Young Adult books definitely have a way of tugging on the heart and never letting go and these YA romance pieces are the best of the best.
I love the YA genre because each book always manages to leave me feeling hopeful and happy and these amazing picks deliver exactly what they promise – swoony romance and a pairing you can root for.
If you’ve been looking for a YA romance book that’ll keep you hooked, you’re in luck because these are my personal favorites and I don’t doubt you’ll love them.
1. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
![Highly suspicious and unfairly cute](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Highly-suspicious-and-unfairly-cute.jpg?resize=300%2C453&ssl=1)
Bradley Graeme, a star football player with OCD, reluctantly teams up with his ex-best friend, Celine Bangura, for a survival course.
Despite their rocky history, they must work together and this encourages them to hash out their issues and start a new friendship.
2. XOXO by Axie Oh
![Xoxo](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Xoxo-.jpg?resize=596%2C900&ssl=1)
Cello prodigy Jenny meets Jaewoo, a member of a famous K-pop band, in Los Angeles.
But their budding romance is immediately halted because Jenny’s dreams clash with Jaewoo’s strict no-dating rule and this forces her to decide how much she’s willing to risk for love.
You can read my review of this lovely book here, but suffice it to say this lovely YA romance book has Asian representation and I was totally rooting for them.
3. The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
![The holiday switch 1](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-holiday-switch-1.jpg?resize=267%2C400&ssl=1)
Lila Santos’s cozy holiday plans take an annoying turn when her boss’s nephew, the frustratingly cute Teddy Rivera, becomes her coworker.
Despite their differences, a phone switch leads them to discover hidden secrets about each other and soon enough they become good friends.
This is yet another personal young adult romance favorite I always, always recommend to people and that’s simply because it’s just so good – here’s my review!
4. Being Mary Bennet by JC Peterson
![Being marry bennett](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Being-marry-bennett.webp?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Marnie Barnes realizes she’s more like Mary Bennett than Lizzie from Pride and Prejudice.
And so with the help of friends and a cute boy, she learns to embrace her flaws and rewrite her own story.
Lovely, lovely story this is and I feel everyone (young and adult readers) would really appreciate this amazing coming of age, YA story that’s all about loving and growing. You can also check out my review here.
5. With And Without You by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Broka
![With and without you](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/With-and-without-you.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
High school seniors Siena and Patrick face a dilemma when they plan to break up before college but find themselves drawn back together during visits throughout the school year and this leads them to rekindle their romance.
If you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll probably see that I’ve read almost all the books this author-couple duo have written, and that’s because they genuinely craft the best YA books.
This is by far my favorite and that’s why it found its way to this amazing list, so if you’ve been looking for a YA romance that’ll sweep you up and leave you teary, you need to give this one a chance.
6. You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
![Go your own way](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Go-your-own-way.jpg?resize=500%2C750&ssl=1)
Adam Stillwater fights to save his family’s pinball arcade from a tech mogul’s takeover.
But when a snowstorm traps him with Whitney Mitchell, a social media guru who’s both his ex-bestfriend and his well-known internet nemesis, they find the time to talk about their feelings and even grow closer.
Related: 15 Swoony Rivals-to-Lovers Novels With The Most Heartwarming Romance
7. Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
![Better than the movies](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Better-than-the-movies.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Liz Buxbaum enlists her annoying neighbor, Wes Bennett, to help her win her crush’s attention.
And as they scheme together, Liz discovers her unexpected feelings for Wes and this challenges all her views on love and relationships.
8. Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali
![Love from a to z](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Love-from-a-to-z.jpg?resize=646%2C980&ssl=1)
Zayneb and Adam, both dealing with personal struggles, meet by chance and form a deep connection.
As they try to live their complex lives, they find solace and understanding in each other and this is another super sweet YA romance book that I loved a whole lot.
9. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
![The upside of unrequited](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-upside-of-unrequited-.webp?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
In this book, Molly Peskin-Suso, who has a history of unrequited love, finds her way through crushes and relationships with the help of her twin sister, Cassie, and new crush, Will, all while confronting her insecurities.
10. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
![Heartstopper](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Heartstopper.webp?resize=669%2C1024&ssl=1)
Charlie and Nick, two boys from different social circles, develop a close friendship that blossoms into something more as they navigate school, friendship, and their budding feelings for each other.
This is one super, super popular and heartwarming YA romance book (so popular, it was even adapted into a series last year) and it features two lovely leads you’ll totally root for.
11. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
![Felix ever after](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Felix-ever-after.webp?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1)
Felix Love, a transgender teen, grapples with his identity and first love while dealing with transphobia and navigating a complicated love triangle.
12. Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
![Foolish hearts](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Foolish-hearts-.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Claudia discovers a deeper friendship and sweet romance during her senior year of high school, and slowly she learns the importance of vulnerability and acceptance along the way.
No matter how I look at it, I feel we don’t get enough lesbian romance books, but this YA lesbian romance was everything my tiny, tiny heart needed and I found it all so sweet.
13. Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott
![Five feet apart](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Five-feet-apart.jpg?resize=679%2C1024&ssl=1)
Stella and Will, two teens with cystic fibrosis, fall in love while facing the challenges of their illness and the restrictions it imposes on their relationship.
Five Feet Apart was adapted into a movie that did it rounds and there’s a high chance you’ve even watched it – read the book if you haven’t and you’ll love it.
14. The Wrath And The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
![The wrath and the dawn](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-wrath-and-the-dawn.jpg?resize=316%2C475&ssl=1)
Shahrzad vows to end the murderous reign of Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, but finds herself falling in love with him as she learns about his tormented past.
If you’re in the mood for a fantasy novel that’ll keep you immersed, this is a perfect option.
15. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
![Eleanor and park](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Eleanor-and-park.jpg?resize=316%2C475&ssl=1)
Eleanor and Park’s budding romance faces challenges from their families and societal expectations, but their love endures despite the obstacles they face.
I won’t spoil it for you, but I read this book roughly three years ago and I’m not kidding when I say I cried buckets by the time I got to the end.
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16. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
![Tweet cute](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tweet-cute.jpg?resize=646%2C991&ssl=1)
Pepper and Jack engage in a Twitter war between their family’s food businesses while unknowingly falling for each other through anonymous messages on a chat app.
This is easily one of the bestest rivals to lovers books and it’s a YA romance at the same time, so you’re totally getting the best of both worlds.
17. Kisses And Croissants by Anne-Sophia Jouhanneau
![Kisses and croissants](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kisses-and-croissants.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Mia, an aspiring ballerina, finds romance and mystery in Paris, which she explores with the help of a charming French boy, Louis, during her summer at a prestigious ballet program.
I found this one very cheesy, but that didn’t take away from the fact that it was hands down one of the most cutesy books I read in a hot minute — this is a YA romance done right and you’ll love it.
18. Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
![Only mostly devastated](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Only-mostly-devastated-.jpg?resize=666%2C1024&ssl=1)
Ollie has a complicated relationship with Will, because the latter oscillates between affection and indifference and this forces llie to reconsider whether he can trust Will with his heart again.
19. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
![Tokyo ever after](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tokyo-ever-after.jpg?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1)
Izumi discovers she’s the daughter of the Crown Prince of Japan and this thrusts her into the world of royalty and forces her to navigate the complexities of identity and tradition.
20. Field Notes On Love by Jennifer E. Smith
![Field notes on love](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Field-notes-on-love.jpg?resize=315%2C475&ssl=1)
Hugo and Mae set out on a journey across the United States after a chance meeting and even discover love and adventure along the way.
I love, love, love books about road trips and this one had two characters slowly falling for each other so it was like 10× better.
Read This: 20 Romantic Friends To Lovers For Readers Who Love To Swoon
21. Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari
![Happily ever island](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Happily-ever-island.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Best friends Madison and Lanie experience an immersive Disney vacation, where Madison’s romantic fantasies clash with reality, and Lanie unexpectedly finds herself swept up in the magic of it all.
22. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
![Along for the ride Sarah dessen](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Along-for-the-ride-Sarah-dessen.jpg?resize=396%2C600&ssl=1)
Auden finds solace and friendship with Eli, a fellow insomniac, as they navigate the complexities of family, love, and self-discovery during a transformative summer.
23. Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
![Ophelia after all](https://i0.wp.com/therookiejurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ophelia-after-all.jpg?resize=662%2C1024&ssl=1)
This book is all about Ophelia Rojas and the friendship and drama in high school and how she discovers her queerness while grappling with societal expectations and her own identity.
How many of these recommendations made it to your TBR? Let me know your favorite young adult romance book in the comment section below.
And don’t forget to check out the related posts for even more recommendations that’ll keep you glued to your seat.