Who doesn’t love a good 2000s film? We all have that favorite movie from our childhood that we watched over and over and that partially consumed our identities at the age of 12. Right? I am here to give you book recommendations that you will like if you liked those movies!
If you loved The Parent Trap, try You Have a Match by Emma Lord
You Have a Match is about two girls who take an online DNA test and find out that they are sisters. And what do you do so you can get to know your secret sister without your parents finding out you know your secret sister? Go to summer camp together, obviously. This has “Parent Trap” vibes all over it. It is a super fun young adult book that is all about sister love. (And there is queer representation; we love to see it).
If you loved 10 Things I Hate About You, try You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
What is better than two people who think they hate each other engaging in shenanigans until they fall in love? Nothing, obviously. That is what You Deserve Each Other is all about. Naomi and Nick are engaged, but the spark is gone. And whoever breaks it off has to foot the enormous wedding bill. Thus, they each try to make themselves as undesirable as possible. Although there is no scene in this book as iconic as Heath Ledger singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” it has the spirit. How much will these two annoy each other before they fall back in love? You will have to read to see.
If you loved Lemonade Mouth, try Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry
A book obviously cannot have the iconic music of Lemonade Mouth, but Heretics Anonymous does introduce us to a ragtag group of teenagers rebelling against their high school administration. Michael is already not happy about his dad taking a new job and uprooting their family. But the worst part is that his new school is Catholic, and Michael is a definite atheist. However, he manages to meet a rag-tag group of outcasts including one paganist, one Jewish gay boy and one Catholic feminist who is so Catholic, she wants to be a priest. Rebellion, advocacy for better sex education ensue and hilarity ensues. This book is laugh out loud funny, and very Lemonade Mouth.
If you loved Passport to Paris, try Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Does anyone else remember this movie, or is it just me? Although it technically came out in 1999, Passport to Paris was my favorite Mary-Kate and Ashley movie as a kid. Paris? Fashion week? Swoon-worthy boys? What more could you ask for? Kisses and Croissants is its own swoony exploration of Paris. 17-year-old Mia dreams of being a professional ballerina and is following that dream to Paris, where she has been accepted into an intensive summer program with the Paris Ballet. Her stay not only features ballet but the dreamy sights of Paris, delectable food and a very swoon-worthy boy. This is the perfect mix of fun and fluffy and the perfect book for when you need to getaway.
Trigger Warnings: car crash
If you loved Legally Blonde, try Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory ’97
Presumably, if you enjoy Legally Blonde, you like badass female lawyers defying expectations by finding both professional and personal success – which is what Party of Two is all about. Olivia Monroe has just moved to LA to start her own law firm with her best friend. Even though she knows that she is a good lawyer, she is incredibly stressed about getting her business off the ground as a Black woman. And her life becomes more complicated when she meets State Senator Max Powell. Their relationship is great, but can it survive the intense media scrutiny that threatens to unearth Olivia’s rocky past?
If you loved High School Musical, try Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Look, I know this might sound a bit out there, but hear me out. We have the high school setting, the internal conflict and the backdrop of a school musical. It is all there. Only Simon is better than High School Musical because this book shows us the actual queer relationships the film was not brave enough to have. Simon Spier is very gay, and also, very closeted. His free time is spent acting in the school musical and emailing the anonymous Blue, another gay kid at school that he definitely has a crush on. But, when his emails fall into the wrong hands, and Simon is being blackmailed on the threat of being outed to the whole school, he has to avoid being outed, alienating his friends and messing up his whole relationship with Blue.
