100 Best Divorce Books of All Time

We've ranked the best divorce books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.

Booked book cover1

Booked

Kwame Alexander

5.0
New York Times Bestseller∙ National Book Award Longlist ∙ ILA-CBC Children's Choice List∙ ALA Notable Children’s Book ∙ Book Links’ Lasting Connections ∙ Kirkus Best Book ∙ San Francisco Chronicle Best Book ∙ Washington Post Best Book∙ BookPage Best Book

"A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely
Dave Cousins portraitSimon Smith portrait Recommended by Dave Cousins and Simon Smith.
Dave Cousins portrait
Dave Cousins

Written in free-verse, there’s some great bits of humour in there, and again this isn’t just a story about football. [source]

Simon Smith portrait
Simon Smith

@Mrs_E_J_C @kwamealexander Completely, it’s a fantastic book. [source]

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail book cover2

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed

4.8
An alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand
Emma Watson portraitNancy Goldstone portrait Recommended by Emma Watson and Nancy Goldstone.
Eat, Pray, Love book cover3

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

4.8
Preview Summary
A celebrated writer's irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life.

Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feel
Chelsea Frank portraitGabriel Coarna portrait Recommended by Chelsea Frank and Gabriel Coarna.
Chelsea Frank portrait
Chelsea Frank

I read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [source]

Gabriel Coarna portrait
Gabriel Coarna

I started reading "Eat, Pray, Love" as soon as I finished watching Elizabeth Gilbert give this talk. [source]

4

Fred Stays With Me!

Nancy Coffelt, Tricia Tusa

4.7
Told from the point of view of a young child whose parents are divorced, Fred Stays with Me! follows a girl and her dog, Fred, from one parent's house to the other's, giving her a sense of continuity and stability. With a simple text and childlike language, the story expresses and addresses a child's concerns, highlights the friendship between child and pet, presents a common ground for the parent
Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1) book cover5

Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1)

Gary Paulsen

4.7
Brian is on his way to Canada to visit his estranged father when the pilot of his small prop plane suffers a heart attack. Brian is forced to crash-land the plane in a lake--and finds himself stranded in the remote Canadian wilderness with only his clothing and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present before his departure.

Brian had been distraught over his parents' impending divorce and the s
Andreas Zhou portrait Recommended by Andreas Zhou.
6

Two Homes

Claire Masurel, Kady MacDonald Denton

4.7
A comforting story and intimate paintings reassure children that, in the face of divorce, there can be warmth and love.
At Mommy's house, Alex has a soft chair. At Daddy's house, Alex has a rocking chair. In each home, Alex also has a special bedroom and lots of friends to play with. But whether Alex is with Mommy or with Daddy, one thing always stays the same -- Alex is loved.
Claire Masurel's gen
7

Emily's Blue Period

Cathleen Daly, Lisa Brown

4.6
Emily wants to be an artist. She likes painting and loves the way artists like Pablo Picasso mixed things up.Emily's life is a little mixed up right now. Her dad doesn't live at home anymore, and it feels like everything around her is changing.

“When Picasso was sad for a while,” says Emily, “he only painted in blue. And now I am in my blue period.”

It might last quite some time.

A Neal Porter Book
8

Along for the Ride

Sarah Dessen

4.6
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfec
9

What Happened to Goodbye

Sarah Dessen

4.6
Who is the real McLean?

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLe
Untamed book cover10

Untamed

Glennon Doyle

4.5
Preview Summary
In her most revealing and powerful book yet, the beloved activist, speaker, and author of the bestselling sensations Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and start trusting the voice deep within us.

“Untamed will liberate women—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I believe Glennon was born to wr
Laura Wright portrait Recommended by Laura Wright.
What Alice Forgot book cover11

What Alice Forgot

Liane Moriarty

4.5
Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possibl
12

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Kate DiCamillo, K. G. Campbell

4.5
It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born
Fangirl book cover13

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

4.5
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan..

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums
Ashley C. Ford portraitLaura Wood portrait Recommended by Ashley C. Ford and Laura Wood.
Laura Wood portrait
Laura Wood

A powerful and moving story about identical twins trying to find their individual identities outside of their own powerful relationship. [source]

14

The Last Song

Nicholas Sparks

4.5
Alternate Cover Edition can be found here

Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father . . . until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in
Big Little Lies book cover15

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

4.5
Check out the #1 New York Times bestseller Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, called “a surefire hit” by Entertainment Weekly.

Soon to be a major HBO® series starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon!

"The secrets burrowed in this seemingly placid small town...are so suburban noir they would make David Lynch clap with glee...[Moriarty] is a fantastically nimble writer, so sure-footed that the boo
16

Blended

Sharon M. Draper

4.5
"You’re so exotic!” “You look so unusual.” “But what are you really?”

Eleven-year-old Isabella is used to these kinds of comments - her father is black, her mother is white - but that doesn't mean she likes them. And now that her parents are divorced (and getting along WORSE than ever), Isabella feels more like a push-me-pull-me toy.

One week she’s Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, an
A Monster Calls book cover17

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness, Jim Kay

4.5
An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting - he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started
18

Dear Mr. Henshaw (Leigh Botts, #1)

Beverly Cleary, Paul O. Zelinsky

4.4
Leigh has been Boyd Henshaw's number one fan ever since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid in school. He's lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh's teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw
19

Raymie Nightingale

Kate DiCamillo

4.4
Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also
20

The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins

4.4
An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here.

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy. And t
Barack Obama portrait Recommended by Barack Obama.
21

The Parker Inheritance

Varian Johnson

4.3
The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller.

When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfoldi
22

The Paris Wife

Paula McLain

4.3
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship
Wai Chee Dimock portrait Recommended by Wai Chee Dimock.
23

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Jennifer E. Smith

4.3
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting
24

Dinosaurs Divorce

Marc Brown and Laurie Krasny Brown

4.3
For over 25 years, changing families have been using Dinosaurs Divorce to learn to talk to each other about one of life's most difficult moments, from the creators of the beloved, bestselling Dino Life Guides--over half a million copies of the series sold.

Dinosaurs Divorce Will Help you Understand: • Divorce Words and What They Mean • Why Parents Divorce • What About You? • After the Divorce • Liv
Commonwealth book cover25

Commonwealth

Ann Patchett

4.3
The acclaimed, bestselling author—winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize—tells the enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families’ lives.

One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating’s christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny’s mother, Beverly—thus setting in motion the
26

The Thing About Jellyfish

Ali Benjamin

4.3
This stunning debut novel about grief and wonder was an instant New York Times bestseller and captured widespread critical acclaim, including selection as a 2015 National Book Award finalist!

After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting--things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent
Heartburn book cover27

Heartburn

Nora Ephron

4.3
Is it possible to write a sidesplitting novel about the breakup of the perfect marriage? If the writer is Nora Ephron, the answer is a resounding yes. For in this inspired confection of adultery, revenge, group therapy, and pot roast, the creator of Sleepless in Seattle reminds us that comedy depends on anguish as surely as a proper gravy depends on flour and butter.

Seven months into her pregnancy
Bryony Gordon portraitElizabeth Day portrait Recommended by Bryony Gordon and Elizabeth Day.
Elizabeth Day portrait
Elizabeth Day

What I love about it is what I love about Nora Ephron’s screenplays. It’s the casually-worn yet acute insight she has into the human condition – particularly the female condition – and the comedy with which she explores serious issues. [source]

Divorce Poison: How to Protect Your Family from Bad-mouthing and Brainwashing book cover28

Divorce Poison: How to Protect Your Family from Bad-mouthing and Brainwashing

Dr. Richard A. Warshak

4.3
Your ex-spouse is bad mouthing you to your children, constantly portraying you in a negative light, perhaps even trying to turn them against you. If you handle the situation ineffectively, your relationship with your children could suffer. You could lose their respect, lose their affections-even, in extreme cases, lose all contact with them. The conventional advice is to do nothing, that fighting
29

I'll Give You the Sun

Jandy Nelson

4.3
"We were all heading for each other on a collision course, no matter what. Maybe some people are just meant to be in the same story."

At first, Jude and her twin brother Noah, are inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them. Years later, they are ba
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand book cover30

It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

Megan Devine

4.3
When a painful loss or life-shattering event upends your world, here is the first thing to know: there is nothing wrong with grief. “Grief is simply love in its most wild and painful form,” says Megan Devine. “It is a natural and sane response to loss.” So why does our culture treat grief like a disease to be cured as quickly as possible?

In It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Devine offers a profound new
Natalie Weaver portrait Recommended by Natalie Weaver.
31

Sing You Home

Jodi Picoult

4.3
After Zoe Baxter loses her baby, the only way she can find of coping is to try again. But her husband Max disagrees - more than that, he wants a divorce. When they separate, there is no mention of the unborn children they created together, still waiting at the clinic.

The Zoe falls in love again, out of the blue, and finds herself with an unexpected second chance to have a family.

But Max has found
32

Waiting for Normal

Leslie Connor

4.3
This poignant and joyful novel is filled with meaningful moments and emotional resonance.

Addie is waiting for normal. But Addie's mother has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, her way or no way.

Addie’s mother is bipolar, and she often neglects Addie. All-or-nothing never adds up to normal, and it can't bring Addie home, where she wants to be with her half-sisters
33

The List of Things That Will Not Change

Rebecca Stead

4.3
After her parents' divorce, Bea's life became different in many ways. But she can always look back at the list she keeps in her green notebook to remember the things that will stay the same. The first and most important: Mom and Dad will always love Bea, and each other.

When Dad tells Bea that he and his boyfriend, Jesse, are getting married, Bea is thrilled. Bea loves Jesse, and when he and Dad ge
34

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon

4.2
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He
Ev Williams portraitRobert Muchamore portraitSimon Baron-Cohen portrait Recommended by Ev Williams, Robert Muchamore, Simon Baron-Cohen, and 1 others.
Robert Muchamore portrait
Robert Muchamore

Mark Haddon wrote a spy series for eight- or nine-year-olds and then he suddenly comes out with this rather brilliant novel. Is it an adult book? Is it a kids’ book? So many people can read it and approach it. [source]

Simon Baron-Cohen portrait
Simon Baron-Cohen

In fiction the writer has some licence to deviate from what is real – it’s a work of art, ultimately, for people’s interest and enjoyment, but I think that the character is very recognisable of many people with Asperger syndrome. I think the author has done a very good job. [source]

Vanessa Keng portrait
Vanessa Keng

I've always loved fiction - mainly crime and legal thrillers, but there's something wonderful about reading a completely different style of writing from what I'm used to. I found myself absorbed in the narrative of guilt and love in The Kite Runner, and The Curious Incident told me a story from a completely different perspective. [source]

35

Love Letters to the Dead

Ava Dellaira

4.2
It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more -- though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high
Emma Watson portrait Recommended by Emma Watson.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo book cover36

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

4.2
Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.

Determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to
Jacqui Pretty portraitSahil Lavingia portrait Recommended by Jacqui Pretty and Sahil Lavingia.
Jacqui Pretty portrait
Jacqui Pretty

When it comes to fiction, there are so many to choose from! Some books I've loved in the past year include The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. [source]

Sahil Lavingia portrait
Sahil Lavingia

@alexbdebrie best book i've read recently is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. [source]

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert book cover37

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert

John Gottman PhD

4.2
Preview Summary
Just as Masters and Johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, so Dr. John Gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. As a professor of psychology at the University of Washington and the founder and director of the Seattle Marital and Family Institute, he has studied the habits of married couples in unprecedented detail over the course of many years. His findings, and his heavil
38

A Boy Called Bat (A Boy Called Bat, #1)

Elana K. Arnold, Charles Santoso

4.2
For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises — some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.

But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom
39

Wintergirls

Laurie Halse Anderson

4.2
“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after s
This Is Me Letting You Go book cover40

This Is Me Letting You Go

Heidi Priebe

4.2
Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love book cover41

Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love

Pia Mellody, Andrea Wells Miller, J. Keith Miller

4.2
In this revised and updated version of Facing Love Addiction, bestselling author of Facing Codependence and internationally recognized dependence and addiction authority Pia Mellody unravels the intricate dynamics of unhealthy love relationships and shows us how to let go of toxic love. Through twelve-step work, exercises, and journal-keeping, Facing Love Addiction compassionately and realisticall
Dana Dearmond portraitDave Elitch portrait Recommended by Dana Dearmond and Dave Elitch.
Dana Dearmond portrait
Dana Dearmond

@KarlaKush420 I always recommend the book Facing Love Addiction by Pia Melody to people. [source]

Dave Elitch portrait
Dave Elitch

Dave Elitch recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show". [source]

42

Mom and Dad Glue

Kes Gray, Lee Wildish

4.2
"My mom and dad are broken,
I don't know what to do.
My mom and dad have come undone,
I need to find some glue.

I need a pot of parent glue
To stick them back together.
I need to patch their marriage up,
I need to make them better.

I need to stick their smiles back on,
I need to get them mended.
I need them to be mom and dad,
The way they were intended."

Divorce is an unhappy fact that affects many child
43

Living with Mom and Living with Dad

Melanie Walsh

4.2
For young children who live in two homes, this bright, simple story with oversized flaps reassures young readers that there is love in each one.

Her parents don't live together anymore, so sometimes the child in this book lives with her mom and cat, and sometimes with Dad. Her bedroom looks a little different in each house, and she keeps some toys in one place and some in another. But her favorite
44

Weekends with Max and His Dad

Linda Urban, Katie Kath

4.2
Max and his dad love their weekends together. Weekends mean pancakes, pizza, spy games, dog-walking, school projects, and surprising neighbors! Every weekend presents a small adventure as Max gets to know his dad’s new neighborhood—and learns some new ways of thinking about home. Acclaimed author Linda Urban deftly portrays a third-grader’s inner world during a time of transition in this sweet and
45

Nights in Rodanthe

Nicholas Sparks

4.2
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks comes a tender story of hope and joy; of sacrifice and forgiveness -- a moving reminder that love is possible at any age, at any time, and often comes when we least expect it. At forty-five, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of a respite,
46

Dear Sweet Pea

Julie Murphy

4.2
The first middle grade novel from Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ (now a popular Netflix film), is a funny, heartwarming story perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Ali Benjamin, and Holly Goldberg Sloan.

Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco wasn’t sure what to expect when her parents announced they were getting a divorce. She never could have imagined that they would have the “
47

Open House

Elizabeth Berg

4.2
In this superb novel by the beloved author of Talk Before Sleep, The Pull of the Moon, and Until the Real Thing Comes Along, a woman re-creates her life after divorce by opening up her house and her heart.
Samantha's husband has left her, and after a spree of overcharging at Tiffany's, she settles down to reconstruct a life for herself and her eleven-year-old son. Her eccentric mother tries to help
48

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

Gary D. Schmidt, Christopher Gebauer, et al

4.2
Carter Jones is astonished early one morning when he finds a real English butler, bowler hat and all, on the doorstep—one who stays to help the Jones family, which is a little bit broken.

In addition to figuring out middle school, Carter has to adjust to the unwelcome presence of this new know-it-all adult in his life and navigate the butler's notions of decorum. And ultimately, when his burden of
49

The Silver Linings Playbook

Matthew Quick

4.2
Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him—the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will
We Were Liars book cover50

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

4.2
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree
51

It's Not the End of the World

Judy Blume

4.2
Karen couldn't tell Mrs. Singer why she had to have her Viking diorama out of the sixthgrade showcase. She felt like yelling, To keep my parents from getting divorced. But she couldn't say it, and the whole class was looking at her anyway.
Karen's world was ending. Her father had moved out of the house weeks before; now he was going to Las Vegas to get divorced and her mother was pleased! She had
The Lucky One book cover52

The Lucky One

Nicholas Sparks

4.1
When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even s
The Dutch House book cover53

The Dutch House

Ann Patchett

4.1
• "Do you think it's possible to ever see the past as it actually was? I asked my sister. We were sitting in her car, parked in front of the Dutch House in the broad daylight of early summer.*

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of
Mary Burkey portrait Recommended by Mary Burkey.
55

Sweeping Up the Heart

Kevin Henkes

4.1
A novel about loss, loneliness, and friendship that tells the story of the spring break that changes seventh-grader Amelia Albright's life forever.

Amelia Albright dreams about going to Florida for spring break like everyone else in her class, but her father--a cranky and stubborn English professor--has decided Florida is too much adventure.

Now Amelia is stuck at home with him and her babysitter, t
56

Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Bill Eddy

4.1
Protect Yourself from Manipulation, False Accusations, and Abuse



Divorce is difficult under the best of circumstances. When your spouse has borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), or is manipulative, divorcing can be especially complicated. While people with these tendencies may initially appear convincing and even charming to lawyers and judges, you know be
57

Black Swan Green

David Mitchell

4.1
From award-winning writer David Mitchell comes a sinewy, meditative novel of boyhood on the cusp of adulthood and the old on the cusp of the new.

Black Swan Green tracks a single year in what is, for thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor, the sleepiest village in muddiest Worcestershire in a dying Cold War England, 1982. But the thirteen chapters, each a short story in its own right, create an exquisitely
Gretchen Rubin portrait Recommended by Gretchen Rubin.
58

Here and There

Tamara Ellis Smith and Evelyn Daviddi

4.1
A young boy, Ivan, experiences the early stages of his parents' separation and finds hope in the beauty and music of nature. This tale of personal growth will provide a much-needed mirror for children in times of change -- and an important reminder for all that there's beauty everywhere you look.
59

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

Nujood Ali, Delphine Minoui, Linda Coverdale

4.1
“I’m a simple village girl who has always obeyed the orders of my father and brothers. Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today I have decided to say no.”

Nujood Ali's childhood came to an abrupt end in 2008 when her father arranged for her to be married to a man three times her age. With harrowing directness, Nujood tells of abuse at her husband's hands and of her daring escap
60

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Kody Keplinger

4.1
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a di
61

When Otis Courted Mama

Kathi Appelt, Jill McElmurry

4.1
Apart from sticker burrs and sand fleas, Cardell’s life is mostly wonderful. He knows he’s loved through and through by his perfectly good mama and his perfectly good daddy. They live in different parts of the desert, but that’s okay—Cardell is mostly used to it. Then Otis comes calling, and Cardell feels a grrr form in his throat. Otis can’t make jalapeño flapjacks or play Zig-the-Zag anything li
On Mystic Lake book cover62

On Mystic Lake

Kristin Hannah

4.1
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 Delacroix, a recent widower who is unable to cope with his silent, emotionally scarred young daughter. Together, the three of them begin to heal. But just when Annie believes she’s been given a second ch
It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered book cover63

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

Lysa TerKeurst

4.1
New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows readers how to live assured when life doesn't turn out like they expected.

What do you do when God’s timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?

Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard
64

The Great Treehouse War

Lisa Graff, Ariana Delawari, et al

4.1
Kids vs. parents! An epic treehouse sleepover! An awesome group of friends! An exciting new book from National Book Award finalist Lisa Graff.

Winnie's last day of fourth grade ended with a pretty life-changing surprise. That was the day Winnie s parents got divorced, the day they decided that Winnie would live three days a week with each of them and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse smack
65

Words with Wings

Nikki Grimes

4.1
Gabby’s world is filled with daydreams. However, what began as an escape from her parents’ arguments has now taken over her life. But with the help of a new teacher, Gabby the dreamer might just become Gabby the writer, and words that carried her away might allow her to soar. Written in vivid, accessible poems, this remarkable verse novel is a celebration of imagination, of friendship, of one girl
66

Eleanor & Park

Rainbow Rowell

4.1
Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix t
67

Divorce Is the Worst

Anastasia Higginbotham

4.1
Kids are told, "it's for the best"--and one day, it may be. But right now, divorce is the worst. With honesty and humor, Anastasia Higginbotham beautifully conveys the challenge of staying whole when your entire world, and the people in it, split apart. Exceptional in its child-centered portrayal, Divorce Is the Worst is an invaluable tool for families, therapeutic professionals, and divorce media
68

The Year We Fell From Space

Amy Sarig King

4.1
The deeply affecting next book from acclaimed author Amy Sarig King.

Liberty Johansen is going to change the way we look at the night sky. Most people see the old constellations, the things they've been told to see. But Liberty sees new patterns, pictures, and possibilities. She's an exception.

Some other exceptions:

Her dad, who gave her the stars. Who moved out months ago and hasn't talked to her
An American Marriage book cover69

An American Marriage

Tayari Jones

4.1
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Thoug
Barack Obama portraitBill Gates portrait Recommended by Barack Obama and Bill Gates.
Barack Obama portrait
Barack Obama

Former USA President

As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018 list. [source]

70

You Go First

Erin Entrada Kelly

4.1
Funny and poignant, You Go First by 2018 Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly is an engaging exploration of family, spelling, art, bullying, and the ever-complicated world of middle school friendships. Erin Entrada Kelly’s perfectly pitched tween voice will resonate with fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Raymie Nightingale and Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and ele
Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You book cover71

Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You

Susan J. Elliott JD MEd

4.1
A proven plan for overcoming the painful end of any romantic relationship, including divorce, with practical strategies for healing, getting your confidence back, and finding true love

It's over--and it really hurts. But as unbelievable as it may seem when you are in the throes of heartache, you can move past your breakup. Forget about trying to win your ex back. Forget about losing yourself and tr
72

Monday, Wednesday, and Every Other Weekend

Karen Stanton

4.1
Henry Cooper and his dog Pomegranate have two houses. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other weekend, they live with Mama in her new apartment, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other weekend, they live with Papa in his new house.

Henry and Pomegranate are happy as they dance with Mama and sing with Papa, but Henry knows that sometimes Pomegranate gets confused and just wants to go . . . home
73

That Summer

Sarah Dessen

4.1

For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister—the always perfect Ashley—is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the

74

Lost in the Sun

Lisa Graff

4.1
Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trent’s pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not th
75

Fleishman Is in Trouble

Taffy Brodesser-Akner

4.1
Recently separated Toby Fleishman is suddenly, somehow--and at age forty-one, short as ever--surrounded by women who want him: women who are self-actualized, women who are smart and interesting, women who don't mind his height, women who are eager to take him for a test drive with just the swipe of an app. Toby doesn't mind being used in this way; it's a welcome change from the thirteen years he s
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are book cover76

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are

Lysa TerKeurst, Jim Cress, and Thomas Nelson

4.1
77

Posted

John David Anderson, Patrick Lawlor, et al

4.1
In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.

When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around
The Invisible String book cover78

The Invisible String

Patrice Karst

4.1
In this heartwarming story, Karst ("God Made Easy") delivers a very simple approach to overcoming the fear of loneliness or separation from parents, written with an imaginative flair that children can easily identify with and remember. For Adults Too!

OVER 400,000 Copies Sold!
79

This Lullaby

Sarah Dessen

4.1
There is an alternate cover edition for this ISBN13 here.

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake h
The Great Divorce book cover80

The Great Divorce

C. S. Lewis

4.1
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis’ The Great Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil.
The First Rule of Punk book cover81

The First Rule of Punk

Celia C. Pérez

4.1
From debut author and longtime zine-maker Celia C. Perez, The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one's watching.

There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school--you can't fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (Maria Luisa, if you want to anno
Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding You Close book cover82

Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding You Close

Lysa TerKeurst

4.0
Embraced is the beautiful new devotional from Lysa TerKeurst, the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited, The Best Yes, Unglued, and Made to Crave. Embraced features 100 devotions that will resonate with women in all stages of life by giving them a godly perspective on the issues they face each day.

A real embrace indicates an intimate level of
83

The Color of Heaven (The Color of Heaven, #1)

Julianne MacLea

4.0
"Sophie Duncan is a successful columnist whose world falls apart after her daughter's unexpected illness and her husband's shocking affair. When it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, her car skids off an icy road and plunges into a frozen lake. There, in the cold, dark depths of the water, Sophie experiences something profound and extraordinary--something that unlocks the secrets from her
84

Ashes of Her Love

Pierre Alex Jeanty, Jada Hawkins, et al.

4.0
85

Standing on My Own Two Feet: A Child's Affirmation of Love in the Midst of Divorce

Tamara Schmitz

4.0
Addison is a regular kid whose parents are going through a divorce, but he knows that no matter what happens, his parents will always love him. The text in this beautifully illustrated picture book is inspiring, gentle, and uplifting, and teaches kids that having two homes to live in can be just as great as having two strong feet to stand on.
The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study book cover86

The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study

Julia M. Lewis, Sandra Blakeslee

4.0
Finally in paperback, the New York Times bestseller that has fundamentally changed the way children of divorce see themselves as adults--updated with a new preface by the author.

Divorce is at once a widespread reality and a painful decision, so it is no surprise that this landmark study of its long-term effects should both spark debate and find a large audience.

In this compelling, thought-provokin
87

Two by Two

Nicholas Sparks

4.0
At 32, Russell Green has it all: a stunning wife, a lovable six year-old daughter, a successful career as an advertising executive and an expansive home in Raleigh. He is living the dream, and his marriage to the bewitching Vivian is the center of that. But underneath the shiny surface of this perfect existence, fault lines are beginning to appear...and no one is more surprised than Russ when he f
88

Keeping Faith

Jodi Picoult

4.0
“A triumph. This novel’s haunting strength will hold the reader until the very end and make Faith and her story impossible to forget.”
—Richmond Times Dispatch

“Extraordinary.”
—Orlando Sentinel

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult (Nineteen Minutes, Change of Heart, Handle with Care) comes Keeping Faith: an “addictively readable” (Entertainment Weekly) novel that “makes you wo
The Co-Parenting Handbook: Raising Well-Adjusted and Resilient Kids from Little Ones to Young Adults Through Divorce or Separation book cover89

The Co-Parenting Handbook: Raising Well-Adjusted and Resilient Kids from Little Ones to Young Adults Through Divorce or Separation

Karen Bonnell

4.0
With a tested "here's how" approach, The Co-Parents' Handbook helps parents confidently take on the challenges of raising children in two homes. Addressing parents' questions about the emotional impact of separation, conflict, grief and recovery, the authors skillfully provide a roadmap for all members of the family to safely navigate through separation/divorce and beyond. Parents discover through
90

Bruiser

Neal Shusterman

4.0
"There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me."

When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then stra
91

The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #1)

Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black

4.0
It all starts when Jared Grace finds their great uncle's book, 'Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastic World Around You' and the Grace kids realize that they are not alone in their new house. Now the kids want to tell their story but the faeries will do everything they can to stop them.
Seeing Beautiful Again: 50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story book cover92

Seeing Beautiful Again: 50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story

Lysa TerKeurst

4.0
93

We Are All Made of Molecules

Susin Nielsen

4.0
Thirteen-year-old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless.
Fourteen-year-old Ashley is the undisputed “It” girl in her class, but her grades stink.

Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9 percent happy about it, but Ashley is 110 percent horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved o
94

Still Life with Tornado

A.S. King

4.0
“I am sixteen years old. I am a human being.”

Actually Sarah is several human beings. At once. And only one of them is sixteen. Her parents insist she’s a gifted artist with a bright future, but now she can’t draw a thing, not even her own hand. Meanwhile, there’s a ten-year-old Sarah with a filthy mouth, a bad sunburn, and a clear memory of the family vacation in Mexico that ruined everything. She
95

Ladies' Night

Mary Kay Andrews

4.0
Take a splash of betrayal, add a few drops of outrage, give a good shake to proper behavior and take a big sip of a cocktail called…Ladies' Night!

Grace Stanton's life as a rising media star and beloved lifestyle blogger takes a surprising turn when she catches her husband cheating and torpedoes his pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool. Grace suddenly finds herself locked out of
96

Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life: The Chump Lady's Survival Guide

Tracy Schorn

4.0
Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life is a no-nonsense self-help guide for anyone who has ever been cheated on. Here's advice not based on saving your relationship after infidelity—but saving your sanity.


When it comes to cheating, a lot of the attention is focused on cheaters—their unmet needs or their challenges with monogamy. But Tracy Schorn (aka Chump Lady) lampoons such blameshifting and puts the focu
Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends book cover97

Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends

Bruce Fisher EdD, Robert Alberti PhD, et al.

4.0
You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times book cover98

You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times

Max Lucado

4.0
"You'll get through this."

"It won't be painless."

"It won't be quick."

"But God will use this mess for good."

"Don't be foolish or naive."

"But don't despair either."

"With God's help, you'll get through this."

You fear you won't make it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits, surrounded by steep walls and achi
You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today book cover99

You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today

Lysa TerKeurst

4.0
Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship book cover100

Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship

Mira Kirshenbaum

4.0
Mira Kirshenbaum (I Love You, But I Don't Trust You), an international bestselling author and world-renowned therapist, draws on years of counseling experience to lead readers through relationship ambivalence. A careful line of 36 questions and self-analysis techniques designed to get to the heart of relationship and marriage problems. This straightforward and practical advice is designed for newe