Books like 'Still Waters'
Readers who enjoyed Still Waters by Ash Parsons also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary mystery realistic high-school bullying crime dark coming-of-age friendship family
-
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJunior Library Guild Selection * Kids’ Indie Next List PickFrom Leslie Connor, award-winning author of Waiting for Normal and Crunch, comes a soaring and heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and how innocence makes us all rise up. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a powerful story, perfect for fans of Wonder and When You Reach Me...Categorized as:
realistic family friendship crime bullying coming-of-age law-enforcement middle-grade -
![Gun in the Gardenias by Dale Mayer]()
Gun in the Gardenias by Dale Mayer
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA new cozy mystery series from USA Today best-selling author Dale Mayer. Follow gardener and amateur sleuth Doreen Montgomery—and her amusing and mostly lovable cat, dog, and parrot—as they catch murderers and solve crimes in lovely Kelowna, British Columbia... -
![The Walk On by John Feinstein]()
The Walk On by John Feinstein
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBestselling sportswriter John Feinstein kicks off a new series for middle grade featuring Alex Myers, a student athlete who tries to take on the sports establishment in his new town. Alex Myers is a quarterback, but from the first day of football practice, it’s clear that that position is very much filled by the coach’s son, Matt... -
![Sabato: The Cross by M.J. Fields, Veronica Parks]()
Sabato: The Cross by M.J. Fields, Veronica Parks
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings***USA Today Bestselling Author, MJ Fields, brings you the sizzling story of Sabato Efisto*** la fame.... Sabato Efisto is a cursed man. Born from sin, raised in revenge, he’s made a name for himself doling out pleasure and punishment in the lush Italian Riviera. io brucio... -
-
![Sara and the Search for Normal by Wesley King]()
Sara and the Search for Normal by Wesley King
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“It’s the vivid, insightful depiction of Sara’s internal struggles that readers will remember.” — BooklistIn this prequel to the Edgar Award–winning OCDaniel , fan-favorite Sara quests for “normal” and finds something even better along the way.Sara’s Rules to Be Normal1. Stop taking your pills19. Make a friend137. Don’t put mayonnaise on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...Categorized as:
realistic family friendship bullying coming-of-age law-enforcement mental-illness middle-grade -
![Jude by Kate Morgenroth]()
Jude by Kate Morgenroth
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen fifteen-year-old Jude's father is brutally murdered, Jude is a witness. But to save his own life, he can't tell the police what he knows. Still, Jude is determined to clear his name and win the approval of his mother -- the district attorney he has not seen since he was an infant. At the urging of his mother's longtime companion, Jude agrees to a crazy scheme to protect her political future... -
![Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein]()
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWe don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing...Categorized as:
coming-of-age crime dark family friendship high-school law-enforcement action-adventure -
![Linked by Gordon Korman]()
Linked by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAn unforgettable novel from the New York Times bestseller Gordon KormanLink, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.Nobody can believe it... -
![Discord by Drethi Anis]()
Discord by Drethi Anis
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBrandon: The unthinkable happened; a possibility I had been avoiding my entire life. I should give her up but leaving her behind was no longer an option. Mia: Brandon Cooper was bad news; plain and simple. I should have been scared straight and sworn off my previous obsession. Instead, I turned to him during a vulnerable moment, only to spark his sinful ways all over again... -
![Dare You by Jennifer Brown]()
Dare You by Jennifer Brown
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn the second book of the suspenseful Shade Me trilogy, Nikki Kill becomes embroiled in another mystery where only her synesthesia can help her unravel the dark truth.Nikki Kill didn’t realize that trying to find out who killed Peyton Hollis would tangle her in a web of dangerous family secrets that would rock her identity to the core... -
![Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley]()
Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIncludes an exclusive reader's guide from Zack SmedleyFrom the critically acclaimed author of Deposing Nathan comes an explosive examination of identity, voice, and the indelible ways our stories are rewritten by others.In the beginning, Owen’s story was blank . . . then he was befriended by Lily, the aspiring author who helped him find his voice...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age family high-school friendship young-adult lgbtq contemporary -
![The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs]()
The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNo one wants me to tell you about the disappearance of Sloane Sullivan.Not the lawyers or the cops. Not her friends or family. Not even the boy who loved her more than anyone. And most certainly not the United States Marshals Service... -
![Break Us by Jennifer Brown]()
Break Us by Jennifer Brown
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNikki Kill doesn’t see the world in black and white. Her synesthesia shades everything in view, transforming numbers, words, and emotions into colorful clues. Which means she’s a dangerous commodity to anyone with something to hide.Nikki has already taken on the Hollises—one of L.A.’s most powerful families—for murdering her half sister, Peyton...Categorized as:
family friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic action-adventure book contemporary -
![Stone Girl by Eleni Hale]()
Stone Girl by Eleni Hale
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m at the police station. There’s blood splattered across my face and clothes. In this tiny room with walls the colour of winter sky I hug a black backpack full of treasures. Only one thing is certain . . . no one can ever forgive me for what I’ve done.An unspeakable event changes everything. No more Mum, school or bed of her own... -
-
![You Don't Even Know by Sue Lawson]()
You Don't Even Know by Sue Lawson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAlex Hudson is a good guy. He plays water polo. He has a part-time job. He’s doing okay at school.Then the thing that anchors Alex is ripped away and his life seems pointless... -
![Dime by E.R. Frank]()
Dime by E.R. Frank
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe startling realities of teen prostitution are revealed in this eye-opening, heartbreaking story from the author of "America," which "Booklist "called a piercing, unforgettable novel and "Kirkus Reviews "deemed a work of sublime humanity. As a teen girl in Newark, New Jersey, lost in the foster care system, Dime just wants someone to care about her, to love her. A family... -
![Cruel Love by Kate Brian]()
Cruel Love by Kate Brian
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAfter escaping from the Brenda T. Trumball Correctional Facility for Women and stealing the identity of a rich socialite, Ariana Osgood finally thought she was on the path she always believed she deserved. But it seems her past has caught up with her—and it’s blackmailing her right back to her old ways...Categorized as:
crime friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book contemporary -
![Perfect Mistake: A Privilege Novel by Kate Brian]()
Perfect Mistake: A Privilege Novel by Kate Brian
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFor use in schools and libraries only. Ariana Osgood has everything she's ever wanted. A place at elite Atherton-Pryce boarding school. Fabulous friends. A new crush. And most importantly, a new identity. Now that she's officially become Briana Leigh Covington, Ariana's troubled past is dead and buried...Categorized as:
crime friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book contemporary -
![Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt]()
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAn against-the-odds love story at the heart of a book for teens about prejudice, courage, and a dark, compelling mystery—shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists Association AwardUgly people don’t have feelings. They’re not like everyone else. They don’t notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn’t hurt them. They’re not like real people...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic book contemporary -
![Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly]()
Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratings“How do you like life in the fast lane?” Digby said. “Is it everything you thought it would be?”Good question.Achieving high school “normal” wasn’t as hard as Zoe Webster expected, but she’s beginning to think Hollywood oversold how much fun it all is... -
![The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston]()
The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOwen Foster has never wanted for anything. Then his mother shows up at his elite New Orleans boarding school cradling a bombshell: his privileged life has been funded by stolen money...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age crime family friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic -
![Paradise Lost by Kate Brian]()
Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsParadise awaits.... Now that Cheyenne's murderer has been revealed and Reed knows the truth about who's been stalking her, she's ready to leave the heartache and turmoil of last semester behind. And what better way to recover than a five-star Caribbean vacation? Reed is reunited with former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor, and she and her friends take over the exclusive island...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book contemporary -
![What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard]()
What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsA searing yet ultimately uplifting young adult novel about a teenage girl's recovery from anorexia.Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth has honed a dangerous skill: starving herself. Even when her parents send her to a treatment center, she can't stop. Then she begins receiving packages from someone she doesn't know... -
![Seconds Away by Harlan Coben, Nick Podehl]()
Seconds Away by Harlan Coben, Nick Podehl
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLength: 7 hrs and 41 minsWhen tragedy strikes close to home, Mickey Bolitar and his loyal new friends — sharp-witted Ema and the adorkably charming Spoon — find themselves at the center of a murder mystery involving their friend Rachel...Categorized as:
crime family friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic action-adventure audiobook -
-
![the Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies Unabridged CD Audiobook by Jacqueline Davies]()
the Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies Unabridged CD Audiobook by Jacqueline Davies
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsUnabridged CD Audiobook ... 2 CDs / 2.5 hours long. -
![Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos]()
Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom Saving Lucas Biggs authors Marisa de los Santos and David Teague comes another heartwarming middle grade adventure about two misfits who discover the importance of just being themselves.When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age family friendship law-enforcement realistic action-adventure audiobook -
![Dare You to Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch]()
Dare You to Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen her FBI agent father is framed for murder, Kylene is forced to move in with her grandfather, back to the small town that turned its back on her, and the boy who betrayed her.All Ky cares about is clearing her father’s name, but someone won’t let her forget the photo scandal that drove her away two years ago...Categorized as:
crime realistic high-school bullying law-enforcement mystery young-adult contemporary -
![Home Truths by Charity Norman]()
Home Truths by Charity Norman
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLivia Denby is on trial for attempted murder. The jury have reached a verdict. Two years earlier, Livia was a probation officer in Yorkshire, her husband Scott a teacher. Their children, Heidi and Noah, round out a happy family until the day Scott's brother dies. Grief and guilt leave Scott seeking answers, a search which takes him into the world of conspiracy theories... -
![A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis]()
A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLydia Chass doesn’t mind living in a small town; she just doesn’t want to die in one. A lifetime of hard work has put her on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating. Undeterred, Lydia has a plan to earn that credit: transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a truth-telling exposé... -
![Rape Girl by Alina Klein]()
Rape Girl by Alina Klein
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsValerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.But not the rape girl.That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family... -
![Unfriended by Katie Finn]()
Unfriended by Katie Finn
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMadison MacDonald is glad things are back to normal!Madison It’s SUMMER at last -- let the good times & pool parties roll!Location: Putnam Beach. Putnam, CT.Madison My friends are all together again, and Nate and I are better than ever. Finally, everything in my life is working out. :)Location: Gofer Ice Cream... -
![Suspicion by Kate Brian]()
Suspicion by Kate Brian
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsForbidden fruit... Reed, Noelle, and former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor have been living it up on St. Barths over winter break. The tropical sun has melted away all the tensions of last semester, and for the first time in months, Reed is happy. She's got her best friends by her side, she has a palatial suite with an ocean view, and she's landed Upton, the most sought-after guy on the island...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book contemporary -
![A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks]()
A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFollow a young girl reshaping her meaning of home.Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn't have her music to escape through anymore...Categorized as:
realistic friendship family coming-of-age law-enforcement middle-grade fiction contemporary -
![The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford]()
The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA sweet story of a tree that's literally filled with secrets.What is your secret?Minty's neighborhood is full of mysteries. There's the Witch House, a spooky old farmhouse on the other side of the woods from where Minty and her best friend, Paz, live. There's the Man Bat, a seven-foot-tall half man, half bat who is rumored to fly through the woods...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship law-enforcement realistic book children children-books -
-
![Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan]()
Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratings10:00 tonight at the water tower. Tell no one. -Chaos ClubWhen Max receives a mysterious invite from the untraceable, epic prank-pulling Chaos Club, he has to ask: why him? After all, he's Mr. 2.5 GPA, Mr. No Social Life. He's Just Max. And his favorite heist movies have taught him this situation calls for Rule #4: Be suspicious. But it's also his one shot to leave Just Max in the dust..Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age crime friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic action-adventure -
![The Rules for Breaking by Ashley Elston]()
The Rules for Breaking by Ashley Elston
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWho do you trust when no one is what they seem? The gripping sequel to contemporary, romantic YA thriller, The Rules for Disappearing.Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down... -
![Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange]()
Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDane Washington is one suspension away from expulsion. In a high school full of “haves,” being a “have not” makes Dane feel like life is hurtling toward one big dead end. Billy D. spends his high school days in Special Ed and he’s not exactly a “have” himself. The biggest thing Billy’s missing? His dad...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age family friendship high-school realistic abuse action-adventure -
![Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson]()
Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWith Dan McAndrews's murder finally behind her, Scarlett has high hopes for a fresh start at Wakefield Hall Collegiate, the elite English boarding school her grandmother runs. Unfortunately, those hopes are dashed when her nemesis, the infamous Plum Saybourne, is transferred to the school. Plum wastes no time turning Scarlett s impressionable classmates against her... -
![Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan]()
Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe happily-ever-after of Holly Goldberg Sloan's acclaimed debut, I'll Be There, is turned on its head in this riveting, emotional sequel about friends, enemies, and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments. Emily Bell has it all. She's in love with a boy named Sam Border, and his little brother has become part of her family... -
![Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes]()
Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia's seen a lot in her sixteen years. She's hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite―break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle... -
![Yellow by Megan Jacobson]()
Yellow by Megan Jacobson
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf fourteen-year-old Kirra is having a mid-life crisis now, then it doesn't bode well for her life expectancy. Her so-called friends bully her, whatever semblance of a mother she had has been drowned at the bottom of a gin bottle ever since her dad left them for another woman, and now a teenage ghost is speaking to her through a broken phone booth. Kirra and the ghost make a pact... -
![The Lies That Bind by Lisa Roecker, Laura Roecker]()
The Lies That Bind by Lisa Roecker, Laura Roecker
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPraise for The Liar Society"A page-turning, pearl-clutching mystery!"-Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead"A book for mystery lovers everywhere...will suck you in and leave you hanging until the very end...Categorized as:
coming-of-age crime friendship law-enforcement realistic book contemporary espionage -
![Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson]()
Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsScarlett thought Dan McAndrew's murder was long behind her, but when she and her classmates arrive in Edinburgh for a weeklong field trip, she's startled to be joined by her old St. Tabby's cohorts--and enemies--who are visiting the area on a field trip as well...Categorized as:
crime friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book contemporary -
![Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking: A 14 Day Mystery by Erin Dionne]()
Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking: A 14 Day Mystery by Erin Dionne
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“How could you say no to a book that's described as ‘for fans of The Westing Game and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’?”—The Atlantic Wire Moxie Fleece knows the rules and follows them--that is, until the day she opens her front door to a mysterious stranger. Suddenly Moxie is involved in Boston's biggest unsolved mystery: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist...Categorized as:
realistic friendship family coming-of-age crime law-enforcement mystery middle-grade -
-
![The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn]()
The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“The mother I knew would never do those things. But maybe I never knew her after all.”Clothes, jokes, coded messages… Cecilia Brooks and her mom shared everything. At least, CeCe thought they did. Six months ago, her mom killed herself after accusations of having sex with a student, and CeCe’s been the subject of whispers and taunts ever since... -
![Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant]()
Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRobin has everything a girl could want. Thanks to her mother—the internationally beloved talk show host Mimi Schwartz—Robin’s got the money, the means and the connections to make even her wildest dreams come true. So why, then, does she choose to sit alone in a dark room watching endless reruns of you, you and Mimi?Don’t ask Robin...Categorized as:
high-school friendship family coming-of-age law-enforcement romance young-adult contemporary -
![Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee]()
Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZoe Bennett feels lost at her fancy private school.She's not the star drama queen like her sister, or a brainiac math genius like her brother. Luckily her best friend, Dara, is just as content as Zoe is to stay in the shadows -- or is she? When Dara gets a part in the school musical, Zoe feels abandoned. What's worse, Zoe's practically being stalked by the weird new kid, Lucas...Categorized as:
realistic friendship family coming-of-age middle-grade mystery children-books young-adult -
![Hide With Me by Sorboni Banerjee]()
Hide With Me by Sorboni Banerjee
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn this heart-pounding, deeply-felt debut for fans of Jeff Zentner and Marieke Nijkamp, Sorboni Banerjee crafts a powerful story about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the headiness of first love, and the courage to fight for a brighter future against all odds.In the dying cornfields of his family's farm, seventeen-year-old Cade finds a mysterious girl broken and bleeding... -
![My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid]()
My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Langdon Prep series for young adults features edgy characters with a multicultural twist, as 16-year-old Chanti Evans tries to balance prep school, boys, and solving mysteries. With barely a foot in the door, fifteen-year-old Chanti gets on the bad side of school queen bee Lissa and snobbish Headmistress Smythe...Categorized as:
coming-of-age crime friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic boarding-school book -
![Claudia and the Recipe for Danger by Ann M. Martin]()
Claudia and the Recipe for Danger by Ann M. Martin
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEntering the local baking contest, Claudia is disheartened when her cake turns out poorly, until she realizes that her efforts have been sabotaged, and it is up to the baby-sitters to find out who is to blame. Original...Categorized as:
friendship coming-of-age family law-enforcement mystery middle-grade fiction children-books
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
