Young adult (YA) romance is full of twists and turns because the subjects involved are at a stage where they want to try new things and discover themselves better. This type of romance usually happens in high school and first college years. Even if you’re not a young adult, you’re allowed to love and read YA romance literature.
If you’re looking for a good YA romance book to add to your library, here are the 15 best young adult romance books that will insanely charm you.
15 Best Young Adult Romance Books
1. All the Little Lights (Jamie McGuire)
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This book tells the story of Catherine and Elliot who first meet when they’re 15 years old, and instantly become best friends. However, Elliot leaves town just about when things between them start to get serious. When he returns to the school, he’s already a celebrated quarterback.
Catherine, on the other hand, has already grown into a woman with a secret. Their story is full of exciting twists and turns that will keep you hooked to it till the last page. The author perfectly merges romance with a page-turner to give you something to talk about for a long time, if not the rest of your life.
2. A Million Junes (Emily Henry)
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This is a story of an 18-year-old girl, Jack June O’Donnell, who grows up with deep hatred towards the Angerts – her neighbors. The Angerts and O’Donnells have lived in Five Fingers, Michigan, for decades, and they’ve never seen each other eye to eye. This rivalry has led June to hate the Angerts so much that she doesn’t want to be associated with any member of the family.
But as fate would have it, June ends up falling in love over hills with Saul Angert, an Angert. Their story has been likened to the modern-day story of Romeo and Juliet or the One Hundred Years of Solitude.
3. Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour (Morgan Matson)
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Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour story revolves around a young girl, Amy Curry, who has to move from California to Connecticut with her mother when her dad dies. Accompanying her on this trip is Roger, the son of her mother’s friend. Although the two have never met before, they quickly develop a relationship and decide to elope together. It’s an epic road trip full of adventure, laughter, mileage, and love.
4. Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)
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Read about Anna, a soon-to-be senior in Atlanta who thinks she’s got it all. Reality hits her when her father decides to send her to a boarding school on the other side of the world in France. Here. She has to contend with baguettes (long, narrow French loaves) and Etienne St. Claire, a charming and handsome young man.
This story is set in Paris, the most romantic city in the world and features the swoon-worthy French lad that every young woman dreams of.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Saenz)
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This book tells the story of two 15-year-old Mexican-American boys, Aristotle and Dante, who met in 1987. The two formed a beautiful relationship straightaway ad grew up together to become men. Their friendship and what it could mean for both of them allows them to discover the secrets of the world like captivating success. Although the story unfolds slowly, it greatly rewards patient readers.
6. Ask the Passengers (A.S. King)
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This is the story of Astrid Jones, a high school senior living in a small town where she falls in love with another girl. She is judged harshly by society for her choice of love, so she turns to the airplanes passing over her every day for comfort. As she looks at the planes, she knows that the people inside them don’t judge her because of her innermost desires. This story is sad and honest because it provokes a debate that not many people in the world are willing to have.
7. Autoboyography (Christina Lauren)
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This is a thrilling story of Tanner Scott, a young man who’s bisexual. Scott moves with his family to Utah where he expects life to continue as normal. His main plan there is to finish his last semester in high school and move on with his life. Since Utah is a relatively conservative state, Scott doesn’t plan on coming out of the closet.
But when he enrolls in a writing seminar, he ends up meeting Sebastian Brother, a brilliant, prodigious, and handsome young man, who’s the principal tutor at the seminar. Sebastian is also an extreme Mormon. This is a pitch-perfect, heartrending tale about finding true love in a writing class.
8. A Walk to Remember (Nicholas Sparks)
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This is a classic story in this genre synonymous with the true meaning of a tear-jerker. It’s set in Beaufort, North Carolina, where Landon Carter – a popular class president – and Jamie Sullivan – a minister’s introverted daughter – meet and fall in love. Landon can’t believe he would fall in love with someone like Jamie. But it turns out to be real love that teaches readers how it feels like to find true love at the age of 17 years.
9. Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver)
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Before I Fall is a story of a young woman and queen bee, Samantha Kingston, who dies in a fatal car crash on the evening of “Cupid Day”, February 12. She doesn’t expect to get up the next morning February 12. But she relives her last day for a whole week.
Now she has to understand why this is happening to her while experiencing the five stages of grief about her demise. This book is about second chances. It became an instant hit after its publication.
10. Carry On (Rainbow Rowell)
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This book tells the story of Simon Snow, the “Chosen One”. Although Simon is supposed to be the mighty savior of the magical world, the reality is that he’s not that good. He keeps setting things on fire by accident and tripping over his own robes.
It’s clear that Simon doesn’t know what to do with the monster that has invaded the school grounds. Furthermore, he has to contend with his deep feelings for an extremely beautiful (but evil) roommate in Baz Pitch. It’s an addictive, romantic story that retells aspects of Harry Potter that you didn’t know could affect your life.
11. Dumplin’ (Julie Murphy)
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Dumplin’ is one of the plumpest in her small Texan town. Her real name is Willowdean Dickson. She was doing just fine until a handsome boy kissed her one day. She couldn’t believe the boy could love someone like her.
So, when her cherished aunt dies suddenly, she decided to participate in the Miss Clover City beauty pageant in honor of her memory. Despite her extra body weight, Will goes on to shine in the beauty pageant, proving that you can achieve anything with a positive mindset and acceptance.
12. Everything, Everything (Nicola Yoon)
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This is the story of Maddy, a 17-year-old lady who has never stepped out of her house because of her rare disease that makes her allergic to virtually everything. Unfortunately, doctors’ interventions haven’t succeeded. So, she has to continue staying indoors until a cure is found.
To the surprise of Maddy and everyone around her, a tall, handsome young man known as Olly moves into the house next door and starts showing Maddy everything exciting about the world out there. But she has to risk her life just to explore the world outdoors.
13. The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)
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The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of Hazel Grace, a young woman suffering from terminal cancer. This disease has left her believing that she is nearing her expiration date. So, she has already accepted her fate and is ready for anything. But suddenly, Augustus Waters, a young, handsome man, shows up at the Cancer Kid Support Group and turns her world upside down.
14. Foolish Hearts (Emma Mills)
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The last thing that Claudia, a high school senior, expected to happen in her final senior year was to make an enemy of Iris – one of the most callous girls in school. But the unexpected happens when the two are auditioned to produce a Midsummer Night’s Dream for their school. On top of the bad blood existing between the two girls, a young, cute boy comes and shows interest in Claudia. The whole encounter turns Claudia’s life around.
15. Geekerella (Ashley Poston)
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Elle Wittimer, a big geek girl, can’t let the opportunity to join a cosplay contest for a new Starfield film pass. The contest also offers her an opportunity to meet and greet Darien Freeman, a famous actor playing the role of Prince Carmindor. By now, you already have an idea of how this story ends, but you might be surprised by the turn of events.
You just have to read the book to go through the twists and turns. It’s a story of Cinderella meeting the nerd culture. It’s a delightful fairy tale with a lot of emotions.