For those who have had the pleasure of reading romance novels, you’ll already know that it’s considered to be one of the most diverse genres out there.
There are books that cover every aspect and subgenre of romance, including historical romance, pirate romance, LGBTQ + romance, and even paranormal romance.
Perhaps one of the most fun subgenres, however, is high school romance books.
These books cover that formative stage in life, where we’re completely preoccupied with the opposite gender, and completely filled with angst.
But, there are so many high school romance books out there to choose from, that it can be difficult to pick one that appeals to your personal taste.
Thankfully though, this is where we come in. Below, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be some of the best and most heartwarming high school romance books out there.
To find your perfect book, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
It’s a riveting read and is filled with supernatural and folkloric aspects that avid readers will adore.
The first book in the series follows the journey of a young girl called Bella, who has just moved to a new town with her dad and feels out of place in this little town.
On her first day in her new high school, she meets a highly enigmatic group of people, the most striking of which instantly catches her eye.
This young man is called Edward, and he’s no ordinary high school student.
He appears to glitter in the sunlight, and his eyes transform in color. What could be the cause of these strange symptoms?
Well, he’s actually a vampire. How will Bella reconcile herself with this information, and how will their love prevail against these strange circumstances?
Pros
Iconic – This is one of those iconic reads that every teen should pick up.
Supernatural – We loved the spooky and supernatural elements of this story, which really drive the plot and the romance as a whole.
Cons
Movie Of The Same Name – If you’ve already seen the movie, you might feel a little bit bored by the book, which is quite similar.
If you want a super fun and lighthearted high school romance book, then we’d recommend this book, written by Jenny Han.
In this book, we follow a young girl called Lara Jean. Lara decides that as a form of catharsis, she’s going to write a series of love letters to all of the boys that she’s ever loved.
She thinks that by getting her feelings onto the page, she’ll be able to let go of some of the feelings she has towards them.
Something utterly disastrous happens, however, and her younger sister accidentally mails these letters to the recipients.
As a result, Lara finds herself in the midst of a high school romance disaster.
But, all is not lost, and it appears as though the most popular guy in school is beginning to take an interest in Lara.
They decide to form a ‘fake’ relationship, that helps to save Lara from the humiliation she’s been experiencing recently as a result of the love letters in circulation.
But, is this fake relationship about to turn into something very real?
Pros
Fun – This is a super fun read, and is sure to cheer you up if you’re feeling a little blue.
Easy To Read – This book is a very easy read, and you won’t struggle to get through this in a single reading session.
Cons
Juvenile – This book might feel a little bit juvenile for older teens.
This book is fantastic if you feel like you need a good cry. This story follows a young girl who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Her parents decide that she needs to speak to others who are experiencing similar issues to her, and as a result, urge her to join a support group.
Here she meets a young boy, who is terminally ill but has a vigor that grabs Hazel’s attention.
They instantly form an attachment and navigate their way through their unconventional lives.
Things get increasingly difficult for the teens, however, as Augustus appears to be getting more and more unwell as time goes on.
How will Hazel be able to go on without him, when she’s so completely and utterly in love?
This is an incredibly heart-wrenching tale, and it teaches us the importance of love and friendship, and how that love can get us through even the darkest of times.
Pros
Heartwarming – This is an incredibly heartwarming book, and teaches us how powerful love can be, and how it prevails even in the face of death.
Well Written – Green has a writing style that truly caters to teenage readers and seems effortless on the page.
This book has become somewhat of a sensation, and it’s not hard to see why.
Rooney’s writing style is so true to real life and really brings the characters to life. In this novel, we follow the journey of Marianne and Connell.
Conell is very much a part of the popular crew, whilst Marianne is not.
As a result, they find it incredibly difficult to navigate their unlikely romance in the midst of the high school setting in which the book takes place.
How will they navigate their romance, when they’re not even meant to be seen talking to one another?
This is an incredibly poignant tale and follows Connell and Marianne throughout their entire lives.
At some stages, they drift apart from one another, while in others, they find themselves back in each other’s arms.
This novel teaches some valuable lessons, perhaps the most important of which is that people are able to change.
When we see Connell at the beginning of the novel, he can come across as rude and arrogant.
As time moves on though, and the novel progresses, he becomes more and more worthy of Marianne, and the love that she has to offer.
Pros
Dialogue – Rooney’s dialogue is incredibly realistic and true to life.
Relatable – Many teen readers who have experienced the pain of heartbreak will find her illustration of this feeling to be incredibly realistic.
Cons
Angst – This book is filled with angst, which won’t appeal to all readers.
This is an incredibly wholesome book and is the only graphic novel on our list. If you’re a fan of illustrated books, then you’ll love this one.
It follows the story of a boy called Charlie, who is a young gay man who finds himself attending an all-boys school.
He thinks that the high school experience is going to be dreadful, but that quickly changes when he meets and befriends Nick, who is a popular rugby player in the school.
In this guide, we’ll be covering each of the different things you need to take into consideration before you purchase.
Sub Genre
Although high school romance books are considered to be a subgenre themselves, several more subgenres fall into this particular category.
With such a diverse collection of high school romance books out there to choose from, not all readers will enjoy the same things.
Some books will be targeted toward those who enjoy poignant romance books, others will be geared towards those who enjoy books with supernatural themes, and others will be targeted towards those who enjoy mysteries.
Ascertain what your favorite subgenre is before purchasing, in order to guarantee that you’re going to be into the book.
Reading Age
Although teenage books are often grouped together under ‘teen fiction’, this often isn’t definitive enough.
There are many different teen romance books out there, each of which will cater to a different age category.
For example, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, which is featured on our list above, is more for younger readers.
The Twilight saga, however, is more suitable for older teens as it deals with more adult themes. Therefore, it’s important to shop according to the age category.
Standalone VS Series
Another thing you might want to consider when shopping for your next book is whether or not you want to read a standalone novel or feel as though you want to get stuck into a series.
If you want to delve into a new series, many of the ones featured on the list above have several books that follow them.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, there’s a high school romance novel out there for every reader.
Whether you’re looking for a romance with paranormal elements, one that’s a little bit fun and silly, one that’s poignant and heartwarming, or one that illustrates life’s struggles, there’s a book out there for you.
Simply read our list above and choose your favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we take a quick look at some of the frequently asked questions you had surrounding the high school romance book genre.
Is There A Sequel To The Heartstopper Series By Alice Oseman?
For those who enjoyed the graphic novel Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, you’ll be pleased to find that a sequel has been released.
This book is titled Heartstopper Volume Two and takes place directly after the events of the first book.
What Is The Most Popular Teenage Romance Series Of All Time?
If you’re wondering what the most popular romance series for teenagers is, the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer is regarded as being one of the best-selling and most influential book series for teens.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
