High school romances can be incredibly overwhelming experiences. We go through many changes, both emotionally and physically.
Because of that, most people feel awkward and out of place. That’s why many young people turn to books.
High school romantic fiction captures the angst of being a teenager with feelings. Plus, they can show you how to navigate your love life.
This makes them exceptionally useful tools. So, if you’re looking for high school romance books, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the world’s most popular love novels. We’ll also give you a short summary of each one.
High School Romance Novel Types
There are countless high school love books on the shelves of any library. This can make picking out one book quite a challenge.
So, to help you make a decision, we’ve broken up the novels into several subgenres. Each one approaches love stories from a unique angle.
In this section, we’ll cover the types of love novels on the market. In addition, we’ll go over some of the most popular books in every category.
1. Contemporary Romance
Contemporary love novels are arguably the most common subgenre. As the name suggests, these stories usually follow events that occur in the present day.
That means you’ll go on a journey in a world that you’re familiar with. This makes the contemporary category one of the most beginner friendly.
If you’re not an avid reader, then it’s a good idea to start with these novels. They’re easy to follow and cover all the tropes of romantic books.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some examples.
1.1 The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
There’s nothing worse than showing up at an ex’s wedding without a date. So, terrified of his friends’ glaring eyes, Drew decides to take a risk.
He asks Alexa, a total stranger, to accompany him to the big event. Neither one of them had high hopes for the evening, but this would quickly change.
Drew and Alexa end up having a lot of fun spending time together. They share a few laughs and end up connecting more than they expected.
However, once the wedding wrapped up, Drew and Alexa returned to their normal lives. Although neither of them can seem to forget about that magical night.
Will the story end with them together, or was it a fleeting romance?
1.2 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel has battled cancer her entire life. From doctor’s visits to chemo sessions, it seemed like her life revolved around the illness.
Yet, this would all change in a moment. One afternoon, Hazel made her way to a kid’s cancer support group.
She felt better being around people who were like her. That day, a new member decided to join the group.
Augustus, a 17-year-old boy, attended the meeting to talk about his battle with cancer. The two instantly hit it off and became quick friends.
Will their love be able to conquer all and help them overcome their illnesses?
1.3 Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Alex Claremont-Diaz is the most famous kid in the country. That’s because his mother is the President of the United States.
Although Alex doesn’t let that stop him from getting into trouble. With his sister and the Vice President’s granddaughter, the three caused a lot of mischief.
That’s especially true when Alex’s nemesis, Prince Henry makes an appearance.
The story takes an interesting turn when Alex and Henry attend an event. There, a photographer took a picture of the two in the middle of a heated argument.
To avoid an international incident, the two have to fake a close friendship. Will the relationship develop into something more, or will the animosity continue?
1.4 Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maisel
Sarah is a shy girl that spent most of her life in her sister’s shadow. Yet, she’s ready for a change.
Our heroine wanted everyone around her to treat her like an adult. So, she took a trip to Cape Cod during her summer break. There, she met a college boy, Andrew.
He was handsome and sure of himself, and most importantly, he thought Sarah was beautiful.
She was instantly attracted to Andrew, but there was a major age difference. For that reason, she decided to exaggerate her age a little.
Will the lie end their relationship, or is there still hope?
2. Fantasy Romance
If you want a book that’ll take you on a mystical journey, then fantasy romance may be for you. The events in these books usually occur in a different world.
That means they don’t have to follow any of the rules we have here on Earth. Because of that, fantasy novels tend to have magical creatures and settings.
2.1 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The story begins with Bella Swan, a 17-year-old girl, moving in with her father. On her first day of school, she ends up sitting next to Edward in biology class.
At first, Bella thought her classmate had a sort of charm. Yet, she couldn’t help but notice that he found her repulsing for some reason.
As soon as the recess bell rang, Edward ran out of the classroom and disappeared for a few days. When he returned, his attitude towards Bella changed.
He was softer and kinder. Soon, the two were inseparable, until one fateful afternoon in the school parking lot.
While Bella was making her way out of school, a car nearly struck her. So Edward jumped in and stopped the truck with his bare hands.
This sends Bella down a magical path that she may not be ready for.
2.2 Winter by Marissa Meyer
Princess Winter is one of the most stunning girls in the kingdom. Despite the scars on her face, her inner beauty always shown through.
Everyone around loved her and appreciated her kindness. This was especially true for Jacin, Winter’s royal guard.
The two spent a lot of time together getting into all sorts of situations. After a while, friendship began turning into something more.
Winter started imagining what it would be like to spend the rest of her life with Jacin. Little did she know, her stepmother, Levana, had other plans.
The queen planned to marry Winter off to a powerful magician. When the princess refuses, Levana decides to take matters into her own hands.
She ordered Jacin to murder Winter. Will the royal guard listen to the queen’s orders, or will he follow his heart?
2.3 Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Juliette is a 17-year-old girl with a terrifying ability. Her touch could paralyze anyone, and in severe cases, it would lead to death.
When Juliette was just three-years-old, she killed a young boy with her touch. Since then, our heroine spent most of her life in an asylum.
Isolated and terrified, Juliette struggled to adjust to life in the psychiatric ward. That was until she got a new roommate.
Adam was a troubled child with a mysterious past. The two started bonding over their shared experiences and became friends.
Then, Juliette finds out Adam had been working for the government. He offered her an enticing deal. She could leave the asylum and be free for the rest of her life.
However, there was a catch. Juliette would have to torture people for the government using her unique abilities.
Was Adam only after Juliette’s power, or did he develop feelings for her?
2.4 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena isn’t your typical heroine. She’s an 18-year-old assassin in the Kingdom of Adarlan. After years of causing chaos, Celaena’s history caught up with her.
The royal guard captured her and threw her in a slave encampment.
A year later, Prince Dorian visited the campsite and offered Celaena a deal. If she served as a King’s champion for four years, she’d be free to go.
However, before she can join, she’ll need to compete with other thieves and assassins for the position.
This sets off the characters on a crazy adventure with many twists and turns. Over the course of the story, we see the characters grow together and develop strong bonds.
At some point, Dorian’s heart began to soften for Celaena. He saw a side of her that no one ever gets to see.
Although, it’ll take more than that for Celaena to change her ways. So, will Dorian’s love be strong enough to tame our wild assassin?
3. Comedy Romance
Sometimes, romantic novels can be a little intense. With all the feelings flying around, it’s easy to get lost in the emotions.
This can make keeping up with events a bit challenging. Because of that, you may need a few laughs to break the tension.
If that’s the case, then a romantic comedy novel may be what you’re looking for. They center around a love story, with plenty of funny moments.
3.1 Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score
Marley moved away from her hometown after an incident at her senior homecoming. She’d planned on never returning, no matter what.
However, after 20 years of financial struggles, Marley had to move back in with her parents. Once again, she was around people that didn’t necessarily like her.
Plus, she had to accept a temporary teaching job at her old high school. This brought back a lot of memories that she’d rather forget.
Even though Marley faced many problems, she held her head high. That was until a rumor sent her to the principal’s office.
To make the problem go away, Jake, the high school track coach, offered her a deal. He’d pretend to be her boyfriend and provide her with an alibi on one condition.
Marley would have to show Jake the ins and outs of romantic relationships. Will she accept the deal or face her problems head-on?
3.2 Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Cassie Mae
Brody led a pretty normal life, with one exception. He was in love with his brother’s ex. Feeling awkward and insecure, he enlists the help of the school matchmaker, Hayley.
She was positive, fun-loving, and, most importantly, easy to talk to. So Brody starts taking her advice on how to approach his crush.
As you can imagine, this leads them down a path of mischief. As the two spend more time together, Brody begins losing interest in his brother’s ex.
Instead, he starts to develop feelings for Hayley. However, the school matchmaker has romantic issues of her own.
Hayley’s friend group labels her the “fat funny friend”. Because of that, she’s unable to accept Brody’s feelings for her.
Will Hayley get over her low-self esteem and surrender to love?
3.3 Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
Most people think that guys and girls can’t be just friends. Although Macallan and Levi would like to disagree.
The two of them have been best friends since the moment they met. They’d hang out every day after school and share countless inside jokes.
While they enjoyed spending time together, this caused a few issues. Macallan noticed that no guys would ask her out because she spent too much time with Levi.
Similarly, all of Levi’s dates would end up getting jealous of his friendship with Macallan.
This forced the two friends to reconsider their relationship. Are they just platonic friends, or is there something more to their feelings?
4. Historical Romance
Historical romance novels take place in different time periods. They’re not necessarily based on true events, but the story takes place before the 1950s.
This allows you to see a glimpse of the world before technology took over. You’ll go on a journey through simpler times.
4.1 Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind takes place during the American Civil War. The story follows Scarlett O’Hara, the daughter of a plantation owner.
Scarlett had feelings for her neighbor, Ashley Wilkes. She was fine with loving him from afar until she heard that he was getting engaged.
So, she made her way to the engagement party and confronted Ashley. Scarlett confessed her feelings, hoping that he would return them.
Sadly, Ashley was in love with his wife-to-be. Scorned and hurt, Scarlett made a hasty decision.
She chose to marry Charles Hamilton to spite Ashely and his bride. This plan would backfire when Charles died about two months later.
At that point, Scarlett had a son and no prospects. To escape poverty and starvation, she ventured into an unconventional business.
Even though she had a lot on her plate, Scarlett never forgot about Ashely. Will he ever reciprocate her feelings?
4.2 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The story follows Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters living in 19th-century England. They led a quiet life, with only one goal.
All Mrs. Bennet wanted in life was to marry off her daughters to suitable grooms. Her wish seemed like it may come true when Mr. Bingley moved in next door.
He was a wealthy bachelor with an incredibly friendly demeanor.
When the Bennet family attended a ball, they got a chance to meet Mr. Bingley in person. He was there with his sisters and best friend, Mr. Darcy.
Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter, caught Bingley’s eye, and they began chatting. That’s when Elizabeth, the second eldest daughter, saw an opportunity.
She asked the attractive Mr. Darcy to dance with her. Yet, he refused, stating that she wasn’t handsome enough.
That’s when Elizabeth decided to stay as far away from Darcy as she could. Although, that would be easier said than done.
Over the next while, Elizabeth and Darcy would run into each other several times. So, Darcy begins to develop a fondness for Elizabeth’s wit and candidness.
Will Elizabeth be able to put aside her pride and accept Darcy’s advances?
4.3 Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
Isolde Goodnight is the daughter of a famous children’s book author. For that reason, she grew up listening to all sorts of stories.
From epic tales with castles and dragons to quiet fables with happy endings, Isolde heard it all. However, she wouldn’t live in a fairytale for the rest of her life.
On one fateful day, her father passed away, leaving her with nothing. Isolde didn’t even have a roof to sleep under.
That’s when her godfather came into play. He gifted Isolde a castle that she could stay in until she got word about her inheritance.
Will Isolde be able to turn the castle into the home she’s always wanted? In addition, will she meet someone that makes her believe in happily ever afters again?
5. Bully Romances
Friends turned enemies is a common trope in many movies and books. That’s because there’s a very fine line between love and hate.
Most of us can relate to this trope in one way or another. So, if you’re looking for a friends-to-lovers story, bully romances are the way to go.
Here are a few great examples.
5.1 Dirty Wicked Prince by Eden O’Neill
Noa Sloane lived a simple life with her father and brother. Although, money was always tight. That’s because Mr. Sloane could never seem to keep a job for too long.
Yet, the small family found a way to survive.
Then, everything turned sour when Mr. Sloane died. At that point, Noa and her brother had to move in with their dad’s friend.
He was wealthy, which meant they wouldn’t have to deal with financial problems anymore.
However, there were plenty of other issues still to come. Since they moved, Noa and her brother had to change schools.
That’s when the real trouble began. On her first day of school, Noa called out a boy for misbehaving.
Little did she know, he was the elite’s dark prince. Dorian was mean, wicked, twisted, and could hold a grudge for years.
So, he made it his mission to destroy Noa. This sets off a chain of events that brings the two enemies closer together.
Will they be able to let go of the past and focus on their feelings?
5.2 Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster
Penn and Copeland grew up together and loved getting into trouble. The two were neighbors and had been friends for over 16 years.
They bonded over their mutual hatred of their fathers. This quickly developed into a strong relationship. Penn and Copeland were inseparable.
As the two boys got older, Penn’s emotions began to change. His platonic feelings slowly turned romantic.
This caused Penn a lot of confusion and heartache. So, he decided to share his feelings with his lifelong friend.
Sadly, Copeland rudely rejected Penn’s advances. That was the end of the 16-year-old relationship.
Once best friends now turned into mortal enemies. Penn and Copeland were no longer on speaking terms, which made seeing each other in class a bit difficult.
Will the two be able to get over their differences and rekindle their friendship?
5.3 Deviant King by Rina Kent
Elsa was a young girl with a humble background. Although she never let that stop her from chasing her dreams.
She wanted to graduate from high school and get accepted into university. So, she was pretty excited about her first day of senior year.
Elsa and her friend were making their way down the halls when they ran into Aiden King. He was one of the most popular guys at school.
Plus, he was incredibly rich, to boot.
After the run-in, Aiden decided that he didn’t like Elsa. Her attitude rubbed him the wrong way, which in his eyes meant she had to suffer.
For that reason, he turned the entire school body against her. Everyone began to bully the poor girl mercilessly.
Unfortunately for Elsa, she had no means of fighting back. Even her friend was powerless in front of the entire school.
From the outside, it seemed like Aiden’s cruelty had no bounds. There was too much pain and vile in his heart.
Will our heroine be able to turn this hate into love?
Wrapping Up
There are countless high school romance books that you can add to your reading list. We divide these novels into a few subgenres.
These include contemporary romance and fantasy romance. The former deals with stories that happen in the present time. As for the latter, it’s all about magical worlds.
Other than that, the historical romance category talks about stories from the past. Moving on, when looking for enemies-to-lovers stories, then bully romances are the way to go.
Finally, if you’re looking for a few laughs, then comedy romance is your best bet.
