6 YA Must-Reads for Jane the Virgin Fans

The Inconceivable Life of Quinn, by Marianna Baer
A lot is riding on Quinn keeping it together. Her Brooklynite dad’s running for Congress, so when she finds out she’s pregnant, things look pretty dark—especially because she swears she’s a virgin. As the news gets out, people call it a miracle, and wonder if she might be carrying the next messiah. But what really happened to Quinn in those foggy weeks in coastal Maine before she found out she was pregnant? Baer explores faith, religions, politics, and choice in complex ways.

That Thing We Call A Heart, by Sheba Karim
Karim’s sophomore effort, following her debut, Skunk Girl, is part sweet romance (but watch for the aftertaste!), part coming of age, and a whole lot of cultural tug of war. It centers on misfit Shabnam Qureshi during a summer when she experiences her first taste of love (and plenty of pie), a friendship falling apart, a cultural awakening, and lots of good, old-fashioned teenage angst.

The Education of Margot Sanchez, by Lilliam Rivera
A few unauthorized charges to her dad’s credit card—because who doesn’t need a wardrobe update?—have landed Margot Sanchez in jail for the summer. Well, not really jail, but she’s sentenced to work at her dad’s Bronx-based grocery store, doing time at the register until she can pay off her debts. She’d much rather be hanging with her friends from Somerset, her upscale (and mostly white) prep school. This debut offers up interesting cultural clash, exploring race and class, gentrification, friendship, and family.

They Both Die At the End, by Adam Silvera
Okay, okay. So Adam Silvera has earned more of a reputation for making readers cry than laugh. But in the rambling twenty-four hours of his upcoming third book, there are some morbidly funny moments – laughing in the face of death? Why not? More importantly, in this book, the lead characters Rufus and Mateo are connected by an urgency that gives them agency – they know their fate, so in the meantime, they’re going grab the reins and do what they want, just like Jane. (Well, she’s thinking about it anyway.)

I Believe In A Thing Called Love, by Maurene Goo
Like her counterpart Jane, Desi Lee has her life all figured out – or so she thinks. She’s a straight A student, student body president, a soccer star, and Stanford-bound. Her fatal flaw? She’s never had a boyfriend. And before high school’s over, she’s determined to fix that, setting her sights on dream boy Luca Drakos. But how? By turning to her father’s favorite K-dramas for romantic guidance. Because of course. Laugh out funny, with lots of heart.

Immaculate, by Katelyn Detweiler
Mina’s got it all together: good grades, a dashing boyfriend, a solid crew and a bright future. Then she finds out she’s pregnant. But she’s never had sex. Immaculate conception? Her mom believes her, but others – like her father and her boyfriend – don’t. The news spreads quickly, and brings with it plenty of drama. Sounds very Jane, doesn’t it? But Detweiler’s take on the topic is heavier, looking at religion, bullying and the weight of teen parenthood is stark relief.