The Complete History of Why I Hate Her

A parent might reach for this book when their teen feels lost in the shadow of a sibling, whether due to illness, achievement, or personality. It's for the child struggling to carve out their own identity within their family or an intense friendship. This novel follows seventeen year old Nola, who takes a summer job in Maine to escape being known only as 'the cancer sister'. There, she forms a fast, all consuming friendship that starts to feel suffocating, forcing her to confront who she is on her own terms. It thoughtfully explores resentment, jealousy, co-dependency, and the difficult work of self discovery. It's a perfect choice for validating a teen's complex, sometimes 'ugly' feelings and opening a conversation about healthy boundaries in relationships.