50 Books About Teenage Romance to Totally Crush On

If you love books about teenage romance, then you’ll want to check out this book list of teen romance books that will tug on all your heartstrings.

There’s just something super sweet about books about teenage romance that gives me all the feels and takes me back to being a teen again.

Want to reminisce about the days of young love, first times and first loves? Be sure to add these young adult romance books to your TBR list.

From contemporary teen romances to young adult fantasy romances, LGBTQ+ teen romances, and even books about teenage romances that you can now watch as movies and TV series, there is something for everyone on this list!

On this book list you’ll find:

• The Best Books About Teenage Romance
• Popular Teen Romance Books
• Popular Fantasy Books About Teenage Romance
• Teen Romance Books Made into Movies & TV Series

For even more young adult romance books, check out these book lists:

• Best Young Adult Fantasy Romance Books
• Best YA Enemies to Lovers Books
• Academic Rivals to Lovers Books

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Best Books About Teenage Romance

A Thousand Boy Kisses
by Tillie Cole

A Teenage Romance That Will Make You Sob

One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime. One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade.

A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe.

When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind.

Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation?

Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.

A Thousand Boy Kisses is one of the best books about teenage romance that I’ve ever read, but I’m telling you now that you need an ENTIRE box of tissues beside you while reading this book.

It’s such a captivating young adult romance that will have you believing in soulmates but man will it rip your heart out and make you ugly cry.

Dear Ava
by Ilsa Madden-Mills

An Enemies to Lovers Teen Romance Book

Ava is back at Camden Prep for her senior year as the outcast. The popular Sharks may rule the school but one destroyed her and now another is leaving secret love notes in her locker.

Dear Ava is quite a special teen romance book that will have you feeling so deeply for characters who have seen and struggled with way more than anyone ever should during their eighteen years of life.

As seniors in high school, these characters deal with some very serious tragedies but Madden-Mills addresses them in such a thoughtful way that I couldn’t put this book down.

I loved the passing of secret notes and the slight suspense to this high school romance, but it’s the strength of these teens who not only rise from their adversity but ultimately thrive together because of it that will have you falling in love with this book.

Check out my book review of Dear Ava.

Beard With Me
by Penny Reid

A Beautiful, Origin Story Teen Romance Book

Scarlet St. Claire is a survivor. She’s careful and she’s smart, but not when it comes to Billy Winston.

Billy Winston is a fighter. He’d do absolutely anything for his family which is why he must always be in complete control. Billy is fearless and he’s honorable, but not when it comes to Scarlet St. Claire.

This book is the origin story of all origin stories.

I totally fell so hard for the star-crossed lovers, Scarlet and Billy, while reading the Winston Brothers series by Reid, and reading this book about teenage romance before the series finale was nothing short of amazing.

This story follows these teens during the first weeks of their friendship and how they came to fall in love despite the odds stacked against them.

This book gave me all the feels and is one that I won’t soon forget. A must-read young adult romance.

Check out my book review of Beard With Me.

Autoboyography
by Christina Lauren

A MM Teen Romance Book

When Tanner Scott’s family moved from California to Utah three years ago, he was forced to push his bisexual identity back into the closet.

Now he only has one semester left of high school before he can move out of state.

But when his best friend encourages him to take the coveted Seminar at Provost High, he meets TA Sebastian Brother.

Now Tanner has to not only write a book in four months, he also has to try and not fall in love with his mentor.

This book was simply magnificent.

Absolutely one of Christina Lauren’s finest and a book everyone should read.

The heartbreaking romance between Tanner and Sebastian was wonderful but there is so much more to this MM book about teenage romance.

Read this book for a reminder of what it means to love unconditionally, to learn about the Mormon religion and lifestyle and to read the most amazing coming-of-age story.

It also made my list of best teacher student romance books. Check out my book review of Autoboyography.

Skin
by B.B. Easton

A Gripping Teen Romance Book

At age 15, BB was planning her wedding to the punk hero of Peach State High, Lance Hightower.

Trying desperately to gain his attention by not eating and shaving her head, she instead ends up the object of Ronald “Knight” McKnight’s attention.

The senior skinhead who’s anger scares everyone, including BB, but who ultimately ends up getting under her skin and changing her life forever.

My advice to you when you read this book – start reading it first thing in the morning on a weekend because you will not be able to put this teen romance book down once you start.

Forget about romance books with the perfect heroine and the swoony hero with the fairytale romance.

This is not that type of story. It’s so much more.

Easton pens such gritty, damaged, flawed, raw and devastatingly real teens in this coming-of-age tale laced with neglectful parents, poor self-esteem and the need to be loved.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget Ronald McKnight or the girl who loved him. This is a young adult romance book not to be missed.

Check out my book review of Skin.

Paper Princess
by Erin Watt

An Enemies to Lovers Teen Romance Book

Ella Harper is a survivor. She’s survived drifting from town to town with her mother all her life, but since her mother’s passing she’s been supporting herself.

She’s stripping to make ends meet until Callum Royal uproots her life and plops her into his mansion amongst his own five sons. The Royal boys hate her on the spot, but none more so than Reed.

Now Ella has to learn to survive her new prep school, the wrath of the Royal boys, the deception around her and not fall for the ruthless of them all- Reed.

Wow! This book was so much more than I expected.

While I was initially afraid I might be entering bully romance land, this book about teenage romance turned out to be a fantastic, enemies to lovers romance that I couldn’t put down.

The tension is high between Ella and Reed from the start, but it’s the spark to their intense chemistry that is felt between these teens when they are at home and at school.

While I was falling for these two apparent enemies, you could sense an underlying mystery to the story that will leave you dying to grab book two in the series.

I highly recommend this well-written and captivating teen romance book and then read all The Royals series!

Check out my book review of Paper Princess.

A Crack in Everything
by L.H. Cosway

A Breathtaking Teen Romance Book to Awaken the Senses

Dylan O’Dea and Evelyn Flynn may live in the same rundown, low income housing development in Ireland and even attend the same high school, but they were never friends.

Until the night Dylan broke into her flat, held her against the wall and told her to stay quiet.

Dylan can’t wait to leave the neighborhood and escape to a new life and create the fragrance line he’s always dreamed of. And he wants to take Evelyn with him, only she has no plans to leave.

Oh, get ready for a bit of heartbreak with this one!

Cosway is a gifted writer and her words just flow off the page with this teen romance book.

You can’t help but fall for Dylan and Evelyn even though you know that they are two people with different paths set ahead of them.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance book that made me think so much about scent and smell! I just wanted to leap onto the page and smell every fragrance.

This is book one in a duet so you can be sure that this young adult romance book ends in a cliffhanger, but you will LOVE book two just as much.

Loving Mr. Daniels
by Brittainy C. Cherry

A Teacher-Student Teen Romance Book

Ashlyn is grieving the loss of her sister but when she stumbles into a bar, the music sung by the gorgeous guitar player soothes her heartache.

How is it that one night and one person could be the balm she needs for the loss she feels.

But when she starts her senior year at a new high school, she comes face to face with her musician, her new English teacher.

This high school romance book was a sweet love story between two people dealing with loss and who find comfort in one another.

If you’re a fan of Cherry, you’ll find this to be like most of her novels which have fantastic writing, a heart-tugging story and a romance that may make you sad but one that is hopeful as well.

It too made my list of best teacher student romance books. Check out my book review of Loving Mr. Daniels.

Fake It ‘Til You Break It
by Meagan Brandy

An Enemies to Lovers Teen Romance Book

Despite being neighbors and once friends, Nico ghosted Demi once they started high school. That is until senior year when Nico is assigned to be Demi’s chemistry lab partner.

Demi may be less than thrilled about being paired with the hot football star but when he proposes a fake relationship to help her get the attention of a teammate, she finds herself saying yes.

If you like your books about teenage romance with a bit of drama, then this is the one for you.

I sure do love a good fake relationship love story and this was one keeps you on your toes because Nico is helping Demi get the attention of someone he can’t stand and who he has some interesting history with- queue drama!

You definitely feel like you’re back in high school with this teen romance – attending Friday night football games, suffering through chem lab and hanging out with good friends.

Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover

A Teen Romance Book With All The Feels

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies. That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder.

He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her.

After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be.

When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

You may think that Hopeless is just a coming of age story from the book summary, but if you know Colleen Hoover books then you know you’re in for so much more. And gear up you should for this is an emotional read.

What transpires is a story of young love, awakening, and discovery in ways you don’t see coming.

I was so in awe of Sky’s strength and she instantly became one of those strong heroines I love to read about.

Read it and then discover the entire Hopeless series. Check out my book review of Hopeless.

Popular Teen Romance Books

Tweet Cute
by Emma Lord

A Teen Romance Book Twisted up in Twitter

Pepper is trying to hold down her life while she’s secretly running her family’s fast food chain restaurant’s massive Twitter account.

Jack is Pepper’s classmate and overall pain in the you know what who takes on a Twitter war with the fast food restaurant that stole his Grandmother’s grilled cheese recipe.

Pepper and Jack may have waged a battle on social media unknowing that they are also following for each other on an anonymous chat app.

I love how this book about teenage romance uses social media to fuel the flames between Jack and Pepper in one aspect and yet with another anonymous app, fuels the flames in an entirely different direction.

It’s like the modern, teen version of the icon romance movie, You’ve Got Mail which I equally loved.

Anna and the French Kiss
by Stephanie Perkins

A Boarding School Teen Romance Book

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more.

Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris–until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all…including a serious girlfriend.

I love romance books that inspire travel and I found myself wanting to go to Paris even if Anna went reluctantly.

If you ever found yourself pining for someone who was already taken, this is the teen romance book for you!

Heartstopper
by Alice Oseman

A Sweet, Teenage Romance Graphic Novel

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning.

A warm and intimate friendship follows that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance.

But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

I love that Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series has gained even more popularity after the Netflix series released because it brings a lot of focus to romance graphic novels.

Graphic novels are so popular with the teen audience and Oseman’s books are a great entry point for those interested in books about teenage romance, particularly young adult MM romance.

This book is super sweet and an adorable teen romance that will have you falling for both Charlie and Nick.

Better Than the Movies
by Lynn Painter

An Enemies to Lovers Teenage Romance

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away.

Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids.

Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes.

And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.

I adore Lynn Painter’s writing style for both her adult romance and young adult romance books.

Better Than the Movies is just one of her books about teenage romance worth reading but I love the cute relationship coach aspect to this story to help get Liz noticed.

I also adore YA enemies to lovers stories where there is a history of childhood antics between the main characters and that is absolutely the case in this romance that has neighbors falling for each other.

Check & Mate
by Ali Hazelwood

A Teenage Romance About Following Your Passion

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the job that keeps the lights on.

That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

Nolan’s loss to an unknown rookie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again.

What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over.

But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place.

And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…).

I adore Ali Hazelwood’s books so I am all about her venturing into young adult romance with this adorable book focusing on two chess players.

It’s so hard when you’re forced to give up a passion, but to then find it again but carry the burden of potentially hurting your family is a lot. Not to mention potentially falling for a competitor!

I’ll read anything Hazelwood writes, but definitely this teen romance.

Everything Everything
by Nicola Yoon

A Teenage Romance That Tugs on the Heartstrings

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
 
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely.

He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
 
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Cue the teenage angst with this one! Oh man, how do you fall in love but never be able to step outside your house to touch the person who’s captured your heart?

Considering they cannot touch or interact outside her home, you know that the dialogue between them in IMs and emails is going to be something.

Yoon dazzles with this book about teenage romance that was made into a movie that you can now watch on Amazon Prime.

Float
by Kate Marchant

A Sweet Summer Teenage Romance

Waverly Lyons has been caught in the middle of her parents’ divorce for as long as she can remember.

This summer, the battle rages over who she’ll spend her vacation with, and when Waverly’s options are shot down, it’s bye-bye Fairbanks, Alaska and hello Holden, Florida to stay with her aunt.

Coming from the tundra of the north, the beach culture isn’t exactly Waverly’s forte. The sun may just be her mortal enemy, and her vibe is decidedly not chill.

To top it off? Her ability to swim is nonexistent.

Enter Blake, the (superhot) boy next door. Charming and sweet, he welcomes Waverly into his circle.

For the first time in her life, Waverly has friends, a social life, and soon enough, feelings . . . for Blake.

As the two grow closer, Waverly’s fortunes begin to look up. But every summer must come to an end, and letting go is hardest when you’ve finally found where you belong.

There’s just something super special about books about summer romance that makes me want to gobble up every single romance beach read imaginable.

Summer, when you’re a teen, is such a finite amount of time to grow up, explore new places and experience new firsts like falling in love.

I adore that Waverly is thrown out of her comfort zone in more ways than one in Float between swimming, friends, and feelings, and cannot wait to see the transformation that results.

Meet Cute Diary
by Emery Lee

A Fake Dating Teenage Romance

Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters.

There’s just one problem—all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans readers across the globe.

When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. The only way to save the Diary is to convince everyone that the stories are true, but he doesn’t have any proof.

Then Drew walks into Noah’s life, and the pieces fall into place: Drew is willing to fake-date Noah to save the Diary.

But when Noah’s feelings grow beyond their staged romance, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t quite the same as finding love on the page.

I love fake dating romance books and I already adore the reason why Noah and Drew begin their own fake relationship.

But as Noah soon finds out, it’s often easier to write about happily-ever-afters than to find your own in real life.

I think there’s a universal vulnerability felt when putting your heart on the line or realizing when fake feelings start to become real, but it’s even more impactful in this book about teenage romance given Noah’s blog audience of trans readers.

Love Radio
by Ebony LaDelle

A Teenage Romance with the Love Doctor

Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers—or so it seems. After all, at seventeen, he has his own segment on Detroit’s popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, where he dishes out advice to the brokenhearted.

Prince has always dreamed of becoming a DJ and falling in love. But being the main caretaker for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and his little brother means his dreams will stay just that and the only romances in his life are the ones he hears about from his listeners. Until he meets Dani Ford.

Dani isn’t checking for anybody. She’s focused on her plan: ace senior year, score a scholarship, and move to New York City to become a famous author.

But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what’s blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago. And that’s one thing Dani can’t do.

When the romantic DJ meets the ambitious writer, sparks fly. Prince is smitten, but Dani’s not looking to get derailed.

She gives Prince just three dates to convince her that he’s worth falling for. Three dates for the love expert to take his own advice, and just maybe change two lives forever.

A teen love doctor? This I have to hear! I actually love that Prince is set on convincing Dani, who hates all things romance, that they can have a connection in just three dates.

Though this book about teenage love also deals with some heavy and trigger warning topics, it also showcases two teens who have strong familial relationships and who support one another in their passions for music and writing.

Opposite of Always
by Justin A. Reynolds

A Time Travel Teenage Romance

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard.

Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack.

But then Kate dies. And their story should end there.

Yet Kate’s passing sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind.

Still, if he has a chance to prevent losing her, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel.

However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns dangerous for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do to save the people he loves.

This teen romance is for those who love time travel romance books, particularly books ala the movie Groundhog Day where you’re stuck in a time loop.

Who wouldn’t want to try and do anything they can to save someone they love? Young love is so special that my heart already goes out to Jack who finds himself in this position.

Counting Down With You
by Tashie Bhuiyan

An Opposites Attract Teenage Romance

Karina Ahmed has a plan. Keep her head down, get through high school without a fuss, and follow her parents’ rules—even if it means sacrificing her dreams.

When her parents go abroad to Bangladesh for four weeks, Karina expects some peace and quiet. Instead, one simple lie unravels everything.

Karina is my girlfriend.

Tutoring the school’s resident bad boy was already crossing a line. Pretending to date him? Out of the question.

But Ace Clyde does everything right—he brings her coffee in the mornings, impresses her friends without trying, and even promises to buy her a dozen books (a week) if she goes along with his fake-dating facade.

Though Karina agrees, she can’t help but start counting down the days until her parents come back.

T-minus twenty-eight days until everything returns to normal—but what if Karina no longer wants it to?

I love that this teen romance book features a reserved Bangladeshi-American teenager who reluctantly starts fake dating the school’s bad boy.

If you like books about teenage romance where the heroine just wants to be truly seen for who she is and what she wants instead of what is expected of her, then this is your book.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
by Joya Goffney

A Teen Romance Started in Blackmail

Quinn keeps lists of everything—from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud” and all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane.

By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing . . .

Then an anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public.

Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.

Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

Quinn is a teen after my own heart because I too keep lists about everything, not just book lists 😊. I have to admit though that I’ve never kept a list of things I’m afraid of and I certainly wouldn’t want that list to make it’s way into anyone else’s hands.

However, with any great book about teenage romance and coming of age stories, sometimes when we’re forced to face our fears, the best transformations happen!

I cannot wait to see how Quinn faces her fears but am also excited to see how the hunt for her blackmailer turns out!

What if It’s Us
by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

An MM Teenage Romance

Arthuris only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. What if it’s us?

This is definitely a popular young adult gay romance novel because who doesn’t want to read about young love that starts with an adorable meet-cute?

Plus, if you love a ton of NYC references or are a fan of Broadway and pop culture, then you’re going to love it too.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler
by Casey McQuiston

A Queer Teenage Romance

Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and the puritanical administration of Willowgrove Christian Academy.

The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny.

But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush.

The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her.

It’ll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair and square.

Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too.

Casey McQuiston may be best known for her debut novel, Red, White and Royal Blue but she ventured into young adult romance with this queer romance.

And since McQuiston is the author, you know that she’s got something to say setting this book about queer youth in a Christian Academy in the South.

I love academic rivals to lovers books and this totally fits the bill, and yet it’s the mystery and scavenger hunt following Shara’s clues that really stand out and have me wondering “what happens?!”

P.S. I Love You
by Kasie West

A Teenage Romance Based on Anonymity

While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk.

The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters — sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other.

Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he?

As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out.

Gah! Love stories where the people are anonymous to one another just gut me.

With so much focus on looks and who’s doing what on social media, it’s refreshing to read about characters who fall for each other purely from sharing with each other through notes.

This book about teenage romance and love of music is one to add to your TBR list!

Tilly in Technicolor
by Mazey Eddings

A Neurodivergent Teenage Romance

Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh.

Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future.

The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.

Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him.

Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume.

Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly.

Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.

As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.

I’m so down for Mazey Eddings’s young adult debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

Teenage romance should always be about finding your person – the one who may or may not be the same as you but who totally sees you and accepts you for who you are.

I think the setting for this teen romance and the design program also offers something unique to this story.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
by Talia Hibbert

A Forced Proximity Teenage Romance

Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
 
Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table.

Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past.

And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

I love Talia Hibbert’s romance books and I love even more how she’s ventured into young adult romance with this ya enemies to lovers book.

A childhood friendship gone wrong, forced proximity (the wilderness!), and a chance to rekindle a friendship into something more – this one has so much going for it!

Geekerella
by Ashley Poston 

A Teenage Romance Based on a Fandom

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father.

So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot.

With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.
 
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets.

 Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob.

As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

I adore this modern twist on the classic fairy tale Cinderella in this teen romance that is an ode to anyone who lives and breathes a fandom.

Others must agree as it was nominated for Best Young Adult Fiction in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards!

Prom & Prejudice
by Elizabeth Eulberg

A Pride and Prejudice Teenage Romance Retelling

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom.

Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be – especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious.

Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money.

Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk – so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

A modern Pride and Prejudice retelling set in a boarding school with prom as the focus? I love it!

This book about teenage romance follows a similar storyline to the original with a few twists to bring it to life in the contemporary world.

If you have a think for Elizabeth and Darcy, you have to check it out.

American Royals
by Katharine McGee

A Royal Teenage Romance

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne.

Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren’t just any royals. They’re American.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America’s first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling.

Nobody cares about the spare except when she’s breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn’t care much about anything, either except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her.

And then there’s Samantha’s twin, Prince Jefferson. Most of America adores the handsome prince, but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.

I adore the premise to this royal romance! I’m all for diving into an alternate version of the modern world, where America has a monarchy and all the changes that would come with it.

I think each of the royal children are going to have some intriguing storylines in this novel and the entire American Royals series so I’m up for more than one love story to enjoy.

Check it out if you want to envision the good ole US of A as a monarchy in this young adult romance.

Perfect Chemistry
by Simone Elkeles

An Opposites Attract Teen Romance Book

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes.

She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she’s worked so hard for-her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it.

But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

Neither Brittany nor Alex is prepared for the most surprising chemical reaction of all–love.

Girl falling for the boy from the opposite side of the tracks is the perfect setup for any book about teenage romance with angst in my mind!

This is the perfect read if you like opposties attract romance books!

The Problem With Forever
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Coming-Of-Age Teen Romance Book

After years in the foster system and now years of being homeschooled, Mallory is entering the public high school for her senior year.

But she never imagined she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day. 

Always one to stay silent, Mallory must make the choice to stay silent or speak out when her friend’s life begins to spiral out of control.

Armentrout knows how to bring on the water works with this book about teenage romance!

If you want a book that has all the feels and reunites two friends in high schoool, put this one on your TBR list. A great, friends to lovers story.

Eleanor and Park
by Rainbow Rowell

A Coming-Of-Age, Young Love Teen Romance Book

Eleanor is the new girl in town who sticks out with her red hair, mismatched clothes and chaotic family life.

Her life changes for the better after meeting the boy at the back of the bus who thought he was invisible – Park.

This is their story of being friends over late-night conversations and mix tapes before falling for each other.

I adore sweet books about first love and Rowell doesn’t dispapoint with this one that has over a million ratings on Goodreads!

When you’re a teen, you can be a bit idealistic about love. Eleanor and Park are a bit more realistic but end up falling for each other anytway. So cute!

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Love From A to Z
by S.K. Ali

A Teen Romance Book That Looks Beyond Ethnicity

When Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are, she gets angry.

But that anger gets her suspended and an early start to spring break at her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar where she resolves to be a nicer, less angry version of herself.

It’s there that she meets Adam. Adam too is putting up appearances.

He’s keeping his multiple sclerosis diagnosis a secret from his grieving father and trying to keep his mother’s memory alive for his little sister.

I loved the diversity in this cross cultural romance book that brings together two teens both struggling with their own issues.

This teen romance also brings an important voice to islamophobia as well as multiple schlerosis.

You Should See Me in a Crown
by Leah Johnson

An LBGTQ Teen Romance Book

Liz Lighty has a plan to get out of her small midwestern town and that plan includes going to college and coming a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, her plans are in jeopardy until she remembers her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen.

Willing to do anything to get into the college of her dreams, she runs for prom queen along with the new girl in town, Mack.

Mack makes the whole process more bearable but will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams or make them come true?

I adore the tenacity of Liz who sets her sights on the prom queen crown. Johnson’s book about teenage romance definitely struck a cord in many readers as it earned a nomination for Best Young Adult Fiction in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender

A Transgender Teen Romance Book

Felix Love is desperate to find love but also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender.

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages Felix comes up with a plan for revenge.

What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle and launching a journey to self-discovery.

This was one of the first transgender romance books I ever came across and instantly loved the storyline and where Callender took this book about teenage romance. It’s a must-read.

There’s Something About Sweetie
by Sandhya Menon

A Teen Romance Book That Looks Beyond Size

In a moment of weakness after Ashish Patel’s been dumped by his girlfriend, the teen challenges his parents to set him up.

Confident they can make him the perfect match, they insist that he date an Indian-American girl.

Enter Sweetie Nair who is so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. 

Both Ashish and Sweetie have something to prove, but in dating each other they find their true selves and each other.

Menon’s teen romance, When Dimple Met Rishi, is extremely popular and rightly so, but I love the set-up to this book about teenage romance that she wrote after it. Both characters are adorable and you’ll be routin gfor them the entire time.

Fantasy Books About Teenage Romance

There are so many great young adult fantasy romance books but here are a few of the most popular:

The Selection
by Kiera Cass

A Fantasy Teenage Romance ala The Bachelor

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.

Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

With over a million ratings on Goodreads and as a 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction & Science Fiction, it’s no lie that this book is one of the most popular young adult fantasy romance books.

If you mash up The Bachelor with The Hunger Games-like dystopia and a bunch of teens then you’ve got The Selection and an intriguing love triangle story.

For a book about teenage romance set in a futuristic world divided by a caste system, this is a must-read before binge-reading the entire The Selection series!

Cinder
by Marissa Meyer

A Fantasy Teenage Romance Plus Cinderella Retelling

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population.

From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness.

But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I love everything about this unique young adult romance – cyborgs, lunar people, a mysterious illness and a setting in New Beijing…gah! What a cool way to approach a Cinderella retelling.

If you like her rendition of this teenage romance story, then check out the rest of her retellings in the Lunar Chronicles!

Carry On
by Rainbow Rowell

A MM, Paranormal Teenage Romance

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen, according to his roommate, Baz.

And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire.

His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face.

Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

This is a MM romance that is a mix of ghost story, mystery and love story wrapped up in a young adult package.

It is the perfect book about teenage romance if you want a book with some paranormal flare!

Of Curse and Kisses
by Sandhya Menon

An Enemies to Lovers Teenage Romance

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge.

Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime.

She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in.

There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen.

Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something.

Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

I adore fairytale retellings and this young adult enemies to lovers book is a modern spin on Beauty and the Beast but takes place an at elite international boarding school.

If you like teen romance books with curses and princesses give it a go.

Read it and then check out the rest in the Rosetta Academy series for more retellings. 

Teen Romance Books Made Into Movies & TV Series

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyer

A Paranormal Teen Romance Book

Bella Swan has always been a bit of a loner. When she moves to Washington to live with her father, she starts a new high school where she meets Edward.

Edward is unlike any other teen. He’s a vampire and Bella is in love with him.

If you havent’ already been taken in by the popularity of Meyer’s Twilight series, then give it a go if you love vampire romance books mixed with teenage angst!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
by Jenny Han

A Teen Romance Book About Crushes

Lara Jean wrote each of her crushes a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed.

The boys were never supposed to read those letters but somehow they were mailed and now here crushes are confronting her.

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Netflix knew that this is one of the best books about teenage romance hense all the movies it made! Books are always so much better so read it first then jump into the movie.

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

A Teen Romance Book About Young Love

Hazel is a teen with thyroid cancer. At the urging of her mother, she attends a cancer patient support group and meets Augustus whose own cancer is in remission.

The two spark a friendship that bonds over books and leads them on an adventure of discovery.

I couldn’t help but include this book about teenage romance which is both beatutiful and devastating at the same time. Keep a box of tissues nearby when reading this teen romance.

All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Nevin

A Teen Romance Book That Looks At Mental Illness

Theodore Finch is considered a freak. He’s fascinated by the loss of life, and he constantly thinks of ways he might end his own. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey too is ready to escape. She’s ready to escape their Indiana town and her the grief that’s crippling her since her sister’s recent passing.

Meeting each other, it’s unclear who saves whom. But while Finch helps Violet learn to live again, Finch’s world continues to spiral.

This book about teenage romance brings up ALL the feelings which is why it is such good material for a movie. This is another one I’d recommend reading first before jumping into the movie.

A Walk to Remember
by Nicholas Sparks

A Teen Romance Book That Looks Back

Every April, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958.

He was one of the popular kids in school and he never would have guessed he’d fall for Jamie Sullivan, the quiet daughter of the town’s Baptist minister.

But when Jamie becomes his partner for the Homecoming dance, his life is changed forever.

Argument aside about whether or not Nicholas Sparks’ books really fit romance given the common ending for some of his books (this one included!), he writes good, emotional books about teenage love.

The Kissing Booth
by Beth Reekles

A Best Friend’s Brother Teen Romance Book

It’s junior year and Elle has never been kissed. When Elle and her best friend Lee decide to run a kissing booth for the school’s Spring Carnival, she locks lips with Noah – Lee’s older brother and Elle’s crush.

She wants to explore more with Noah but at what cost to her heart and her friendship?

I’m just still amazed the the author wrote this at the age of fifteen and got her first book deal at seventeen. For that alone I give her props. If you want to read a book about teenage romance writeen by a teenager, this is the book.

The Duff
by Kody Keplinger

An Enemies to Lovers Teen Romance Book

Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest of her friends but when the school stud, Wesley Rush nicknames her “the Duff,” it solidifies her hate for the boy.

But then she goes and kisses Wesley for a distraction and throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

 It turns out that his life is just as messed up as hers and she may be falling for the enemy.

I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers books each and every time, especially when it comes to teenagers who can banter with the best of them but find commonality in each other when they stop to take a look.

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A Teen Romance Book With Rock n’ Roll

Nick is a teenager in a band and he’s nursing a broken heart. One night out in NYC he meets Norah, a fellow teen who shares his love of the same music.

What starts out as a pretend relationship, continues as an all-night first date as they search together for a legendary band’s secret show.

I love books that take plce over the course of one night or day! I’m not really bothered by the instalove or instalike but it’s the deep look into their connection (and for Nick and Nora their love of music) that is so fun in this book about teenage romance.

The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han

A Summer Teenage Romance

Belly measures her life in summers.

Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad.

They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between.

But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Summer is where the magic happens in this book about teenage romance and it may make you nostalgic for yours.

Jenny Han has the market on young adult romance considering both The Summer I Turned Pretty series and the To All the Boys I Loved Before books were made into a tv series and movies respectively.

Read this and then binge the TV series on Amazon Prime!

More About Teen Romance Books:

Teen Romance Books = High School Romance Books

For me, a teen romance book is just that – a book where the major characters are teenagers and the story line takes place during the high school years.

So, you won’t find books with teens who have already graduated high school or who are starting college on this list.

Those will be found on my college romance books list just FYI!

Instead, these teen romance books solely feature high school romance stories.

Audience for Books About Teenage Romance

The audience for teen romance books is wide, spanning teens themselves to adults who equally love these stories.

While some people lump teen romance books into the young adult romance book category, not all of these books are geared toward the 12-18 age group.

Some teen romance books are geared for the 12-18 year-old crowd (which would fit the young adult romance book distinction), while other teen romance books are written and geared more for 18 and over readers.

I’m not one to judge which books are best for which audience, so I will leave that up to the reader to decide when it comes to the teen romance books on this list!

Trends in Teen Romance Books

What can you expect from a teen romance book?

While you can find story variety in every category of romance books, there are two popular trends that you’ll find in many books about teenage romance geared toward the more mature audience.

These trends include:

• Bully romances
• Romance amidst trauma

Bully Romance

High school is a microcosm of the world if you think about it. A variety of different people are all interacting in one tiny community.

You’ve got the jocks, the nerds, the wallflowers, the goths, the popular crowd and the ignored crowd.

The list of cliques could go on and on.

All this difference in high school unfortunately can be ripe breeding ground for bullying which is like catnip for romance book authors.

The drama and angst of high school bullying can make the best backdrop for teen romance books, making bully romances widely popular in the teen romance book world.

Teen Romance Amidst Trauma

Another popular trend in books about teenage romance is storylines with some sort of trauma affecting the teen characters.

And we all know that the high school years have no shortage of trauma and drama that can be woven into a romance story.

Many teen romances can include storylines about abuse, neglect, trauma, addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety, and other mental illnesses.

If some of these triggers are an issue for you, just be aware that more often than not, teen romance books may delve into one or more of these topics.

Diversity in Books About Teenage Romance

A growing trend that I love when it comes to books about teenage romance is the diversity of characters.

It’s becoming more and more easy to find high school romance books featuring teen romances between young adults of different

• ethnicities,
• social and economic backgrounds,
• shapes,
• abilities,
• orientation and
• gender identification or non-identification.

Love can be found in many ways and in many shapes and colors, so why shouldn’t that be reflected in romance books about young love?

I love this trend and hope to see it reflected in more young adult romance books to come.

Books About Teenage Romance Made into Movies & TV Series

Because of all the drama and trauma often found in high school romance books, these books about teenage romance often make the best movies and TV series.

Hollywood has already snatched up quite a few young adult romance books and made them into feature films and series.

If you like to see your favorite romance book come alive on screen, you’ll want to check out those books on the list of teen romance books above.

Now, do YOU have a favorite book abou teenage romance? One that didn’t make the list? Share it in the comments below.

Related Posts:

• Best College Romance Books
• The Best YA Enemies to Lovers Books
• Best Teacher Student Romance Books
• Best Young Adult Fantasy Romance Books

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