Kody Keplinger is an American author known for lively young adult fiction that feels candid, funny, and true to teenage life. Her standout novel The DUFF explores identity, friendship, and relationships with a voice that is both sharp and refreshingly honest.
If you enjoy reading books by Kody Keplinger, you may also like the following authors:
Katie McGarry is a great match for readers who appreciate Kody Keplinger’s emotional honesty and grounded portrayal of teen relationships.
In her novel Pushing the Limits, McGarry introduces Echo and Noah, two teenagers carrying painful pasts and struggling to be understood.
Echo is trying to recover memories of a traumatic event that left deep physical and emotional scars, while Noah is fighting to regain custody of his younger brothers after the loss of his parents.
As they begin to trust one another, their bond grows into a story full of vulnerability, romance, and hard-won hope.
Readers who connected with the realism in Keplinger’s books will likely enjoy McGarry’s intense, heartfelt character journeys.
Simone Elkeles is another strong pick for fans of Kody Keplinger’s heartfelt stories about teenage life, identity, and romance.
She writes contemporary YA with believable dialogue and emotionally charged relationships, especially in her popular novel Perfect Chemistry.
The story centers on Brittany Ellis, a high-achieving girl from a wealthy family, and Alex Fuentes, a boy with a dangerous reputation and ties to gang life.
When they are paired together in chemistry class, their assumptions about each other begin to unravel, and so do the walls they have built.
Elkeles tackles family pressure, prejudice, and social expectations with warmth and sincerity, making this a compelling romance with real emotional stakes.
Readers drawn to Kody Keplinger’s honest take on teen emotions may find a lot to love in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s contemporary fiction.
Her book The Problem with Forever follows Mallory, a girl whose childhood trauma left her largely silent, as she enters public school for the first time. There, she reconnects with Rider, the boy who once protected her and who shares much of her difficult past.
As Mallory learns to speak up for herself, she also has to navigate friendship, family tension, and her complicated feelings for Rider.
Armentrout handles these challenges with compassion, creating a moving story about healing, courage, and young love.
Huntley Fitzpatrick writes warm, sincere stories about first love, family pressure, and the messy realities of growing up—qualities that often appeal to Kody Keplinger fans.
In My Life Next Door, Samantha Reed appears to have a carefully ordered life, shaped in large part by her politically ambitious mother. Next door, however, lives the Garrett family, whose noisy, affectionate chaos fascinates her.
Everything shifts when Samantha gets to know Jase Garrett. As she becomes part of his lively world, she is forced to confront the gap between her mother’s expectations and what she truly wants.
Fitzpatrick brings depth and warmth to themes of loyalty, family, friendship, and young love.
Emery Lord is a natural recommendation for readers who enjoy Kody Keplinger’s authentic teen voices and emotionally resonant storytelling.
In her book The Start of Me and You, Lord introduces Paige Hancock, who is trying to move forward after the tragic death of her boyfriend.
To help herself heal, Paige creates a plan for reclaiming her life—one that includes facing fears, reconnecting with the world, and maybe opening her heart again.
Friendship, grief, and new beginnings all shape her journey, and Lord handles each with humor, tenderness, and honesty.
Miranda Kenneally captures teenage ambition, romance, and self-discovery in a way that should appeal to fans of Kody Keplinger.
A great place to start is Catching Jordan, which follows Jordan Woods, captain and quarterback of her high school football team. Jordan has her sights set on a college scholarship, but things get complicated when Ty, a talented new quarterback, joins the team.
As she juggles competition, friendship, and her growing attraction to Ty, Jordan has to decide what she is willing to fight for—and what compromises she will not make.
Kenneally delivers a thoughtful, relatable look at the intersection of love, identity, and ambition.
Sarah Dessen is a longtime favorite for readers who enjoy realistic teen fiction with strong emotional undercurrents, much like Kody Keplinger’s work.
In her book Just Listen, Annabel appears to have the perfect life, but beneath the surface she is dealing with loneliness, silence, and strain within her family.
Her growing friendship with Owen, a blunt but kind music lover, pushes her to face truths she has been avoiding.
Dessen’s sharp emotional insight and natural dialogue make this a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys stories about vulnerability, growth, and connection.
Morgan Matson blends humor, friendship, family drama, and self-discovery in a way that makes her books especially inviting for Kody Keplinger readers.
Her novel Since You’ve Been Gone follows Emily, a shy teenager who has always relied on her outgoing best friend, Sloane.
When Sloane suddenly disappears, she leaves Emily a list of challenges that seem impossible at first. But as Emily works through them—whether that means dancing until dawn, skinny dipping, or stepping outside her comfort zone—she begins to discover strengths she never knew she had.
Matson’s stories are full of warmth and momentum, with characters that feel genuine from the start.
Jenny Han is an easy recommendation for readers who love Kody Keplinger’s relatable characters and heartfelt approach to teenage relationships.
In her popular book To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lara Jean Song is a quiet high school student whose private letters to old crushes are suddenly mailed out.
What follows is awkward, funny, and unexpectedly moving as Lara Jean is forced to confront feelings she never meant to share.
Han excels at writing lovable, imperfect characters and giving familiar high school moments genuine emotional weight.
Stephanie Perkins writes romantic coming-of-age stories filled with charm, longing, and memorable settings, making her a strong fit for fans of Kody Keplinger.
Her novel Anna and the French Kiss follows Anna Oliphant, an American teenager sent to boarding school in Paris.
She is initially unhappy about leaving Atlanta, but the city gradually begins to enchant her—especially once she meets the witty and charismatic Étienne St. Clair. The complication, of course, is that he is already in a relationship.
As Anna adjusts to a new place and sorts through friendship and romance, the story captures the excitement and uncertainty of first love with real charm.
Kasie West brings humor, sweetness, and relatable high school drama to her contemporary YA romances, which makes her a good choice for readers who enjoy Kody Keplinger.
In The Fill-In Boyfriend, Gia Montgomery gets dumped in the parking lot just before prom.
In a moment of panic, she convinces a stranger to pretend to be her boyfriend for the evening. Naturally, one small lie leads to another, and soon Gia is dealing with far more than she expected—especially when the fake relationship starts feeling a little too convincing.
West keeps the story light and fun while still giving it emotional sincerity.
Brigid Kemmerer writes contemporary YA that balances emotional depth with compelling, believable relationships.
If you like Kody Keplinger’s grounded characters and honest treatment of teen struggles, Kemmerer’s Letters to the Lost is well worth picking up. The novel follows Juliet Young, who copes with grief by leaving letters on her mother’s grave.
One day, someone writes back. That someone is Declan Murphy, a boy carrying wounds of his own, and their anonymous correspondence slowly becomes a lifeline for both of them.
As their connection deepens, they must decide whether they are ready to reveal who they really are. Kemmerer handles the emotions with care, making the story moving and easy to invest in.
Courtney Summers is a strong choice for readers who value the tougher, more unflinching side of Kody Keplinger’s teen storytelling.
Her novel Sadie follows a determined teenager named Sadie as she sets out to find her sister’s killer.
The narrative alternates between Sadie’s dangerous journey and the perspective of a podcast host trying to piece together what happened after she disappears.
Summers tackles heavy material with urgency and emotional precision, creating a gripping novel that lingers long after the final page.
Becky Albertalli writes smart, funny, and heartfelt novels that explore friendship, identity, and first love with an authentic teen voice.
If you enjoyed Kody Keplinger’s relatable characters, you will probably connect with Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
The story follows Simon Spier, a high school student who has been exchanging emails with a classmate known only as Blue.
When those emails fall into the hands of someone willing to use them against him, Simon has to navigate fear, friendship, and the uncertainty of opening up. Albertalli’s warmth and wit make the story both charming and meaningful.
Elizabeth Eulberg is a great option for readers who enjoy Kody Keplinger’s mix of humor, heart, and insight into teenage relationships.
Her novel, The Lonely Hearts Club, follows Penny Lane Bloom, who decides to give up dating after a disappointing romantic experience.
Inspired in part by her love of The Beatles, Penny starts a club for girls who are tired of heartbreak and relationship drama. But as the group grows, she begins to realize that friendship, trust, and independence are more complicated than they first seem.
Eulberg brings wit and warmth to the story, creating a cast of characters readers can easily root for.
