Books like I believe in a thing called love

I believe in a thing called love by Maurene Goo reads as playful, charming. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

The Princess Diaries

Meg Cabot · 2000

Both explore friendship & self-discovery

72% genome match

The Kissing Booth

Beth Reekles · 2012

Both explore first love & friendship

70% genome match

Love from A to Z

S. K. Ali · 2019

Both explore first love & cultural identity

68% genome match

Love and Gelato

Jenna Evans Welch · 2016

Both explore self-discovery & first love

63% genome match

Better Than the Movies

Lynn Painter · 2021

Same romance feel

58% genome match

Call It What You Want

Alissa DeRogatis · 2023

Both explore self-discovery & first love

59% genome match

It Had to Be You

Cecily von Ziegesar · 2007

Both explore friendship

60% genome match

My life with the Walter boys

Ali Novak · 2014

Both explore first love & friendship

56% genome match

If He Had Been with Me

Laura Nowlin · 2013

Both explore first love & friendship

53% genome match

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy

Jenny Han · 2009

Both explore first love & friendship

56% genome match

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God

Louise Rennison · 2001

Both explore first love & friendship

74% genome match

That Summer

Sarah Dessen · 1996

Both explore first love & self-discovery

57% genome match