Seven Young Adult Romances to Make Your Heart Swoon

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
 
I love romance novels. And I love young adult (YA) novels. So, when I can get both of those things all in one book, I am thrilled.
One thing I love about the YA romances that are being published right now, are how often they include teens having positive and kind conversations about safe sex and consent. Many of the books listed here include the characters discussing sex and may mention that it happens or even show it. YA author Sandhya Menon shared with Teen Librarian Toolbox why she felt it was important to show teen characters discussing sex in a positive way. Jenn Bennett, another YA romance author, continued the conversation and shared why she includes sex on the page in every one of YA romances. Some of the books listed below include sex, some only go as far as a sweet kiss others include a fade to black, and others do show sex on the page.
You’ll also notice that this list is diverse. The characters are Indian, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, gay, lesbian, and fat. They are not your stereotypical heroes who are thin and beautiful or tall and muscular white people. They are teens who are navigating the realities of life with parental expectations, diverse cultural backgrounds, societal expectations and are just trying to figure out who they are and what’s important to them. A romance on top of all that is a lot for these teens to handle, but they still manage. I think those are great things for teens (and the rest of us) to read about.
Here are seven YA romances that I’ve enjoyed.

YA Romances To Make Your Heart Swoon

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Dimple Shah is thrilled when her parents pay for her to spend the summer at an app development program. She’s convinced this must mean her traditional Indian-American parents are finally respecting her wishes to not search for the “ideal Indian husband” and to focus on her career instead. That is, until traditional and romantic Rishi Patel shows up to woo her to agree to their parents’ suggested arranged marriage.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon is sixteen and has been emailing with with his crush, a boy who goes by Blue. When class clown Martin finds out and blackmails him, Simon has to play wing man for him to stop the entire school from learning about his sexuality and possibly outing Blue too.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 
 

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Elle Wittimer is probably the biggest fan out there for the classic sci-fi show Starfield. With a new movie coming out, there’s a cosplay contest to win a meet-and-greet with the star of the new movie. Darien Freeman used to love going to conventions until he became the attraction at them as the new Prince Carmindor in the Starfield movie. He’s beginning to hate the role, until he meets one special fan.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 
 

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

Lara Jean doesn’t admit her crushes, instead she writes them each a letter that she hides in her closet. And then those letters get mailed. Each of her past crushes pops back into her life, including her big sister’s ex-boyfriend. When Lara and a boy from school team up to try and stop the rumour mill, she learns a thing or two about love.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 
 

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Molly has had twenty-six HUGE crushes and not once has a boy liked her back, probably because she never tells any of them she likes them. Her twin sister Cassie keeps telling her to go for it. But Molly won’t. It’s something her skinny sister just doesn’t understand. But when Cassie gets a huge crush, and a new girlfriend, Molly starts feeling left out. And somehow there’s two possible boys that just might like her back…
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Mei is a seventeen-year-old university freshman and is doing exactly what her Taiwanese parents want – she’s studying to become a doctor and is on track to marry a parent-approved Taiwanese guy. The problem is, she hates germs and everything medical and she has a massive crush on a boy who is Japanese. When she reconnects with her estranged brother – who was kicked out of the family for dating the wrong woman – she realizes she has to decide what’s most important for her.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Bailey loves classic films. She meets Alex in an online film buff chat group and immediately starts crushing on him. When she moves to California to live with her dad, she’s too scared to let Alex know she’s in his hometown, in case he doesn’t like her as much in person. She also doesn’t tell him about the hot jerk at her new job and who she might be developing feelings for. She doesn’t know which boy to choose, and doesn’t know that they are one and the same.
Want to read it? Buy a copy today.
Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Your Local Indie Bookshop | Your Local Library
 
The team at Book Riot shared an amazing list of 50 YA romance novels that I will be looking to for more books like these to add to my TBR.

What are your favourite YA romances?