Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Becky Albertalli
Like Ari and Dante, Simon navigates first love and coming out with warmth and humour, and his supportive yet imperfect family will appeal to readers who loved the Mendoza and Quintana parents.
11 books to read next
Books Like Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
If you loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Readers love Aristotle and Dante for its quiet, lyrical voice and the slow-burning friendship between two lonely Mexican-American teens in 1980s El Paso. Ari's short, introspective chapters capture anger, confusion and the struggle to understand yourself, while warm, complicated family relationships give the story real emotional depth. It is a gentle coming-of-age and coming-out story about identity, masculinity and learning to accept love, told with tenderness, humour and a strong sense of place rather than big plot twists.
Tender queer coming-of-age
Red, White & Royal Blue
Casey McQuiston
A romance that grows out of friction into deep affection, with plenty of banter and heart. It suits readers who loved watching Ari slowly admit what Dante means to him, though it skews older.
I'll Give You the Sun
Jandy Nelson
Lyrical, emotional prose and a boy discovering his identity through art and love echo the poetic introspection that makes Ari's voice so memorable.
Quiet, introspective narrators
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
Charlie's honest, searching voice and his sense of not fitting in will feel familiar to fans of Ari's lonely, reflective narration and his slow opening up to friendship.
Every day
David Levithan
Levithan writes about love and identity with the same gentle, philosophical tone as Sáenz, asking big questions about who we are through short, thoughtful chapters.
Turtles All the Way Down
John Green
An inward-looking teen narrator struggling with her own mind and a tender central relationship make this a good fit for readers drawn to Ari's inner turmoil.
Latinx identity and family
The Poet X
Elizabeth Acevedo
Xiomara's verse-novel voice wrestles with family expectations, faith and self-expression, echoing how Ari finds his way through family silence and cultural pressure.
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
Mateo and Rufus form an intense bond across one day, and Silvera's tender Latino queer characters will resonate with anyone moved by Ari and Dante's connection.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Erika L. Sánchez
A sharp, funny and painful portrait of a Mexican-American teen at odds with her family, sharing Sáenz's honesty about anger, grief and cultural identity.
Friendship that changes everything
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson
A classic about two outsiders whose friendship transforms them, with the same emotional sincerity that makes the bond between Ari and Dante so affecting.
Wonder
R. J. Palacio
For younger readers, this story of an outsider finding true friends shares the novel's warmth, loving parents and belief that kindness can change a life.
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