The 10 Best Teen Romance Books
This wiki has been updated 12 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Whether you're a young adult looking for relatable depictions of relationships among people your age or you're a grownup who wants to relive your adolescence through tales of youthful passion, these teen romance books can make you laugh and/or cry, depending on your preference. In addition to being love stories, many also explore the complicated and confusing process of growing up. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to the Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.
1. The Fault In Our Stars
2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before
3. Eleanor & Park
Editor's Notes
April 27, 2020:
Today's update saw a handful of changes to our lineup, including removing four selections. We said goodbye to the Twilight Saga, not only because its massive popularity has waned and the writing isn't particularly good, but it also features two arguably toxic relationships. We removed Everything, Everything to make way for Nicola Yoon's second book, The Sun Is Also a Star, which deals with immigration, a timely subject none of the other books on our list tackle as in-depth. Finally, we said goodbye to Every Day, which has a creative plot but doesn't quite tick all the boxes and relies heavily on stereotypes, and The Beginning of Everything, a fine read that, nevertheless, was not compelling enough to keep around.
Because teen romance tends to deal with heavy and emotional subject matter, we wanted to bring something light, yet still complex to the table. To All the Boys I've Loved Before fills that void admirably and has been made into a movie for readers who can't get enough of the book. The newly-added Five Feet Apart was also recently made into a film, although many critics feel the novel is superior. It is written with shades of Rainbow Rowell and Jennifer Niven, two authors known for their compelling and engaging writing styles. You'll find two of their books, Eleanor & Park and All the Bright Places, respectively, on this list as well.
Finally, we added Tell Me Three Things, which toes the line between heart wrenching and comedic. It deals with loss, mourning, and bullying, but does not weave in heavy hitting themes like domestic abuse, terminal illness, and suicide, which so often pop up in these works, making it a good middle ground for many readers. Parents should be aware that it describes sexual activity, some drug use, and includes swearing, so it may not be suitable for younger teens.
If you're looking for more mature romances, including some classics, consider checking out our list of romance books as well.
Special Honors
Penguin Random House Penguin Random House is the international home to nearly 250 editorially and creatively independent publishing imprints. Their expansive portfolio includes over 1,000 teen romance titles, with bestsellers and obscure works alike. You'll find selections from writers of every ilk, with books ranging from the paranormal to classic coming-of-age love stories. penguinrandomhouse.com
4. All the Bright Places
5. The Sun Is Also a Star
6. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
7. Five Feet Apart
8. Tell Me Three Things
9. Just Juliet
10. 180 Seconds
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.