Best Romance Novels for Teens (28 Swoon‑Worthy Picks)

Teen romance hits differently when the characters feel real, the drama is relatable, and the love story stays within a comfortable, age‑appropriate zone. This guide combines popular global YA hits with sweet, mostly clean reads and one special Indian contemporary romance to help teens and parents choose wisely.

How to choose the right teen romance

• Look for YA or teen shelves: Books shelved as teen romance or YA romance usually sit around a PG–PG‑13 emotional and content level, ideal for most high‑school readers.
• Check content level (clean vs mature): Many parents specifically search for “clean YA romance” book genres with minimal language and only brief kissing; several curated lists now highlight these titles clearly for ages 12+.
• Match themes to the teen’s current phase: High‑school settings, first crushes, identity, friendship and family pressure tend to resonate more than purely adult themes like workplace politics or heavy explicit content.

28 best romance novels for teens (curated list)

Below, each book includes: short blurb, themes, approximate age range, and content level so both teens and parents know what to expect.

1. Take Me Away – Rishabh Bansal

A contemporary Indian romance about Ayan, an introverted young man, and Anaya, a spirited extrovert, who fall in love while working together as employee and intern. Their relationship faces intense pressure from family, class and inter‑religion differences, pushing Ayan to prove himself and Anaya to balance love with her father’s expectations.

• Why teens will love it: Opposites‑attract romance, career and ambition angle, and the theme of standing up for love while still valuing family will resonate strongly with older teens, especially in India.
• Themes: First serious love, class difference, career, parental expectations, courage, “work is karma” mindset.
• Suggested age: 16+ (due to emotional intensity and family conflict).
• Content: Emotional but not explicit; the focus is on feelings, responsibility and life decisions rather than graphic scenes

2. The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Hazel and Gus meet in a cancer support group and form a deep, witty, heartbreaking bond that explores love, mortality and the meaning of a well‑lived life. It is one of the most‑read YA romances worldwide, with millions of ratings and a hugely popular film adaptation.

• Themes: Illness, existential questions, first love, grief, found family.
• Suggested age: 14+ (emotional heaviness, some mature references).
• Content: Mild language and some intimacy, but primarily emotional rather than graphic.

3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

Lara Jean’s secret love letters accidentally get mailed to all her former crushes, forcing her into a fake‑dating situation that slowly turns real. With a beloved Netflix adaptation, this series has become a modern teen‑romance classic.

• Themes: Fake dating, family bonds, sisterhood, cultural identity, first love.
• Suggested age: 13+.
• Content: Light, sweet romance with focus on emotion rather than explicit content.

4. The Summer I Turned Pretty – Jenny Han

Every summer, Belly visits the same beach house with her family friends and slowly finds herself caught in a love triangle with two brothers. The story captures changing bodies, shifting friendships and the awkward, exhilarating transition from childhood to teens.

• Themes: Summer love, love triangle, self‑image, family, grief.
• Suggested age: 13+.
• Content: PG–13 teen drama, some kissing and emotional tension.

5. Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins

Anna is sent to a boarding school in Paris, where she meets charming Étienne St. Clair and slowly falls for him amid city lights, cinema, and complicated friendships. The book is often recommended on teen‑romance shelves for its sweet yet emotionally grounded love story.

• Themes: Study abroad, friendship‑to‑more, independence, self‑discovery.
• Suggested age: 14+.
• Content: Some language and romantic tension; emotional rather than explicit.

6. P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

The sequel continues Lara Jean’s journey as she navigates real relationships, jealousy and the complications of being truly seen by someone she likes. Teens who loved the first book will appreciate the more mature emotional conflicts here.

• Themes: Commitment, jealousy, second chances, social media reputation.
• Suggested age: 13+.

7. Always and Forever, Lara Jean – Jenny Han

In the final book, Lara Jean faces big decisions about college, long‑distance love and what it really means to put yourself first while still loving your family. It offers a hopeful, realistic look at the end of high school and the start of adulthood.

• Themes: College choices, long‑distance, identity, family traditions.
• Suggested age: 14+.

8. Just Listen – Sarah Dessen

Annabel’s life seems perfect on the outside, but secrets and a broken friendship leave her isolated until she meets Owen, a music‑obsessed boy who helps her find her voice. Dessen’s novels are staples in YA romance for their emotional depth and realistic portrayals of teen struggles.

• Themes: Trauma, healing, music, truth, self‑acceptance.
• Suggested age: 15+ (heavier issues handled sensitively).

9. If I Stay – Gayle Forman

After a tragic accident, Mia hovers between life and death, reliving memories of her family, music career and boyfriend Adam while deciding whether to stay or let go. It blends romance with grief and big life choices, appealing to teens who like emotional stories.

• Themes: Life‑or‑death choice, family, love, sacrifice, music.
• Suggested age: 14+ (mature themes).

10. The Sun Is Also a Star – Nicola Yoon

Natasha, who is hours away from being deported, meets dreamer Daniel in New York City and spends one intense day exploring love, fate and immigration. The book is celebrated for its diverse characters, alternating POVs and thought‑provoking discussions about destiny and science.

• Themes: Immigration, fate vs choice, family pressure, cultural identity.
• Suggested age: 14+.

11. All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven

Violet and Finch meet on a school bell tower and form a powerful connection while working on a geography project, confronting mental health struggles along the way. It is an intense, beautifully written story that many older teens find deeply moving.

• Themes: Mental health, grief, healing, love and loss.
• Suggested age: 15+ (due to sensitive topics).

12. Heartstopper (Vol. 1) – Alice Oseman

This graphic‑novel series follows Nick and Charlie, two British schoolboys whose friendship slowly blossoms into a tender same‑sex romance. The series is widely praised for its gentle tone, inclusivity and supportive cast of friends and family.

• Themes: LGBTQ+ identity, friendship, self‑acceptance, school life.
• Suggested age: 13+.
• Format: Graphic novel – perfect for reluctant readers.

13. Love & Lattes – Beth Reekles

A summer internship and a kissing blunder bring Anna and Lloyd together in this light, feel‑good YA romance from the author of The Kissing Booth. It is often recommended for readers who want something fun and cozy around Valentine’s Day.

• Themes: Internships, second chances, workplace crush, self‑confidence.
• Suggested age: 13+.

14. P.S. I Like You – Kasie West

Two chemistry classmates unknowingly start exchanging letters by scribbling on the same desk, falling for each other without knowing their identities. This book appears repeatedly on “clean YA romance” lists for its sweet tone and minimal content.

• Themes: Anonymous letters, high‑school crush, music, family.
• Suggested age: 12+.
• Content: No sex, no strong language, brief kissing.

15. Borrow My Heart – Kasie West

When a teen pretends to be someone’s online crush to protect him from humiliation, she ends up in a fake relationship that feels increasingly real. It blends social‑media drama with a wholesome, low‑steam romance suitable for younger teens.

• Themes: Online identity, fake dating, friendship, honesty.
• Suggested age: 12+.

16. Love Unmasked – Becky Dean

A mystery‑filled travel romance that follows a teen on an overseas adventure, with a sweet, clean love story at its core. Curated lists highlight it for “no language, no sex, brief kissing,” making it ideal for cautious readers and parents.

• Themes: Travel, self‑discovery, mystery, slow‑burn romance.
• Suggested age: 12+.

17. My Favorite Color Is Mistletoe – Eva Austin

A festive, fake‑dating Christmas rom‑com where a teen girl enters a holiday scheme that slowly turns into something real. Teachers and parents recommend it as a “swoon‑worthy, clean YA Christmas rom‑com” for teens.

• Themes: Fake dating, holidays, family traditions, self‑confidence.
• Suggested age: 12+.

18. Ella Enchanted – Gail Carson Levine

A clever Cinderella retelling where Ella, cursed to obey any direct command, goes on a quest to break the spell and discovers love with Prince Char along the way. Though fantasy, it is frequently listed among favorite YA romances because of its sweet relationship and empowering heroine.

• Themes: Curse, autonomy, courage, classic fairy‑tale romance.
• Suggested age: 10–13+.

19. The Goose Girl – Shannon Hale

Princess Ani is betrayed and must hide as a goose girl, slowly finding friends, her own voice and a gentle romance amid political intrigue. It offers a slow‑burn, low‑steam love story wrapped in rich fantasy world‑building.

• Themes: Identity, courage, friendship, leadership, gentle romance.
• Suggested age: 12+.

20. Love, Life and the List – Kasie West

Abby wants her art to be taken seriously, so she creates a “fear list” for the summer; along the way, she confronts her feelings for her best friend. The book blends creative ambition with a sweet friends‑to‑lovers thread and appears often in “clean YA” recommendations.

• Themes: Artistic dreams, best‑friends‑to‑more, self‑growth.
• Suggested age: 12+.

21. A Thousand Heartbeats – Kiera Cass

In a kingdom at war, a princess and an enemy soldier find themselves drawn to each other despite loyalty, duty and family expectations. It is recommended as a clean, romantic fantasy suitable for younger teens who want high stakes without explicit content.

• Themes: Enemies‑to‑lovers, duty vs desire, royalty, war and peace.
• Suggested age: 13+.

22. When Dimple Met Rishi – Sandhya Menon

Dimple is a focused, tech‑loving girl who wants to attend a summer coding program, while Rishi is a hopeless romantic who shows up at the same camp ready for a family‑approved arranged‑marriage setup. Their worlds collide in a funny, sweet and culturally rich rom‑com that feels like a modern Bollywood movie set in the US.

• Themes: STEM girl, arranged‑marriage expectations, Indian‑American identity, opposites attract.
• Suggested age: 13+ (light kisses, some references to dating).

23. Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance – Nisha Sharma

Radha is a gifted Kathak dancer who quits after a painful betrayal, and Jai is a hardworking boy juggling school, family responsibilities and secret dreams of medical school. When Radha joins Jai’s performing arts school, dance and food bring them together in a story filled with Indian culture, anxiety, ambition and slow‑burn romance.

• Themes: Classical Indian dance, performance pressure, anxiety, family expectations, foodie romance.
• ​Suggested age: 13+ (some language, clean romance).

24. 2 States: The Story of My Marriage – Chetan Bhagat

Krish and Ananya fall in love at IIM Ahmedabad, but the real drama begins when their Punjabi and Tamil families clash over culture, ego and expectation. The tone is humorous and conversational, and older teens often relate to the cross‑cultural tension and “convincing parents” angle that dominates Indian love stories.

• Themes: Inter‑state relationship, culture clash, family approval, career and love.
• ​Suggested age: 16+ (college setting, some mature references).

25. Everyone Has a Story – Savi Sharma

Set in contemporary India, this light, inspirational romance follows Meera, an aspiring writer, Vivaan, a corporate worker who wants to escape, and Kabir, a café manager who connects their worlds. The story focuses on dreams, destiny and gentle love, making it approachable for late teens who want a hopeful Indian romance without heavy explicit content.

• Themes: Dreams, writing, self‑discovery, gentle contemporary love.
• Suggested age: 15+ (young‑adult/new‑adult crossover, emotionally mild).

26. The Boy Who Loved – Durjoy Datta

A reserved teen boy battles guilt, family issues and his own dark thoughts while slowly falling for a girl who brings light into his life. It is often recommended in Indian YA/young‑adult circles for its raw emotional honesty and intense exploration of sadness, faith and love.

• Themes: Mental health, guilt, faith, intense first love.
• ​Suggested age: 16+ (heavy emotional content, serious themes).

27. Life Is What You Make It – Preeti Shenoy

Ankita appears to have everything under control—college, friends, and a budding romance—but her life spirals as she struggles with undiagnosed mental‑health issues and expectations. The book blends romance with resilience and is widely read by Indian older teens for its message about getting help and taking charge of your choices.

• Themes: Mental health, resilience, college life, love and self‑worth.
• Suggested age: 16+ (mature psychological themes).

28. You Are the Best Wife – Ajay K. Pandey

This semi‑autobiographical love story follows Ajay and his wife Bhavna from college friendship to marriage, highlighting small everyday moments of affection and support. Written in simple language and emotional, conversational style, it appeals to older teens who enjoy heartfelt, real‑life‑inspired Indian romances.

This is placed at number 28 in our list of romance novels for teens

• Themes: True‑life love, marriage, loss, gratitude, celebrating small moments.
• Suggested age: 16+ (emotional, deals with loss but not explicit).

---

Quick comparison table: best teen romance picks

Book title	Author	Sub-genre / vibe	Approx. age	Content level / notes
Take Me Away	Rishabh Bansal	Indian contemporary, opposites attract, workplace-style romance	16+	Emotional, no explicit scenes; strong family and class-difference conflict.
The Fault in Our Stars	John Green	Emotional contemporary, illness romance	14+	PG-13; some mature themes and language, intense grief.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before	Jenny Han	High-school rom-com, fake dating	13+	Sweet, light; great for younger high-school readers.
The Summer I Turned Pretty	Jenny Han	Summer love, love triangle	13+	PG-13 teen drama; some kissing and emotional tension.
Anna and the French Kiss	Stephanie Perkins	Boarding-school in Paris, slow burn	14+	Mild language; emotional romance, limited on-page intimacy.
Just Listen	Sarah Dessen	Healing romance, music, realistic issues	15+	Handles trauma sensitively; more serious tone.
If I Stay	Gayle Forman	Tragic romance, music, near-death choice	14+	Mature themes (accident, loss), but not explicit.
The Sun Is Also a Star	Nicola Yoon	One-day romance, immigration, fate	14+	Thought-provoking, light romance content.
All the Bright Places	Jennifer Niven	Mental health, intense romance	15+	Heavy topics (suicidal ideation); for older teens.
Heartstopper (Vol. 1)	Alice Oseman	LGBTQ+ graphic-novel romance	13+	Very gentle, wholesome; great for reluctant readers.
Love & Lattes	Beth Reekles	Summer internship, light rom-com	13+	Fun, swoony, standard YA content.
P.S. I Like You	Kasie West	Anonymous letters, high-school crush	12+	Clean YA; no sex or language, brief kissing.
Borrow My Heart	Kasie West	Online crush, fake dating	12+	Clean contemporary; social-media angle.
Love Unmasked	Becky Dean	Travel romance, light mystery	12+	Clean; no language or sex, brief kissing.
My Favorite Color Is Mistletoe	Eva Austin	Christmas fake-dating rom-com	12+	Clean, festive, very low steam.
Ella Enchanted	Gail Carson Levine	Fantasy, fairy-tale retelling	10–13+	Very clean; sweet, classic romance.
The Goose Girl	Shannon Hale	Fantasy, slow-burn royalty romance	12+	Gentle romance in rich fantasy world.
Love, Life and the List	Kasie West	Best-friends-to-more, artsy goals	12+	Clean, uplifting contemporary.
A Thousand Heartbeats	Kiera Cass	Romantic fantasy, enemies-to-lovers	13+	Clean romantic tension, suitable for younger teens.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean	Jenny Han	Senior year, college decisions	14+	Emotional but low-steam; focuses on life choices.
When Dimple Met Rishi	Sandhya Menon	Indian-American YA rom-com, coding camp, arranged-marriage expectations	13+	Light kisses and dating references; culturally rich, fun, teen-friendly.
Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance	Nisha Sharma	Indian dance school, foodie romance, slow burn	13+	Some language, clean romance; strong focus on anxiety and ambition.
2 States: The Story of My Marriage	Chetan Bhagat	Indian college romance, inter-state and intercultural relationship	16+	College setting, some mature references; humorous take on family clashes.
Everyone Has a Story	Savi Sharma	Light contemporary Indian romance, inspirational	15+	Young-adult/new-adult crossover; gentle romance, simple language.
The Boy Who Loved	Durjoy Datta	Intense Indian YA romance, faith and guilt	16+	Heavy emotional and spiritual themes; best for mature older teens.
Life Is What You Make It	Preeti Shenoy	Indian college life, romance and mental health	16+	Mental-health focus, emotional but not explicit; inspiring tone.
You Are the Best Wife	Ajay K. Pandey	Semi-autobiographical Indian love story, college to marriage	16+	Heartfelt, real-life inspired romance; deals with loss but stays non-explicit.

FAQs about romance novels for teens

Are these books appropriate for 13‑year‑olds?

Several picks—especially the “clean YA” titles like P.S. I Like You, Borrow My Heart, Love Unmasked, My Favorite Color Is Mistletoe, Ella Enchanted and The Goose Girl—are specifically recommended by teachers, parents and clean‑reads bloggers for ages 12–13+. More emotionally intense or theme‑heavy books such as The Fault in Our Stars, All the Bright Places and If I Stay are better suited for mid‑ to older teens.​

What if I want strictly “clean” teen romance?

Look for books that appear on “clean YA romance” and “clean books for teens” lists, where reviewers explicitly state there is no sex, minimal or no language and only brief kissing. In this article, all Kasie West titles, Becky Dean’s Love Unmasked, Eva Austin’s holiday romance, and several fantasy picks fall into that clean category.