Readers’ Picks: High School Romance Books That Never Get Old

If you’ve ever missed that rush of first love, the kind that happens in crowded hallways or after late-night texts, this list of Best High School Romance Books is made for you.

As someone who reads way too many love stories, I can tell you there’s something special about high school romances. They are raw, real, and full of the small moments that giggle with you, the kind of stories that remind you how it felt to be seen for the first time.

These books are popular because they capture that mix of innocence and chaos very well. Each one offers something different, some will make you smile, others might break your heart a little, but all of them feel honest.

This is our latest post, and it’s made for readers who want to feel something real again. So, ready to find your next favorite love story? Let’s jump in.

How We Picked These Books

When we put together the 17 Best High School Romance Books, we didn’t just copy bestseller lists or throw in every popular title out there.

Sure, we could have made a list of 30 or even 50 books like most websites, but what’s the point if it doesn’t feel meaningful? We believe a great list should be thoughtful, not crowded.

You can find plenty of long lists on Google, but this one is different; it’s curated by readers who actually read these stories and know which ones truly stay with you.

The kind that captures the messy, confusing, and beautiful parts of young love. We looked for stories with characters who grow, make mistakes, and still make your heart ache in the best way.

Some are new favorites everyone’s talking about; others are classics that never lose their charm. We also paid attention to what readers love most: stories that feel honest and take you back to those unforgettable years.

In the end, every book on this list earned its place because it makes you feel something, and that’s what good romance should always do.

17 Best High School Romance Books to Get Lost In

1. Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Dark Romance
Publication Date: July 2018
Pages: 618
Goodreads Rating: 4.5/5
Spice Level: 4/5

Chloe Walsh’s Binding 13 is one of those stories that quietly pulls you in until the characters feel like people you actually know.

As someone who spent half of college reading novels between classes, this reminded me of the emotional pull of books like The Deal or The Raven Boys, but with a rawness that feels uniquely its own.

Walsh writes Shannon and Johnny with such honesty that they stop feeling like characters and start feeling like people you might’ve sat next to in lecture or watched from across the quad.

Shannon’s peaceful resilience and Johnny’s carefully hidden struggles make their connection feel natural. It’s not just about romance; it’s a coming-of-age story about healing, trust, and figuring out who you are when life keeps trying to knock you.

If you love character-driven stories that balance slow-burn chemistry with real emotional weight, this is absolutely worth reading. It stays with you not because it’s dramatic, but because it’s true in the ways that matter.

2. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: May 4, 2021.
Pages: 368 (hardcover edition).
Goodreads Rating: 4.5/5.
Spice Level: 1/5 (clean YA romance).

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is one of those high school romances that hits the sweet spot between fluffy and genuinely heartfelt.

Reading it took me straight back to college nights when my friends and I would binge rom-coms and argue about which trope was superior. Liz, with her obsession for classic movie moments, is a perfect book for a movie nerd.

What makes this book shine is how Painter (author) balances humor with the messy honesty of being a teenager.

The friendships feel lived-in, the crushes feel embarrassingly relatable, and the characters react the way real teens do, overthinking everything, stumbling through feelings, and figuring out what love looks like without a script.

It’s warm, funny, and surprisingly insightful. For anyone who loves charming, feel-good stories, this is definitely worth picking up, and this book is in my top 3 picks.

3. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance / Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Pages: 392
Goodreads Rating: 4.07/5 (over 200,000 ratings)
Spice Level: 2/5 – Mature YA themes

Pushing the Limits is a typical teen romance, and then it hits you with much more. When I talk about it with other readers, I always say the core of the story is two teens who carry heavy problems and meet at the moment they both need someone who understands.

The book focuses on Echo and Noah as they try to figure out their lives, their past, and what they want next.

The story deals with family struggles, personal healing, and the strange way two people can find comfort in each other when nothing else makes sense. Their thoughts, fears, and small steps forward make them easy to care about.

The book moves at a steady pace, and every scene adds something important. If you enjoy character-focused stories with honest emotion and a strong sense of growth, this one is worth reading.

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4. Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Dark Romance
Publication Date: November 2018
Pages: 937
Goodreads Rating: 4.5/5.
Spice Level: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The second book from Chloe Walsh, which is Keeping 13, is one of those high school romance books. It’s the second book in the Boys of Tommen series and picks up right where Binding 13 leaves off.

What stands out most is how honest the story is about growing up, falling in love, and healing from what life throws at you.

The characters’ design is pretty good; they feel human, they make mistakes like us, they overthink, and they care deeply, even when it hurts.

The chemistry between the main characters isn’t just about romance; it’s about trust and learning to feel safe again. There is a lot of soul in this book, and it handles tough moments with care.

It’s long, yes, but it never drags. If you enjoy stories set in school with deep emotions, strong friendships, and a love story that actually grows with the characters, Keeping 13 is one of the best high school romance books to jump into.

5. Dear Love, I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood

Genre: New-Adult / Contemporary Romance/ Enemies To Lovers
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 535
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Spice Level: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dear Love, I Hate You It feels like one of those books you accidentally start at midnight and then realize you’ve blown past three chapters without noticing.

This book hits the exact sweet spot of the enemies-to-lovers genre. It follows two teens who begin as total opposites, practically enemies, and somehow end up spilling their rawest thoughts through letters and late-night moments.

What makes it stand out is how honest the emotions are. The anger, the insecurity, the slow shift from fear to trust… it reminded me a bit of The Hate U Give’s emotional depth mixed with the tension of Better Than the Movies.

You should read this if you like high school stories that aren’t afraid to show the messy parts of growing up.

It’s perfect for readers who want romance with weight—pain, healing, and the kind of vulnerability that feels genuinely lived-in.

6. A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy

Genre: Contemporary / New-Adult Romance
Publication Date: March 2022
Pages: 552
Goodreads Rating: 3.75/5 (series readers).
Spice Level: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime made my list because it feels like more than a simple high school romance.

It’s set in an elite private school, but what really pulls you in is the way Wren and Crew challenge each other without even meaning to.

Wren Beaumont is a quiet and well-mannered girl and was raised to be perfect, while Crew Lancaster, the bad boy rich MMC, comes from money and carries a lot behind his sharp edges.

Their early tension feels very nice, not pushed, and watching it shift into something honest is what keeps you hanging on to the book.

What makes sense is how the book shows two people learning who they are when everyone around them has already decided for them. The romance has strong chemistry, but the growth is what stays with you. For high school romance books, it is one of the perfect options to choose from.

7. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.04/5.
Spice Level: 1/5 (clean YA romance).

If you’re looking for a YA romance that feels honest and steady, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one that deserves its place on every “must-read” list.

It follows Lara Jean, a quiet girl who writes letters to boys she once cared for and hides them away. When those letters get sent out, she’s pushed into situations she never planned for. It will feel like you confessed to your crush.

What I like about this book is how real it feels. Lara Jean isn’t dramatic or perfect—she reacts the way most of us probably would, trying to protect her soul.

The story mixes family life, first love, and the awkward parts of growing up in a way that feels familiar. If you enjoy YA romance that isn’t all big moments but more about small choices and real feelings, this one fits.

It’s warm, easy to fall into, and a good pick for simple readers who want a story that feels close to real life.

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8. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: December 2, 2010 (first pub).
Pages: 372
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/5.
Spice Level: 1/5

Anna and the French Kiss is one of those High School Romance Books that will stick with you after you finish it.

The book’s story revolves around an American teen, Anna, who is suddenly shipped off to a boarding school in Paris. At first, like all others, she’s homesick and lost, but as the year unfolds, she meets new friends and starts to see love and life in a new light.

The writing feels easy to sink into—like you’re right there with her, walking through Paris and figuring things out one day at a time.

If you enjoyed To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han or Binding 13, this book hits a similar note but with a quieter, more personal touch. It’s not just about first love; it’s about finding where you belong.

It’s the kind of story that makes you smile, ache a little, and remember what it felt like to be seventeen.

9. Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

Genre: YA Graphic Novel / LGBTQ+
Publication Date: 2018/2019 (self-pub early, trade editions 2019/2020).
Pages: 288
Goodreads Rating: 4.5/5.
Spice Level: 1/5 (gentle, PG-13 romantic content).

Heartstopper—Volume 1 by Alice Oseman is honestly one of the best high school romance books that 2025 readers still recommend.

It’s a soft, gentle story about two characters, Charlie and Nick, two boys looking for friendship, love, and who they are.

What attracted me to it wasn’t big drama but how real everything feels. The conversations, small gestures, and pauses all carry weight.

Volume 1 is one of the popular books and readers’ favorite wholesome gay romances. The book is so well written that it feels like the author is the same age and telling about his life.

It’s popular because it captures emotion in such a natural way. It’s not trying to be perfect, or it’s just sincere. Compared to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, which feels more like a movie romance, Heartstopper stays close and human.

You don’t read it for plot twists; you read it for how it makes you remember your own first crush. It’s simple, real, and quietly beautiful.

10. Bully by Penelope Douglas

Genre: New-Adult / Contemporary (dark themes)
Publication Date: First self-pub 2013
Pages: 333
Goodreads Rating: 3.84/5
Spice Level: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Bully follows Tate and Jared, two former friends whose relationship has curdled into something sharp and painful, and the book treats that shift with a kind of honesty I appreciated.

You feel the awkwardness of returning to school each day, the sting of old memories, and the frustration of not knowing when someone you once trusted became a stranger.

What makes it work is the slow uncovering of their history. The tension isn’t just for drama’s sake; it grows from the characters’ fears, pride, and hope.

Tate’s gradual push toward reclaiming her voice feels impressive, and Jared’s complexity keeps the story from slipping into clichés.

Read it if you like romance that explores hurt, healing, and the uneven path back to connection. It is one of the good young adult romance books.

11. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Genre: YA Contemporary / Romance
Publication Date: April 12, 2012
Pages: 328
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/5.
Spice Level: 2/5🌶️🌶️

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell feels like one of those books you read in college and end up recommending to everyone because it hits something true.

It isn’t just another bus-ride romance; it feels like overhearing two real people slowly let each other in. Their bond grows through mixtapes, comics, and those quiet moments that take you right back to the awkward intensity of high school.

What makes it powerful, at least from a reader’s perspective, is how unpolished the emotions are. Eleanor is navigating a home life that’s messy and heavy, while Park is figuring out how to balance who he is with who he thinks he should be.

Compared to a lot of high school romance books, this one isn’t afraid to sit with uncomfortable feelings, which is why it stands out.

If you like teen romance books that actually mean something—books that stay with you the way The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Looking for Alaska do—this story is absolutely worth the read.

12. A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

Genre: Contemporary Romance / New Adult / Angsty Romance
Publication Date: October 13, 2016
Pages: 366
Goodreads Rating: 4.05/5
Spice Level: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is an emotional ride. It follows Brecks (“B”) and Jamie over many years, starting from a clumsy meet-cute on a run.

B’s always had a crush on Jamie, but their timing is all wrong. Steiner writes their connection like something inevitable but fragile—full of longing, regret, and moments that almost work.

B is struggling with her own issues, and Jamie is both her anchor and her heartbreak. Their love isn’t simple: it’s messy and sometimes destructive, but the chemistry is raw.

Steiner doesn’t sugarcoat how hard loyalty and forgiveness can be. The story covers school, college, and beyond, and you see how both of them change (and don’t).

It’s not a light read—it’s angsty, intense, and deep. But if you like slow-burn romance with real stakes and complicated people, this book will stay with you for days.

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13. Never Have I Ever by Stephanie Alves

Genre: New-Adult / Contemporary / College Romance
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 344 Kindle edition
Goodreads Rating: 3.51/5
Spice Level: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

“I loved ‘Never Have I Ever’ by Stephanie Alves. It just has a great vibe. It’s the kind of book you finish and then bug all your friends to read so you can talk about it.

It reminded me so much of those late nights in college, you know, where someone finally tells a secret, things get messy, and everything suddenly changes.

It follows a group of people still figuring themselves out, and the game at the center of the story feels so real you can almost hear the nervous laughter.

What sets it apart from other character-driven novels, like People We Meet on Vacation or Normal People, is how naturally the emotions unfold. Alves doesn’t rush the tension or overplay the drama; she lets the characters breathe, make mistakes, and grow.

If you love stories about connection, vulnerability, and imperfect love, the kind that mirrors real life, Never Have I Ever is absolutely worth picking up.

14. Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Rom-com (indie)
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 325
Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5
Spice Level: 2/5 (lighter adult romance; warm/romantic).

From the first chapter, you can feel this isn’t your usual YA romance; it reads like someone who genuinely remembers what it’s like to be that age.

The story carries a quiet authenticity, the kind that comes from observing real friendships, real heartaches, and those subtle moments that end up shaping you. Nothing is excessive for effect, yet the emotional weight still lands exactly where it should.

Unique things are how Liana lingers in the in-between spaces, the pauses, the half-formed thoughts, and the choices that seem small until they aren’t.

The characters don’t feel made-up; they feel lived-in, familiar in the way real people are. You recognize pieces of yourself, or someone you used to know, in them.

It’s a love story, but it’s also a story about timing, growing pains, and learning who you’re becoming. If you’re craving a YA novel that feels sincere rather than styled, this one delivers.

15. Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

Genre: YA Contemporary / LGBTQ+
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 320.
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/5
Spice Level: 1/5

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg hit me in a way a lot of coming-of-age books didn’t back in college. It’s one of those stories that feels like someone is sitting across from you in a dorm lounge, late at night, telling you the truth about themselves.

Rafe, a gay teen who’s tired of being “the openly gay kid,” decides to switch things up when he transfers to an all-boys boarding school.

He isn’t trying to lie—he just wants to know who he is without a label doing all the talking. What happens next is messy, funny, and surprisingly emotional.

The book reminded me a bit of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe in how honestly it handles identity, but it’s more playful and sharply observant.

If you’ve ever struggled with fitting in, or if you enjoy character-driven stories about belonging and self-acceptance, Openly Straight is absolutely worth the read, especially for readers who want something honest without being heavy-handed.

16. The Upside of Falling by Alex Light

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Pages: 288
Goodreads Rating: 3.73/5 (over 200,000 ratings)
Spice Level: 1/5 – Clean YA romance; no explicit scenes

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light is one of those high school romance books that people pick up for a quick read and end up finishing in one sitting.

It started on Wattpad, where Alex Light gained a large following, and that is a big reason the book became so popular.

Readers liked how real the characters felt and how the story focused on two teens trying to figure out their lives without making things too heavy.

The book follows a fake-dating setup, but it never feels over the top. What I liked most was how the characters talked and acted like actual teens.

They deal with school, family, and the pressure to seem okay, even when things feel a bit off. The story keeps things clear and steady without giving away too much.

If you enjoy high school backdrops, light drama, and a romance that grows in a natural way, this book is an easy choice.

17. The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: December 13, 2012
Pages: 441–448
Goodreads Rating: 3.5/5
Spice Level: 2/5

If you enjoy teen romance books and stories set in high school, The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles is one you’ll want to check out.

Speaking as someone who lived off YA romance novels during my college lit courses, this book has that nostalgic, slightly chaotic energy that reminds you why teen stories stick with us.

I already watched all three movies of The Kissing Booth. It is a decent show, and I kinda liked it. The book is a more detailed version of the movie, which is kinda surface-level.

It’s a YA high school romance about friendship, first crushes, and all the messy moments of figuring yourself out.

The whole “kissing booth at a school carnival” setup feels light and fun, but it surprisingly shifts the main character’s entire world—kind of like how one tiny decision in real life can change everything.

Compared with other YA hits, it has the sweetness of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, but adds more everyday high-school drama that feels real rather than overly polished.

You should read this if you want something that makes you smile, cringe, and remember your own school memories in the best way.

My Top 3 Picks

If you are confused in these books, or you want my personal pick, so there it is-

1. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter—Very light. Mostly cute YA romance, slow-burn tension, kissing, and no on-page explicit scenes.
2. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry—Emotional and intense, with romance and sensual moments, but not explicit. More mature themes than “Better Than the Movies,” but still YA-level.
3. A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner—For readers who want new adult romance with strong heat, emotionally heavy chemistry, and more explicit scenes. Definitely the spiciest of the three.

Conclusion

Almost all of us experience some form of “teen romance” or “high school romance,” and some might be living it right now. Honestly, it’s one of the best and most memorable stages of life.

High school romance books are my second favorite type of love stories to read when I have some free time, and I know many teens will instantly connect with them.

They capture first love in all its chaos—the hope, the confusion, and the quiet heartbreak. Some stories make you laugh, others stay with you long after you close the book.

What I love most is how these books remind us that love, at any age, is as much about finding yourself as it is about finding someone else. So browse through this list, trust your mood, and pick the story that speaks to you.

You might rediscover that spark only a good high school romance can bring. And if you’re confused about what to choose, try any book from my personal picks—you won’t regret it.

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