The Best Romance Books to Stock in a High School Library

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The inimitable Nikki DeMarco is as well-traveled as she is well-read. Being an enneagram 3, Aries, high school librarian, makes her love for efficiency is unmatched. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, and is passionate about helping teens connect to books. Nikki has an MFA in creative writing, is a TBR bibliologist, and writes for Harlequin, Audible, Kobo, and MacMillan. Since that leaves her so much time, she’s currently working on writing a romance novel, too. Find her on all socials @iamnikkidemarco (Instagram, Twitter, Threads)

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Romance novels belong in high school libraries. Full stop. Stocking age-appropriate adult romance titles offers teens a safe, affirming space to explore what healthy relationships—and healthy intimacy—can look like. These books model enthusiastic consent, prioritize female pleasure, and portray sex with nuance, care, and context.

In a world where many teens turn to the internet (and often pornography) to learn about sex, romance novels offer something far more grounded: emotionally realistic, character-driven stories where desire and respect go hand in hand. They also don’t shy away from complexity. Many romances reflect on unhealthy dynamics, giving teens tools to recognize red flags, communicate through conflict, and affirm their own boundaries. In a genre still too often dismissed as fluffy, readers are learning about communication skills that take most people decades to develop.

Teens today are already living in a world shaped by big feelings and bigger questions. Some have experienced emotional, mental, or sexual abuse, making them feel alienated from their peers because of those experiences. Others are sorting through the messy in-betweens of identity, attraction, or belonging. Romance novels give them a place to land. These stories can be tender, funny, awkward, or hot, but they are almost always empowering. They show women with passions and careers, tight-knit friendships, and full lives where romantic love is just one (wonderful) part of a bigger picture. That message—that love doesn’t define you, but you still deserve it—is a powerful one, especially for young readers at the margins.

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Young adulthood is a threshold, a crossing between childhood and what comes next. For queer and trans teens, neurodivergent teens, teens of color, disabled teens—and anyone else told by the world that they are “too much” or “not enough”—romance novels offer a radical kind of visibility. They say: You are lovable. You are worthy of softness and passion and someone who looks at you like you’re a whole universe. Many marginalized teens don’t have the safety, support, or affirmation they deserve at home, and books become a refuge as one of the few places where they can see a future full of hope, care, and connection. And for teens with different lived experiences, reading these stories can expand empathy and understanding, helping them recognize and value realities outside their own.

At a time when queer and trans youth are being treated like threats instead of teenagers, stories that affirm their humanity are nothing short of essential. No kid should feel monstrous just for existing. But when they see themselves in stories where they are romanced, cherished, and safe—even through moments of tension or conflict—they begin to understand not just what love looks like, but what respect and resolution feel like. We help build a future where they’re not political targets—they’re just people. Loved ones. Main characters. Worthy of happy endings.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a lush, time-bending romance set in modern-day Harlem, where artistic misfit Ricki breaks away from her wealthy Southern family to open a flower shop and find her own path. When she meets a mysterious musician who seems straight out of another era, her world tilts toward the magical, the romantic, and the unexpected. Set against a backdrop of Harlem Renaissance echoes, this is a love story about art, identity, and self-discovery. With its themes of finding your voice, forging your own future, and embracing desire on your own terms, it’s a rich, empowering read for teens exploring who they want to be.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

This tender, funny coming-of-age romance follows Cath, a fanfiction writer starting her freshman year of college. She’s feeling completely unready for the world beyond her comfort zone. As her twin sister pulls away and everything familiar shifts, Cath must navigate new friendships, family stress, creative growth, and maybe even first love—all while clinging to the fandom that’s shaped her identity. This is an ideal read for high schoolers who want a glimpse into college life that feels both overwhelming and hopeful. This book is an affirming companion for anyone figuring out who they are when everything around them starts to change.

Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid

This is a smart, heartfelt romance that centers Mickey, a literature instructor living with a chronic illness, as she navigates career uncertainty, mounting medical bills, and unexpected new beginnings. When she takes a bartending job to make ends meet, sparks fly with Diego, the brooding bar owner who’s also secretly her student. Their connection is slow-burning, full of banter, and grounded in mutual respect and vulnerability. This book is a standout for teen readers not just because of its romance, but because it reflects real-life challenges many young people quietly face: chronic illness, financial stress, and feeling behind your peers. Mickey’s resilience, creativity, and joy in the face of struggle make her an incredibly affirming character, especially for readers who are sick, disabled, or simply craving stories about people who find love without having to “fix” themselves first.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova is a joyful, music-filled modern retelling of The Little Mermaid. It follows pop star Ariel del Mar as she takes a bold leap into the real world (and real love). Burned out from fame and craving normalcy, Ariel ditches her celebrity life and hits the road with a rising indie band, keeping her identity a secret while discovering who she is beyond the spotlight. With a swoony romance, themes of self-expression, and a heroine learning to speak and sing for herself, this novel is a great read for teens. Ariel’s story celebrates autonomy, artistic freedom, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own narrative.

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

A heartfelt, enemies-to-lovers romance, this story blends family, food, and fierce ambition with real-world stakes. Hana, a podcasting hopeful working at her family’s struggling halal restaurant, finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn’t: the owner of the flashy new rival spot next door. As their neighborhood faces a hate-motivated attack, Hana’s story becomes about more than just romance. It’s about voice, community, and courage. This is a fantastic pick for teens because it centers a young Muslim woman navigating identity, career dreams, and love in a deeply relatable way. It explores racism, family expectations, and digital connection with warmth and humor, while keeping physical intimacy mostly off-page. Hana’s resilience and growth offer a powerful, affirming message for teens figuring out who they are—and what they’re willing to stand for.

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell

Set in a sun-soaked Victorian seaside town, this joyful queer romance follows Kit Griffith, a charming trans hero rebuilding his life after leaving behind a stifling identity and artistic career. Now running a bicycle shop, Kit meets Muriel Pendrake, a spirited botanist who hires him for illustrations—and ropes him into proving that women deserve a place in the local cycling club. As their partnership deepens into a slow-burn romance, the story offers a rare, radiant portrayal of trans masculinity, mutual respect, and joyful self-discovery. It’s an affirming, hopeful read for teens, especially trans teens, showing that historical fiction can be inclusive, defiant, and deeply romantic.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

This witty, emotionally layered romance follows a tough-as-nails professional bodyguard and the charming celebrity she’s assigned to protect—while pretending to date him. Hannah may look harmless, but she’s highly trained and fully capable, even if guarding a movie star on his family’s Texas ranch wasn’t part of her original plan. What begins as a fake relationship full of banter and awkward tension slowly transforms into something tender, real, and unexpectedly healing. Perfect for teen readers who crave strong female leads and heartfelt storytelling, this novel balances humor, vulnerability, and slow-burn romance with minimal on-page intimacy. It’s a story about trust, emotional resilience, and what it really means to let someone in.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This wildly charming queer rom-com follows Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, whose staged friendship with British Prince Henry turns into a secret romance with very real stakes. As the two navigate political pressure, public scrutiny, and their own identities, their relationship blossoms into a heartfelt love story that’s both swoony and substantial. With themes of duty, vulnerability, and the courage to choose joy, this book offers teens a rich, romantic escape and a bold vision of queer love thriving in the spotlight.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

This witty, bookish romance follows Nora Stephens, a sharp, ambitious literary agent who’s more career villain than romantic heroine—at least in her own mind. When her sister drags her to a small town for a transformative getaway, Nora expects clichés and quiet. Instead, she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a grumpy editor from her past who’s just as out of place as she is. As they clash and connect over their shared love of books and the stories people tell about themselves, a slow-burn romance unfolds that’s equal parts smart, funny, and tender. This novel celebrates complicated women, sibling bonds, and the idea that you don’t have to soften yourself to be worthy of love.

Cash Delgado is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia

This warm and affirming friends-to-lovers romance follows Cash Delgado, a small-town bartender and devoted mom whose steady life starts to shift when old flames return—and new feelings spark for her best friend, Inez. As Cash navigates her sexual awakening, motherhood, and the future of the beloved bar she manages, she begins to confront the parts of herself she’s long kept quiet. Thoughtful, funny, and deeply rooted in community, this story celebrates queer self-discovery at any age. It’s a great pick for teen readers, especially those figuring out their own identities or looking for stories that reflect the complexity of adult life with warmth and care. With a strong central friendship, a joyful queer romance, and a refreshingly honest look at motherhood and reinvention, this novel offers representation that’s both tender and empowering.

Looking for more recommendations on how to stock a library for teens? Check out 11 LGBTQ+ books every high school library should have and books commonly stolen from a high school library.