Books about Emotional Growth

  1. A Monster Calls

    by Patrick Ness
    A young boy's journey of self-discovery, coming to terms with his mother's terminal illness.

    Thirteen-year-old Conor O'Malley awakens from the same nightmare he has been experiencing for the past few months, "the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming". At seven minutes after ... (Wikipedia)

  2. Bridge to Terabithia

    by Katherine Paterson
    A young girl and boy's adventures in a secret kingdom, overcoming the harsh realities of life.

    Artistic young Jess Aarons deals with the hardships of his home life, such as his duties on his family's farm and the annoyances of his four sisters. Leslie Burke is an intelligent, wealthy girl who ... (Wikipedia)

  3. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

    by Lorna Landvik
    Five friends gather for weekly meetings, supporting each other through various life struggles.

    The women of Freesia Court are convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delectable desserts, and a strong shoulder can’t fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together—the foundation of a ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Sun and Her Flowers

    by Rupi Kaur
    An exploration of personal growth, healing, and finding one's self.

    From Rupi Kaur, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of milk and honey, comes her long-awaited second collection of poetry. A vibrant and transcendent journey about growth and healing. Ancestry ... (Goodreads)

  5. Fruits Basket, Vol. 2

    by Natsuki Takaya
    A young girl's journey of self-acceptance, overcoming personal obstacles with the help of her newfound friends.

    When she was living in a tent pitched on the Sohma family's land, Tohru Honda's primary concerns were dirt and slugs. But now that she's living with the Sohmas, she's gotten a crash course in magical ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World

    by Alan Downs
    A guide for gay men to overcome the shame and pain of growing up in a society that stigmatizes homosexuality.

    A groundbreaking examination of the psychology of homosexuality, why it leads to shame over one's identity, and how to overcome it, In The Velvet Rage , psychologist Alan Downs draws on his own ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Impulse

    by Ellen Hopkins
    A teenage girl's struggle to overcome trauma, while discovering her true identity.

    From the book jacket: Conner Sykes : Conner is the perfect boy. He's handsome, has amazing grades, and is amazing at sports. His family seems like the poster family for the magazines. He and his twin ... (Wikipedia)

  8. The Brightest Star in the Sky

    by Marian Keyes
    A mysterious spirit observes the lives of the residents of a Dublin apartment complex, influencing their fates and revealing secrets.

    Welcome to 66 Star Street . . . In the top-floor flat lives music exec Katie. She spends her days fighting off has-been rock stars and wondering how much cheesecake you'd need to eat yourself to ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Lover's Dictionary

    by David Levithan
    A unique exploration of the complexities of a relationship, told through a series of dictionary entries.

    A nameless narrator tells the story of a relationship through dictionary entries. These short entries provide insight into the ups and downs of their romantic relationship, revealing the couple's ... (Wikipedia)

  10. The Revenge of the Baby-Sat

    by Bill Watterson
    A boy's mischievous plan to get revenge on his baby-sitter backfires hilariously.

    The praise and popularity of Calvin and Hobbes continue to escalate as the hottest comic strip around reaches its fifth birthday. With keen insight, Bill Watterson depicts life through the eyes of a ... (Goodreads)

  11. No One Belongs Here More Than You

    by Miranda July
    Short stories of everyday people struggling to find their place in the world.

    Screenwriter, director, and star of the acclaimed film Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July brings her extraordinary talents to the page in a startling, sexy, and tender collection. ... (Goodreads)

  12. Love That Dog

    by Sharon Creech
    A young boy's reluctant journey to discover his love of poetry, and his own writing talent.

    "I guess it does look like a poem when you see it typed up like that." Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, ... (Goodreads)

  13. Maybe Someday

    by Colleen Hoover
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery and exploration of love, loss and hope.

    Contains exclusive content: songs from Griffin Peterson Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble—she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Other Side of the Story

    by Marian Keyes
    Three women, each with their own tale of heartache, discover the power of friendship and empathy.

    Jojo Harvey is a dead ringer for Jessica Rabbit and the most ferocious literary agent in town. A former NYPD cop, she now lives in London making million-dollar book deals while trying to make partner ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine

    by Robert L. Moore
    A psychological analysis of the four archetypes of mature masculinity and how they can be integrated for personal growth and development.

    The corporate "yes man," the wife-beater, the hot-shot male junior executive and the emotionally distant father are all boys pretending to be men, observe the authors of this liberating guide to ... (Goodreads)

  16. Love Walked In

    by Marisa de los Santos
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery, unlocking the mysteries of love and friendship.

    From the New York Times bestselling author of I’d Give Anything and I’ll Be Your Blue Sky comes a “bewitching, warmhearted grown-up fairy tale about old movies, charming princes, and finding happily ... (Goodreads)

  17. Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy

    by Irvin D. Yalom
    Exploration of psychotherapy and the human condition, through stories of therapy sessions.

    The collection of ten absorbing tales by master psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom uncovers the mysteries, frustrations, pathos, and humor at the heart of the therapeutic encounter. In recounting his ... (Goodreads)

  18. Big Mushy Happy Lump

    by Sarah Andersen
    A collection of humorous comics exploring the struggles of everyday life.

    Sarah Andersen's second comics collection picks up right where the first left off - huddled under a pile of blankets avoiding the responsibilities of the real world. These new comics (and illustrated ... (Goodreads)

  19. Juliet, Naked

    by Nick Hornby
    A story about a complex love triangle, set against a backdrop of music and fandom.

    Duncan, an obsessive music fan, receives a CD of Juliet, Naked , an album of solo acoustic demos of the songs on the album Juliet by his favourite artist, Tucker Crowe. Duncan's girlfriend, Annie, ... (Wikipedia)

  20. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

    by Elizabeth Gilbert
    A candid exploration of marriage, examining its ups and downs with a humorous and skeptical eye.

    At the end of her bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love , Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who'd been living in Indonesia when they met. ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Nose

    by Catherine Cowan
    A young girl's journey of self-discovery and acceptance, learning to love her unique nose.

    After disappearing from the Deputy Inspector's face, his nose shows up around town before returning to its proper place. ... (Goodreads)

  22. Something Blue

    by Emily Giffin
    A woman navigates the intricacies of marriage, friendships, and career choices.

    Darcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: her beauty and charm. Her fiancé Dex. Her lifelong best friend Rachel. She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Point of Retreat

    by Colleen Hoover
    A story of second chances, overcoming heartache and learning to love again.

    From the bestselling author of Slammed, comes Colleen Hoover's next big hit. Layken and Will have managed to overcome the obstacles that threatened to destroy their love, proving that they are ... (Goodreads)

  24. Sons and Lovers

    by D.H. Lawrence
    A young man's struggle between his loyalty to his family and his desire for independence.

    The refined daughter of a "good old burgher family," Gertrude Coppard meets a rough-hewn miner, Walter Morel, at a Christmas dance and falls into a whirlwind romance characterised by physical ... (Wikipedia)

  25. A Corner of the Universe

    by Ann M. Martin
    A story of a summer of self-discovery, as a young girl learns to accept her unique family.

    The summer of 1960 is a season that the novel's narrator and protagonist, 11-almost-12-year-old Hattie Owen, expects to be as comfortably uneventful as all the others had been in her small, tranquil ... (Wikipedia)

  26. The Julian Chapter

    by R.J. Palacio
    A young boy learns to confront his fears by talking to an imaginary figure of his enemy.

    Over 1 million people have read Wonder and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Wayward Bus

    by John Steinbeck
    A group of passengers embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption.

    No single character dominates The Wayward Bus . The viewpoint shifts frequently from one character to another, often taking the form of internal monologue so that we are experiencing a given ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Saint Anything

    by Sarah Dessen
    A teenage girl's journey of self-discovery, finding strength and courage to overcome family issues.

    A New York Times bestseller A TIME Magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015 " Saint Anything is a poignant, honest story about how we might suffer the misfortune of someone else's bad choices, how ... (Goodreads)

  29. Thoughtless

    by S.C. Stephens
    A young woman's exploration of love, trust and commitment, confronting difficult choices.

    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens comes a powerful and emotional contemporary romance featuring a young woman in a new city who finds herself torn between her handsome, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia

    by Marya Hornbacher
    A personal account of the author's struggles with eating disorders and her road to recovery.

    Why would a talented young woman enter into a torrid affair with hunger, drugs, sex, and death? Through five lengthy hospital stays, endless therapy, and the loss of family, friends, jobs, and all ... (Goodreads)

  31. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

    by Paulo Coelho
    A woman reunites with her childhood love and embarks on a spiritual journey to discover her true self and purpose in life.

    From Paulo Coelho, author of the bestselling The Alchemist , comes a poignant, richly poetic story that reflects the depth of love and life. Rarely does adolescent love reach its full potential, but ... (Goodreads)

  32. The First Bad Man

    by Miranda July
    A woman's exploration of her inner life, as she discovers unexpected depths of her own desires.

    From the acclaimed filmmaker, artist, and bestselling author of No One Belongs Here More Than You, a spectacular debut novel that is so heartbreaking, so dirty, so tender, so funny–so Miranda ... (Goodreads)

  33. Claire of the Sea Light

    by Edwidge Danticat
    A young girl disappears on her birthday in a Haitian seaside town, revealing the interconnected lives of its inhabitants.

    A stunning work of fiction that brings us deep into the intertwined lives of a small seaside town where a little girl, the daughter of a fisherman, has gone missing. From the best-selling author of ... (Goodreads)

  34. The Cafe by the Sea

    by Jenny Colgan
    A woman returns to a remote Scottish island to find love and a new beginning.

    Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island where she grew up – and she hasn't looked back. What would she have done on Mure? It's a place where everyone has known her all her life, where no one ... (Goodreads)

  35. Firefly Lane

    by Kristin Hannah
    A lifelong friendship between two women, navigating through life's ups and downs.

    From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . . In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her ... (Goodreads)

  36. Fallen Too Far

    by Abbi Glines
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of love and life.

    To want what you’re not supposed to have… She is only nineteen. She is his new stepfather’s daughter. She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick ... (Goodreads)

  37. On Mystic Lake

    by Kristin Hannah
    A woman's journey of self-discovery, mending her broken heart and learning to forgive.

    Annie Colwater’s husband has just confessed that he’s in love with a younger woman. Devastated, Annie retreats to the small town where she grew up. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick ... (Goodreads)

  38. Flawed

    by Cecelia Ahern
    A young woman's journey of self-acceptance, challenging societies expectations of perfection.

    You will be punished… Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan. ... (Goodreads)

  39. The Last Boyfriend

    by Nora Roberts
    Romance between two lost souls, as they both find their way back to love.

    Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family's construction business with an iron fist - and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers give him grief for his ... (Goodreads)

  40. The Wife

    by Meg Wolitzer
    A wife's exploration of her marriage and identity, as she discovers her own power and independence.

    "The moment I decided to leave him, the moment I thought, enough, we were thirty-five thousand feet above the ocean, hurtling forward but giving the illusion of stillness and tranquility. Just like ... (Goodreads)

  41. Slade

    by Laurann Dohner
    A human woman is kidnapped by an alien species and sold as a slave to a powerful, dominant male. They must navigate their cultural differences and growing attraction.

    Book 2 in the New Species series. The books can be read as stand-alone stories, but it is advisable to read them in order to get the most enjoyment from the series. Dr. Trisha Norbit is flat on her ... (Goodreads)

  42. Prozac Nation

    by Elizabeth Wurtzel
    A young woman's personal account of her struggles with depression and her recovery journey.

    A harrowing story of breakdowns, suicide attempts, drug therapy, and an eventual journey back to living, this poignant and often hilarious book gives voice to the high incidence of depression among ... (Goodreads)

  43. Open House

    by Elizabeth Berg
    A woman's search for a sense of belonging, exploring the importance of human connection.

    Throughout the 20 years of her marriage, Samantha Morrow has been content with her life, though she knows it isn't perfect. She has a nice home, a great son, and a husband she loves. But everything ... (Wikipedia)

  44. Where We Belong

    by Emily Giffin
    A woman's struggle to reconcile her past and present, embracing an unexpected future.

    The author of several blockbuster novels, Emily Giffin's, New York Times, bestseller,, Where We Belong, delivers an unforgettable story of two women, the families that make them who they are, and the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  45. I Heart You, You Haunt Me

    by Lisa Schroeder
    A girl's boyfriend dies, but his ghost continues to haunt her. She must learn to let go and move on.

    Girl meets boy. , , Girl loses boy. , , Girl gets boy back... , , ...sort of., Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her ... (Barnes & Noble)

  46. The Betrayal

    by Beverly Lewis
    A young Amish woman's life is turned upside down when she discovers a shocking family secret.

    The Covenant began the saga with Sadie’s resistance to the Plain Life and its tragic consequences. The Betrayal continues the journey, with Leah and her beloved Jonas now separated by hundreds of ... (Goodreads)

  47. The Replacement

    by Brenna Yovanoff
    A dark and eerie tale of a town where babies are replaced with sinister creatures. Mackie, a replacement himself, must confront his own identity and save his sister.

    Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. ... (Goodreads)

  48. Tapestry of Fortunes

    by Elizabeth Berg
    Four women embark on a road trip to find themselves and their place in the world. Along the way, they discover the power of friendship and self-discovery.

    A wonderful new novel about four women who take a trip into their past, to find again the people they miss, and to reconnect with their fortunes. From the beloved bestselling author of Home Safe and ... (Goodreads)

  49. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

    by Joshilyn Jackson
    A young girl's death in a backyard pool leads to family secrets being uncovered.

    Laurel Gray Hawthorne needs to make things pretty, whether she's helping her mother make sure the literal family skeleton stays in the closet or turning scraps of fabric into nationally acclaimed art ... (Barnes & Noble)

  50. Kyland

    by Mia Sheridan
    Two impoverished teens in rural Kentucky compete for a college scholarship, but their growing love for each other complicates their dreams.

    A full-length, standalone romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice. Dirt poor. Hillbilly. Backwoods hick. Mountain folk. Tenleigh Falyn struggles each day to survive in a ... (Goodreads)

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