Finished I kissed Shara Wheeler and wondering what to read next? You’re not alone. Casey McQuiston’s YA romance blends sharp banter, a small-town mystery, messy friendships, and queer young love in a way that’s hard to replace.
So if you’re searching for books like I Kissed Shara Wheeler, this list focuses on queer romance stories that offer something genuinely similar—whether you want more banter, a slower burn, or a different kind of coming-of-age story.
Why This One Worked So Well
Casey McQuiston hid a small-town mystery inside a rom-com. There’s a scavenger hunt, a stack of red herrings, a whole cast of side characters with their own messy stuff going on in the background, and none of it steals the spotlight from the jokes or the feelings. Most books like this get it wrong one way or another. The comedy takes over, and the romance goes thin, or the story tips so far into melodrama it stops being any fun. This book didn’t fall into either trap. That balance is a big part of why the book continues to stand out among queer YA romances.
Look for the same thing in your next pick. Jokes that don’t drown out the emotional weight, and a subplot that actually ties back to the couple instead of padding out chapters.
For More Banter
She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick is your closest match here. Two girls who insist, loudly, that they can’t stand each other, right up until they very much can. There’s less of a mystery running through it compared to Shara Wheeler, but the dialogue hits with the same sharpness.
A couple more worth grabbing in this same lane: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson turns prom-queen politics into an unexpected romance and somehow says something true about class while it’s doing it, and The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth follows the exact structure of the rom-com movies it’s referencing, checklist included, though Smyth writes it with more wit than most of the films she’s borrowing from.
Both tend to show up on YA LGBTQ book-to-read lists for a reason, so start there if pacing and constant banter were the whole appeal of Shara Wheeler for you.
For a Slower Burn
Not every good book here needs a joke on every other page. Some of the better ones just take their time.
Anything For Her by B.R. Lukey is a solid pick if you’re after books similar to I Kissed Shara Wheeler but with a slower, more character-driven pace. Lydia moves to a new town and starts falling for her neighbor, Brooke.The story focuses more on family pressure, hidden feelings, and the uncertainty of growing up than on comedy. Start here if the mystery and banter pulled you into I Kissed Shara Wheeler, but you’re ready for something quieter this time.
Two more worth a mention: The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar ties first love to cultural identity and family expectations without losing its emotional pull, while Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner takes its time building the relationship and pays it off by the end.
Widening the Genre a Bit
Sapphic and queer romance can take place far beyond college campuses and sleepy small towns. These books explore different settings, characters, and emotional stakes while keeping queer romance at the center.
- Camp by L.C. Rosen is set at a summer camp built specifically for queer teens. It leans theatrical, sometimes close to over-the-top, but the sincerity underneath never actually disappears.
- We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds mixes grief and a local scandal into a young romance without either one crowding out the other.
- Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler follows bisexual discovery through a summer fling neither character saw coming.
- And if you want a break from prose entirely, Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa is a graphic novel that still lands the same emotional gut-punch as everything else on this list.
What Actually Makes These Work
There’s a pattern behind the books people keep recommending versus the ones nobody remembers a week later, and it usually comes down to identity that doesn’t need its own whole scene of explanation, conflict that grows out of who the characters actually are rather than a misunderstanding one honest conversation would’ve cleared up early, and an ending that feels earned instead of rushed out to hit a deadline.
Those qualities are the common thread across these recommendations, which is why each book offers something more than simply being another queer YA romance. A few of these titles will probably look familiar if you’ve already gone through She Gets the Girl: 12 LGBTQ Romance Books to Read Next, and that’s not really a coincidence, since people who like one of these books tend to like the other too.
Where That Leaves You
Pick whatever matches your mood. Fast banter, something quieter that sticks around longer, either direction gets you somewhere good, and there’s no wrong answer here, just a different pace. Whatever you land on adds one more solid title to your shelf of LGBTQ romance books.
FAQ
What should I read after I Kissed Shara Wheeler?
If you enjoyed the banter and queer romance in I Kissed Shara Wheeler, She Gets the Girl is a strong next read. For something slower and more character-driven, try Anything For Her by B.R. Lukey.
Are there queer romance books to read that skip the comedy angle?
A few, yes. The Henna Wars and Anything For Her both lean quieter and more character-driven, and We Deserve Monuments works here too if a bit of grief mixed into the romance doesn’t put you off.
What makes a young adult queer romance actually good?
Characters that feel like real people, mostly, not props built to serve a plot. Identity shouldn’t need a whole scene devoted to explaining itself, and the drama should come from who these people actually are rather than a mix-up any five-minute conversation could’ve untangled.
