I’ve been recommending books like 'Smile' to my younger cousins for years! 'Roller Girl' by Victoria Jamieson is a fantastic pick—it’s got the same energetic, coming-of-age vibe but centers around roller derby. The protagonist’s struggles with friendship and self-confidence mirror Raina’s, and the art is dynamic.
For something more surreal but equally heartfelt, 'Nimona' by ND Stevenson blends humor and emotional depth, though it’s fantasy. If you’re after realism, 'Awkward' by Svetlana Chmakova captures school-life awkwardness beautifully. What ties these together is their ability to make personal growth feel epic, just like 'Smile' did. Bonus: they’re all gateway books into deeper graphic novel territory!
Raina Telgemeier's 'Smile' was such a relatable read—I devoured it in one sitting! If you loved its blend of heartfelt storytelling and autobiographical vibes, you’d probably enjoy 'El Deafo' by Cece Bell. It’s another graphic memoir with a similar focus on personal challenges (in this case, hearing loss) but delivered with humor and warmth. The art style is quirky and expressive, just like Telgemeier’s.
Another gem is 'Guts' by Telgemeier herself—it tackles anxiety with the same honesty as 'Smile.' For something outside her work, 'Real Friends' by Shannon Hale nails the middle-school friendship drama with gorgeous art. These books all share that perfect mix of vulnerability and resilience, making them great for readers who want stories that feel both real and uplifting.
Looking for books with 'Smile’s' charm? 'Drama' by Raina Telgemeier is an obvious next step—it swaps dental drama for backstage chaos but keeps the relatable emotions. 'Sunny Side Up' by Jennifer L. Holm tackles heavier themes (family addiction) with a light touch, much like how 'Smile' handled its subject.
If you’re open to manga, 'Yotsuba&!' by Kiyohiko Azuma has that same infectious joy, though it’s slice-of-life fiction. These picks all share Telgemeier’s knack for balancing humor with real-life stakes, perfect for readers who want stories that stick with them long after the last page.
2026-04-18 00:33:38
1
View All Answers
Scan code to download App
Related Books
My Secret, My Bully, My Mates. Series
Miss L
9.7
2.7M
This is a three part series all in one place.
Skylar just wants to be an asset to her pack. She's the daughter of the Beta and her brother is set to take the title after graduation. Her father wants nothing to do with her and is constantly belittling the things she does accomplish. She is the top of her class at school and the top warrior, but no one knows because she hides in the shadows as much as possible.Her bullies torture her, but never get caught. She takes them on time and time again though to protect other innocent members of her pack. Her brother and his friends ignore her existence and all she wants to do is get out of a pack that doesn't seem to want her and become an Elite Warrior for the Alpha King. She wants to feel wanted and accepted somewhere. Her whole world changes when a new girl shows up and decides to befriend Skylar after an intense training session. She brings Skylar out of the shadows and brings to light the darker side of pack members and pack culture. Can Skylar get past her past and live the life she wants?
Lots of people are asking so here it is:
Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy
Thank you all so much for reading!
~~~~~
Jake has one goal in life - protect his brothers and keep his family together. He has to find a job, earn his keep. He doesn't have time for trivial things like friends and girlfriends.
Kim wants freedom, adventure and excitement. She's not interested in living a life of regrets or what if's.
A chance encounter with the stoic and mysterious new guy in school, has Kim adamant to bring a little joy to his life, even if he doesn't think he wants it.
Ella James has spent most of her life being overlooked, underestimated, or laughed at.
At school, she’s the girl in the oversized hoodies. The girl people make jokes about. The girl no one chooses.
After years of disappointment, Ella has learned not to expect much from anyone—especially not from Beckett Cross.
Popular, confident, and seemingly perfect, Beckett has always been everything Ella avoids. He’s the kind of boy who belongs at the center of every room while she’s spent years trying to disappear into the background.
Then a family emergency forces Ella to move in next door.
Suddenly, the boy who barely notices her at school becomes impossible to avoid.
Inside his home, Beckett is different. Kinder. Softer. Protective in ways that leave Ella questioning everything she thought she knew about him. But every morning when they walk back into school, the walls go back up, leaving Ella trapped between two versions of the same boy.
One who looks at her like she’s special.
And one who acts like she doesn’t matter.
As feelings grow and old insecurities refuse to stay buried, Beckett finds himself facing a truth he never expected: somewhere between late-night conversations, family dinners, and stolen moments, Ella became the first person he looks for.
But loving Ella means more than feeling something when nobody is watching.
It means choosing her when everyone is.
And for a girl who’s spent her entire life feeling like someone’s second choice, that may be the one thing she can never compromise on.
A slow-burn emotional romance about self-worth, first love, healing old wounds, and learning that being seen can be the scariest—and most beautiful—thing of all.
"Why pretend you don't want us when your nipples are hard?" Oliver's hands slid slowly under my skirt. I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. I grasped his hands, but his brother Owen yanked them away.
"Because I hate you all! I can't help but wonder why moon goddess made you guys my mates."
Their laughter filled the room as if a hilarious joke had just been told. Gradually, his fingers made their way to my pussy skin, then I caught a glimpse of the three brothers whose gaze was fixed on my exposed body.
"You must keep this between us because this bond is forbidden. We will fuck you whenever we want because you belong to us" Owen declares as I looked away from them, but Orion gently turned my face towards them, their eyes filled with lusts.
There are many secrets we keep for future sake, but what if there are more darker ones to discover?
----------
Miranda's life took an unexpected turn when she was betrayed and rejected by her high school boyfriend because she was a weak omega. Devastated, She also finds out her mum was getting married to a billionaire Lycan King. Accepting a new father was difficult, but that was only the beginning of her challenges.
When she met the Lycan King's sons, she discovered they were her former bullies 'The Lycan Triplets' from high school, and to make matters worse, she was fated to be their mate.
How will she cope with this situation?
What will happen when their parents finds out that they are mates which is forbidden? Of course it has to be kept hidden but for how long? Also will the Triplets continue to bully her, or seek her forgiveness?
Jane Waleski and her best friend, Emily Zuckerman, are average achievers on a good day and losers on a bad day, but they're quite proud of it! Or so they try to convince themselves. They read only the shortest books for book reports and always have the worst project for science class. On top of that, they are hopeless romantics. So Jane and Emily form Loser Club: an exclusive club of two. But when a new science teacher shows up at their school, Jane tries to impress her and suddenly finds herself trying to be not so average. Will she have to resign as vice president of Loser Club?
[I don't want to die, but I'm tired of picking myself up every time I fall. Won't you please carry me?] Emilie is bullied because of her selective mutism. The popular girls at her college think she is a freak who won't survive the real world since she won't speak up for herself. One day, they steal her clothes at a pool party and force her to venture out dressed in only a towel. She knocks on a random door without knowing it's Brandon Brooks's home. He is the most popular guy at her college - rich and attractive - and she is convinced he won't help her. Brandon thinks she is a loser like everyone else, but there is one thing Emilie doesn't know about him: he isn't heartless.
If you loved the raw, lyrical honesty of 'We Are All So Good at Smiling,' you might find solace in books that blend magical realism with deep emotional wounds. 'The Poet X' by Elizabeth Acevedo hits that same nerve—Xiomara’s verse feels like a heartbeat, just like Amber McBride’s Whimsy. Both tackle grief and self-discovery, but where McBride leans into folklore, Acevedo roots her story in slam poetry’s rhythm.
Then there’s 'Long Way Down' by Jason Reynolds—a ghostly elevator ride that mirrors the surreal, haunting quality of McBride’s work. It’s shorter, but the way it wraps trauma in a supernatural frame? Chilling. For something softer, try 'The Stars and the Blackness Between Them' by Junauda Petrus—it’s got that same lush, poetic prose and a touch of otherworldly healing.
Middle school can be such a wild ride, and 'Smile' captures that perfectly with its blend of humor and heart. If you loved it, you might enjoy 'Real Friends' by Shannon Hale—it’s another graphic novel that dives into friendship drama and self-discovery, but with a sharper focus on social hierarchies. The art style feels nostalgic, almost like flipping through a diary.
For something more contemporary, 'New Kid' by Jerry Craft is a gem. It tackles racial stereotypes and fitting in, but with so much warmth and wit. The protagonist’s voice is so relatable, and the illustrations add layers to the storytelling. Both books have that same mix of awkwardness and authenticity that made 'Smile' so special.
Finding books like 'Smile' for young readers is such a fun quest! Graphic novels with relatable, slice-of-life vibes are everywhere once you know where to look. I adore 'Roller Girl' by Victoria Jamieson—it’s got that same mix of middle-school drama and heart, plus roller derby! Then there’s 'El Deafo' by Cece Bell, which tackles growing up with hearing loss in a way that’s both funny and touching. Libraries often have dedicated graphic novel sections for kids, and librarians are gold mines for recommendations. Online, Bookshop.org or Goodreads lists like 'If You Loved Smile' are super helpful. Don’t overlook indie bookstores either; their curated displays often hide gems.
For something more adventurous but still grounded, 'Real Friends' by Shannon Hale nails the friendship struggles. And if they enjoy the autobiographical angle, 'Guts' by Raina Telgemeier (same author as 'Smile') is a must. Scholastic’s book fairs sometimes carry similar titles too—I stumbled upon 'New Kid' by Jerry Craft that way, and it’s brilliant. The key is blending humor with real-life stakes; that’s what makes 'Smile' resonate, and there’s a whole world of books doing that wonderfully.