84 books like Getting Out

By Afton Brinkman,

Here are 84 books that Getting Out fans have personally recommended if you like Getting Out. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window

B.K. Leigh Author Of Promise Me Always

From my list on to guide you from past abuse to new love.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an avid reader by day and a passionate writer by night. I found myself writing the stories I couldn’t seem to find. This topic is one I know from first-hand experience. I’ve dealt with drug abuse and domestic abuse in my family from a young age and although painful to speak about it’s helped shape my career and help my readers find healing through my characters. I want my readers to be pulled in by a work of fiction while still having the knowledge that for me, it wasn’t. Abuse comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and I’ve realized it’s not forever. Even in the worst storms, the sun will always shine. 

B.K.'s book list on to guide you from past abuse to new love

B.K. Leigh Why did B.K. love this book?

To say I am still obsessed with this book to this day would be an understatement. I fell in love with this story from the very first page. It’s one of my most recommended books, and I can only hope other readers enjoy and connect with it as much as I do. It’s a story that can be read multiple times and never tire of. Reading this story lit a fire within me as a reader and an author with a thirst to create and read more stories alike. Amber and Liam have a love I’ve never been able to find in any other books I’ve read before.

By Kirsty Moseley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years. Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair. Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend…


Book cover of Enzo

B.K. Leigh Author Of Promise Me Always

From my list on to guide you from past abuse to new love.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an avid reader by day and a passionate writer by night. I found myself writing the stories I couldn’t seem to find. This topic is one I know from first-hand experience. I’ve dealt with drug abuse and domestic abuse in my family from a young age and although painful to speak about it’s helped shape my career and help my readers find healing through my characters. I want my readers to be pulled in by a work of fiction while still having the knowledge that for me, it wasn’t. Abuse comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and I’ve realized it’s not forever. Even in the worst storms, the sun will always shine. 

B.K.'s book list on to guide you from past abuse to new love

B.K. Leigh Why did B.K. love this book?

I fell in love with K. Webster as an author before I met Enzo, but because of that love I was able to find a story that hit every emotion from beginning to end. This was my first read that introduced me to the idea of an age gap and forbidden romance. It has all the best qualities I hope to find in a story and so much more. I would read anything K. Webster publishes, but Enzo holds a place in my heart always. It took a while for Enzo to get over the fact that his relationship with Jenna was not traditional in any way compared to the social norm, and I love a Hero that struggles to comprehend the amount of love and adoration they actually have for the Heroine.

By K. Webster,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Enzo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From USA Today Bestselling Author K Webster, comes a new forbidden romance standalone novel!Jenna’s grown up in the system.Forced to be tough, wary, and hard.She’s only been able to count on herself. Until Enzo.He’s much older and responsible for looking after her.What should be a job to him, evolves into much more.Late night phone calls. Lingering touches. A forbidden fire that burns brighter each day.Everything about him exudes strength. His will to protect her is more than she could ever ask for.Sadly, though, even heroes have their limitations.But she doesn’t need a hero.She just needs him.


Book cover of Safe and Sound

B.K. Leigh Author Of Promise Me Always

From my list on to guide you from past abuse to new love.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an avid reader by day and a passionate writer by night. I found myself writing the stories I couldn’t seem to find. This topic is one I know from first-hand experience. I’ve dealt with drug abuse and domestic abuse in my family from a young age and although painful to speak about it’s helped shape my career and help my readers find healing through my characters. I want my readers to be pulled in by a work of fiction while still having the knowledge that for me, it wasn’t. Abuse comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and I’ve realized it’s not forever. Even in the worst storms, the sun will always shine. 

B.K.'s book list on to guide you from past abuse to new love

B.K. Leigh Why did B.K. love this book?

When I first started reading I stumbled into this story about loss, love, and longing. I was amazed how the characters were able to survive through their ordeals and yet come out stronger with love and happiness on the other side. The emotion is real, and the imagery of a broken, yet strong heroin is phenomenal. I read this story more than five years ago but it’s one of the first I recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional storyline. Lola and Jack met under the most unfortunate circumstances, but together they manage to get through everything thrown against them.

By Lindy Zart,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Safe and Sound as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is Lola's story. She has a secret no one can know. Once a safe haven, her home has turned into a prison, and she fears if she doesn't somehow escape, she will lose herself completely. She finds her escape in Jack; a troubled young man with a cynical smile and eyes that see all Lola tries to hide. But even Jack can't save her from the evil at home.


Book cover of Flawed

B.K. Leigh Author Of Promise Me Always

From my list on to guide you from past abuse to new love.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an avid reader by day and a passionate writer by night. I found myself writing the stories I couldn’t seem to find. This topic is one I know from first-hand experience. I’ve dealt with drug abuse and domestic abuse in my family from a young age and although painful to speak about it’s helped shape my career and help my readers find healing through my characters. I want my readers to be pulled in by a work of fiction while still having the knowledge that for me, it wasn’t. Abuse comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes, and I’ve realized it’s not forever. Even in the worst storms, the sun will always shine. 

B.K.'s book list on to guide you from past abuse to new love

B.K. Leigh Why did B.K. love this book?

This book hit different than the rest of them. It was a storyline that had heartbreak and suffering happening from so many different angles. It was the first time I realized as an author and as a reader that there could be more to a plotline than just the straight and narrow. I remember going through all the emotions and being hooked in from the first page all the way until the last. The cover drew me in immediately but the story tucked inside has me coming back years later. 

By Kate Avelynn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flawed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Sarah O'Brien is only alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago-James will protect her from their violent father if she promises never to leave him. For years, she's watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she'll give it freely. Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give. Sam Donavon has been James's best friend-and the boy Sarah's had a crush on-for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows…


Book cover of Anne of Avonlea

Ennie Smith Author Of School of Ladies: The Debutantes

From my list on set in boarding schools for girls.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an archaeologist and addicted to reading and writing historical fictions. My first big love is history and I prefer Victorian Era. I’m interested in women’s lives and their habits and relationships in the old times. I was born and raised in Hungary, I’m often stay in London. I was working for years in museums in different cities while I was writing historical short stories and my first novel. School of Ladies – The Debutantes is a historical romance which has won an Audience Award in my country.

Ennie's book list on set in boarding schools for girls

Ennie Smith Why did Ennie love this book?

Anne is one of the most lovable female characters in the whole literature. When I read about her I feel like I’m her good friend and I’m excited about her along with the story. Anne is now 16 years old and she begins her job as the new schoolteacher in this book. It was a great continuation of her story and I love seeing Anne starts to become an adult while still keeping her positive personality. And I really appreciate the very special romantic storyline too. Anne always stays Anne, a great girl.

By L. M. Montgomery,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Anne of Avonlea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Omar Rising

Bridget Farr Author Of Margie Kelly Breaks the Dress Code

From my list on for kids that want to change the world.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an author and educator with a passion for justice. I once finished teaching a lesson on peaceful protest thirty minutes before the students at my middle school led a campus-wide walkout. Unlike me, who didn’t attend my first march until I was thirty, they were ready to speak up, following in the steps of the high schoolers from Parkland and the activists on Instagram. Born into the era of the Arab Spring, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matter, they saw the status quo as ripe for the challenge, their voices the anvil to topple it all. The books in this list will be inspiration for any young reader with this same passion for change.

Bridget's book list on for kids that want to change the world

Bridget Farr Why did Bridget love this book?

This book is both the perfect mirror and window for young readers: it reflects back the typical challenges of adjusting to a new school and meeting the expectations of your family, while also opening up the world of private schools in Pakistan. Aisha Saeed weaves the cultural details into a familiar plot, making this book an excellent choice for building empathy and inspiration. I loved following the friendships of this group of boys who work together to find their place in their school, even when it means breaking the rules. 

By Aisha Saeed,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Omar Rising as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

"Irresistibly appealing and genuinely inspiring-a story that helps us to see the world more clearly, and to see ourselves as powerful enough to change it." -Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award Winner When You Reach Me

In this compelling companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Amal's friend Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school.

Omar knows his scholarship to Ghalib Academy Boarding School is a game changer, providing him-the son of a servant-with an opportunity to improve his station in life. He can't wait to…


Book cover of Of Curses and Kisses

Zoë Markham Author Of Under My Skin

From my list on YA retellings of the classics.

Why am I passionate about this?

In my previous role as a teacher, I often encountered teens who never, ever read outside of school – and hated having to read in school. Finding YA retellings of the classics became an indispensable tool for me in terms of not only linking the past with the present for the young adults in my classes, but also in terms of helping them see themselves in fiction, finding representation there, and discovering their own importance. It opened up whole worlds for all of us, and offered a pathway to a love of reading that I hope they will never forget!

Zoë's book list on YA retellings of the classics

Zoë Markham Why did Zoë love this book?

I wanted to include an unashamedly fun read for balance, and Of Curses and Kisses is absolute bucketloads of fun. A contemporary Beauty and the Beast retelling, it’s charmingly clever, funny, and vibrant, with its cast of diverse characters and its boarding school setting. If you’re ever looking for a hug in book form, look no further! 

By Sandhya Menon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Of Curses and Kisses as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. That's why when she finds out she'll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, a member of the rival royal family behind a humiliating scandal involving her little sister, she schemes to get revenge on the young nobleman in order to even the score between their families. The plan? Make him fall in love with her and then break his heart the way his family has broken hers.

Grey Emerson doesn't connect with people easily. Due to a curse placed on his family by the Raos that…


Book cover of The School at the Chalet

Debbie Young Author Of Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's

From my list on fiction set in boarding schools.

Why am I passionate about this?

As the author of comedy cosy mystery novels, including a series set in an eccentric boarding school for girls, I’m always attracted by the notion of closed, clearly-defined worlds as colourful settings for stories of crimes and misdemeanours. Having worked for 13 years in a girls’ boarding school, where I loved being part of its lively and spirited community, I am very familiar with the quirks and foibles, as well as the practicalities, of boarding school life, and I really enjoy reading other people’s impressions and interpretations of boarding schools of all kinds. 

Debbie's book list on fiction set in boarding schools

Debbie Young Why did Debbie love this book?

Moving on now to something more serious, this is the start of a very long and very popular saga set at a girls’ boarding school, founded in the 1920s, by a pair of sisters without any apparent qualifications, in a Swiss chalet, as a means of supporting themselves. It’s a children’s book but has a huge following among adults, with its many adventures featuring an ever-changing range of pupils and teachers from all over the world. They’re now very dated (not least for their cavalier attitude to health and safety and indeed towards education), but they have a timeless charm.

By Elinor M. Brent-Dyer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The School at the Chalet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Madge Bettany's plan to start a school in the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol is very exciting for her younger sister Joey - because Joey will be the first pupil.


Book cover of In An Absent Dream

Jackary Salem Author Of Where the Lightning Goes

From my list on overlooked YA fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been told I live under a rock. I don’t know much about popular media, I can’t name any actors, and when I catch onto a trend, it’s usually five to six years after said trend has died out. People alert me of my lack of knowledge like it’s a bad thing, but I think if they could see all the books they’re missing out on, they’d feel otherwise. There are hundreds of thousands of fantastic stories that are neither glamorous nor gritty enough to make it to the forefront of the internet, and every time I find one, it changes my life. Living under a rock: 10/10 would recommend.

Jackary's book list on overlooked YA fantasy

Jackary Salem Why did Jackary love this book?

This book is a standalone story that takes place in the Wayward Children series.

Due to its nature as a standalone, people who read the series skip over it, and people who haven’t read the series avoid it. This is one of my favorite books of all time. More than the magic or adventure, I love how human it feels.

No people are good or bad, and decisions are made from the heart. This book fuels my passion for storytelling, reminding me that the heart of a story isn’t intricate plots or crazy settings, but relatable characters.

I strive to make my characters feel more real and act more human because of this book.  

By Seanan McGuire,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In An Absent Dream as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This fourth entry tells the origin story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should. When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well. For anyone...


Book cover of Abigail

Ennie Smith Author Of School of Ladies: The Debutantes

From my list on set in boarding schools for girls.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an archaeologist and addicted to reading and writing historical fictions. My first big love is history and I prefer Victorian Era. I’m interested in women’s lives and their habits and relationships in the old times. I was born and raised in Hungary, I’m often stay in London. I was working for years in museums in different cities while I was writing historical short stories and my first novel. School of Ladies – The Debutantes is a historical romance which has won an Audience Award in my country.

Ennie's book list on set in boarding schools for girls

Ennie Smith Why did Ennie love this book?

I can’t forget my very talented compatriot, Magda Szabó’s great writing. I am very proud of her and her success. It was hard work and lasted a lifetime for her to reach as Hungarian her books became popular worldwide. I hope one day I can follow her… This book is set in a religious school in the middle of World War II. The protagonist is young Gina, the daughter of a Hungarian General. The novel analyzes important social problems, teenager problems. At first, Gina is an outcast then we can see how she tries to fit in the class, and she makes friends. Friendship and togetherness are in the spotlight in this novel.

By Magda Szabo, Len Rix (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Abigail as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A teenage girl's difficult journey towards adulthood in a time of war.

"A school story for grownups that is also about our inability or refusal to protect children from history" SARAH MOSS

"Of all Szabo's novels, Abigail deserves the widest readership. It's an adventure story, brilliantly written" TIBOR FISCHER

Of all her novels, Magda Szabo's Abigail is indeed the most widely read in her native Hungary. Now, fifty years after it was written, it appears for the first time in English, joining Katalin Street and The Door in a loose trilogy about the impact of war on those who have…


Book cover of The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window
Book cover of Enzo
Book cover of Safe and Sound

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Interested in boarding schools, child abuse, and Broadway musicals?

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