Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Vanessa lives life one day at a time. She isn’t willing to waste a moment when she has no idea whether she shares the same fatal genetic condition as her mother. But after her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter, she is housebound for the foreseeable future, and feeling totally out of her element.

The last person she expects to show up offering help is the unbelievably hot lawyer who lives next door, Adrian Copeland. But as they get closer, Vanessa realizes that her carefree ways and his need for a structured plan could never be compatible for the long term. Then again, she should know better than anyone that life’s too short to fear taking the biggest risk of all. . .

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Parental abandonment
  • Addiction
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

When Ruby’s mother dies, she’s dragged three thousand miles away from her gorgeous boyfriend, Ray, to live in LA with her father, who she’s only ever seen in movies. He’s a mega-famous actor who divorced her mom before Ruby was even born, and while the rest of the world may love him, Ruby definitely does not.

But as time passes and pages turn, Ruby comes to understand that circumstances are far more complicated than they seem, and sometimes forgiveness is found where you least expect it.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Coming out themes*
  • Parental abandonment
  • Cheating
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother

*Note: Coming out is used as a plot twist.

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If the Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak

If the Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak

Linny has been fascinated by disappearances, ever since her sister Grace ran away in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.

Sebastian can tell you how many galaxies there are, and knows how much plutonium weighs. But the one thing he can’t figure out is the identity of his birth father.

They’ve never met, but Linny and Sebastian have one thing in common: an obsession with famous novelist and filmmaker Alvaro Herrera, who went missing three years ago and has just reappeared. As they learn more about the mystery of Alvaro, Linny and Sebastian uncover the answers they’ve been searching for.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Parental abandonment
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Recreational drug use
  • Physical injury (fall)
  • Hospitalisation
  • Grief depiction
  • Death of a father
  • Disappearance of a sister
  • Death of a pet
  • Animal illness
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Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa

Julián Luna has a plan for his life: Graduate. Get into UCLA. And have the chance to move away from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the suffocating expectations of others that have forced Jules into an inauthentic life. Then in one reckless moment, with one impulsive tweet, his plans for a low-key nine months are thrown—literally—out the closet. The downside: the whole world knows, and Jules has to prepare for rejection. The upside: Jules now has the opportunity to be his real self.

Then Mat, a cute, empathetic Twitter crush from Los Angeles, slides into Jules’s DMs. Jules can tell him anything. Mat makes the world seem conquerable. But when Jules’s fears about coming out come true, the person he needs most is fifteen hundred miles away. Jules has to face them alone.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Forced coming out
  • Emotional, physical & psychological parental abuse
  • Parental abandonment
  • Depression
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Death of a parent mentioned
  • Bullying
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The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Sexism (theme)
  • Forced servitude
  • Parental abandonment
  • Alcohol consumption mentioned
  • Blood & gore depiction, including dead bodies
  • Physical injuries
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother & father
  • Death of a friend
  • Animal death & dead bodies
  • Animal injury
  • Animal attack
  • Hunting
  • Poverty themes, including threat of eviction
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Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes

Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes

Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she’s around. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time the house next door caught on fire. Or the time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash–and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch.

Despite what her therapist tells her, Maguire thinks it’s best to hide out in her room, far away from anyone she might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away, but it turns out staying away might be harder than she thought.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Parental abandonment
  • Cheating
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Abortion mentioned
  • Parent with cancer
  • Blackmail
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Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Courtney “Coop” Cooper. Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn’t mind. But right now, my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl. Rae Evelyn Chin. I assumed “new girl” would be synonymous with “pariah,” but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I’m right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is . . . perplexing. Jupiter Charity-Sanchez The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move. . .

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia
  • Bimisia
  • Deadnaming
  • Adult-minor relationship*
  • Dubious consent scenario*
  • Sexual assault (nonconsensual kiss)
  • Parental abandonment
  • Panic attack
  • Death of a parent mentioned

*Context: A sixteen-year-old girl begs a woman in her 20s to have sex with her until she gives in.

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Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton

Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton

She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she’s dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names—from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.

She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll’s silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn’t utter a word. There’s Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Physical abuse
  • Abandonment
  • Suicide mentioned
  • Murder
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Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?

They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.

Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Alcohol consumption
  • Gun violence
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Fruits Basket, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya

Fruits Basket, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya

A family with an ancient curse and the girl who will change their lives forever…

Tohru Honda was an orphan with no place to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she’s introduced to the Sohma’s world of magical curses and family secrets.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Child abandonment
  • Emotional abuse
  • Social anxiety
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