37 Books like The River

The River

by Peter Heller • 2019

Canoeing remote Canada, two friends are trapped between a forest fire and a couple's deadly secrets.

3.85

47k+

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 📚 Literary Thriller 🤝 Male Friendship

The River 93%

Canoeing remote Canada, two friends are trapped between a forest fire and a couple's deadly secrets.

by Peter Heller 2019

3.85

47k+ ratings

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 📚 Literary Thriller 🤝 Male Friendship

Alabama Moon

by Watt Key • 2004

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

4.06

5k+

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends

Alabama Moon 92%

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

by Watt Key 2004

4.06

5k+ ratings

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends

Revolver

by Marcus Sedgwick • 2009

A frozen cabin, a dead father, and a gunman demanding gold the family may not have.

3.71

5k+

🧊 Arctic Survival ⛏️ Gold Rush Frontier 💔 Absent Mother

Revolver 92%

A frozen cabin, a dead father, and a gunman demanding gold the family may not have.

by Marcus Sedgwick 2009

3.71

5k+ ratings

🧊 Arctic Survival ⛏️ Gold Rush Frontier 💔 Absent Mother

My Side of the Mountain

by Jean Craighead George • 1959

Armed with a penknife, a boy runs away to live alone on a forgotten mountain farm.

4.10

86k+

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦅 Falconry 🏃 Runaway Adventure

My Side of the Mountain 91%

Armed with a penknife, a boy runs away to live alone on a forgotten mountain farm.

by Jean Craighead George 1959

4.10

86k+ ratings

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🦅 Falconry 🏃 Runaway Adventure

The Rule of Three

by Eric Walters • 2014

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

4.00

8k+

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia

The Rule of Three 91%

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

by Eric Walters 2014

4.00

8k+ ratings

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia

Fortune Falls

by Lou Vane • 2021

When society collapses, teens at a remote mountain camp must survive wilderness and armed strangers.

4.14

3k+

🏚️ Post Apocalyptic Survival 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 💔 Love Triangle

Fortune Falls 91%

When society collapses, teens at a remote mountain camp must survive wilderness and armed strangers.

by Lou Vane 2021

4.14

3k+ ratings

🏚️ Post Apocalyptic Survival 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family 💔 Love Triangle

How to Stay Invisible

by Maggie C. Rudd • 2023

Abandoned, a boy and his dog survive in the woods behind his school, attending class.

4.43

1k+

🎒 Secretly Homeless ❤️ Found Family 🐕 Loyal Dog Companion

How to Stay Invisible 91%

Abandoned, a boy and his dog survive in the woods behind his school, attending class.

by Maggie C. Rudd 2023

4.43

1k+ ratings

🎒 Secretly Homeless ❤️ Found Family 🐕 Loyal Dog Companion

Peak

by Roland Smith • 2007

Arrested for scaling a skyscraper, a teen climber must reach Everest's summit before a rival Sherpa.

3.97

23k+

⛰️ Mount Everest 🤝 Rivals To Friends 🧘 Spiritual Guide

Peak 91%

Arrested for scaling a skyscraper, a teen climber must reach Everest's summit before a rival Sherpa.

by Roland Smith 2007

3.97

23k+ ratings

⛰️ Mount Everest 🤝 Rivals To Friends 🧘 Spiritual Guide

The Recruit

by Robert Muchamore • 2004

After his mother dies, a bullied boy joins a secret agency turning children into spies.

4.23

40k+

👶 Child Spies 🏫 Spy Academy 🏕️ Survival Training

The Recruit 91%

After his mother dies, a bullied boy joins a secret agency turning children into spies.

by Robert Muchamore 2004

4.23

40k+ ratings

👶 Child Spies 🏫 Spy Academy 🏕️ Survival Training

Monument 14

by Emmy Laybourne • 2012

Trapped in a superstore by a freak hailstorm, fourteen kids discover the air outside is lethal.

3.90

25k+

🌀 Disaster Survival 👦 Kids Without Adults 🫂 Found Family

Monument 14 91%

Trapped in a superstore by a freak hailstorm, fourteen kids discover the air outside is lethal.

by Emmy Laybourne 2012

3.90

25k+ ratings

🌀 Disaster Survival 👦 Kids Without Adults 🫂 Found Family

The Angel Experiment

by James Patterson • 2005

Six winged experiments. One recaptured. Their leader follows a voice toward the lab that made them.

4.07

234k+

🧬 Genetic Engineering 🖤 Found Family 🏃 Kids On The Run

The Angel Experiment 90%

Six winged experiments. One recaptured. Their leader follows a voice toward the lab that made them.

by James Patterson 2005

4.07

234k+ ratings

🧬 Genetic Engineering 🖤 Found Family 🏃 Kids On The Run

Deep Zone

by Tim Green • 2011

A 12-year-old caught between the mob and the FBI must win a football championship to survive.

4.44

2k+

🏈 Youth Football Drama 🛡️ Witness Protection 👫 Orphaned Siblings

Deep Zone 90%

A 12-year-old caught between the mob and the FBI must win a football championship to survive.

by Tim Green 2011

4.44

2k+ ratings

🏈 Youth Football Drama 🛡️ Witness Protection 👫 Orphaned Siblings

One Was Lost

by Natalie D. Richards • 2016

Four teens wake up drugged and marked in a flooded forest. Someone is hunting them.

3.78

9k+

🏕️ Survival Thriller 🧠 Psychological Horror 🪓 Hidden Killer

One Was Lost 90%

Four teens wake up drugged and marked in a flooded forest. Someone is hunting them.

by Natalie D. Richards 2016

3.78

9k+ ratings

🏕️ Survival Thriller 🧠 Psychological Horror 🪓 Hidden Killer

Minecraft

by Max Brooks • 2017

A castaway with no memory battles monsters and mines the secrets of a block-shaped island.

4.17

8k+

🎮 Video Game Tie-In ⛏️ Survival Crafting 🔲 Block World

Minecraft 90%

A castaway with no memory battles monsters and mines the secrets of a block-shaped island.

by Max Brooks 2017

4.17

8k+ ratings

🎮 Video Game Tie-In ⛏️ Survival Crafting 🔲 Block World

Girl, Missing

by Sophie McKenzie • 2006

An adopted teen finds her face on a missing-children poster and flies to America for answers.

3.80

19k+

🔍 Missing Child Case 🧩 Adoption Search 🕵️ Teen Sleuth

Girl, Missing 90%

An adopted teen finds her face on a missing-children poster and flies to America for answers.

by Sophie McKenzie 2006

3.80

19k+ ratings

🔍 Missing Child Case 🧩 Adoption Search 🕵️ Teen Sleuth

Perfect Strangers

by Dani Atkins • 2016

After a plane crash, she survives the wilderness with a stranger the rescuers insist never existed.

4.15

2k+

🏕️ Survival Romance 💞 Strangers To Lovers 💔 Emotional Healing

Perfect Strangers 90%

After a plane crash, she survives the wilderness with a stranger the rescuers insist never existed.

by Dani Atkins 2016

4.15

2k+ ratings

🏕️ Survival Romance 💞 Strangers To Lovers 💔 Emotional Healing

Heartwood

by Amity Gaige • 2025

A nurse vanishes on the Appalachian Trail. Three hundred miles away, a photograph holds the answer.

3.90

128k+

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🥾 Appalachian Trail 🚁 Search And Rescue

Heartwood 90%

A nurse vanishes on the Appalachian Trail. Three hundred miles away, a photograph holds the answer.

by Amity Gaige 2025

3.90

128k+ ratings

🏕️ Wilderness Survival 🥾 Appalachian Trail 🚁 Search And Rescue

Cloudburst

by Wilbur Smith • 2020

His parents vanish in the Congo. Finding them means braving jungle dangers and family betrayal.

3.67

1k+

🦍 Jungle Adventure 🌿 Eco Thriller 💔 Family Betrayal

Cloudburst 90%

His parents vanish in the Congo. Finding them means braving jungle dangers and family betrayal.

by Wilbur Smith 2020

3.67

1k+ ratings

🦍 Jungle Adventure 🌿 Eco Thriller 💔 Family Betrayal

Dry

by Neal Shusterman • 2018

A California suburb runs dry. Her parents gone, a teen must brave the panic to save her brother.

4.01

56k+

💧 Water Scarcity 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teen Survival 🏚️ Societal Collapse

Dry 90%

A California suburb runs dry. Her parents gone, a teen must brave the panic to save her brother.

by Neal Shusterman 2018

4.01

56k+ ratings

💧 Water Scarcity 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teen Survival 🏚️ Societal Collapse

Raise the Titanic!

by Clive Cussler • 1976

To recover a Cold War edge, Dirk Pitt must salvage the Titanic, with Soviets closing in.

3.99

30k+

🤖 Techno-Thriller 💰 Sunken Treasure 🔍 MacGuffin Hunt

Raise the Titanic! 90%

To recover a Cold War edge, Dirk Pitt must salvage the Titanic, with Soviets closing in.

by Clive Cussler 1976

3.99

30k+ ratings

🤖 Techno-Thriller 💰 Sunken Treasure 🔍 MacGuffin Hunt

The Girl in the White Van

by April Henry • 2020

A teen martial artist snatched into a van with a stranger must fight for their freedom.

3.87

5k+

🔓 YA Abduction Thriller ✊ Girls Fighting Back 🔍 Amateur Sleuth

The Girl in the White Van 90%

A teen martial artist snatched into a van with a stranger must fight for their freedom.

by April Henry 2020

3.87

5k+ ratings

🔓 YA Abduction Thriller ✊ Girls Fighting Back 🔍 Amateur Sleuth

Ransom

by Chris Bradford • 2014

When pirates storm a superyacht, a teen bodyguard must protect twin heiresses from a hidden enemy.

4.33

3k+

🕵️ Teen Spy Thriller 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Hijacking 💔 Kidnapping Aftermath

Ransom 90%

When pirates storm a superyacht, a teen bodyguard must protect twin heiresses from a hidden enemy.

by Chris Bradford 2014

4.33

3k+ ratings

🕵️ Teen Spy Thriller 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Hijacking 💔 Kidnapping Aftermath

My Absolute Darling

by Gabriel Tallent • 2017

Her father taught her to survive the collapse of civilization; now she must survive him.

3.59

57k+

🏚️ Survivalist Upbringing 🖤 Abusive Parent 🌲 Remote Wilderness

My Absolute Darling 90%

Her father taught her to survive the collapse of civilization; now she must survive him.

by Gabriel Tallent 2017

3.59

57k+ ratings

🏚️ Survivalist Upbringing 🖤 Abusive Parent 🌲 Remote Wilderness

The Marrow Thieves

by Cherie Dimaline • 2017

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

3.94

45k+

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival

The Marrow Thieves 89%

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

by Cherie Dimaline 2017

3.94

45k+ ratings

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival

The Sun Trail

by Erin Hunter • 2013

Starving mountain cats follow a vision across roaring roads and hostile lands toward a new home.

4.29

13k+

🐾 Animal Fantasy 🐱 Feline Adventure ⚔️ Sibling Rivalry

The Sun Trail 89%

Starving mountain cats follow a vision across roaring roads and hostile lands toward a new home.

by Erin Hunter 2013

4.29

13k+ ratings

🐾 Animal Fantasy 🐱 Feline Adventure ⚔️ Sibling Rivalry

The Escape

by Robert Muchamore • 2009

A twelve-year-old orphan escapes into occupied France, where a spy's mission makes him a target.

4.12

6k+

🏚️ Occupied France 🕵️ Child Spies 🔍 Wwii Espionage

The Escape 89%

A twelve-year-old orphan escapes into occupied France, where a spy's mission makes him a target.

by Robert Muchamore 2009

4.12

6k+ ratings

🏚️ Occupied France 🕵️ Child Spies 🔍 Wwii Espionage

Hielo negro

by Becca Fitzpatrick • 2014

A spring blizzard forces Britt into a remote cabin that already holds two fugitives.

3.87

35k+

🔪 Romantic Suspense ❤️ Enemies To Lovers 🏔️ Survival Thriller

Hielo negro 89%

A spring blizzard forces Britt into a remote cabin that already holds two fugitives.

by Becca Fitzpatrick 2014

3.87

35k+ ratings

🔪 Romantic Suspense ❤️ Enemies To Lovers 🏔️ Survival Thriller

La Belle Sauvage

by Philip Pullman • 2017

An innkeeper's son, a prophetic infant, and a flood that sweeps them into a hidden war.

4.15

114k+

🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Unlikely Guardians 🛶 River Odyssey

La Belle Sauvage 89%

An innkeeper's son, a prophetic infant, and a flood that sweeps them into a hidden war.

by Philip Pullman 2017

4.15

114k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Unlikely Guardians 🛶 River Odyssey

The Cay

by Theodore Taylor • 1969

Shipwrecked and blinded, a prejudiced boy must trust an old West Indian sailor to survive.

3.80

39k+

🏝️ Stranded On An Island 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏕️ Survival Skills

The Cay 89%

Shipwrecked and blinded, a prejudiced boy must trust an old West Indian sailor to survive.

by Theodore Taylor 1969

3.80

39k+ ratings

🏝️ Stranded On An Island 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏕️ Survival Skills

Outer Banks

by Alyssa Sheinmel • 2021

Working-class Outer Banks teens and a rich girl shelter from a storm in a smuggler's hideout.

3.49

3k+

💰 Class Divide 🤝 Found Family 💕 Cross-Class Romance

Outer Banks 89%

Working-class Outer Banks teens and a rich girl shelter from a storm in a smuggler's hideout.

by Alyssa Sheinmel 2021

3.49

3k+ ratings

💰 Class Divide 🤝 Found Family 💕 Cross-Class Romance

April et le Dernier Ours

by Hannah Gold • 2021

On an Arctic island, a lonely girl discovers a polar bear starving and trapped in plastic.

4.28

8k+

🌍 Eco Adventure 🐾 Animal Friendship 🐻 Girl And Wild Animal

April et le Dernier Ours 89%

On an Arctic island, a lonely girl discovers a polar bear starving and trapped in plastic.

by Hannah Gold 2021

4.28

8k+ ratings

🌍 Eco Adventure 🐾 Animal Friendship 🐻 Girl And Wild Animal

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

by Lauren Tarshis • 2010

A curious boy aboard the Titanic must navigate chaos when an iceberg seals the ship's fate.

4.09

20k+

🚢 Titanic Disaster 🌊 Shipwreck Survival 👫 Sibling Bond

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 Summary

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 89%

A curious boy aboard the Titanic must navigate chaos when an iceberg seals the ship's fate.

by Lauren Tarshis 2010

4.09

20k+ ratings

🚢 Titanic Disaster 🌊 Shipwreck Survival 👫 Sibling Bond

The Dark Horse

by Craig Johnson • 2009

Walt Longmire goes undercover to question a wife's murder confession in a town of secrets.

4.30

22k+

🏜️ Western Mystery 🌾 Rural Noir 🕵️ Undercover Lawman

The Dark Horse 89%

Walt Longmire goes undercover to question a wife's murder confession in a town of secrets.

by Craig Johnson 2009

4.30

22k+ ratings

🏜️ Western Mystery 🌾 Rural Noir 🕵️ Undercover Lawman

The Oligarch's Daughter

by Joseph Finder • 2025

A boatbuilder kills a stranger at sea, then Russian agents hunt him through New Hampshire woods.

4.11

22k+

🕵️ Espionage Conspiracy 🏔️ Wilderness Survival 🏃 Wrong Man On The Run

The Oligarch's Daughter 89%

A boatbuilder kills a stranger at sea, then Russian agents hunt him through New Hampshire woods.

by Joseph Finder 2025

4.11

22k+ ratings

🕵️ Espionage Conspiracy 🏔️ Wilderness Survival 🏃 Wrong Man On The Run

The Ruins of Gorlan

by John Flanagan • 2004

Rejected for knighthood, a boy joins the Rangers and faces a mission to stop monstrous assassins.

4.26

177k+

🏰 Low Magic Fantasy 🎯 Mentor Apprentice 🏹 Stealth Archery

The Ruins of Gorlan 89%

Rejected for knighthood, a boy joins the Rangers and faces a mission to stop monstrous assassins.

by John Flanagan 2004

4.26

177k+ ratings

🏰 Low Magic Fantasy 🎯 Mentor Apprentice 🏹 Stealth Archery

Moon of the Turning Leaves

by Waubgeshig Rice • 2023

Six Anishinaabe scouts journey through a dead America toward the homeland their people once lost.

4.22

11k+

🌱 Indigenous Futurism 👵 Generational Wisdom 🏕️ Ancestral Homeland

Moon of the Turning Leaves 89%

Six Anishinaabe scouts journey through a dead America toward the homeland their people once lost.

by Waubgeshig Rice 2023

4.22

11k+ ratings

🌱 Indigenous Futurism 👵 Generational Wisdom 🏕️ Ancestral Homeland

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness • 2008

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

3.97

205k+

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer

The Knife of Never Letting Go 89%

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

by Patrick Ness 2008

3.97

205k+ ratings

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M