There’s something special about first love: from the butterflies in your stomach to the emotions you’ve never experienced before, everyone’s first love is something truly special. That’s part of what makes teen romance such a compelling subgenre — whether you’re a teen yourself or an adult who’s reliving the nostalgic feeling of a budding romance. The following thirty best romance books for teens are brimming with wit, warmth, and emotion.
Get ready to melt your heart (in a good way!) with these brilliant teen and young-adult romance reads.
Best Romance Books for Teens
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park is a coming-of-age romance about first love that’s as swoon-worthy as it is deeply moving.
Eleanor and Park are both misfits; Eleanor’s family life is troubled at best and Park sticks out as the only half-Korean kid at their school. When Eleanor sits next to Park on the bus everything changes: from sharing comics to making mixtapes for each other, the pair slowly shifts from friendship to love.
They both know that first love rarely lasts, but that won’t stop either of them from trying.
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Becky Albertalli delighted and inspired readers with her debut novel, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, a high school romance that you won’t want to miss.
Sixteen-year-old Simon Spier has one big secret: he’s gay, and he hasn’t told anybody — not even the people closest to him. When a school gossip site connects him with another anonymous gay student at high school, Simon is hopeful for the first time in a long time that he’s not alone.
Simon and the anonymous student email back and forth, until a fellow student, threatens to expose both of their identities to the whole school.
You can purchase Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda here, and check out the sequel Leah on the Offbeat to see what the characters get up to next.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
If you’re in the market for a lighthearted teen romance that’s guaranteed to make you laugh, then Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the book for you.
Meet Lara Jean Song: she’s written love letters to all the boys she’s ever loved, with no intention to ever send them — she keeps them for herself in a box. What’s Lara to do when someone mails her letters to the boys she wrote them for? And how will the recipients react?
Emotions run high in Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places, a heart-rending love story that will have you reaching for the tissues like no other.
Violet Markey and Theodore Finch have practically nothing in common, but they might be just what each other needs. Violet is grieving the loss of her sister, and Finch is the only person she finds herself opening up to — even as he’s struggling to hold on to himself.
Emma Lord is one of the buzziest writers of young-adult romance today, and once you read Tweet Cute you’re sure to join her legions of dedicated fans.
Lord’s fresh rom-com debut centers around Pepper and Jack, two high-school students who enter into an anonymous Twitter rivalry with each other. In real life, they’re falling for each other — but what’s going to happen when their social media feud becomes a real-life obstacle?
From an enchanting fairytale romance to a realistic exploration of grief, Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a can’t-miss love story that’s sure to leave you swooning.
Set in the magical heart of Italy, Love & Gelato follows Lina on a journey to retrace her dead mom’s footsteps during a magical summer trip to Tuscany. She meets Ren along the way, a teenage boy who helps her navigate through the city and countryside, leading her to a long-lost secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her loved ones.
You can purchase Love & Gelato here, and check out the companion novels Love & Olives and Love & Luck for more dreamy European romance reads.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun is both a heart-wrenching look at love and loss as well as a triumphant celebration of the power of words and art.
Noah and her twin brother Jude were once inseparable; Noah is falling for the boy next door, while Jude is embracing the daredevil spirit inside of her and taking life by its horns. Years have passed and the two of them are barely speaking — but they’ll have to find a way back to each other to understand what got them to this point, and to find out if things can ever change.
If you’re in the market for a tear-jerking romance you can’t do better than John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, a worldwide bestseller that deserves all the hype it’s gotten (for more authors like John Green, find our favorites here).
When Hazel Grace Lancaster reluctantly heads to the local cancer support group for fellow teens, she doesn’t expect to make any friends. She certainly doesn’t expect to fall in love — but the handsome and sarcastic Augustus Waters is about to change her life forever.
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Southern charm and heart-pounding romance jump off the pages of Jaye Robin Brown’s Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit.
Joanna Gordon is out and proud, but when her radio evangelist father asks her to lay low after moving to a conservative small town, she reluctantly agrees. Then she meets Mary Carlson, and she realizes that keeping her sexuality a secret might be harder than she had initially intended.
What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera & Becky Albertalli
Two bestselling young-adult authors team up to create What If It’s Us, a masterfully written romance about seizing the what-ifs in life.
Set during one fateful summer in New York, What If It’s Us introduces Arthur and Ben, who meet by chance at the post office… only to be separated with no way to contact each other. To their surprise, the universe brings them back together, but can they make a real relationship work? After all, Arthur’s only in New York for the summer, and every summer has to end eventually.
Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything is a unique debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between.
Meet Maddy: she’s allergic to the outside world, the product of a rare disease that has left her trapped inside the house with her mom and her nurse all her life. Maddy’s life is dull and colorless until the day she looks outside her window and sees Olly: he’s moving in next door, and Maddy falls for him fully — no matter what the risk.
Kiera Cass’s The Selection kicks off a dreamy five-book series, complete with breathtaking romance, ballroom dancing, and delightful courtly intrigue.
In a society ruled by a heartless caste system, the Selection is a chance of a lifetime: thirty-five girls are chosen to compete for Prince Maxon’s heart. When America Singer is Selected she couldn’t be more unhappy — she has no interest in competing for the crown until she meets Prince Maxon and discovers that he just might hold the keys to her heart.
The best-selling writing duo of Christina Lauren makes their young-adult debut with Autoboyography, a provocative and entertaining romance that you won’t want to miss.
When Tanner Scott moved to an overwhelmingly religious town in Utah, he temporarily retreated into the closet. And when Tanner takes a novel-writing seminar that’s mentored by Sebastian Brother, a well-known Mormon, the last thing Tanner expects is to fall for him. But of course, that’s exactly what happens next.
You can buy Autoboyography here, and you’re sure to fall for this sweet coming-of-age story that’s littered with surprising depth.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is a charming, trope-driven romance that will have you dreaming up your own Parisian love story.
Anna is less than thrilled when her father sends her to boarding school in Paris for her senior year — she likes her life back home, with a loyal best friend and a job that she loves. But when Anna meets Etienne St. Clair, a French boy who happens to be her age, she starts to think that there might be something worth waiting for in Paris.
Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight reignited the paranormal romance subgenre with a swoony story of forbidden romance and the danger that looms on the horizon.
Set in the dreary town of Forks, Washington, Isabella Swan falls for the mysterious Edward Cullen, only to learn that he has a dark and dangerous secret. Edward is a vampire, and malicious forces that threaten to expose his identity are growing closer every day.
You can buy Twilight here, and make sure to read the next four books in the series for more paranormal passion.
Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone is the perfect summer read you’ve been waiting for — complete with hilarious dialogue, lighthearted romance, and a wild to-do list that you’ll want to recreate for yourself.
Emily’s best friend Sloane pulled her out of her shell and made her life infinitely more exciting — until the day that Sloane disappeared out of nowhere. All Emily has is a list of thirteen tasks for Emily to complete, from kissing a stranger to dancing until dawn. But will the list lead Emily to Sloane, or is all this risk-taking going to be for nothing?
If I Stay by Gayle Forman is a poignant romantic tale of love and loss that’s as touching as it is page-turning.
Mia is seventeen years old and preparing to potentially head off to college in the fall, until the moment when everything changes. She can’t remember the accident, but she remembers seeing her body being removed from a wreck — and she knows that when she wakes up she has an impossibly difficult choice to make.
Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door is an enchanting summer romance about first love and friendship.
Samantha Reed and Jase Garrett fall for each other with the usual intensity of first love, and Samantha can feel herself becoming part of Jase’s family more and more each day. But when Samantha’s own family undergoes earth-shattering change, she has to choose between two different types of love.
Lauren Oliver kicks off a fascinating dystopian romance trilogy with Delirium, an intricate and unique forbidden love story.
Lena lives a comfortable life in Portland, Maine, awaiting the procedure that all eighteen-year-olds are forced to undergo: the Cure. The Cure keeps adults safe from falling in love, as love has been declared a disease.
But just ninety-five days before Lena undergoes this pivotal procedure, she meets Alex, a boy living beyond the government’s radar, and begins to question everything she thought she knew.
You can buy Delirium here, and make sure to check out the sequels, Pandemonium and Requiem to see where Lena’s adventure takes her next.
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
The chick-lit queen Sophie Kinsella takes her first gander into young-adult fiction with Finding Audrey, a humorous romance with powerful underlying themes.
Meet Audrey: she doesn’t leave her house if she doesn’t have to, and she rarely ever talks to anybody. One day she meets Linus, her brother’s friend — he’s kind and listens to Audrey without making her feel judged. The two begin to develop feelings for each other, yet Audrey fears that she can’t move forward when she still hasn’t gotten over her past.
Rainbow Rowell writes touchy-feely, compulsively readable romances that make you feel like you’re part of the story, too, and Fangirl is no exception.
Cath and her twin sister, Wren, were inseparable for years, but now they’re both in college and rooming separately. Cath is left alone with her fanfiction to write, a brand new roommate, and the guy who keeps stopping by her room… to see her roommate, right?
You can buy Fangirl here, and you’re sure to be swept away by this adorable coming-of-age story.
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Internationally bestselling author Sarah Dessen delights readers again with Saint Anything, a contemporary love story with a whole lot of heart.
Sydney always felt like she was living in the shadow of her older brother, Peyton until the day everything changed and he got sent to jail for drunk driving. Sydney grows increasingly concerned with the well-being of the boy who Peyton hit and seriously injured, while a neighboring family teaches her that she’s not responsible for the mistakes her brother made.
Matched by Ally Condie is a gripping, genre-bending romance with twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night.
Set in a future where who you love is decided for you, Cassia has always trusted the choices that the Society makes for her. Until the day when she gets to see her Matching screen, and there’s a mistake — the face of a boy she doesn’t know flashes on the screen before she’s Matched with her childhood best friend.
Cassia must decide between following the path that was made for her, or pursuing a future she never dreamed could exist.
You can buy Matched here, and check out the sequels Crossed and Reached to see where Cassia’s choice takes her.
Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
Jennifer Dugan’s Some Girls Do is a queer contemporary romance that tackles themes of identity and first love.
Morgan is forced to transfer schools in the middle of her senior year because being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct — and then she meets Ruby. She’s drawn to Ruby immediately, but Ruby isn’t out yet, whereas Morgan wants to be open about their relationship: each girl is living a different truth, but can they still make something real work?
Jennifer L. Armentrout kicks off her fan-favorite Lux series with Obsidian, a sparkling and witty paranormal romance that readers of any age will love!
After a dreary move to small-town West Virginia, Katy is less than thrilled, until she meets her ridiculously handsome neighbor, Daemon. There are just two problems — One: once Daemon started talking, Katy realized how unbearably arrogant he was. Two: Daemon is a literal alien.
You can buy Obsidian here, and check out the next four books in the series for more spicy action and romance.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
If you’re in the market for a fun and flirty quick read, look no further than Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Belly spends her life counting down the days till it’s summer, when she gets to spend her time at a beloved beach house surrounded by the people she loves the most. She’s known Jeremiah and Conrad for years and they’re her everything: her brother figures, her first crushes, and more.
But the summer that Belly turned sixteen is the summer that everything changes — but is it for better or for worse?
Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a light and entertaining romp that’s a must-read for fans of mystery and romance.
Chloe Green was less than thrilled when she and her moms moved from California to Alabama, but there’s one thing keeping her going: winning valedictorian. That is until her rival, prom queen Shara Wheeler, kisses Chloe and then disappears without a trace.
But Chloe isn’t the only person Shara kissed, and now she’s thrown into an unlikely alliance, following clues and helping to track down Shara.
Witty banter and well-written characters line the pages of Kasie West’s The Distance Between Us, a realistic romance between two teens from vastly different backgrounds.
Caymen Meyers learned young that the rich aren’t to be trusted, so when she meets the wealthy Xander Spence she is less than enthusiastic about getting to know him. Slowly and surely she begins to change her mind about Xander, trusting that he might genuinely have her best interests at heart — until she learns a secret that shatters her trust all over again.
Marissa Meyer’s Cinder is a sparkling series debut that’s full of danger, romance, and characters you’ll grow to love.
In this sci-fi retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale, Cinder is a cyborg with a mysterious past and a stepmother who despises her. She meets the dashing Prince Kai and finds herself caught up in an intergalactic battle that could change not just her fate, but that of the entire world.
You can buy Cinder here, and make sure to pick up the next three books in the series for more genre-bending fairytale retellings.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Alex Light’s The Upside of Falling is an irresistibly cute, trope-driven romance that you won’t be able to put down!
When the introverted Becca Hart and football captain Brett Wells team up and pretend that they’re dating each other, neither of them expects to develop genuine feelings. The more the duo gets to know each other, the more they realize that they have a lot in common: but can something so obviously fake ever turn into something real?
A good teen romance book typically incorporates a central love story you’ll want to root for and moving coming-of-age elements.
What are the best romance books for teens?
The thirty romance books listed above are great for teens: with lovable characters, an easy-to-read storyline, and age-appropriate themes.
What age group is YA for?
YA, or young adult fiction, is typically targeted toward readers aged 13-18. However, the universal themes and quick pace of YA fiction make it a beloved category for older readers, too.
Who writes the best teen romances?
The above list of thirty books is written by talented and likable authors who are writing some of today’s best teen romances.
What are the best teen romance tropes?
Some of the most popular tropes in teen romances include a love triangle, love at first sight, and the girl (or boy) who doesn’t believe in love.
Layla Hughes is a professional writer who grew up on the Central Coast of California, and later studied English at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Her love for reading started when she was young, as she has been an avid reader ever since she mastered her ABC’s. She loves the classics, YA fiction, and loves keeping up with current reading and writing trends. She is currently traveling full-time in a converted camper van around the US, Mexico and Canada, enjoying living out a story of her own creation. find Layla on Instagram @laylabeth
