Five Feet Apart

This #1 New York Times bestselling young adult novel tells the poignant story of Stella and Will, two teenagers living with cystic fibrosis (CF) who meet in the hospital. Their illness dictates a strict six-foot distance between them to prevent life-threatening infections, a rule that becomes agonizing as they develop deep feelings for each other. The book explores themes of first love, resilience, grief, and the difficult choices individuals face when living with a chronic, terminal illness. While the romance is central, the narrative also delves into the emotional toll of CF on patients and their families, the desire for independence, and the struggle to find joy amidst hardship. Parents should be aware of the medical themes, character deaths, and the bittersweet nature of the story.

In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel that’s perfect for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, two teens fall in love with just one minor complication—they can’t get within a few feet of each other without risking their lives. Can you love someone you can never touch? Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions. The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals. Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella, she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment. What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?