Families who loved Without Annette by Jane B. Mason 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 struggling with a changing friendship or the social pressures of a new, competitive environment. It explores the painful realization that the people we love can change when they are desperate to fit in. While it centers on a lesbian couple, the core emotional journey is about maintaining one's integrity and self-worth when a partner or best friend starts choosing 'cool' over 'kind.' Set at an elite boarding school, the story follows Josie as she watches her girlfriend, Annette, transform into someone unrecognizable under the influence of toxic social hierarchies. It is a realistic and sometimes heavy look at peer pressure, substance use, and the difficult process of outgrowing a relationship that no longer serves you. It is best suited for mature teens who are navigating the complexities of high school social dynamics.