6 YA Books for Gilmore Girls Fans

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
Like Lorelai, Frankie is fed up with the limitations placed on her by her constrictively posh upbringing. So when she finds out her boyfriend is lying to her while taking part in the hijinks of an all-male secret society, Frankie decides it’s time to cause some trouble of her own. Disreputable History has all of the frustration towards rules and expectations that fuels the Lorelai vs. Emily feud, plus all the fun shenanigans Rory got up to with the Life and Death Brigade.

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
If I Stay is an great read for a lot of reasons, but one of my favorite (and one of the most heartbreaking) things about this novel is the relationship between Mia and her family—especially her mother, who supports Mia no matter what, despite their many differences. That plus the drama, the intelligent way Mia thinks through her decisions, and the pleading boyfriend will all help fill that specific Gilmore Girls–shaped hole in your life.

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
Sometimes, life doesn’t go the way you imagine it will. You move away your senior year, you fall in love with a boy who happens to be (very) taken, you get so caught up in your own problems that you forget your friends—at least, that’s what happens to Anna, whose senior year in Paris takes a turn for the heart-wrenching when she falls for Etienne St. Clair. From the trip overseas that’s not quite what she expected to the roller-coaster love affair, this book just gives off a very Rory-ish vibe.

White Cat, by Holly Black
If what you love about Gilmore Girls is the bad boys who are simultaneously over-confident and struggling with ridiculous guilt complexes, White Cat should be next on your to-read list. Cassel might be the only non-criminal in his curse-working family, but he still accidentally killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago. Then strange dreams start plaguing him, and the mysteries surrounding Lila’s death begin to unravel—including some family plots that go deeper than he thinks. With overbearing families and an outcast feel, this book is like a Logan/Jess combo pack.

The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater
A single mother raising a highly independent daughter? A host of strange relatives and townspeople? A giant research project and some upper class vs. lower class tension? The Raven Cycle is essentially Gilmore Girls plus magic and mystery. Besides, all the Aglionby boys can pretty much be paired up with their corresponding Gilmore Girls boy (Gansey = Logan, Ronan = Jess, Adam = Dean, Noah = Marty). Now, if only Rory had been cursed…

Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell
Like Rory, Cath’s college experience doesn’t always go the way she wants it to. As a non-partying introvert who happens to be obsessed with writing, Cath would probably get along great with Rory (they could even bond over their lovable-but-aggressive roommates). The only divergence? Rory would never have eaten protein bars to avoid going to the cafeteria. You’ll feel right at home with the caffeine addiction, the complicated family problems, and the love affair with books, not to mention the hilarious-but-touching monologues and one-liners.