Set in the 1980s, “Eleanor & Park” captures the essence of young love and belonging. Eleanor, with fiery red hair and unmatched spirit, draws the quiet Park into her orbit. Both find refuge in one another, amid familial conflict and teenage alienation.
Their romance blossoms gently to the rhythm of mixtapes and comic books, sincere and vulnerable.
Rowell blends the innocence of first love with the challenges teenagers face, telling a story that is tender and honest, bittersweet yet hopeful—showing high school romance in all its awkward beauty.
Lara Jean writes secret love letters to her crushes, letters meant only for herself. But when these notes’re unexpectedly mailed out, her quiet high school life erupts with drama.
Jenny Han’s novel combines humor, romance, and a touch of embarrassment as Lara Jean navigates school hallways filled with whispers and newfound attention. Amid the chaos, a charming fake relationship develops, drawing Lara Jean into unfamiliar emotional territory.
This warm-hearted story highlights how high school romance can evolve suddenly from fantasy to reality—and the beauty in taking risks with our hearts.
Hazel and Gus meet at a cancer support group, and their connection’s immediate and profound. Despite being teenagers faced with terminal illness, they explore the fullness of first love together, sharing jokes and deep conversations that resonate beyond their circumstances.
Green handles their romance with humor, dignity, and an authentic youthful voice, blending tragedy with heartfelt optimism.
This novel examines how even in difficult times, high school romance can offer meaningful connections, shared dreams, and memories powerful enough to last beyond personal challenges.
Sixteen-year-old Simon isn’t publicly out yet, and his high school days get more complicated as he secretly corresponds with an anonymous classmate online. When his emails risk exposure, Simon must decide whether to embrace his identity openly.
Albertalli’s storytelling balances humor and sincerity, creating relatable characters who tackle fears, family conflicts, and first crushes.
Centered around honest, teenage emotions and relationships, this novel portrays high school romance as exciting, messy, and often full of surprises—especially when figuring out identity, acceptance, and love.
Miles Halter’s drawn into the magnetic orbit of the unpredictable and vibrant Alaska Young at a boarding school. As he navigates friendships, pranks, and first experiences, Miles finds himself obsessively intrigued by Alaska.
Green portrays their complicated relationship across classmates, crushes, and tragic twists, highlighting how high school romance can profoundly alter personal perspectives.
Full of humor and heartache, the novel explores young relationships in all their intensity, and how one powerful connection might redefine someone’s high school years forever.
Anna’s dreading her senior year after her parents unexpectedly send her to boarding school in Paris. But the city of romance works its magic, especially after she meets Étienne St. Clair—charming, worldly, and unfortunately already taken.
Perkins blends the excitement and anxiety of teenage relationships with the charm of Parisian streets. The novel captures how friendships, miscommunications, and self-discovery blend seamlessly into a captivating high school love story.
Anna’s journey reflects the universal experience of first romance—full of confusion, adventure, and hope for a picture-perfect kiss.
Charlie, a quiet outsider, faces high school on his own until befriended by outgoing seniors Sam and Patrick. Charlie’s journey of emotional growth’s marked by uncertainty and anxiety, complicated by his heartfelt crush on Sam.
Through a series of letters, readers learn about Charlie’s struggles, friendships, and blooms of first love. Chbosky authentically captures teenage romance’s ups and downs, offering raw insights into relationships and personal discovery.
The story emphasizes how powerful the emotional landscape of high school love truly is.
Cath prefers fictional worlds to real-life interactions when she arrives at college. Her passion’s writing fanfiction, especially romance stories about fictional characters.
Slowly, Cath navigates new friendships, a complicated roommate situation, and her growing attraction to Levi, a guy who appreciates who she truly is.
Set against the backdrop of fandom culture, Rowell’s novel beautifully depicts the challenges of venturing into relationships after high school, capturing vividly the sweetness, sincerity, and insecurity inherent in young adult romance.
Penny and Sam, both awkwardly navigating young adulthood, meet unexpectedly and exchange phone numbers—becoming each other’s emotional emergency contacts. Through text messages, they build intimacy through candid discussions about dreams, anxieties, and disappointments.
Choi presents high school romance realistically, demonstrating how relationships can grow from vulnerability and understanding.
Penny and Sam’s complicated but sincere partnership highlights the significance of addressing life’s confusion honestly—and shows how love often arrives quietly and unexpectedly amid everyday stress.
In Emma Lord’s novel, Pepper and Jack unexpectedly find themselves embroiled in a public Twitter feud for their family’s respective businesses. Ironically, while clashing online, they’re building a genuine friendship at school without realizing these connections overlap.
Filled with witty banter, family drama, and misunderstandings, the story skillfully captures traditional teenage anxieties alongside social media culture.
The novel portrays how high school romance evolves organically, even amid online misadventures—showing love can emerge surprisingly from the chaos of rivalries and teenage complications.
Arthur and Ben meet briefly but memorably in New York City and spend the summer attempting to reconnect through missed connections and awkward dates.
As they stumble through misunderstandings and uncertainties, readers witness their evolving chemistry and genuine hope for something special. Albertalli and Silvera expertly capture the anticipation, possibility, and anxiety that define high school romance.
The novel celebrates the gentle yet powerful feeling of first love—and the courage it takes to chase after unexpected opportunities.
Willowdean Dickson, proudly self-proclaimed fat girl, enters her town’s famous beauty pageant out of defiance after beginning a complicated romance with popular former jock Bo Larson.
Murphy depicts Willowdean’s determination, humor, and genuine personal growth alongside the heartfelt ups and downs of her high school relationship.
The novel authentically addresses body acceptance, empowerment, and the complexities of young romance, realistically illustrating how love can inspire self-confidence, doubt, and ultimately, celebration.
While primarily about racial injustice and activism, Thomas weaves in Starr Carter’s relationship with her boyfriend, Chris, exploring the challenges of navigating love across different social and cultural worlds.
Their romance illustrates the complexities teenagers tackle amid external pressures. Thomas presents high school romance both realistically and tenderly, showing love’s genuine potential amid difficulties, misunderstandings, and emotional transformation.
First Son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz, and British prince Henry unexpectedly fall in love despite critical public roles. Although they’re college-aged, their teenage-like heartaches, anxieties, and discoveries echo high school romance’s dramatic intensity.
McQuiston humorously navigates misunderstandings, secrecy, pop culture references, and newfound vulnerabilities to showcase how emotionally complicated and rewarding romance is during youth.
Scottie Zajac finds herself forced into proximity with her rival Irene Abraham through an accidental car crash. What starts as irritation grows into more complicated feelings.
Packed with humor, teenage drama, and relatable high school moments, Quindlen’s novel emphasizes how rivalry can spark unexpected attraction.
Scottie and Irene’s bumpy yet engaging journey captures how young hearts navigate attraction, confusion, and personal growth, authentically depicting the emotional rollercoaster of high school romance.