. It provides a roadmap for reclaiming independence and safety while normalizing the complicated feelings of guilt and fear that often accompany leaving an abusive situation. Parents will find it an excellent bridge to talk about boundaries, the red flags of stalking, and the importance of trusting one's instincts when a relationship feels more like a prison than a partnership.
