In the book “Ugly Love” we see Miles and Tate are immediately attracted to each other. They are physically very attracted to each other but don’t want a relationship. So they start having sexual relationships only.
At the time, the game turns around 360 degrees, and there is unshakable love we find. Colleen Hoover is an intelligent and realistic writer. She always puts many twists and unbelievable things in her story. Books Like Ugly Love deal with love, heartache, and overcoming past trauma. They will remind us that it’s never too late to start over and that we all can heal from past wounds.
10 Books Like Ugly Love (YA Romance)
The book Ugly Love is not fantasy but real in life. In this busy world, we keep ourselves busy with many works. So there is less time for love or relationship. Many people start their relationship by living or dating, and then they feel genuine love for each other.
This book takes this simple story as character development and establishes many actual aspects. After reading this book, you need to read a similar book because you already have the vibe and feelings. So I will discuss 10 YA contemporary books similar to Ugly Love that’ll fill up your feelings. Let’s begin!
1. Addicted To You
Addicted to You is a new adult contemporary romance, and it follows Lily and Lo, two best friends, battling different addictions. Lily is addicted to sex, and Lo is an alcoholic. They’ve been using a fake relationship with each other to hide that from their friends and family. Their relationship is a bit destructive, and things start unraveling as they battle their addictions.
Lily and Lo as characters, you still do pull for them. Their relationship is very destructive and very toxic. They both have issues to work through in the beginning, so it does not forgive this toxic behavior. The side characters, though, are the amazing ones. For example, a couple of Lily sisters pop in to get their books and own stories.
There are some issues as far as heavy-handedness with the story. The fact that they both are addicts and have addictions is pretty much beat over your head the entire book, as we get it, but it’s mentioned repeatedly how much Lily is addicted to sex and what she’s doing. Lo repeatedly drinks, to the point where you’re like, we know as readers that they’re addicts. There’s also a lot of codependency within the relationship. Can you find similarities with the characters in the book Ugly Love? Yes, you will see many similarities among them.
Author: Krista Ritchie
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Billionaire Romance, New Adult & College Romance
Available: Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | MP3 CD
2. The Deal
The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus series. It is a hockey romance that takes place at Briar University. Each book is a standalone novel as well. It follows Hannah and Garrett. Hannah and Garrett are in the same ethics class, and the book opens when they all receive their tests back. Garrett is the captain of the hockey team at Briar University. Everybody knows who he is, which is funny about this book.
Garrett sees that Hannah made an on her test. She is in the music department and busy preparing for a big winter performance. Garrett is flabbergasted because nobody rejects him. So we see the story from Hannah’s and Garrett’s perspectives. Also, Hannah is over here crushing on the guy named Justin. He is one of the stars of the football team at Brown University.
If she is obsessed with him, she doesn’t know him, but she likes googly eyes. Hannah had a very horrific thing happen to her whenever she was in high school, preventing her from having good relationships with boys. Justin is one of the first people she’s seen since that happened to her. That’s made her heart flutter. So again, Garrett is over here trying to get her to tutor him, and then she rejects it.
Garrett becomes a total-like simp for Hannah. But we learn that Garrett and Hannah had traumatic things happen to them, and they can bond over that. Their childhood was not a great time for different reasons, and they can see who each other is. There’s always that point of tension, and several things happened that I didn’t see coming, and it was so good when it ended. If you want to read like Ugly Love, you must try it.
Author: Elle Kennedy
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Sports Romance (Goodreads Choice)
Available: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle | MP3 CD
3. A Thousand Boy Kisses
A Thousand Boy Kisses follows a girl called Poppy. She is cute, super positive, and everybody loves her. Rune is this young, naive boy from Norway. They both fall in love very early in the book. Then with 15, where the love is grown up with them. One has to move back to Norway because his dad got a new job there. So they decided to do long distance, and ruin moves away. The whole thing is that Poppy has a jar she got from her deceased grandma, where her grandma told her to collect a thousand boy kisses before she dies.
Rune has moved away, so they decide to phone every evening. Poppy doesn’t recall one day, and she doesn’t text him back. She blocks him and deletes him from her life. So Rune becomes a dark, twisted, and brooding character. His character development was interesting because he went from this very young boy to this aggressive one. Also, it was so interesting to read because it’s written from a dual point of view.
Rune moves back to the city where Poppy lives, and everything is different, and he tries to find out why she contacted him. Then he finds the answer, which he does not want to know and least expected. This book was a fantastic love story because you could grow with the first love. After finishing the book, you can relate many similar things and moments with Ugly Love.
Author: Tillie Cole
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Suspense Romance (Goodreads Choice)
Available: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle | MP3 CD
4. November 9
November 9 is about a young woman. She is 18 years old at the start of the book and has been in a fire two years before this book starts. So she has scarring pretty much all over a third of her body. Also, she has significant issues with her self-esteem. Before this accident, she was an actress and did not fall off when scarred because nobody wanted to hire her. She meets a guy before leaving for New York City and lives in Los Angeles. We’re talking about opposite ends of America. They make up this pact.
They’re going to see each other on November 9th every year until she’s 23 because her mother told her when she’s 23 and older, she’s able to fall in love. But before then, she wouldn’t know who she was. So she shouldn’t fall in love with anyone because her identity would get wrapped up in the other person, and she never would find out who she is. Every November 9th, they will see each other and cannot talk to each other throughout the year.
The characters and their feelings for each other were very intense and spicy. As the story goes on, it is cool how it takes place over five or six years. So you get to see these characters grow and go through whole different stages of their lives. There is a plot twist at the end. You must wait until the end to get that plot twist similar to Ugly Love. The author tried with the whole self-conscious issues that the main character was dealing with at the start of the book.
If you prefer a book with a more emotional and heart-wrenching storyline, you might want to consider starting with “Ugly Love.” On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a more lighthearted and uplifting read, you might want to consider starting with “November 9.”
Author: Colleen Hoover
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: New Adult & College Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5. Maybe Someday
Maybe Someday has a significant impact on emotion. It’s about a girl named Sidney, she discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her, and her life spirals out of control. She moves into an apartment with a guy named Ridge, and they hit it off. There are so many curveballs thrown at you from beginning to end.
We have two main characters, Sidney and Rage, and it makes alternate points of view, which I love, especially in romance books. Like Ugly Love, this new adult romance covers emotionally charged characters similar to Miles and Tate. There’s not much graphic or sexual content, but it does deal with people in their twenties. The emotionally mature book makes you feel so many emotions. It’s only appropriate for people who can handle those emotions. It is very deep and painful. Colleen Hoover created such an original and unique story.
Author: Colleen Hoover
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Contemporary Literature & Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
6. Archer’s Voice
Archer’s Voice follows Bree Prescott as a young woman who has witnessed her father’s death. Her mother passed away when she was young, and her father was murdered six months before the start of the knot. So she wasn’t happy and wasn’t dealing very well with life. So she stays on the quiet side of the lake. So she spends her days going to the lake with her dog and spending time there.
One day, she met a man with long hair and a scraggly beard. They make eye contact without any conversation. Later, Bree knows that the man is Archer Hale. Archer is also mute, and he’s not been able to speak since he was in a car accident when he was six years old, and his parents and uncle died in this accident. So our story takes off from there.
As Bree goes back and forth to the lake, she passes Archer’s property. One day, her dog runs onto Archer’s property, and she starts to form a bit of a relationship, a friendship with Archer. She keeps being forced to be around him, and he interacts with her slightly. Also, she finds out that he can sign. Her dad was deaf to sign. So they begin to bond over that and get to know one another.
This is about two broken people coming together and healing; I enjoy these romance books. The characters of Archer and Bree are intense, vast, nothing kiddie pool here. You learn a lot about these characters. This book takes place over about a year’s worth of time through the majority of the novel, and then you get a glimpse into the future of how things pan out for them.
The investigation into her father’s murder plays into this story. Archer’s family history plays into the story, his history in the town and everything else. So this book is as good as Ugly Love. Some parts completely broke my heart.
Author: Mia Sheridan
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction (Goodreads Choice)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
7. Punk 57
Punk 57 features two characters named Misha and Ryan. Misha is a boy, and Ryan is a girl, and they have been pen pals since fifth grade. They don’t know who the other person is. They have been best friends since fifth grade, towing their secrets, confiding in each other, and being there for each other.
One day, Misha never replies to Ryan’s letters. It has been three months, and she doesn’t know if he’s been arrested or died. She doesn’t know what’s happening, and her world is crumbling without him. Misha would always give her life advice and be there for her. She doesn’t know who she is without him, and nothing’s working. Nothing’s going as planned. Then we have Misha, who has been through a challenging situation in these three months because something devastating happened, that ruined his whole life.
One day, Misha sees Ryan and him from afar, and he sees that this girl he has written letters to since the fifth grade is not the same girl he sees in front of himself. So, he feels betrayed and feels lied to. But this person he sees is nothing close to his best friend. The author is a pro when writing teenage angst like this. Was who? So read the book and find the suspense as Ugly Love.
Author: Penelope Douglas
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: New Adult & College Romance (Goodreads Choice)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This novel is a touching and thought-provoking story about two people who find love in unexpected circumstances. A young woman is a caregiver for a quadriplegic man who is bitter and disillusioned with life. Over time, the two develop a deep connection that challenges their beliefs and forces them to confront their fears. Like Ugly Love, this powerful novel explores love, sacrifice, and the meaning of life.
9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This book is a heartbreaking yet uplifting story of two teenagers. They fall in love even though they are both living with cancer. The novel deals with the complex realities of living with a life-threatening illness and celebrates life’s joys and beauty. It’s a deeply emotional story that will stay with you long after reading it. Also, it’ll remind you of Miles and Tate from Ugly Love.
10. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
The Notebook is a classic romance story about two young people from different social classes. They fall deeply in love in the 1940s. Their love is tested by the realities of war and social status, but they eventually find their way back to each other years later. For me, it’s a heartwarming and touching novel that celebrates the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.
Reading books with similar styles and themes can be a great way to discover new authors and find more stories that resonate with you. Many books in the romance genre explore complex relationships and the struggles of love. So there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Some other authors you might want to check out include:
Nicholas Sparks: A famous author in the romance genre known for his heartwarming and emotional stories.
Jojo Moyes: Jojo Moyes is popular for her thought-provoking stories about love, loss, and personal growth.
Taylor Jenkins Reid: Taylor Jenkins Reid is a contemporary author who explores love and relationships in her novels, featuring multi-dimensional and relatable characters.
Christina Lauren: This writing duo has gained a following for their contemporary romances that feature strong character development and steamy scenes.
Overall, if you enjoyed “Ugly Love,” it’s worth exploring other books in the romance genre and finding more stories that speak to you.
More Romance Books:
Emotional Romance Books Like Hearts In Darkness
College Romance Books Like Punk 57
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