I don’t think romance is necessary in every single book we read : sometimes, we do better without. That being said, I’m a marshmallow and I love bathing in a warm pool of fluff and happiness when I’m reading so here I am. Ready to share some of my favorite romances in ya books with you all.
Fair warning: this is NOT a list of ROMANCE books. This list is filled with stories with incredible plot, imaginative world-building, great characterization and so on. Sometimes, the focus IS a little bit on the romance, but sometimes it’s not and that’s okay, too. It didn’t prevent me from falling for the relationship.
By the way, in case you missed it, my sister wrote about young adult books and too much romance, so… give this a read, too!
Here’s to hoping I can make your TBR grow!
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Some of my favorite romances
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite authors of ALL times. Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, was the perfect romantic comedy: this book stars two rival overachievers and is set on a wild treasure-hunt through Seattle, over the course of 24 hours. Tell me you don’t want to read this. You should.
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Always Never Yours, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
You all know I’m trash for everything Austin & Emily write, they’re my must-read contemporary authors. Megan is the bold, unapologetically confident main character you need to read about and her soft building, filled with flirting and friends growing into more relationship in this made me swoooon.
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You Say It First, Katie Cotugno
You Say it First is one of my favorite books of all times. I loved the two main characters and how, despite their different lives, they manage to build a connection across state lines, with a long-distance relationship. They’re so different and everything about them, from their chemistry to the struggles they face individually and together, was so realistically done.
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More Than Maybe, Erin Hahn
I adore Erin Hahn’s books and More Than Maybe’s romance WON my heart. From a crush to a friendship to something more, everything about it made me swoon and gush happily and I loved it. Plus, the character’s passion for music was shining through the novel, making me want to sing (badly, but well).
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I Wanna Be Where You Are, Kristina Forest
This book is WAY TOO UNDERRATED please read it?? Chloe, to follow her dream of applying for a prestigious dance conservatory, gets on a road trip with her neighbor/former friend turned enemy. This book has it all: complex past friendship with resentment, tons of feels, road trip shenanigans and ahh I loved it.
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We Set the Dark on Fire, Tehlor Kay Mejia
We Set the Dark on Fire is a masterpiece, really. Aside from the stunning world-building, writing and characters, this has an EXCELLENT f/f romance. The tension, the yearning, the growth of it all just makes me *clenches fists*. I can’t I adore them okay.
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Emergency Contact, Mary H.K. Choi
This is one of my favorite books of ALL Times. What I love about this is how you expect it to be a plain romance from the synopsis when in fact it’s filled with punch-you-in-the-stomach realistic and well-developed characters and struggles, awkwardness and text messages and feelings and I don’t know, I just really loved them.
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Small Town Hearts, Lillie Vale
If you’re looking for a book as lovely as this slice of lemon cake on the cover… this is it. Small Town Hearts is what you need. A small town, a beach, sandcastle, cakes, friendships and adorable romance.. this has it all. This made me swoon and crave a heartwarming friends to lovers romance and ahh it was just SO SOFT.
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I’ll Meet You There, Heather Demetrios
I think I like hard-hitting kind of romances in hard-hitting books, soooo here I am. Both Skylar and Josh are hoping to escape their small town and they’re dealing with grief, family issues and more. Their relationship slowly develops and is going to give you hope and p a i n and god it was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved them so much, I love this book okay.
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The Forbidden Wish, Jessica Khoury
Another WAY too underrated read, if you ask me. The Fobidden Wish is an Aladdin retelling where Aladdin falls in love with the jinni. Stunning writing and world-building, amazing characters you won’t forget and ahh the relationship. Those two were so good together and I loved themmm so much I rooted for them SO badly. You will too, trust me.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
You might also be interested in: 10 YA books with the friends to lovers trope I enjoyed
📌 Pin 10 of my favorite romances in YA books on Pinterest!
Did you read any of these books? Do you want to?
What are some of your favorite romances you’ve ever read? Please I need all the swoons, give me your recommendations!
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More Than Maybe! Such a great romance!
Right? I love it so much! <3
I never say no to romance in books. I LOVE IT!
YAY me too, it always makes me happy! 😀
I haven’t read any of these but they all look lovely. Great list!
Ah thank you so much! I hope you’ll get a chance to read some of these 🙂
I love how most of them is either on my virtual list or actually on my shelves (You say it first is waiting for me to pick it up..)
ofcourse Emergency Contact !! I’m glad I finally picked it up after I read your review ❤️ Thank you Marie!
Oh yay! This makes me so, so very happy. I’m so glad you enjoyed Emergency Contact <3 Thank YOU, Kristina <3
I’ve been wanting to read Small Town Hearts for a while now, this weekend sounds like the perfect time to be cozy and finally start it! 🙂
It’s such a wonderful book, I love it. I hope you will, too <3
remembering the romances on small town hearts and the forbidden wish makes my heart ache, ESPECIALLY the latter
Ahh right, same! I adore both so much <3 <3
You know I’ll smile any time I’ll Meet You There gets a mention. I don’t think any couple has been able to top Skylar and Josh, though plenty have tried haha.
I get that, I still have so many fond memories of this book, even if it’s been AGES since I read it now. I love them so much! <3 <3
These covers & your blurbs always have me wanting to pick one up!! I haven’t really found my groove with contemporary reads, but I’d like to give them a shot in 2021 :’) xx
Ahhh really, this makes me so happy, thank you <3 I hope you will give them a shot and find some you love! <3
I haven’t read any of these *gasps* I am sooo out-of-touch with mainstream YA, just mainly re-reading oldies and reading classics and middle grade right now. But if I’m ever in the mood for a romance I will definitely hunt for this post! 😉 😀
Ahhh, well I hope when you’re in the mood for them, you’ll love these books 😀
You’re top 10’s were always some of my favourite posts from you because they were usually always 10 book’s I hadn’t read or heard off so my TBR always grew!
Also i’m back! Hi!! xx
Oh thank you so much, I’m so, so happy I can make your TBR grow! <3 And AH HELLO HI it's so good to see you!!! <3
I’ve read some of these books from your list, but some, I didn’t even know they existed! So many books to read, so little time.
I love Emily and Austin too!!! The book I liked the most is ‘If I’m Being Honest’ !!!
Your blog is awesome, btw!
Followed 😀
Ah this makes me so, so very happy, I’m so glad you could discover some new books here, thank you so much <3
AH YES! Me too, I adore their books SO much, can't wait for their next one.
Thank you so much, you're so sweet! 🥺🥺🥺
Argh, you just mentioned so many amazing-sounding books that I haven’t read but know must read?! 💛
AHHH! This makes my day. I hope you’ll get a chance to read all of these lovely books 😀
oooh, I should definitely look into The Forbidden Wish. I remember seeing it and wanting to read it some years ago, but then I seemed to forget about it? But I’m still interested and it seems just as amazing!! Lovely list 😀
Oh my god Marta YES PLEASE you should, it’s so so good, I love it! 😀
Great list, Marie! I have quite a few of these on my TBR. I am currently reading You Say It First and so far I really like it! I am hoping to finish it soon. 😀 Emergency Contact was so great, I really need to read Permanent Record and then her new book Yolk when it comes out this year.
Thank you, Ashley! I hope you’ll love Permanent Record as well, I had such a great time reading this one. I can’t wait for Yolk! 🙂
Oh my gosh, this is such a great list, thanks! 😻
Ahh you’re so welcome, thank you! I hope you’ll love these books 😀
Nothing ventured is nothing gained! 😆
I definitely agree with all of the ones that I have read! TTT is probably my favorite, though I’ll Meet You There is a close second. Also loved You Say It First, We Set the Dark on Fire, and Forbidden Wish! These are fabulous choices!
Ahh thank you so much, Shannon, I’m so glad you love these as well 😀
So many on my tbr here!
Ahh, I hope you’ll end up loving them 😀
I haven’t read any of these books but I think I might give You Say it First a go! I don’t read a lot of romance or contemporary but am trying to branch out more
Ohh I hope you will, Kal! I really really enjoyed it. And here if you need any contemporary recommendations, you know it’s almost all I read haha 🙂
I only read two books from this list which are Always Never Yours and More Than Maybe. It’s been a while since the last time I read contemporary romance. 😀
I hope you’ll give some of these books a chance 😀
Yeah I hope so too. Thanks! ☺️
Marie!!!! Love (hah) this list <3<3 Welp haven't read any of these yet but eeep you've made me so excited! Especially been eyeing Always Never Yours and Small Town Hearts. Love ya lots xoxo
Ahhhh I hope you’ll read both, they’re amazing!! <3 <3