Brilliant Coming-of-Age Novels for fans of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

by Abbe Wright

I remember exactly how old I was when I read Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. for the first time. I was in fourth grade and was wholly awed by the education I received in the novel. It was my first peek into what was ahead: menstruation, training bras, and my first kiss. It also gave me permission to question bigger topics, like family and religion, things that, up until then, I’d accepted as fact. I’ve revisited Judy Blume’s 1970 novel several times since then, most recently, in honor of the movie adaptation, released in April of 2023.

Afterward, I found myself craving other coming-of-age books that touch on all of the themes of young adulthood. Between first loves, first heartbreak, and the serious work of fine-tuning one’s identity — intertwined with unavoidable issues like class divides, tragedy, and inherited family secrets — these stories of self-discovery are packed with emotional heft and nostalgic highs and lows. Here, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite coming-of-age books that feel similar to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. While they span identities, eras, and circumstances, each protagonist can agree on one thing: growing up is hard to do.