Angsty Teen Books Like The Breakfast Club
My List of Books Like the Breakfast Club celebrates the 40th Anniversary of an iconic 1980s John Hughes movie. Check out other books to read if you like The Breakfast Club, remember The Breakfast Club cast, and more!
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Books Like the Breakfast Club
It’s the 40th Anniversary of The Breakfast Club, the iconic 1980s movie that hit screens on February 15, 1985. The film follows five students from different social cliques who end up in a Saturday detention together.
The Breakfast Club cast all went on to become famous:
“The Princess” was Molly Ringwald, who also starred in Hughes’s 1984 movie Sixteen Candles (see my book list of Sixteen Candles Inspired YA books). Ringwald went on to become part of the so-called Brat Pack, which also featured Breakfast Club co-stars Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy.
“The Athlete” was Emilio Estevez, who had previously starred in the movie adaptation of The Outsiders.
“The Brain” was comic actor Anthony Michael Hall, who co-starred with Sheedy in Sixteen Candles.
“The Criminal” was Judd Nelson, and The Breakfast Club was the breakout role that made him famous.
“The Basket Case” was Ally Sheedy, who didn’t speak much during the movie but turned in a great performance.
Want to know what high school clique you’d be in? Take my quiz and find your 2000 YA Aesthetics!
Classic 2010s YA Books Like the Breakfast Club
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus (2017)
This 2017 book took The Breakfast Club and made it a locked room mystery!
Check out my review of One of Us is Lying here
My review of One of Us is Back, the final installment.
My series summary of the One of Us is Lying books
Rebel Bully Geek by Jade Lange (2016)
Four kids who are (you guessed it!) a rebel, a bully, a geek and a pariah end up in hiding in the woods after a high school party gets busted up by the police.
While I thought this book took on a lot with the four characters and a mystery to solve, I really appreciated the Breakfast Club remix.
My review of Rebel Bully Geek Pariah is here!
Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless (2014)
A list-making high school girl ends up locked in the break room with her co-workers.
Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless is a feel-good holiday-themed book with a Disney channel feel: charm, cute grocery store antics, and lessons about judging (and misjudging) people, etc. A perfect light holiday read!
Find out more about Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless in my review!
Trapped by Michael Northrop (2011)
Seven kids are trapped at school during a historic blizzard. But as days pass, this small group must make tough decisions to survive the freezing cold.
You can find out more about Trapped on Amazon here!
Get Even by Gretchen McNeil (2014)
Pitched as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, Get Even is about four girls at an elite private school who have nothing in common except that they are secret members of a revenge club.
But when their latest revenge target actually ends up dead, they realize the tables have turned and someone is coming after them.
Read my review of Get Even
And check out my list of books like Pretty Little Liars
New 2020s YA Books Like the Breakfast Club
Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal (2024)
Ellie Haycock has two lives: real and hospital. Outside the hospital, Ellie competes on her school’s speech. At the hospital, Ellie has a mom who won’t stop posting about the details of her illness online.
But the hospital becomes a little less unbearable as Ellie becomes close with a group of friends, including Ryan, a guy she can’t seem to keep out of her head. Ellie’s life has never been ordinary—but maybe now it will be extraordinary.
This would also be a great fit for my list of Books Like The Fault in Our Stars
As You Walk on By by Julian Winters (2023)
Do you love this Breakfast Club soundtrack-inspired title? Wait until you hear about the book:
All Theo wants is a perfect prom night. So Theo’s best friend Jay dares him to prompose to his crush at a house party. When his promposal is an epic disaster, Theo spirals into an existential crisis, hiding in an empty bedroom at the party house.
But as the night goes on, Theo finds he’s not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they’re supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them are a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .
Love this concept? Check out my list of Best YA Books about Proms and Quinceañeras
Tell me in comments: who is your favorite Breakfast Club character? Were you in a clique in high school? I was a nerd/brain for sure!!
I love The Breakfast Club! One of Us Is Lying has been on my list for years. 🫣