Books like 'Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet'
Readers who enjoyed Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult multicultural dystopian found-family
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Himawari House by Harmony Becker
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsLiving in a new country is no walk in the park.When Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, she books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse. There she meets Hyejung and Tina, two other girls who came to Japan to freely forge their own paths...Categorized as:
multicultural found-family young adult contemporary new adult high-school east-asian-mc east-asia -
![Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram]()
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsDarius doesn't think he'll ever be enough, in America or in Iran.Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming—especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life... -
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![A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat]()
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble... -
![The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe]()
The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe
High school is over, but Nora O'Malley's life isn't, which is weird now that her murderous stepdad Raymond is free. Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a ten day backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. Her plans hit a snag when Wes's girlfriend tags along. Amanda is nice, so it's not a huge issue—until she gets taken. Or rather, mistaken...for Nora... -
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![Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes]()
Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsIn this fresh, sensitive, diary-style graphic novel, 12-year-old Tuva's questions about becoming a teenager are confusing—so when her first crush turns out to be on another girl, it feels absolutely wonderful--so why does it become so complicated?Perfect for fans of The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag, HeartStopper by Alice Oseman, and Jen Wang's The Dressmaker and the Prince... -
![Indivisible by Daniel Aleman]()
Indivisible by Daniel Aleman
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsThis timely, moving debut novel follows a teen's efforts to keep his family together as his parents face deportation.Mateo Garcia and his younger sister, Sophie, have been taught to fear one word for as long as they can remember: deportation. Over the past few years, however, the fear that their undocumented immigrant parents could be sent back to Mexico started to fade... -
![Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet Vol. 5 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香]()
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet Vol. 5 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsAkatsuki Kibikino may be a celebrated novelist, but putting his feelings into words has always been a struggle. Kaneishi’s blatant advances toward Fumi put Akatsuki in the foulest mood—that much is obvious... -
![My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, Vol. 6 by Wataru Watari]()
My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, Vol. 6 by Wataru Watari
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAh, culture festivals. The best way to survive such a troublesome chore is...don't answer when someone talks to you, and act obviously annoyed. Employing his loner skills to the fullest, Hachiman is ready and willing to run at the first sign of responsibility. Unfortunately, while he's busy skipping homeroom, he ends up being chosen for the culture festival committee.. -
![Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson]()
Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsJason is a basketball star and one of the most popular guys in school. Brainy Kyra isn't, but she doesn't much care what other people think. Under normal circumstances, Jason and Kyra would live in their separate worlds until graduation. But fate intervenes, and the unlikely duo is paired up for a class project... -
![椿町ロンリープラネット 3 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香]()
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![The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta]()
The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 28 ratings'You look the type to break your father’s heart.''Yeah, but he broke mine first.’When Rosie Gennaro first meets Jimmy Hailler, she has walked away from life in Sydney, leaving behind the place on Dalhousie that her father, Seb, painstakingly rebuilt for his family but never saw completed... -
![椿町ロンリープラネット 4 [Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet 4] by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香]()
椿町ロンリープラネット 4 [Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet 4] by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 18 ratings暁に抱きしめられたふみ。暁への恋を諦めようとしていたのに──。心は乱れたまま夏休みに突入!... -
![Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet Vol. 6 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香]()
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet Vol. 6 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAfter receiving what seems to be a silent rejection to her confession, Fumi had resolved to erase her feelings and power through her heartbreak… when Akatsuki finally answers—by asking her out! Despite the change in their relationship, however, their daily lives seem to remain largely the same except for one key aspect— if living with her crush was bad for Fumi’s heart, it’s nothing compared to... -
![More to the Story by Hena Khan]()
More to the Story by Hena Khan
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic, Little Women, featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia.When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she’s one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather... -
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![Falling For Korea by Piper Jean]()
Falling For Korea by Piper Jean
America meets K-drama in this rollercoaster plot with a fresh take on romance and what it means to be family.When Sydney is sent to Seoul to live with a family she’s never met, she encounters unexpected chemistry with their son, but must fight to unravel the mystery of why she was sent away... -
![Runaways by Nicole Dykes]()
Runaways by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRunaways . . .You’ve heard about kids running away, but do we ever truly know why they run?Rae and Law had no choice. Forced to run when life let them down, when it was either leave or be subjected to an unimaginable fate.Can they survive?Two young people, completely alone on the streets with nothing but each other.This is their story... -
![Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke]()
Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe swoon of Nicola Yoon meets the emotional punch of Elizabeth Acevedo in this breakout debut novel that answers big questions about identity, family, and love. High school junior Michie is struggling to define who she is for her scholarship essays, her big shot at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student...Categorized as:
multicultural dystopian young adult contemporary sports african-american black-mc length-medium -
![Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard]()
Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsLike Julie Anne Peters’ Keeping You a Secret, Girl Mans Up is a totally engrossing portrayal of a gay teen’s coming of age. Pen is only comfortable dressing like a boy, but it’s confusing to her friends and unacceptable to her family. And then one day she meets Blake, and little by little, it all begins to make sense.Pen Oliviera is sort of chunky, an amazing gamer and a girl... -
![Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan]()
Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father... -
![Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg]()
Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsThis heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.Being crammed into a house in Queens with her cousins is not how Dua envisions her trip to New York City. But here she is, spending the holy month of Ramadan with extended family she hasn’t seen in years... -
![His Fake Fiancée by Fiona Murphy]()
His Fake Fiancée by Fiona Murphy
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIvan Volkov is a wickedly intelligent, ruthless, and devastatingly gorgeous billionaire with a sexy British accent. He also owns the company I work for. The plan was simple: get his attention to show him I was the one behind all my boss’s awesome proposals that have been making the company hundreds of millions of dollars for the last three years... -
![The One True Me and You by Remi K. England]()
The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsOne small fandom convention. One teen beauty pageant.One meet cute waiting to happen.Up and coming fanfic author Kaylee Beaumont is internally screaming at the chance to finally meet her fandom friends in real life and spend a weekend at GreatCon... -
![On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino]()
On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign.Ellie’s Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she considered home and return to her hearing family. Back in a mainstream school, Ellie quickly becomes the subject of hateful rumors... -
![Promise Me Once by Paige Weaver]()
Promise Me Once by Paige Weaver
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFrom the highly acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling Promise Me series comes a new story. A standalone novel. A race for survival and love. Once with him was never enough. I am the girl you dislike. The girl you snub at parties. I am the one who flirts with men and knows no boundaries. I am the one you whisper about. The one who has no rules... -
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![Extras All For The Game by Nora Sakavic]()
Extras All For The Game by Nora Sakavic
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEXTRAS ALL FOR THE GAME NOTE FROM TRANSLATORS: Nora uploaded extra content about the trilogy to her Tumblr page Korakos. You will be able to find information about the life of the Foxes after The King's Man, Andrew and Neil's content, Renee's past and things that you probably wondered when reading the trilogy... -
![K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee]()
K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsShe thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only Candace's company judging her—it’s the entire world. How will she find the courage to stand by her beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence her...In the sequel to K-Pop Confidential, Candace is a Rookie idol...Categorized as:
multicultural found-family young adult contemporary vengeance mental illness length-medium -
![Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan]()
Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father... -
![Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby, A.J. Sass]()
Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby, A.J. Sass
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom the acclaimed authors of Hurricane Season and Ana on the Edge, an unforgettable story about the importance of and joy in finding a community, for fans of Alex Gino and Ashley Herring-Blake. Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids... -
![Concealed by Selena Laurence]()
Concealed by Selena Laurence
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwo years ago, Gabe Thompson stood in the desert of Afghanistan and watched the love of his life drive away. When his tour of duty ended six months later, she wasn’t waiting. Now Gabe’s ready to go after the one thing his life is missing – the woman he’s never been able to forget. Twenty-year-old Alexis Garcia rues the day she decided to volunteer for a UN mission to Afghanistan... -
![Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones]()
Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities.Patrice dreams of a first-class education, but right now she's just got to survive the walk to school.Patrice Williams was happy living in Georgia with her grandmother...then her mother lured her to Chicago and ended up in jail... -
![This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian]()
This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsTwo sisters. A shocking racist incident. The summer that will change both of their lives forever. Despite having had near-identical upbringings, sisters Annalie and Margaret agree on only one thing: that they have nothing in common. Nineteen-year-old Margaret is driven, ambitious, and keenly aware of social justice issues... -
![The Alexanders: Volume 1 by M. Malone]()
The Alexanders: Volume 1 by M. Malone
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 12 ratings~ a USA TODAY Bestseller ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Teasing Trent: Ever since Mara walked into her brother's dorm room freshman year and came face to face with a shirtless Trent, she's known he was The One . She finally has a plan to get him exactly where she wants him. In her bed. One More Day: On the run from a murderer, Ridley Wells has nowhere else to turn... -
![An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp]()
An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAward-winning author Laekan Zea Kemp’s heart-wrenching novel-in-verse follows two teens who must come together to heal the pain from their pasts, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Nicola Yoon... -
![I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena]()
I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsKidd is running from his past and his future. No mom, no dad, and there’s nothing for him at the group home but therapy. He doesn’t belong at the beach where he works either, unless he finds a reason to stay. Olivia is blond hair, blue eyes, rich dad. The prettiest girl in Cardiff... -
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![As You Walk On By by Julian Winters]()
As You Walk On By by Julian Winters
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe Breakfast Club meets Can't Hardly Wait with an unforgettable ensemble cast in another swoony YA contemporary from award-winning author Julian Winters! Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out...Categorized as:
multicultural found-family young adult contemporary m-m high-school queer length-medium -
![Red Glass by Laura Resau]()
Red Glass by Laura Resau
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsONE NIGHT SOPHIE and her parents are called to a hospital where Pedro, 6-year-old Mexican boy, is recovering from dehydration. Crossing the border into Arizona with a group of Mexicans and a coyote, or guide, Pedro and his parents faced such harsh conditions that the boy is the only survivor. Pedro comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and Sophie's Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia... -
![If We Say Goodbye by Jasmine Little]()
If We Say Goodbye by Jasmine Little
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIt’s been three months since my brother’s car accident, and I’ve chosen to ignore the world around me. It’s easier than being reminded that he’s gone. For the most part, everyone leaves me alone, but there’s one person that can’t seem to take a hint—Caleb—my next door neighbor...Categorized as:
found-family young adult contemporary grumpy sunshine friends to lovers length-medium -
![Wish for You by Marquita Valentine]()
Wish for You by Marquita Valentine
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThere's only one place in the world Lacey Evans feels normal--the roller derby track. When she laces up her skates and fastens her helmet, she'd powerful and in charge. She knows exactly what to do and say. The rules are clear and penalties are given for those who don't follow them. But in the real world, she's far from powerful and in charge... -
![Matt & Brooklyn: A Standalone in the "Again for the First Time" Family Saga by Raven St. Pierre]()
Matt & Brooklyn: A Standalone in the "Again for the First Time" Family Saga by Raven St. Pierre
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratings***Take advantage of the special, new release discount before the price is raised.*** Matteo Valente is an up-and-coming filmmaker whose award-winning documentary put him on the map two short years ago. It was that very documentary that also led him to the beautiful, intriguingly elusive Brooklyn James... -
![Grounded by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson]()
Grounded by Neta Jackson, Dave Jackson
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGrace's fiance bothered by her outspoken stance on purity and her near-constant travel, has broken off their relationship. Exhausted and unwilling to continue her current tour, she books a flight home. Traumatic events result in a paralyzing fear of flying. Stuck at home due to a major snowstorm, Grace begins, for the first time, to connect with the residents of Beecham Street... -
![The God Box by Alex Sanchez]()
The God Box by Alex Sanchez
How could I choose betwen my sexuality and my spirituality, two of the most important parts that made me whole? High school senior Paul has dated Angie since middle school, and they're good together. They have a lot of the same interests, like singing in their church choir and being active in Bible club. But when Manuel transfers to their school, Paul has to rethink his life... -
![Better With You by Gianna Gabriela]()
Better With You by Gianna Gabriela
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMia Collins has an amazing life. She was popular in high school, and college is off to a great start. Everything seems perfect until she goes home for the break and everything changes... One night sets everything in motion and Mia’s world begins to fall apart. She’s stunned that the life she thought she knew was all a lie. After she loses her family, she’s forced to start over... -
![The Dividing Line by Victoria H. Smith]()
The Dividing Line by Victoria H. Smith
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA new love and a new life. Drake left Chicago with little more than the clothes on his back to be with his girlfriend Lacey. Though he has no regrets, he sometimes wonders if his time spent in Paris has put his life on hold. He's overworked and underpaid at his dead-end job, and his employer sees him as expendable... -
![Runaway Girls: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (Runaway) by Lexie Ray]()
Runaway Girls: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (Runaway) by Lexie Ray
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPain. Betrayal. Denial. Sacrifice. Hope. One girl is escaping a world of abuse while another flees from her rapist. One girl slips away from slavery as another one runs away from a life of crime. One girl battles poverty while another one fights to win her life back... -
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![Creating a Love by Crystal Perkins]()
Creating a Love by Crystal Perkins
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTaking a chance on love… Photographer Candi Marcus never wanted more than a casual hookup or one night stand. Until she met artist Owen Griffin. For the past two years, she’s only been with him. But it’s still just sex, or at least that’s what she’s told her friends. When he says he wants more, she can finally admit that she loves him... -
![Hard Rock Improv by Ava Lore]()
Hard Rock Improv by Ava Lore
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRose Alton had her future all planned out: excel at her career, find love, make a family and get rich. Then she got fired. Now after years of 90-hour work weeks she’s living out of her car and struggling to hold it together... -
![Conceit by Alana Albertson]()
Conceit by Alana Albertson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI don’t recognize the damaged woman in the mirror staring back at me—platinum-blond hair, blood-red lips and nails, curves laced up in the finest lingerie. I have transformed into a bombshell to exonerate my brother, United States Navy SEAL Joaquín Cruz... -
![Twice as Perfect by Louisa Onomé]()
Twice as Perfect by Louisa Onomé
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA Young Adult novel by Louisa Onomé, Twice As Perfect follows a Nigerian Canadian girl dealing with an estranged older brother, helping her cousin plan a huge Nigerian wedding, and pressure from her parents about her future.The only things worth doing are those that will lead to success... -
![Loved by a SEAL: Hot SEALs by Cat Johnson]()
Loved by a SEAL: Hot SEALs by Cat Johnson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBrody Cassidy. Navy SEAL. Southern boy. A guy’s guy. He likes beer and barbecue and the occasional visit to the backroom at the strip club just off base. What Brody doesn’t know is that all of that is about to be changed, and by the last woman he'd ever expected... -
![Bad Boy - A Stepbrother Romance by Caitlin Daire, Alyssa Alpha]()
Bad Boy - A Stepbrother Romance by Caitlin Daire, Alyssa Alpha
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFinn Grayson is on the naughty list this Christmas. He's bad news. A prick. A player. A total BAD BOY. He's also my new stepbrother, and he showed up to meet my family in a T-shirt with friggin’ blood on it. I’m pretty sure my Grandma still hasn't recovered. Finn also crashed my blind date, sabotaged my tiny chance at romance and wreaked havoc on my previously-quiet life...
![椿町ロンリープラネット 4 [Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet 4] by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香](https://s3.amazonaws.com/romance.io/books/small/65467189c112bf11fe983a5d.jpg)
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