Books like That Summer

That Summer by Sarah Dessen reads as nostalgic, introspective. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy

Jenny Han · 2009

Shares the comingofage thread

75% genome match

Love from A to Z

S. K. Ali · 2019

Shares the comingofage thread

69% genome match

If He Had Been with Me

Laura Nowlin · 2013

Shares the comingofage thread

69% genome match

Every Summer After

Carley Fortune · 2022

Shares the comingofage thread

69% genome match

Everything, Everything

Nicola Yoon

Shares the comingofage thread

69% genome match

Keeping You a Secret

Julie Anne Peters · 2003

Shares the comingofage thread

71% genome match

Racing hearts

Kate William · 1984

Shares the comingofage thread

72% genome match

Love and Gelato

Jenna Evans Welch · 2016

Both explore self-discovery & first love

70% genome match

Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe

Benjamin Alire Sáenz · 2012

Shares the comingofage thread

69% genome match

The Summer of Broken Rules

K. L. Walther · 2021

Both explore summer & self-discovery

68% genome match

So hard to say

Alex Sanchez · 2004

Shares the comingofage thread

72% genome match

Almost Perfect

Brian Katcher · 2009

Shares the comingofage thread

71% genome match