Love stories aren't just for young people. If you like romance books, you don't have to be young to enjoy YA stories. It doesn't matter that they often feature characters who are in high school and have to deal with all kinds of teen problems. The best ones have deep storylines and characters that anyone can connect with.

All the books on this list have been recommended by people who read them on Goodreads, Instagram, and bestseller lists. They range from well-known young adult books to new releases.

24 of the best young adult romance books are here for you. Whether you want to read about a fantastical retelling of an old love story, a queer romantic comedy, or an interesting enemies-to-lovers book, these are the best books for you.

The 24 best young adult romance books to read in 2022:

"Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo

It's 1954 in San Francisco's Chinatown, and people are afraid of the Red Scare. Lily and Kathleen go into the Telegraph Club, a neon-lit gay bar. In this coming-of-age story, Lily and Kathleen risk everything to let their love be seen by the world.

"Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating" by Adiba Jaigirdar

When Hani Khan comes out to her friends as bisexual, they say she can't be bi if she only dates boys. Hani quickly tells everyone that she's dating a girl. She turns to Ishu Dey, who is very good at school, and asks her to pretend to be her girlfriend in exchange for making Ishu more popular.

"Counting Down with You" by Tashie Bhuiyan

When Karina's parents go to Bangladesh for four weeks, they tell a simple lie to keep the 28 days they're away from being noisy. In the beginning of the story, Karina is tutoring the school's most infamous bad boy, but it turns into a fake relationship. Even though she doesn't want it to, Karina knows her parents will be back soon, even though she doesn't want them to be back.

"Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Because of a severe immune deficiency, Maddy hasn't been outside since she was four. She could die if she came into contact with anything outside, so she hasn't been outside for a long time. Until a cute boy named Olly moves in next door and makes Maddy want to go outside and see everything the rest of the world has to offer, especially him.

"The Selection" by Kiera Cass

Dozens of girls are chosen to compete for the prince's heart in the movie "The Selection." They get to live a magical and rich life as royals. In truth, America doesn't want to compete. She's already in love with a boy and doesn't want to compete against him. She wants to give her family a better life, though. One day, America is chosen to be one of the lucky 35. She's then whisked away to compete for the prince, a young man who is much more appealing than America had thought at the time.

"To All the Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han

In "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," Lara Jean has written a letter to each of her crushes over the years and hides them in a box under her bed. Lara Jean's world is turned upside down when the boys read the letters and ask her about what she wrote.

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Hazel meets Augustus at a support group for people with cancer. She has a terminal illness, but they fall in love and become friends. Following a promise to read each other's favorite books, the two embark on an epic and heartbreaking relationship that is achingly honest under the shadow of Hazel's dark future. It's sure to make any reader cry.

"Red, White, and Royal Blue" by Casey McQuinston

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry have been enemies for a long time, but they have to put up with each other for public appearances. A fight between Alex and Henry's PR teams could hurt the presidential campaign and make American-British relations shaky. They decide to fake a friendship for the tabloids, which ends up making them closer to each other.

"Felix Ever After" by Karen Callender

Because Felix is black, queer, and trans, he doesn't think he can find true love because of these things. Felx plans revenge when a cyber bully takes things too far, but he ends up in a complicated love triangle that forces him to accept who he is and find out what he's worth.

"More Than Just a Pretty Face" by Syed M. Masood

More Than Just a Pretty Face is a YA romance about Danyal, a boy who isn't the smartest in class but wants to be a chef and impress his crush, Kaval, and her family. Danyal wants to impress Kaval and her family. It makes Danyal happy to spend time with Bisma because the more time he has with her, the happier he is.

"Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

As they listen to music together on the bus in 1986, Eleanor and Park become friends. During this book, Eleanor and Park find solace in each other, and their friendship grows stronger.

"Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

Will and Stella both have cystic fibrosis, which means they have to stay at least five feet away from each other or they could die. In this case, getting close to each other could spread deadly infections. Stella is on the transplant list, and Will wants to leave the hospital. Teens have to think about all the possible consequences when simple conversations turn into a lot more than they used to be.

"A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas

Beauty and the Beast is a story about a huntress, Feyre, who is taken away to a magical kingdom after killing a wolf. Feyre, a high-fantasy, steamy young adult romance series, is kept under a tight leash. She starts to understand and fall in love with her captor.

"Fat Chance, Charlie Vega" by Crystal Maldonado

Charlie Vega is a lot of things, but most people only think of her as "fat." An attractive boy asks Charlie out. When he does this in a cute and relatable YA romance about representation, friendship, and complicated crushes it turns out that Charlie is actually his second choice.

"Only Mostly Devastated" by Sophie Gonzales

"Only Mostly Devastated" is a "Grease" spin-off that is very cute when a boy meets a boy. Ollie and Will have a quick summer fling that comes to an end when Will stops texting back to him. It turns out that Will isn't the person he seemed to be over the summer. Ollie runs into him when he starts at his new school.

"The Stars and the Blackness Between Them" by Junauda Petrus

People from very different backgrounds meet when Audre comes over for dinner after moving from Trinidad to live with her father. The two fall in love quickly and hopelessly for each other. When a looming illness turns into a much bigger problem, the two face a shaky relationship.

"A Phớ Love Story" by Loan Le

Bao and Linh work at their parents' pho restaurants, which are next to each other. This is a cute and funny rom-com. When a friendly competition brings them closer together, the sparks fly even though there are fears that their relationship won't be able to last between feuding families.

"Love from A to Z" by S.K. Ali

When Zayneb is suspended from school for talking to her Islamophobic teacher, her aunt sends her to spend two weeks with her to get some time off and get some rest. On her flight, Zayneb meets Adam, a boy who has multiple sclerosis. The two embark on a powerful and moving love story of strength and fate.

"These Violent Delights" by Chloe Gong

In this "Romeo and Juliet" retelling set in 1926 Shanghai, Juliette and Roma belong to two rival gangs that are becoming more and more angry. In this book, the two must put their differences aside and work together when a river monster and a mysterious illness threaten the city.

"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Teenagers Aristotle and Dante are both "loners," but they both have different views and experiences. This makes it easy to fall in love with them. During their first meeting at a pool, they start to spend more time together, and they start to feel safe with each other.

"Happily Ever Afters" by Elisa Bryant

When Tessa Johnson gets into a prestigious writing program, she gets writer's block. She loves writing romance stories, but when she gets into the program, she can't write. When Tessa's best friend tells her to look for real-life inspiration, she goes on a quest for a happy ending.

"The Henna Wars" by Adiba Jaigirdar

In the beginning, Nishat told her parents she was gay. They told her that they could let her be anything she wanted, but not a lesbian. With the competition at her school to start a successful business, Nishat gives all of herself to it. Flavia, Nishat's crush, is also starting a henna business. She might be stealing Nishat's culture with her art, but she's still running the business.

"Cemetery Boys" by Aiden Thomas

To free the spirit of his murdered cousin, Yadriel tries to summon the right ghost. By mistake, he summons the wrong ghost. In this young adult book, Yadriel is caught up in a quest to help the paranormal Julian and free his cousin. He is thrown into a heartfelt and emotional whirlwind of love, identity, and family.

"Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Simon hasn't come out of the closet yet. He only tells his crush his secrets over email. In the end, Simon is forced to act as a wingman for the class clown after one of his flirty emails ends up in the wrong hands. It's a good book to read if you're into YA romances. Simon is trying to figure out how to be himself before he's pushed out of the closet in this one.\

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