The Best Young Adult Romance Books

If He Had Been With Me is a young adult romance book by Laura Nowlin. The book follows the story of two high school students who are inseparable, Autumn and Finn. However, something has changed, or did they change? These days they’re doing their best to ignore each other and are on very different paths. The book explores the themes of love and regret. It is a touching and ultimately uplifting story about young love and finding happiness and the life-altering impact of our closest relationships.

If He Had Been With Me is a must-read for fans of young adult romance books. Library Media Connection said of the book, “This is a story of friendship, family, love, and regret. Readers know from the beginning that Autumn and Finny’s story will end in tragedy, but that does not stop the reader from wanting to follow their journey. Recommended.”

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a young adult romance book by Jenny Han. The book follows the story of Lara Jean, a teenage girl who writes love letters to all the boys she’s ever loved and then hides them away in a hatbox. However, one day the letters are mysteriously mailed out, and Lara Jean must deal with the ramifications of her private thoughts being made public.

The book has been praised for its relatable and charming characters, as well as its sensitive handling of teenage love and friendships. If you’re looking for a warm and fuzzy read, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is definitely worth picking up. Kirkus said of the book, “An ultimately compelling exploration of teenage growth and young love.”

Everything, Everything is a young adult romance book by Nicola Yoon. The story follows Maddy, a girl who has been confined to her house for her entire life due to a severe allergy. Maddy falls in love with Olly, her next-door neighbor, and the two must find a way to be together despite Maddy’s condition.

Everything, Everything is a touching and unique story that will resonate with readers of all ages. The characters are relatable and the plot is exciting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read that will leave them feeling hopeful and inspired. Author, Katie McGarry, said of the book, “There’s a quiet beauty about Everything, Everything that kept me captivated from start to finish. Olly and Madeline’s love story stole my heart.”

An exhilarating tale of first love, the story follows the love story of Elliot Youngblood and Catherine Calhoun. A pair of outcasts, finding each other leads to an immediate friendship. However, this will be challenging when Elliot is forced to leave town. When Elliot does return, everything has changed – they have both grown into different people. They have to work to rekindle their relationship, but this is pushed to its extreme when Elliot becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy.

This is one of those books that you won’t be able to put down, with an ending you may never see coming. RT Book Reviews said of the story, “With a raw, genuine candidness in her storytelling, McGuire will capture readers as she delves into complex matters of the heart. McGuire’s latest is a story of enduring love that readers will fall in love with.”

The main character in this story, Beyah Grim, has worked hard to carve out her own path in life, due to a difficult relationship with her parents. However, an unexpected death leaves her no choice but to go spend the Summer with her Father who she barely knows. Her plan to keep herself to herself goes out the window when Samson moves in next door. They form an instant connection, despite their very different backgrounds. They agree to keep things not too serious, but Beyah is about to fall deep.

Colleen Hoover is one of the most popular authors in the world currently, and many consider this to be one of her best books to date. If you’ve ever experienced struggled relating to your own family and wanting to escape, this story may speak to you.

A fun and a flirty book about a fake relationship and real love. The story follows Becca Hart who has not believed in true love for a long time. When her best friend teases her about her serious lack of romance in her life, Becca spontaneously begins a lie about secretly seeing someone. When one of the most popular guys at school hears about this story, he decides to fill the role of this fictional boyfriend Becca has created.

Naturally, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur and they are forced to consider whether what started as a lie is becoming the truest thing in their lives. The book covers a lot more than the main storyline, considering the stresses of being a young adult and coping with problems at school and with your family.

The bestselling writing duo of Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott bring a story of romance that considers whether it’s possible to find true love once you’ve lost everything. The story follows Kyle and Kimberly who are considered the perfect couple all through high school. However, Kimberly breaks up with Kyle on the night of their graduation party. A car crash then turns everything upside down, killing Kimberly and leaving Kyle with a brain injury. During his recovery, Kyle meets Marley, who is suffering her own loss, and their paths seem fortuitous.

Publisher’s Weekly said of the book, “Daughtry and Lippincott (Five Feet Apart) have crafted a fairy tale romance for readers who believe in second and third chances, as well as improbable but destined love. That the pair have built it atop the book’s first half—a fundamentally realistic story of Kyle’s maturation—makes the twists more affecting and, for the right readers, more romantic.”

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone is a YA novel with a focus on mental health. The story follows Samantha, a high school student with OCD, as she navigates her relationships and her condition. The book offers an honest and often difficult look at what it’s like to live with OCD, and Stone does an excellent job of depicting the various challenges that Samantha faces.

At times, the novel is heart-wrenching, but it ultimately ends on a note of hope and recovery. Every Last Word is an important book that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with mental illness. The story will suck you in and not let go until it ends.

The Fault in Our Stars is a young adult romance novel by John Green. The book was published in 2012 and became an instant bestseller. The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old girl with cancer, as she meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, another teenager with cancer. The Fault in Our Stars is an emotionally powerful and realistic portrayal of young love in the face of a terminal illness.

Green expertly tackles tough subjects like death and loss but also allows for moments of humor and hope. The characters are incredibly relatable and likeable, making The Fault in Our Stars an incredibly moving read. The Atlantic said of the book, “This is a book that breaks your heart—not by wearing it down, but by making it bigger until it bursts.”

A heartbreaking novel about love and loss, this story follows seventeen-year-old Julie who has big plans for her future with her boyfriend, Sam. They plan to move out of their home town, head to college in a major city and even spend a summer in Japan. Tragically, Sam then dies and Julie’s world is turned upside down. She struggles to come to terms with the news and does not grieve in a traditional fashion, choosing instead to try and get rid of all his things, skip his funeral and forget him. However, when she phones Sam to hear his voicemail, something unexpected happens. He picks up.

This story is an incredibly original tale that will keep you gripped the whole way. Dustin Thao is a Vietnamese American writer based in New York City.

Eleanor & Park is a young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell that was published in 2013. The book tells the story of two high school students, Eleanor and Park, who fall in love against the odds. Eleanor is a shy, new girl with bright red hair, who is teased mercilessly by her classmates, while Park is a comic book-loving Korean American boy who doesn’t quite fit in either. Despite their differences, the two form a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into something more.

The New York Times said of the book, “Rainbow Rowell’s first novel for young adults is a beautiful, haunting love story — but I have seen those. It’s set in 1986, and God knows I’ve seen that. There’s bullying, sibling rivalry, salvation through music and comics, a monstrous stepparent — and I know, we’ve seen all this stuff. But you’ve never seen “Eleanor & Park.” Its observational precision and richness make for very special reading.”

Twilight is a young adult romance book by Stephenie Meyer. It was first published in 2005 and has since become a global phenomenon. The story follows the romance between a human girl, Bella Swan, and a vampire, Edward Cullen. Bella becomes intrigued by a family of vampires, and in particular by Edward Cullen, a vampire who is determined to resist his attraction to Bella. As their relationship develops, Bella finds herself drawn into Edward’s world, and she must ultimately choose between her human life and immortality.

The novel explores the themes of love, loss, and betrayal, and it has been praised for its suspenseful plot and lyrical prose. Twilight has spawned a hugely successful movie franchise, and it has also been the source of much controversy. No matter what your opinion of Twilight, there can be no doubt that it is one of the most popular books of the 21st century.

The Summer of Broken Rules is a story about Meredith Fox, who sadly lost her sister eighteen months ago. Since then, she has shut everyone out, but this Summer she plans to open back up and re-enter the world. She decides the perfect time and place for this will be on the family vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. However, Meredith becomes a bit distracted when she falls for a cute groomsman during their family game of assassin.

Manhattan Book Review said of the book, “Seamlessly weaves in the importance of family, and by the end, I felt like I had joined the Fox family and their traditions…a quick and easy read recommended for anyone who is looking for a lighthearted book sprinkled with elements of reality.”

Anna and the French Kiss is a young adult novel by Stephanie Perkins. The book tells the story of Anna, a teenage girl who is sent to boarding school in Paris for her senior year. While there, she falls in love with a boy named Etienne St. Clair. The book has been praised for its depiction of teenage romance and the city of Paris. It has also been praised for its relatable characters and humor.

This is an exciting young adult romance book that will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat. It has a brilliant range of characters and the story is original and celebrates all things romance and France. If you’re looking for a fun read with an international flavour, then this book may be the best one for you.