📚Books📚

4 Must-Read YA Romance Books Recommendations

Hello, my Sun Petals!😍

This post is for my reader girls and guys!! 😍📖

I have loved books from a young age!!

I definitely credit them for helping me nourish my imagination!

From action and thrillers to self-help and biographies!

But I have decided to branch out to a whole new genre!!

Romance!!!

I admit, I never read a romance-centered book before, until recently!

And honestly they are quite amazing!!🤩

So here I am to recommend you some must-read romance books that will make you fall in love…with love!!

Warning: Each book focuses on complex themes, everyone has different taste so it’s important to be respectful with one another and the authors.

I will be listing trigger warnings within each book description!😉

Let’s go!!!

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis:

Set in 1986 in Omaha Nebraska, Eleanor & Park is a young adult romance novel centered around two teenage misfits who fall in love through shared bus rides, music, and comics. The novel alternates between the perspectives of Eleanor and Park.

Eleanor is the new girl in town with wild red hair and a hard home life, and Park, is a half-Korean boy who feels like an outsider in his own town. Bonding over their shared interests, a love blooms as they navigate first love, insecurities, and the challenges of coming from different backgrounds.

My thoughts:

While this book may seem light-hearted, it actually focuses on complex themes. Both characters are finding solace in one another, an awkward encounter that established a friendship, and eventually evolved into love.

While this book explores first love, it’s main message prioritizes:

• Learning self-love
• Discovering what’s best for your own future.

Trigger Warning:

• Abuse
• Racism
• Fatphobia
• Transphobia
• Alcoholism & Drug Use
• Bullying
• Social Pressures

2. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis:

A Court of Mist and Fury follows Feyre Archeron, after surviving the events Under the Mountain, she is left struggling with PTSD and her suffocating relationship with her fiance Tamlin. Bounded by a bargain, with the Night Court lord, Rhysand she is taken away on to adventure where she discovers her inner strength, learns to control her new powers, a new family, and ultimately choosing to fight against a new greater evil.

My thoughts:

I first discovered this book from TikTok!
A fantasy romance that had gotten so much praise, for it’s world-building and romance, I had to see for myself.

Best decision I ever made!

The first book serves as an introduction to the world and character’s!

But it’s this jewel, the second book within the ACOTAR series, where the story really starts to take set!!!😍

I don’t think I ever read 624 pages so fast in my life, this book is thick!!!

It would be a crime to spoil it for you all so I can’t too much other than…..It’s really good!!

The second book explores Freya who was once human, adjusting to her new life and new fae powers in the Spring Court. The twist and turns had my jaw on the floor, as we follow her on journey to empowerment, freedom, and love.

Trigger Warning:

• Abuse
• Violence/Gore
• Sensitive Mental Health Exploration
• Sexual Content

3. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Synopsis:

Instructions for Dancing is about Evie Thomas, a high school senior who loses her belief in love after her father leaves. She suddenly gains the supernatural ability to see the beginning, middle, and end of any couple’s romance when they kiss. She goes to a dance studio and learns to dance with a boy named X.

X begins to challenges her views of love as they prepare for a ballroom competition, they grow closer and this prompts her to question if love is worth the risk despite the inevitable heartbreak. 

My thoughts:

Grab tissues, I thought this was going to be a cute romance comedy!!!

This book was recommended by my sister, and as a fellow dancer the cover really caught my attention. While both the characters bond while preparing for a a dance competition, the book primarily focuses on Evie learning how to open up to love again after her parent’s painful divorce.

While the novel is bittersweet, it’s still a beautiful story that carries a powerful lesson, with life, self-love, and being in love.

Trigger Warning:

• Infidelity
• Grief
• Abandonment
• Alcohol Consumption
• Terminal Illness

4. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Synopsis:

Cemetery Boys centers around Yadriel, a trans Latinx teen who wants to prove he’s a real brujo to his traditional family by preforming a ghost summoning ritual. But he accidentally summons Julian, a ghost who refuses to leave without figure out how he died. The two team up to solve the mystery of Julian’s death and the chaos in his own community. Yadriel explores navigating family acceptance, identity, and a slow-burn romance with a ghost.

My thoughts:

The is book is so tasteful written, I feel like I was reading a movie off a page. Honestly I was so wrapped up in solving the mystery I actually forgot that this was a romance.

The twists are unpredictable as it serves as a romance-mystery novel around the celebration of Latinx culture, particularly around Día de los Muertos. 

Trigger Warnings:

• Death
• Grief
• Violence/Gore
• Abuse
• Transphobia
• Bullying
• Systemic Issues

I hope you enjoyed some of my recommendations!

I plan on reading much more diverse novels in the future, but some far each book really left a lesson!

I would love some more romance recommendations!!!

So please leave a comment below on you favorite book!!

Bye!!!