Romance
I love romance books because they are easy to read and don’t require a lot of emotional and mental energy. They’re quick, sweet reads that bring a lightness when you need or want it. So if you’re looking for romance books that will warm your heart and make you giggle you’re in the right place. This is a list of romance books that I love and think more people should read, these books have gotten me out of reading slumps and brightened my mood when I needed them to.
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Tropes: boy next door, first love
Category: Young Adult
My Life Next Door follows a summer romance between two teenage neighbours; Samantha Reed and Jase Garrett. After Samantha’s mother forbids her from associating with the Garretts, Samantha and Jase continue to see each other in secret. A lovely story about first love that will stay with you even after you put the book down, (I’m serious, I read this book when I was 16 and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since).
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Tropes: brother’s best friend, teen pregnancy
Category: Young Adult
Tim Mason had a lot of problems. But when Tim starts hanging around the Garret house more than before, Alice refused to add his problems onto her never-ending list. When both their lives crash into each other and secrets start flying, will they be able to hold on to each other? I really liked this expansion of the "My Life Next Door” world. Alice and Tim are lovable and you find yourself rooting for them every step of the way. All, in all this book will leave a nice warm feeling in your chest.
Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Tropes: summer romance, scavenger hunt
Category: Young Adult
When Emily’s best friend Sloane disappears leaving behind nothing but a to-do list she embarks on a journey to find Sloane. And what better way to do that than to check off the to-do list, with the help of Frank Porter? Follow Emily as she tries to find her best friend but finds something else instead - herself. This is one of my favourite summer reads, so much so that I feel the need to re-read it every summer. This also got me hooked on Morgan Matson books and I discovered that they are all the perfect summer read, the ones I’ve read at least. Despite being stand-alone all the stories intertwine in some subtle way with characters from other books popping up here and there through the six degrees of separation.
The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Tropes: Summer romance
Category: Young Adult
In The Unexpected Everything Andie has her whole summer, no, her future, planned out. But will that plan hold up when her father’s political scandal threatens everything she knows? Suddenly Andie’s entire plan is flipped on its head, if not completely ruined and she has to figure out how to salvage it and make this summer count. What better way to do that than getting a job… walking dogs? It might not be ideal, or something that’s going to boost her resume, but it’s something. Follow Andie as she learns to let go and live in the present, makes new friends and some new connections that open her eyes to different possibilities. There is a definite theme running through the Morgan Matson books which is probably why I love them so much to be honest. They all follow a similar pattern which makes them a fun no-stakes read. This is a great light read despite some familial tension. The book's events unravel very naturally, and I was left feeling satisfied with a goofy grin by the end.
Save the Date - Morgan Matson
Tropes: brother’s best friend
Category: Young Adult
Save the Date follows Charlie Grant as her older sister plans her wedding in their childhood home. For the first time in years, all four of her siblings are going to be under one roof. She wants one last perfect weekend before her parents sell the house and everything changes. Nothing is going to plan, old crushes are back, the wedding planner has disappeared, and tensions within the family have never been higher. Will Charlie get the perfect last hurrah she so desperately longs for before she goes to university or will this be it?
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Tropes: summer romance, forced proximity
Category: Young adult
Amy Curry hasn’t been able to drive since her dad died. But when her mom moves across the country and needs her to drive the car there, she has no other choice, until Roger, an old family friend shows up. Together they drive from California to Connecticut making some unexpected stops and discoveries along the way. Like all the other Morgan Matson books on this list, I loved it. It’s short, it’s sweet and you’re left with a huge smile on your face.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Tropes: fake dating
Category: Young Adult
Becca Hart is a seventeen-year-old girl who believes that love can only exist in the books she reads. She doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, but that is exactly where she ends up getting herself into a fake relationship with the school’s star football player, Brett Wells. This book is a little different from the other books in this collection, it is shorter and a little quicker-paced than others. However, this book got me out of a reading slump. It was full of heart and hope. It was a really easy read and could not recommend it more.
