The 10 Best Teen Romance Books

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.