Teens are hardwired to have romance on the brain, so it’s no surprise that romance books are very popular with this age group. To help guide your romance-loving kiddo, I surveyed the teens in my life about what’s on their bookshelves. In order to find something for everyone, I looked for books that cover a wide range of subgenres, from mystery to romantacy.
And because YA can vary widely in explicit content (also known as smut), I’ve also included a spice scale so you know what your teen is getting into.
Here it is: our roundup of the best romance books for teens.
| Rating | Spice level |
| 🚫 | Squeaky clean |
| 🌶️ | Just a dash |
| 🌶️🌶️ | Mild-to-medium |
| 🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Steamy, but not explicit |
| 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Explicit |
| 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ | Bordering on erotic |
For 15-year-old Belly, this is the summer that everything changes when she finds herself in a love triangle with two brothers she’s known her whole life. This light, coming-of-age romance is the first book in a trilogy and the basis for a popular TV series, so if your teen likes it, there’s plenty of material to binge.
Best for: 13+
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
While teen characters frequently smooch (and talk a lot about romance and dating), it’s not explicit, and they don’t go further than heavy makeout sessions.
There’s some swearing, name-calling (including “slutty”), and use of “gay” as an insult. The teens smoke cigarettes and drink at parties (although they pointedly don’t drive drunk). There isn’t much violence, but the boys do get into a fistfight at one point.
When 16-year-old Avery inherits $46 billion from an oil tycoon she’s never heard of, there’s a huge catch: she has to leave her home in Connecticut and live in the deceased man’s Texas estate for a year. While mystery and puzzle-solving are the primary focus of the book, romance readers will love the delicious subplot as Avery finds herself entangled in a love triangle with the dead tycoon’s grandsons.
Best for: 13+
Spice level: 🌶️
Romantic tension abounds, but it never goes beyond kissing, and nothing is explicit.
There are a couple of instances of teenage drinking, and during one episode, a teen engages in dangerous behavior. There’s a non-life-threatening shooting, and one adult is in an abusive relationship.
After her parents die, 17-year-old Grace is forced to attend a mysterious boarding school filled with supernatural creatures. She quickly becomes entangled in a web of dangerous secrets and forbidden love. Fans of Twilight will love this book.
Best for: 14+
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
While most of the action takes place behind closed doors, an undercurrent of sexual tension runs through the book. There’s heavy petting — including steamy vampire bites — and plenty of talk about desires. It’s not exactly explicit, but it’ll definitely make you blush.
This book is heavy on both swearing and violence, although the fighting is largely between supernatural creatures.
Seventeen-year-old Liz has always believed she's too black, too poor, and too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed Midwestern town. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school. But a twist finds the girls both running for prom queen, and Liz falling hard for the competition.
Best for: 13+
Spice level: 🚫
The romance is very subtle and focuses more on an emotional rather than physical connection. There’s hand-holding, slow dancing, and a sweet first-kiss moment, but that’s it.
The protagonist deals with bullying, homophobia, racism, and the past loss of a parent. There are a handful of instances of swearing.
Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra’s mother is determined to marry her off to a safe, respectable young man befitting her place in aristocratic society. Instead, she becomes embroiled in adventure, espionage, and a budding clandestine romance with the brooding son of an earl.
Best for: 12+
Spice level: 🚫
While the stolen kisses would have been scandalous in Regency London, they’ll strike the modern reader as quite tame.
No content warnings here. Just good, clean romance.
Seventeen-year-old Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she lives with her powerful and cruel father. Her chance to escape finally presents itself in the form of a long-dreamt-of invitation to Caraval — the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. Although Caraval is said to be only a performance, the stakes are real in this game of love, heartbreak, and magic.
Best for: 13+
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
There are passionate kissing scenes, romantic tension, and innuendo. While there is the mild implication of sex, nothing explicit happens on the page.
There is mild drinking, a fair bit of violence and death, and a lot of talk of suicide. The protagonist's father is abusive and manipulative, and at one point, he hits his daughter.
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