YA Romance Directory ♡
Welcome to your hotspot of all things YA Romance! Books, movies, and even helpful websites for your real-life relationships. If you're new to the genre or just looking for new media recommendations, you're in the right place.
Books
01
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Bradley Graeme, a star athlete managing OCD, and Celine Bangura, a conspiracy-loving social media star, are ex-best friends turned academic rivals. When a survival course forces them to team up, they must navigate their messy past and growing feelings for a chance at a grand prize—and maybe a fresh start. This is a great pick for enemies-to-lovers fans!
APA Citation: Hibbert, T. (2023). Highly suspicious and unfairly cute. Joy Revolution.
Link: https://www.taliahibbert.com/highly-suspicious-and-unfairly-cute
02
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
Imogen Scott, proud ally and self-proclaimed hetero, is shocked when her best friend Lili tells her college friends they used to date. Playing along, Imogen bonds with Lili’s group—especially the charming Tessa—and begins to question her identity. What starts as a small lie leads to a journey of self-discovery and rethinking love. This is a great pick for those who are also discovering who they are and who they love.
APA Citation: Albertalli, B. (2024). Imogen, obviously. Balzer + Bray.
Link: https://www.beckyalbertalli.com/books/imogen-obviously
03
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Meet Lara Jean, a girl who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, and even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. This is a great pick for the good girl, late bloomers who are hopeless romantics.
APA Citation: Han, J. (2014). To all the boys I've loved before. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
04
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
She is the very thing he’s spent his life hunting. He is the very thing she’s spent her life pretending to be. In Ilya, only the gifted Elites matter, and Paedyn Gray, born Ordinary, survives by posing as a Psychic. When she saves a prince, she’s thrown into the deadly Purging Trials, a competition meant for the powerful. As Paedyn fights to keep her secret and survive, she must face the growing risk of falling for the prince—while hiding the truth that could cost her everything. Great pick for fantasy lovers who want to dive into romance.
APA Citation: Roberts, L. (2023). Powerless. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
05
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…? This is a sweet read for those who love friends-to-lovers.
APA Citation: Oseman, A. (2019). Heartstopper. (Vol 1). Hachette Children's Group.
Link: https://aliceoseman.com/graphic-novel/heartstopper-volume-one/
06
Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Dani is a writer struggling with writer’s block and skeptical about love, while Prince is a love expert who hosts a radio show and cares for his family. When Prince challenges Dani to fall for him after three dates, she reluctantly accepts. As their dates unfold, they navigate family dynamics and personal challenges, leading Dani to question her beliefs about love. This read has all the black culture vibes that many YA reads are missing.
APA Citation: LaDelle, E. (2022). Love radio. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
07
This Time it's Real by Ann Liang
When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep. Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right? Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. If you love the fake-dating trope, this one is for you.
APA Citation: Liang, A. (2024). This time it's real. Scholastic Press.
08
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything is good and everything magical happens between June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along. The perfect read for those wondering what all the hype around this story is about!
APA Citation: Han, J. (2010). The summer I turned pretty. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
09
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
Delilah, a reluctant punk band singer who hides her vulnerable side behind a cool, detached facade, meets Reggie, a passionate D&D Dungeon Master secretly at odds with his disapproving family. The two couldn’t be more different, yet their paths keep crossing on holidays like New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day. As they start falling for each other, they grapple with the versions of themselves they’ve been pretending to be. Can their connection survive when their true selves come to light? An awesome pick for those young black nerds, bring on the representation!!
APA Citation: Bryant, E. (2023). Reggie and Delilah's year of falling. Quill Tree Books.
Link: https://elisebryant.com/reggie-and-delilahs-year-of-falling
10
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Liz Buxbaum is determined to win over her longtime crush, Michael, even if it means teaming up with her mischievous neighbor, Wes Bennet. But as their plan unfolds, Liz starts to realize that the perfect prom date might not be the one she expected—and love could be closer than she thinks. If you're a Taylor Swift fan, I think you'll love this read.
APA Citation: Painter, L. (2022). Better than the movies. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Movies
11
The Sun is Also a Star
College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet and fall for each other over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation just as fiercely as she’s fighting her growing feelings for Daniel. If you have ever dreamed of having a real-life meet-cute, this one's for you.
APA Citation: Russo-Young, R. (Director). (2019). The sun is also a star. [Film]. Alloy Entertainment; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Warner Bros.
12
Another Cinderella Story
Mary is a modern Cinderella with dancing shoes instead of glass shoes. Joey is a charming newcomer to the school, looking for a girl to shower with love. Maybe Mary is the right one? Perfect for those nostalgic Disney movie lovers!
APA Citation: Santostefano, D. (Director). (2008). Another cinderella story. [Film]. Warner Premiere; CS2 Films; Dylan Sellers Productions.
13
Love, Simon
Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year-old Simon Spier, it’s a little more complicated. He hasn’t told his family or friends that he’s gay, and he doesn’t know the identity of the anonymous classmate that he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying, and life-changing. For those who need inspiration for what it looks like to find yourself.
APA Citation: Berlanti, G. (Director). (2018). Love, Simon. [Film]. Fox 2000 Pictures; New Leaf Literacy & Media; Temple Hill Entertainment.
Websites
14
Teens for Courage
Teens for Courage is a program of the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage. Their mission is to end teen dating violence (TDV) before it begins. They promote healthy teen relationships and raise awareness surrounding TDV through community events and activities, educational workshops, and social media outreach.
15
Love is Respect
Love is respect is the national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources.