“If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”
John Green, Looking for Alaska
Novels involving the romance genre have been popular for a long time but these classics have become even more popular because of the platforms they have been provided with. Booktok is a major example, as there is an influx of younger readers now as well.
There is a major list of romance novels that will make you swoon, have you giggling or even shedding tears at times and all these qualities altogether are what make these pieces even more enjoyable. These books range from absolute tear jerkers like The Fault in Our Stars to the ones that will make you heart flutter like; To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or even slow-burn classics. Here is a list of the best teen romance novels to read and enjoy at any age and anytime!
The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a New York times’ bestseller and this is a book almost everyone has come across, if not read. This book is more than just a sick kid in love story.
The main cast Hazel Grace and Augustus, two kids who are suffering from cancer who happen to find love amidst of the odds against them. It is truly a heart breaking tale and the delivery of the quotations throughout the novel makes it even better.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han is one of the most popular romance books in these times and even has a film based on it. This novel talks about Lara whose love letters are anonymously mailed to her former crushes.
This story portrays experiences with unrequited love and self-discovery in the process of character development as well. It is a heartfelt tale of first love and shows complexities of first love.
The summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is also another really popular book by Jenny Han that currently has a show made on it, with one season out. The story’s main character is Isabel, known as Belly who visits the Fisher brothers for three months of summer with her mother and brother, Steven.
Laurel and Susannah have been best friends since childhood. The tale mainly is about Belly’s relationship with Conrad the Fisher brother, she always had an enormous crush on since she was younger and the other brother Jeremiah who also wants to pursue her.
Five Feet Apart
Five Feet Apart is by Rachael Lippincott is an absolutely gut wrenching book where the main leads suffer from the terminal illness; cystic fibrosis. Stella and Will meet at a clinical trial and their tale stars from there.
This book is full of heartwarming moments mixed with moments of hope and being in a state of despair at the same time. Tales like this leave you wondering if one hadn’t lost to fate how things would’ve played out in the end.
Saint Anything
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen follows the story of Sydney who feels over shadowed due to her brother Peyton and her parents don’t seem to care much for her either. She meets her best friend Layla after moving schools, she also meets Mac, who she is in a relationship with later and they have their ups and downs.
The focus is mainly on the dynamic between their friendship and family. Whilst dealing with other teenage drama Sydney also has to deal with the new girl at school drama and dealing with everything all at once which adds more depth to the average cutesy romance genre. The ending could be said was a bit abrupt since a lot of things needed a resolution and the book ended rather quickly but it’s definitely a good read.
Love & Gelato
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a young teenager book which follows the story of a teenager names Lena who has to go to Italy for the summer as it her mother’s dying wish, to live with her dad whom she knows nothing about.
There she uncovers her mother’s old journal in which she finds her mother’s secrets. There are many elements to the story and the main focus shifts from one topic to the other, whilst she finds love as she follows her mother’s footsteps. This book focuses on two key elements, one being Lena’s and Ren’s and the other being her mothers and Howard’s.
Lost Letters
The Summer of Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds tells the tale of a Young girl named Abigail who, after mourning the death of her grandmother, she receives a bundle of letters from her grandmother’s behalf dating back to the 1940’s by a mysterious man named Edward. Later she unveils the revering truth about her grandmother.
She makes her journey to Nantucket under the lie that she would work a job there for summer, there she encounters Edward’s grandson, Noah. He tries his best to stop her but eventually caves in yet under a compromise. This being a romance novel they ultimately falling for each other and uncover the mysteries of their grandparents together, through the ups and downs of the relationship.
Better Than the Movies
Better than movies by Lynn Painter is a rom-com which follows the life of Liz whose mother has passed away. That is around when her childhood crush Michael moves back into town, so she decides to get help from her annoying neighbor Wes, who might seem like the perfect candidate for her romantic comedy but he has been nothing but a pain.
She decides to call a truce and get help from Wes since he’s friends with Michael. But little does she know her interactions with Wes should unfold into something far beyond friendship.
The Summer of Broken Rules
The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther tells the story of a young girl whose sister had recently passed away. Meredith, the protagonists extended family is holding a big wedding and one of the wedding festivities includes a family tradition called assassins.
A week before the wedding Meredith’s boyfriend dumped her but during the game of assassins she forms an alliance with a groomsman who she eventually falls for as the story unfolds.
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney is an inclusive book that talks about various topics. The female lead Quinn tends to keep a journal where she writes her deepest darkest secrets and fears.
One unsuspecting day the journal goes missing and a unanimous user posts a picture of one of her lists and threatens her that they will upload the entire journal if Quin doesn’t face her seven of her fears. Here, she joins hands with the male lead who she suspects the least, Carter. This book talks about how Quinn tackles her issues, falls in love and there’s also exploration of race, class and privilege.
Perfect Chemistry
The themes of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, look far beyond race, prejudice and explores the topics of self-discovery. The story begins with Brittany, a seemingly perfect girl from the outside, who gets partnered with Alex, a boy who’s from the Latino Blood.
Alex gets dared from his friends to go out with Brittany as a bet. But Alex finds out that Brittany is more than a “pretty face” and Brittany soon realizes that Alex is more than a “tough guy”.
The Selection
The Selection by Kiera Cass has three editions in total. This story follows the life events of America Singer as she is selected to compete with 35 others to be crowned. There she meets Prince Maxon and ultimately helps him grow as a person.
During the journey she seems to finally realize that maybe her new life offers more opportunities and comfort than the last one. The tempo of the book was satisfying and sure it was predictable at times yet the book ended up being heartwarming-ly worth it in the end.
Pushing The Limits
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry tells the story about Noah and Echo, two traumatized teens. Their trauma responses to these traumatic events were very different as Echo was trying to fit in with her friends and continue to try and live a perfect life again whereas Noah had the reputation of a bad boy and lives up to the title.
Noah and Echo are paired together by the school therapist and Echo is Noah’s tutor for calculus. Then the two of them become friends despite their differences and ultimately fall for each other.
If He Had Been with Me
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin of a girl named Autumn and her best friend Finny that has liked since her childhood. Their mothers were friends so they thought they had an unbreakable friendship, but as high school progressed they felt their friendship get a little awkward.
After Autumns breakup, which came to her as a shock, she finally realizes the love she had for Finny albeit it being a stillborn type of love. Finny’s girlfriend, Sylvie was the main antagonist of this novel. The two rekindled their friendship and eventually confessed their love for each other while Sylvie was away. Finny finally decided to end things with Sylvie so he could be with Autumn. Yet due to unforeseen circumstances, a happy ending was not acquired.
Just Listen
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen follows the story of Annabel as she, the strong protagonist, works through her issues alone and through help. Her overcoming these issues leaves her a good role model to the reader.
These problems usually center around her own hard life and family problems. The male love interest, Owen Armstrong is a music snob and often times too honest but the way Owen brings Annabel out of her shell and helps her cope with her problems all the while not being the direct solutions really makes this book one the best reads yet.
