This Valentine’s Day, get ready to indulge in a selection of love books for teenagers. Whether you’re a teenager or simply looking for a sweet read, these YA romances are perfect for snuggling up with this February. The experience of first love is often heightened and dramatic in real life, which explains why teenage romance remains a beloved topic among authors.
From crushes to first kisses, fake dating, and friends falling for each other, teenage love stories offer a wealth of narrative possibilities. In search of a classic YA romance, something contemporary or fantastical, or one of the newest 2022 YA novels? This list offers 20 teen romances that span the spectrum from sweet to sexy and tender to tempestuous. Happily ever afters, happy for now, and hopeful endings abound!
While love may not conquer all in every book, it certainly captivates the page and readers’ imaginations in these 20 captivatingly romantic love stories.
Classic YA Romance Books
Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daily
Seventeenth Summer, often overlooked but significant in the young adult genre, is a novel that deserves recognition for its influence on teen romance. Written by the author at just 17 years old and published in 1942, this book was an early pioneer in the YA category. The story follows Angie as she navigates her first date with Jack after graduating high school. As their whirlwind summer romance unfolds, it’s clear that they’re deeply smitten.
However, as autumn approaches, the couple faces the harsh reality of growing up and the challenges that come with it. Angie is bound for college while Jack must take on a job at his uncle’s business, forcing them to confront the difficulties of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Seventeenth Summer is an honest portrayal of first love, a theme I personally resonated with when I read it in high school.
Forever by Judy Blume
The Seventeenth Summer series takes a more nuanced approach to exploring themes of first love, whereas Forever delves deeper into the realm of teen sexuality. While love is undoubtedly a crucial element, this novel stands out for its portrayal of a teenage girl’s experiences with sex and birth control – a departure from the typical narrative where such events would be followed by dire consequences.
The protagonist, Katherine, and her partner Michael, share their first intimate moment, confident that their relationship will endure forever. However, as time passes, Katherine begins to question whether she is prepared for the long-term commitment of ‘forever.’ This ambiguity is refreshing, acknowledging that the importance and meaning of a romance can be just as valid regardless of its longevity.
Forever may raise some eyebrow-raising questions and confront uncomfortable realities, but it remains a significant milestone in the evolution of romance novels for teenagers.
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
In 1982, a groundbreaking novel was published that not only told a queer YA romance story but also provided its characters with a happy ending. The book’s protagonist, Liza, meets Annie on a rainy day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, marking the beginning of an unlikely friendship that would soon blossom into something more. As both girls navigate their feelings and confront their attraction to each other, they face challenges and obstacles.
When their relationship becomes public, Liza is threatened with expulsion from her private school. However, with the support of a pair of lesbian teachers, Liza eventually comes to terms with her sexual orientation and finds a way to overcome the hurdles of being in a same-sex relationship. The novel’s impact was felt far beyond its literary circles, garnering both critical acclaim and controversy, including challenges, bans, and even book burnings.
Despite these difficulties, the book remains an important milestone in LGBTQ+ literature.
Finding My Voice by Marie Myung-Ok Lee
First published in 1992, this young adult romance has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the years. The novel’s setting, the early 1990s, provides a nostalgic backdrop for Ellen Sung’s story. As the only Korean American student at her predominantly white midwestern high school, Ellen faces unique challenges as she navigates her crush on Tomper, the star football player of the senior class.
Despite initial expectations that he would never reciprocate her feelings, Tomper surprisingly falls for Ellen, and their romance blossoms throughout the book. However, their love is put to the test by the disapproval of Ellen’s family and the racist attitudes that permeate their community.
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen, renowned author of Young Adult romance novels, is a must-have inclusion on any list of love books for teenagers. Her high school romances are particularly notable, offering relatable and engaging stories that capture the essence of adolescent relationships.
In This Lullaby, Remy, a skeptical teenager with a penchant for cynicism when it comes to romance, finds herself entwined in a complicated web of emotions with Dexter, a charming musician who embodies the very spirit of romanticism. Despite her own reservations about love, Remy struggles to find the words to break things off with Dexter, unable to dismiss the possibility that he may be different from all the others.
Contemporary Romance Books for Teens
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
As Lara navigated her senior year of high school, a whirlwind of emotions swept through her. The object of her affections for so long had finally reciprocated her feelings – football star Chase was showing interest in her. Yet, despite the thrill of this new development, Jasmine’s presence lingered prominently on her mind. A summer fling that blossomed into an unlikely friendship, Lara had never anticipated running into Jasmine again, let alone having her attend their alma mater.
The uncertainty swirling within her was palpable – could she reconcile her lingering feelings for Jasmine with the budding connection with Chase?
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
With an aversion to romantic entanglements, Evie’s perspective on love took a drastic turn when she developed the ability to glimpse others’ fates. Her newfound insight revealed that every romantic endeavor ultimately ends in heartbreak, no matter how promising the beginning. This realization only reinforced her resolve to avoid emotional vulnerability. However, everything changed when she found herself paired with X for a ballroom dance competition.
As they glided across the floor together, Evie’s determination to shield her heart began to waver. The possibility of falling for X, and the uncertainty that came with it, threatened to undermine her carefully constructed defenses.
Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao
Chloe’s life is entwined with conflicting expectations from her traditional Taiwanese immigrant parents and her own desires. While they strongly advocate for her dating Hambo, a wealthy bachelor in their community, Chloe wants nothing to do with him. To avoid further pressure, she turns to an unconventional solution: hiring Drew from a service that provides fake boyfriends tailored to her parents’ preferences.
However, as her parents fall deeply in love with the fabricated suitor, Chloe finds herself developing genuine feelings for the real Drew, a struggling artist who is anything but what her parents had envisioned. Fans of the fake dating trope, reminiscent of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, will relish this YA romance on Valentine’s Day.
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
As the creator of a popular blog spotlighting trans romances and happily ever afters, Noah’s digital sanctuary has become a beacon of hope for many in the community. However, his carefully crafted narratives are shattered when a troll uncovers the truth: each tale is a work of fiction written to inspire and uplift. Faced with the possibility of losing his online platform, Noah turns to Drew for help. Together, they concoct a plan for Drew to pose as the romantic partner in one of Noah’s stories.
But as they navigate this charade, Noah finds himself developing genuine feelings for Drew – emotions that surpass anything he could have ever conjured while writing about love.
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting
Rory’s approach to countering fatphobia is fueled by a desire to prove others wrong. As a self-proclaimed big and curvy individual, she wants to demonstrate that happy endings are possible for people of all shapes and sizes. To achieve this goal, Rory sets her sights on convincing Beckett, the star quarterback and golden boy, to accompany her to the homecoming dance. The catch? Beckett is completely unaware of Rory’s existence… at least, not yet.
Undeterred, Rory enlists the support of her friends and devises a plan to win him over.
Fantasy & Paranormal Teen Romance Books
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Voya had spent her entire life anticipating the Calling, a rite of passage for every young witch that would unlock their full magical potential. But when she finally faced the test, it was not the empowering experience she had hoped for. Instead, her failure left her feeling defeated and uncertain about her future in the mystical world. Her ancestors, however, were more understanding than she expected, offering her a second chance to prove herself. The catch?
If Voya didn’t succeed this time around, her entire family’s magical abilities would be stripped from them, leaving them powerless and vulnerable. And the task assigned to her was nothing short of heart-wrenching: find someone to fall in love with – anyone – and then take their life. The only problem was that she had never experienced romantic love herself, making it a daunting and seemingly impossible challenge.
Crave by Tracy Wolff
When Grace’s world is shattered by her parents’ passing, she finds herself enrolled in her uncle’s prestigious boarding school in Alaska. It’s here that she uncovers a surprising truth – the student body is comprised of creatures from myth and legend, with her being the only human among them. Her path crosses with Jaxon, a vampire carrying a century’s worth of secrets, and their intense connection sets the stage for a thrilling adventure.
The parallels to Twilight will be evident to adult readers, but younger teen audiences will delight in this fresh take on paranormal romance, immersing themselves in a story that is at once both captivating and hard to put down.
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
As the curtain opens on a fantastical retelling of Arabian Nights, Khalid emerges as the enigmatic boy king with a deadly reputation: marrying a new woman each evening only to have her meet an untimely demise come morning. Amidst this backdrop of bloodshed and betrayal, Shahrzad takes a bold step forward, volunteering to become one of his brides in a quest for vengeance against Khalid for the murder of her closest friend.
As she weaves intricate tales with cliffhangers that tantalize and intrigue him, Khalid finds himself enthralled, his murderous inclinations momentarily forgotten. But as their stories unfold, so too do the secrets they each harbor, leading to an unexpected blossoming of attraction and love between these two characters, as they peel away the layers of deception and discover that neither is quite what the other expected.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
In 1926 Shanghai, a city on the brink of chaos, the once-peaceful balance between the Red gang and its rival, the White Flowers, is shattered. As the heir to the Red gang’s powerful network of criminals, Juliette is torn between her loyalty to her family and her long-lost love, Roma – the White Flowers’ heir who also happens to be the boy who broke her heart.
Amidst the escalating magical battle between their two gangs, Juliette and Roma must confront their personal history and put aside their differences to create peace. But as they navigate this treacherous landscape, they’ll soon discover that darker forces are at play, making reconciliation seem almost impossible, even if they can manage to rekindle their romance.
Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
As Tasmin, a powerful young witch, exacts a heavy price with her magical transgression, she finds herself ostracized by her coven and afflicted with an inexplicable inability to form emotional connections. Desperate to recapture the sensation of affection, she resorts to stealing love from others, further entrenching her isolation. In a contrasting tale, Wren is a gentle soul imbued with magic, yet cursed with an impotence to wield it effectively.
Her life has been consumed by the tender care of her father and the painful concealment of her true nature from the world. When a devastating plague ravages their world, threatening everything she holds dear, Wren enters into a perilous pact with Tasmin: in exchange for the witch’s expertise in tracking down the dark sorceress responsible for the outbreak, Wren agrees to relinquish her paternal affections, surrendering herself to the darkness.
As these two souls navigate the treacherous landscape of their bargain, they must confront the blurring lines between love and destruction, their fates forever entwined in a dance of danger, deception, and devotion.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
In a fascinating twist of fate, my students’ reading habits have been influenced by TikTok’s popularity. The catalyst for this phenomenon is a captivating young adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast, reimagined in a realm where faeries reign supreme. At the heart of this enchanting tale lies Feyre, a protagonist whose life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally kills a shape-shifting faerie while trying to provide sustenance for her family.
Her punishment is a sentence of imprisonment within the Fae world, under the watchful gaze of a mysterious captor whose face is veiled by a magical mask. As Feyre navigates this mystical realm, she finds herself torn between captivation and concern as her initial captor transforms into an ardent suitor.
Driven by a sense of justice, Feyre sets out to break the curse that enthralls not only her lover but also his entire kingdom, setting in motion a series of events that will leave readers spellbound.
New 2022 YA Romance Books
One True Loves by Elise Bryant
As Lenore enters the summer following her senior year, she’s more focused on charting her future than ever before. The uncertainty of who and what she wants to become is still very much a puzzle she’s trying to solve. Meanwhile, her parents are exerting significant pressure on her to make quick decisions about her path forward.
Amidst this turmoil, Lenore embarks on a ten-day Mediterranean cruise with the unexpected arrival of Alex Lee, which sets the stage for a romance that blossoms against the stunning backdrop of Europe’s most breathtaking destinations. This sequel to Elise Bryant’s Happily Ever Afters can be enjoyed as a standalone story as well, offering readers a captivating narrative filled with major swoon-worthy moments.
Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
Ophelia’s life has long been marked by an endless parade of crushes on boys. Yet, after her boyfriend callously ends things and shatters her prom fantasies, she finds herself pondering a romantic connection with her friend Talia. This unexpected turn of events sets Ophelia on a path of self-discovery, as she begins to question the very fabric of her identity and the notion of true love that had been so deeply ingrained in her mind.
For the first time, she’s forced to confront the possibility that her long-held ideals may be standing in the way of her uncovering her authentic self and finding the person who truly resonates with her.
The Temperature of You and Me by Brian Zepka
In a bold departure from traditional YA romance, this story injects a speculative twist that propels the narrative forward. For protagonist Dylan, the prospect of having a boyfriend has long been an elusive dream. His crush on Jordan seems like the perfect opportunity to finally take the leap, but things quickly take a surprising turn when Dylan discovers that Jordan’s temperature is always a scorching 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
As they spend more time together, Dylan begins to experience a series of bizarre physical transformations – he develops a two-week long fever and starts coughing up flames. The intense heat isn’t just a metaphor for their blossoming romance; it’s a tangible symptom of the extraordinary forces at play.
As Dylan delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding Jordan’s condition, their relationship deepens, but they also realize that they’re hurtling towards a precarious precipice, fraught with danger.
Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest
For those eagerly awaiting the release in June, rest assured that the wait will be worth it. This captivating teenage love story is steeped in swoon-worthy moments as Zyla and Kai’s complicated history unfolds. The pair, who broke up months prior to their senior trip to the Poconos, inexplicably disappear together amidst a stormy backdrop, leaving their loved ones bewildered.
As the search for them intensifies, the school’s desperation grows, but what if the truth behind their breakup is more nuanced than initially thought? The narrative seamlessly weaves flashbacks and present-day moments to reveal the tender moments of their initial meeting, blossoming love, and the events that transpire amidst the Poconos’ majestic mountains. Mark your calendars for June when this enchanting tale will finally hit shelves!