If You Loved This, Try That

Sometimes I get bummed that I'll never again be able to experience my favorite books for the first time. But then I remember that there are plenty of fish in the sea (or, perhaps more appropriately, plenty of books on the shelf).

As a reader, I'm always searching for books that capture the same feeling I got from some of my all-time favorites. Maybe it's a similar atmosphere, a familiar character dynamic, a beloved trope, or simply that hard-to-define spark that made me fall in love with a story in the first place.

If you're the same way, you've come to the right place. This is where I'll share all the times I've been reading a book and suddenly thought, "Wait... this reminds me of ____."  Whether you're trying to recover from a book hangover or chasing the magic of a favorite read, I hope these recommendations help you discover your next obsession.

Comment down below: What are the books that remind you of each other?

OR

Give me a book and I can try to recommend another book with similar vibes.

If You Loved Fourth Wing, Then Try Divergent

If you loved Fourth Wing, I highly recommend Divergent. Both stories follow a female protagonist who is initially underestimated and thrust into an intense military-style training program where failure can have devastating consequences. Both feature a skilled, slightly older male lead who quickly becomes a mentor, ally, and love interest, while harboring secrets tied to the larger conflict around them. Along the way, the protagonists form found-family friendships, discover strengths they never knew they possessed, and begin to question the systems they have been taught to trust.

If you enjoyed the high-stakes training, romantic tension, and rebellion against a flawed society in Fourth Wing, Divergent delivers many of those same elements, in a dystopian setting as opposed to fantasy.

If You Loved ACOTAR, Then Try Spark of the Everflame

If you loved A Court of Thorns and Roses, I highly recommend Spark of the Everflame. Both stories feature richly developed fantasy worlds with unique magic systems, complex political landscapes, and romances packed with tension and slow-burning chemistry.

In both series, the FMC begins as an outsider to a world ruled by powerful magical beings. As she uncovers hidden truths about the society around her, she is forced to confront injustice, challenge those in power, and discover strengths she never knew she possessed. Along the way, she forms deep friendships, finds unexpected allies, and develops feelings for a powerful and enigmatic man who is often as frustrating as he is irresistible.

Beyond the romance, both stories shine in their exploration of power, privilege, and the consequences of a deeply flawed system. If your favorite parts of ACOTAR were watching Feyre grow into her power, navigating dangerous political alliances, and falling for a powerful morally gray love interest, you'll likely find a lot to love in Spark of the Everflame.

If You Loved Every Summer After, Then Try Love and Other Words

If you loved Every Summer After, I highly recommend Love and Other Words. Both novels alternate between two timelines: the past, where the FMC and MMC meet as children and develop a deep friendship that eventually blossoms into love, and the present, where they come face-to-face for the first time in years.

In both stories, we know there is history between them, but we don't immediately know what caused their estrangement. What is clear, however, is that neither has fully moved on. As the story unfolds, the mystery of their separation is gradually revealed, while their lingering feelings force them to confront the past.

If you enjoyed the nostalgia, emotional depth, and second-chance romance of Every Summer After, Love and Other Words delivers many of the same heartwarming and heartbreaking moments.

If You Loved Caraval, Then Try Hotel Magnifique

If you loved Caraval, I highly recommend Hotel Magnifique. While the stories themselves are quite different, they share the same enchanting atmosphere that makes you feel as though you've stepped into a dream.

Both books center around mysterious magical destinations that appear unexpectedly and whisk ordinary girls into extraordinary worlds. In Caraval, it's the legendary performance game; in Hotel Magnifique, it's a magical hotel that travels the world overnight. In both stories, the wonder and excitement of these places are matched by an underlying sense that something isn't quite right beneath the glittering surface.

Fans of immersive settings, hidden secrets, and magical worlds where the rules are constantly shifting will find a lot to love in both books. If your favorite part of Caraval was the feeling of never quite knowing what was real, Hotel Magnifique captures that same sense of mystery and enchantment.

If You Loved Peaky Blinders, Then Try A Forbidden Alchemy

If you loved Peaky Blinders, I highly recommend A Forbidden Alchemy. The similarities between the Shelby family and the Colsons are impossible to miss. When Nina arrives in Kenton Hill, it quickly becomes clear that the Colsons run the town, often through means that exist well outside the law. Like Tommy Shelby, Patrick Colson is a charismatic and ruthless leader willing to do whatever it takes to protect the people he loves. While his methods are often questionable, it is hard not to root for him when the system he is fighting against is so deeply corrupt.

Beyond the family dynamics and criminal undertones, both stories explore loyalty, power, and the lengths people will go to for those they care about. If you enjoy powerful family empires, morally gray characters, simmering romance, and protagonists who challenge a broken system, A Forbidden Alchemy captures many of the same elements that made Peaky Blinders so compelling.

If You Loved The Inheritance Games, Then Try The Escape Game

If you loved The Inheritance Games, I highly recommend The Escape Game. Like The Inheritance Games, this story is packed with puzzles, clues, and mysteries that keep both the characters and the readers constantly guessing. Every answer uncovers a new question, and piecing together the truth becomes just as engaging as the story itself.

Both books feature clever protagonists who must rely on their wits to navigate a series of challenges, uncover hidden secrets, and determine who can be trusted. The thrill comes not just from solving the mystery, but from watching the pieces slowly fall into place, and rooting for the characters as they do so.

If you enjoyed the riddles, twists, and fast-paced intrigue of The Inheritance Games, The Escape Game delivers a similarly addictive puzzle-solving experience.

If You Loved Schitt's Creek, Then Try It Happened One Summer

If you loved Schitt's Creek, I highly recommend It Happened One Summer. In the novel, Piper Bellinger is financially cut off and sent to the small fishing village of Westport due to her reckless behavior. Accustomed to luxury and getting whatever she wants, Piper initially clashes with the humble and practical residents of Westport. Sound familiar? Just like Alexis and the Rose family in Schitt's Creek, Piper begins the story as someone who seems shallow and out of touch, but gradually discovers there is more to life than money, status and fame. As she settles into Westport, she makes meaningful friendships, finds a sense of purpose and soon falls in love with the town and its people (and maybe one person in particular).

At their core, both stories are about personal growth and finding community. If you enjoyed the small town charm, fish out of water humor and heartfelt character development of Schitt's Creek, It Happens One Summer delivers a similarly heartfelt story, with added romance.