Love Stories, Dating, & Romance

The Summer Before Boys by Nora Raleigh Baskin

From the publisher: "Julia and Eliza are best friends, spending the summer together. Julia's mother is serving in the National Guard and Julia spends all of her time trying not to think about what could happen. So the girls lose themselves in their summer, hanging out at the resort where Eliza's father works. But when they meet a new boy, neither one of them is prepared for what it does to their friendship."

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Planet Girl by Tommy Greenwald

From the publisher: "There's a crisis at Eastport Middle School! It appears that everyone has a boyfriend or girlfriend except . . . Charlie Joe Jackson??!? Yup—he's the only single guy out of all his friends. How is this possible? Even Pete Milano snagged a girl! Well, Charlie Joe refuses to be left out. He quickly goes looking for help in the last place anyone would think to find him—the library. And what he finds is the gem of all gems, the guidebook of all guidebooks, the key to finally getting a girl! Now, everyone is suddenly coming to him for love advice. (Oh, how the tables have turned.) But Charlie Joe's world is swiftly turned upside down when he realizes the girl he actually likes... might not actually be the girl he likes."

Pete Milano's Guide to Being a Movie Star by Tommy Greenwald

From the publisher: "Pete Milano has always been the class clown and proud of it. What's the point of having friends if you can't make them laugh, right? Even if doing so has the unfortunate side effect of constantly getting him into trouble. But, for once, Pete's tricks have led him to just the right place at just the right time. Now he's about to become famous, because he's been asked to audition for the hottest new movie with the hottest girl costar. But balancing real life with movie life is way harder than it sounds. Will Pete's newfound fame mean losing his girlfriend and all his friends?"

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

From the publisher: "Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives."

Dear Dumb Diary, Am I the Princess or the Frog? written and illustrated by Jim Benton

From the publisher: "Love is in the air. So you might just want to stay inside.

'Dear Dumb Diary, I got another poem today from You-Know-Who ... She is the fairest blossom, true, she blooms in any weather. But I must love her from afar. We'll never be together. signed, M.P.

Can you believe the pain he's in? His suffering? The crushing heartache he endures every time he sees me? Gosh, it just makes me so happy.' 

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Glam-TV-Star by Rachel Renee Russell

From the publisher: "Everyone's been rooting for Nikki Maxwell and her crush, Brandon, and fans will finally learn if they had their first kiss..."

Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan

From the publisher: "When Louisa (short for Louisiana) is sent to stay with her grandparents for the summer, she’s not looking forward to it. While her brother is determined to find a way to stay on Deer Island forever, Louisa would rather be off having adventures with their globetrotting ornithographer parents. She’s a writer, and there’s nothing on all of Deer Island to write about—right?

Louisa quickly discovers that small doesn’t necessarily mean quiet, and the island has plenty of scope for the imagination. It also has George, the boy who helps her see the world in a whole new light.

The end of summer is coming fast, and Louisa must decide what she really wants: travel the world with her parents, or stay on Deer Island with the people she’s only just learning to love?"

The Boy Project by Kami Kinard

From the publisher: "Wildly creative middle-schooler Kara McAllister just had her best idea yet. She's going to take notes on all of the boys in her grade (and a few elsewhere) in order to answer a seemingly simple question: How can she get a boyfriend?

But Kara's project turns out to be a lot more complicated than she imagined. Soon there are secrets, lies, and an embarrassing incident in the boy's bathroom. Plus, Kara has to deal with mean girls, her slightly spacey BFF, and some surprising uses for duct tape. Still, if Kara's research leads her to the right boy, everything may just be worth it...

Full of charts and graphs, heart and humor, this hilarious debut will resonate with tweens everywhere. "

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

From the publisher: "Mr. Hoppy's love for the flowers he grows on his balcony is exceeded only by his love for Mrs. Silver, the lady who lives in the apartment right below his. But because of Mr. Hoppy's shyness and Mrs. Silver's preoccupation with Alfie, her pet tortoise, his love remains unrequited.

Then, one day Mr. Hoppy comes up with a brilliant idea to win her heart. If Mr. Hoppy's plan works, Mrs. Silver will certainly fall in love with him. But it's going to take one hundred and forty tortoises, an ancient spell, and a little bit of magic."

Shug by Jenny Han

from the publisher: "Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug as her family calls her, is beginning to think there's nothing worse than being twelve. She's too tall, too freckled, and way too flat-chested. Shug is sure that there's not one good or amazing thing about her. And now she has to start junior high, where the friends she counts most dear aren't acting so dear anymore -- especially Mark..."

Boy-Crazy Stacey based on the novel by Ann M. Martin, graphic novel adaptation by Gale Galligan

From the publisher: "Stacey and Mary Anne are baby-sitting for the Pike family for two weeks at the New Jersey shore. Things are great in Sea City: There's a gorgeous house right on the beach, a boardwalk, plenty of sun and sand... and the cutest boy Stacey has ever seen!

Mary Anne thinks that Stacey should leave Scott alone and focus on the Pike kids, but Stacey's in love. Looking for reasons to hang around his lifeguard stand takes up all of her time, which means Mary Anne has to do the job of two baby-sitters. Mary Anne doesn't like it one bit! How can she tell Stacey that Scott just isn't interested without ruining their friendship and breaking Stacey's heart? "

I'm with Cupid by Anna Staniszewski

First in the Switched at First Kiss series. From the publisher: "When she's dared to kiss the adorkable Marcus Torelli at a party, Lena thinks it's the perfect opportunity to cross First Kiss off her list of "Things to Accomplish Before I Turn Fourteen."

It's only when she gets sent on an assignment the next day that she realizes something went horribly wrong. That zing she felt wasn't the thrill of her first kiss; she and Marcus have swapped powers! Lena is not your average eighth grader; she's a soul collector with a serious job to do. And Marcus turns out to be a supernatural matchmaker (like Cupid, but without the diaper).

Now logical Lena finds herself with the love touch, and sweet, sentimental Marcus has death at his fingertips. The truth is that Lena should never have taken that dare, because one little kiss has Lena and Marcus in a whole lotta trouble."

The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys by Barbara Dee

From the publisher: "In Finley’s middle school, kissing frogs might lead to princes—if there were any frogs! Categorizing classmates leads to a battle of the sexes in this M!X novel from the author of Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life.

According to Finley and her BFF, Maya, middle school boys can be put into three separate categories: tadpoles, croakers, and frogs. Per their official Life Cycle of Amphibian Boys, while tadpoles are totally not developed yet (read: boys who still love fart jokes and can’t have a normal conversation with girls without making fun of them), a frog is the top of the boy food chain—evolved and mature. Sadly, not many boys have reached that elusive frog status at Staunton Middle School.

Finley thought she had everyone pegged, until Zachary Mattison enters the picture. After suddenly leaving the year before, Zachary’s surprise reappearance at SMS forces Finley to see him in a new light. And when the official life cycle list falls into the wrong hands, it causes a battle between the boys and girls that turns into an all-out war—one that Finley isn’t sure anyone can really win... "

Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks.

An enemies-to-lovers romance by Hicks, who usually writes graphic novels.  This is a twist on Romeo & Juliet -- Miriam Kendrick's and Weldon Warrick's families hate each other. Their rivalry started when Mir & Weldon's grandfathers created the superhero couple TomorrowMen.  Mir's grandfather sold his rights to his former friend. When the characters took off, the Warricks got RICH and the Kendricks... didn't.  When handsome Weldon walks into her family's small-town bookstore one day, their star-crossed paths collide. Will they hate each other, too? or will they find a way to settle the family feud?

Hot Cocoa Hearts by Suzanne Nelson

A Wish novel. From the publisher: "Tis the season... for heartbreak?  Emery Mason is not a fan of the holidays. She's so over the tinsel, the shopping, and all the other trappings of the season. Unfortunately, this year, Em is forced to work — as an elf! — at her parents' Santa photo booth at the mall. There, Em meets Alejandro Perez, who works at the hot cocoa shop next door and is always full of holiday spirit. Alex is cute, but he's nothing like Em's real crush — the brooding and artistic Sawyer Kade.

But the more time Em spends with Alex, the more she realizes that she may not be the Grinch she always thought she was. Soon, a blizzard, a Secret Santa surprise, and a family disagreement throw Em's world upside down. Can Em embrace the magic of the holidays and find the perfect boy to kiss under the mistletoe?

Includes recipes!"

Check out the whole series! These books are a must, just for the fun titles: Donut Go Breaking My Heart; Sundae My Prince Will Come; Cake Pop Crush; You're Bacon Me Crazy; Macarons at Midnight; I Only Have Pies for You; Pugs and Kisses, Playing Cupid.

Me & Miranda Mullaly by Jake Gerhardt

From the publisher: "Meet Sam, the comedian; Duke, the intellectual; and Chollie, the athlete. Their fates converge at Penn Valley Middle as each falls desperately for the enigmatic Miranda Mullaly—the girl who smiles like she means it, the girl who makes Christmas truly magic when she sings, the girl who…barely realizes her admirers exist! Small misunderstandings lead to big laughs, and beneath the humor, every attempt to win Miranda’s favor becomes a compelling look at the larger world of each guy’s life."

Be sure to read the sequel: My Future Ex-Girlfriend.

Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari

From the publisher: "Mira Levenson is bursting with excitement as she flies to India to stay with her aunt and cousin for the first time. As soon as she lands Mira is hurled into the sweltering heat and a place full of new sights, sounds, and deeply buried family secrets . . . From the moment Mira meets Janu she feels an instant connection. He becomes her guide, showing her both the beauty and the chaos of Kolkata. Nothing is as she imagined it - and suddenly home feels a long way away.

Before Mira leaves India she is determined to uncover the truth about her family, whatever it takes, and she must also make a decision that will break someone's heart."

The Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance

From the publisher: "Twelve-year-old Quentin never asked to be the Heartbreak Messenger. It just kind of happened, and he can't let a golden opportunity pass him by. The valuable communication service he offers is simple: He delivers breakup messages. For a small fee, he will deliver that message to your soon-to-be ex. If you order the deluxe package, he'll even throw in some flowers and a box of chocolates. You know . . . to soften the blow.

At first, Quentin's entrepreneurial brainchild is surprisingly successful, which is great, because he suspects his mom, who works as a car mechanic, is worried about money. But as he interacts with clients, message recipients, and his best friend, Abigail, it doesn't take long for him to wonder if his own heart will remain intact. In The Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance, Quentin discovers that the game of love and the emotions that go with it are as complicated as they come—even for an almost-innocent bystander."

Crush by Gary Paulsen

From the publisher: "Ever since readers first met him in Liar, Liar, Kevin's been dying to ask out Tina Zabinski, the Most Beautiful Girl in the World. But since he can barely get a word out when he's around her, it's been hard. And it becomes even more difficult when the school's hunky new guy zeroes in on Tina.Then Kevin gets another one of his brilliant ideas: he's going to take a scientific approach to figuring out how love works…and then he'll ask Tina out. After all, love is based on chemistry and chemistry is science, right?But whether he's setting up a disastrous romantic dinner for his parents or accidentally asking out the wrong girl, Kevin's schemes never seem to go quite as planned."

Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail

From the publisher: "Gracie has never felt like this before.  One day, she suddenly can’t breathe, can’t walk, can’t anything—and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J.

But it turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie’s beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J.’s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She’s had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best.

It’s all good. Well, almost all. She’s trying."

Other books by this author include Gorgeous, Brilliant,  and the other Avery sisters books, plus the Friendship Ring series. Check out the first one, If You Only Knew.

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

From the publisher: "Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance—so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who’s grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her."

One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock

From the publisher: "Allie and Sam are classmates at Daniel Boone Middle School. Allie and Sam are friends. Allie and Sam are girls. Allie and Sam are falling for each other.

It's 1977, and girls who like girls are forced to question their choices. One True Way is a story that widens the heart and sheds light on what it means to be different while at the same time being wholly true to oneself.

Through the lives of two girls and the influences around them — a small town, neighbors, teachers, and family — we come to see that love is love. Set against the backdrop of Southern history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change."

From Willa, with Love by Colleen Murtagh Paratore

From the publisher: "It's August on Cape Cod and Willa has a lot to look forward to. Soon, JFK will return home from baseball camp, and Willa has an idea for an exciting new project that will challenge her to dream big! But life throws Willa some unexpected twists and turns: Ruby has bad news, a beloved friend leaves, a dear friend returns, her brother Will has something he doesn't want to talk about, and of course, there's a wedding to plan! There's also a cute boy who likes Willa...a lot, and Willa thinks she might like him too. It's a summer full of romance and surprises!"

The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han

From the publisher: "Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along."

Sequels: It's Not Summer Without You; We'll Always Have Summer.

I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

First of the Gallagher Girls series, about a group of girls at an elite boarding school that's REALLY a school for spies where they learn languages, code-breaking, chemical warfare, James-Bond-style gadgets and martial arts! It's an action-adventure with romance on the side. From the publisher: "Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist," but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?"

Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt

Novel in verse. From the publisher: "Kate and Tam meet, and both of their worlds tip sideways. At first, Tam figures Kate is your stereotypical cheerleader; Kate sees Tam as another tall jock. And the more they keep running into each other, the more they surprise each other. Beneath Kate's sleek ponytail and perfect façade, Tam sees a goofy, sensitive, lonely girl. And Tam's so much more than a volleyball player, Kate realizes: She's everything Kate wishes she could be. It's complicated. Except it's not. When Kate and Tam meet, they fall in like. It's as simple as that. But not everybody sees it that way. This novel in verse about two girls discovering their feelings for each other is a universal story of finding a way to be comfortable in your own skin."

Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton

From the publisher: "Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say … after it’s too late to say it. She’s addicted to romance movies—okay, all movies—but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.

Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques—from the jocks to the nerds to the misfits—to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings."

Also by this author: Freaky in Fresno.

Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce

From the publisher: "Megan Bright and Jackson Dawes are two teenagers who first meet each other on the hospital ward where they are both being treated for cancer. Megan is scared and worried about her illness, but Jackson seems to be an old hand, having been on the ward for ages. And everybody loves Jackson! He is a whirlwind of life and energy, warmth and sparkle. Megan will need to borrow some of Jackson's extraordinary optimism to face her and Jackson's future. "

The Siren by Kiera Cass

For those who like their romances wrapped in fantasy. From the publisher: "Kahlen is a Siren—bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to their watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who’s everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger… but will Kahlen risk everything to follow her heart?"

Cass is also the author of the popular Selection series, plus Betrothed, a royal romance.

Frosted Kisses by Heather Hepler

From the publisher: "Former Manhattan girl Penny has quickly discovered that life in a small town is never dull. Not when there's a festival for every occasion, a Queen Bee to deal with, an animal shelter to save, and a cute boy to crush on.

There's a new girl in town: Esmeralda. She's beautiful, French, and just happens to be Queen Bee Charity's best friend. Penny hopes the arrival of Esmeralda means Charity might be too busy to keep making her life miserable.

But Penny doesn't have a lot of time to worry about Charity. Her best friend, Tally, has recruited her to help raise money to save the local animal shelter. Then there's Marcus, the adorable and mysterious boy who Penny thinks maybe likes her as much as she likes him. Plus, this is Penny's first holiday season as a "divorced" kid, although she has no idea what this means.

Can Penny help her friends save the shelter, navigate her new family dynamics, and get the boy, or will Charity and Esmeralda find a way to ruin everything?

Additional titles by this author include: The Cupcake Queen; Love? Maybe, etc.

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

From the author's website: "Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall. 

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined . . . and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect."

Also by this author: Field Notes on Love.

What Light by Jay Asher

A Christmas love story!  Sierra's family runs a Christmas-tree farm in Oregon, and every year, they all pack up and move to a trailer on their tree lot in California to sell their trees, hiring seasonal workers to help them out.  Sierra misses her friends, and has to home school, but she's proud of her family. This year, Caleb comes to work for them.  He's a guy with a past -- a bad one -- he made a mistake and has been paying for it ever since. He's got a bad reputation. But Sierra sees more to him than that, and thinks he deserves a second chance. Will her family agree? And what will happen when it's time to go back to Oregon?

It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

From the publisher: "Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under stepmother-imposed house arrest, and her BFF’s gone ghost. With a criminal fine to pay off and no way to get a job, Tatum starts a covert freelance design business online, and is soon trading emails with a cute cello-playing client. If Tatum is reading his messages right, her virtual Prince Charming is funny, smart, and talented—and he seems to think the same about her. Too bad he’s spending his summer across the ocean …

But sometimes, going after what you want means breaking a few rules. Equipped with a new perspective, and assisted by her feisty step-abuela, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way."

Also by this author: No Place Like Here, a modern twist on Hansel and Gretel.

How We Roll by Natasha Friend

From the publisher: "Quinn is a teen who loves her family, skateboarding, basketball, and her friends, but after she's diagnosed with a condition called alopecia which causes her to lose all of her hair, her friends abandon her. Jake was once a star football player, but because of a freak accident—caused by his brother—he loses both of his legs. Quinn and Jake meet and find the confidence to believe in themselves again, and maybe even love."

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

From the publisher: "When Sam’s best friend gets her first boyfriend, she’s not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other “pookie.” Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn’t realize is that it’s not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s’mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn’t ruin Sam’s summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who’s always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls."

Never Evers by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

From the publisher: "Thirteen-year-old Mouse is pretty sure her life is totally over. Now that she’s been kicked out of ballet school, she has to go on her new school’s ski trip basically knowing no one. Well, except too-cool-for-school Keira and Crazy Connie-May (and her adorable hamster, Mr. Jambon).

Meanwhile, Jack’s life is just about to begin. He’s on the way to the slopes with his school too, and all he can think about is how to successfully get his first kiss.

But with new friends by her side, Mouse has more fun skiing and building igloos than she expected. And when Jack catches Mouse’s eye in the at the ski resort, he’s smitten. All’s well–that is, until mega pop star Roland arrives on the scene and sets his sights on Mouse, too! A week in the snow is about to get complicated. . . ."

Romeo and What's Her Name by Shani Petroff

For those who like rom-coms with a lot of com(edy)! From the publisher : "Understudies never get to perform...which is why being Juliet's understudy in the school's yearly Shakespeare production is the perfect role for Emily. She can earn some much-needed extra credit while pursuing her main goal of spending time with Wes, aka Romeo, aka the hottest, nicest guy in school (in her completely unbiased opinion). And she meant to learn her lines, really, it's just:

a) Shakespeare is HARD,

b) Amanda (the "real" Juliet) makes her run errands instead of lines, and

c) there's no point, since Amanda would never miss her chance to be the star of the show.

Then Amanda ends up in the hospital and Emily, as the (completely unprepared!) understudy, has to star in the most famous scene from Romeo and Juliet opposite the guy of her dreams. Oops?"

The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Elijah and Jessica are both scheduled for internships at Haneul Corp., a tech giant.  Elijah's the CEO's son, and he expects special treatment, even if he doesn't relish the pressure that comes with it. Jessica is not so privileged, and expects to be doing the boring grunt work.   But when they arrive, there is a mix-up.  Jessica is ushered into a private office as an executive-in-training with a luxurious brownstone apartment all to herself.  Elijah finds himself as part of an overworked cohort of unpaid interns, who share a crummy apartment.  They discover the mistake, but decide to keep it up so Elijah can be away from his controlling dad, and Jessica can get a college recommendation.  They'll have to work together to make it happen. How long can they go undiscovered? How long can they ignore the spark igniting between them?

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Smoldering enemies-to-lovers romance with a bit of K-pop and a LOT of spies and secret agents.  Sydney is a young spy with mad skills who joined an elite covert ops group.  Winter is a gorgeous pop star and shameless flirt.  When a crime boss hires him for his daughter's birthday party, Sydney's ops group seizes the opportunity to use him to get intel on the criminal.  Sydney is set up as Winter's "bodyguard", but really she has to teach him to be a spy, so he can infiltrate the crime boss' inner circle, so they can take him down.

Sequel: Icon and Inferno

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds

This book has everything!  Enemies-to-lovers, family secrets, Nantucket whaling history, realistic and lovable characters...  I could go on and on!

Shira heads to her family's home on Nantucket in a blizzard, looking forward to spending a week with her large, loud family, and plotting how to get her uncle's ambitious assistant Isaac to notice (and fall in love?) her.  But the whole family is stuck in Boston, so she will be alone for the first night of Hanukkah.  Until her neighbor Tyler shows up, looking to crash because his house has no power.  

Tyler, the gorgeous former crush who broke her little heart and humiliated her two years ago.  Who she spent two years getting over.  After a few drinks, and a trip to the attic for holiday decorations, they find a mysterious family heirloom in the attic.  they start to thaw... Tyler reveals that he's desperate for an internship at Shira's uncle's company, and his reason shows Shira that maybe he's not the heartless cad she thought he was.

They strike a deal -- he'll teach her how to flirt (to catch Isaac's attention), and she'll introduce him to her uncle.  What could go wrong???  What could go right???  Read this sweet story and find out!

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Morris Award Finalist, Asian Pacific Islander Honor Award. Frank Li is Korean-American, a California boy who barely speaks any Korean. But his parents still want him to date only Korean girls.  Problem is, he's secretly dating Brit, a funny, nerdy girl who's perfect for him, except that she's white.  So, Frank comes up with a plan.  He'll pretend to date his friend Joy Song, whose parents also want her to date only Koreans. What could go wrong?  This is a funny and sweet story.

Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

For Hamilton fans obsessed with a particular Schuyler sister! First of a trilogy about Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler. From the publisher: "1777. Albany, New York. As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival those of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball.

Still, Eliza can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history." Sequels: Love & War; All for One.

American Royals by Katherine McGee

Imagine if America had a royal family... of course it would be descended from our first king -- George Washington!  Two hundred plus years later, there are two princesses. Beatrice, the eldest, who will become the first queen (thanks to new laws that say the eldest, boy or girl, will inherit the throne), is the dutiful good girl who does everything she is supposed to, but is starting to resent that she isn't free to do what she wants (and date who she wants). Samantha, the younger sister, is the one who breaks all the rules (the only time anybody pays any attention to her).  Then there's Samantha's twin brother, Jefferson, the handsome playboy.  All three SHOULD find 'appropriate' partners from the aristocratic class (or European royal families), but the heart wants what the heart wants... 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Kestrel is a young woman whose father is the general who helped capture the Ancient Rome-like city where they live, enslaving its inhabitants. She has two choices: join the army (which would make her father happy), or get married. She would rather play the piano. Unintentionally ending up at a slave auction one day, she ends up purchasing a handsome, strong young man named Arin, who will be useful as a blacksmith forging horseshoes and weapons for her father. But Arin has other plans... ones that involve using those weapons for a rebel's cause. First of a trilogy.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Winner of the Printz Honor Award. Alternates between the voices of Eleanor and Park, two 'misfits' in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1980s. Eleanor's mom and stepdad have moved them back to Mom's old hometown. Her large family is desperately poor -- she has hand-me-down clothes (everyone makes fun of her for them), and they don't have enough money for a toothbrush, or even shampoo. She is body-shamed by bullies, and tries to hide herself under big clothes; she has trouble taming her unruly red hair. Her stepfather is an abusive drunk who hits her mom and younger siblings, and takes the bathroom door off so she has no privacy.  

Park is a local boy; he gets along with the popular kids, but always feels a little like an outsider. He's half-Korean, short, and mostly into alternative music and comic books. He worries about living up to his family's expectations, and wants them to be proud of him for who he is.

They meet on a school bus. It's certainly not love at first sight -- this is a much more realistic story of growing friendship, understanding ,and acceptance that turns into real love.  Park gives Eleanor a seat, and without a word, shares his comic books and the earbud to his Walkman (that's what your parents had before there were iPods and iPhones). And so it begins.

A searing look at poverty and abuse, but also a hopeful story of blossoming love and hope for the future.   HS

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

From the publisher: "The world is a terrible place not to have a best friend.  Scarlett was always the strong one.  Halley was always content to follow in her wake. Then Scarlett’s boyfriend died, and Scarlett learned that she was pregnant. Now Halley has to find the strength to take the lead and help Scarlett get through it. Because true friendship is a promise you keep forever." 

Prolific romance writer Dessen has many books that also cover realistic issues that face young women, including: That Summer; Keeping the Moon; This Lullaby; The Truth About Forever; Just Listen; Lock & Key; Along for the Ride; What Happened to Goodbye; The Moon & More, and many more!

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Mei Lu is a good Taiwanese daughter, who got into MIT, and is pre-med -- her parents dream of her being a doctor.  There's just one problem.  Mei is a germophobe. And she's squeamish.  She would MUCH rather be a dancer. Not only that, her mother wants her to date (and marry) some guy she's never met (he is going to be a doctor, too). What could possibly go wrong? Then she meets a guy who is ALL wrong, but oh, so right.   

Lucky in Love by Kasie West

From the publisher: "Maddie doesn't believe in luck. She's all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment, she wins! In a flash, Maddie's life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she's talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun...until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn't sure who she can trust. Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn't seem aware of Maddie's big news. And, for some reason, she doesn't want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?"

The author's many books include: P.S. I Like You; By Your Side; The Fill-In Boyfriend; On the Fence; The Distance Between Us; Listen to Your Heart, and many more!

If We Kiss by Rachel Vail

From the author's website: "Charlie Collins has never been kissed.  She’s never been in love, either. Charlie’s beautiful best friend, Tess, has kissed three boys and has loved each one of them. Then Charlie unexpectedly finds herself falling for Kevin, and she’s in a mess of trouble right away. For one thing, Tess is in love with Kevin. Even worse, his father seems to be dating Charlie’s mom, who suddenly can’t stop smiling. With no one to confide in, Charlie has to figure this one out for herself. But even as she tries to pull away from Kevin, she can’t stop wondering, What would happen if we kiss?"

Sequel: Kiss Me Again.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

From the publisher: "Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement. She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel brave, fabulous, and like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother sees this as a distraction from working on her portfolio paintings for the prestigious fine art academy where she's been accepted for college. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life. When she arrives in Japan, she loses herself in Kyoto's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival — and meets Akira, a cute med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. What begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies."

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

From the publisher: "When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack.

But then Kate dies. And their story should end there.

Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind.

Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do to save the people he loves."

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

From the publisher: "Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them?? — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected."

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

A romantic fantasy set on the Silk Road. From the publisher: "Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar. But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield."

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

From the publisher: "Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother’s pushiness and her father’s lack of interest tell her they’re the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn’t know the passengers inside, but they’re the only people who won’t judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she’s falling in love with a girl.

As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can’t share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don’t even realize she’s there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers’ lives—and her own—for the better."

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

This book is EXTRAORDINARY in more ways than one. Sean and Finn are brothers. They live alone, since both parents have run off, leaving Sean to give up his dream of medical school to stay home and take care of his brother till he graduates high school.  Finn is a teen boy that everyone in the small, rural town of Bone Gap has names for, like "Spaceman" and "Moon Boy", because he always seems to be in his own little world. One day, a bruised and beaten girl named Roza appears in their barn.  Sean, an EMT, fixes her up, and they offer the skittish young woman with broken English (she's Polish) the keys to a little apartment above the barn. She takes care of them, and they take care of her, and she and Sean fall in love. Everyone thinks Finn loves her too. When Roza is kidnapped, Finn is the only one who sees the kidnapper -- and nobody believes him, because he can't describe what the man looked like, only how he moved. The townspeople think Roza ran off, too, figuring that everyone leaves these boys. Everyone except Petey (she can't stand being called Priscilla), whose mom is a hippie beekeeper, and whom everyone in town says is ugly and has a bad reputation. But Petey believes in Finn, and agrees to help him figure out what happened to Roza. With secret midnight rides on a mysterious black stallion, and cornfields that might lead to other worlds, and first love, this book will stay with you for a very long time.  It's based on the Greek myth of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, kidnapped by Hades, but you don't need to know that to enjoy the book.   HS

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandya Menon

The New York Times best-selling rom-com with a Bollywood flair!  From the publisher: "Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways. "

Also by this author: There's Something About Sweetie; 10 Things I Hate About Pinky; From Twinkle with Love; Kismet Would Have It; Love at First Fight, and the St. Rosetta's Academy series.

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

From the publisher: "Lucy lives on the 24th floor. Owen lives in the basement. It's fitting, then, that they meet in the middle, stuck between two floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, Lucy and Owen spend the night wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is back, so is reality. Lucy soon moves abroad with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

However, they find the brief time they spent together has left a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and to San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland, Lucy and Owen stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and phone calls. Can they, despite the odds, find a way to reunite?"

Also by this author: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between; This is What Happy Looks Like;  You Are Here; Happy Again; The Comeback Season.

Romiette and Julio by Sharon Draper

From the publisher: "When Romiette Cappelle meets Julio Montague, she feels as though she has met the soul mate who can rescue her from her recurring nightmare about fire and water. But like the Shakespearean characters whose names echo theirs, Romiette and Julio discover that not everyone approves of their budding romance. In their case, it is because Romiette is African-American and Julio is Hispanic, and the Devildogs, a dangerous local gang, violently oppose their interracial relationship.

When the Devildogs threaten to teach them a lesson, Romiette and Julio come up with a risky plan to escape from the gang's fearsome shadow. But things go terribly awry, and the two find themselves caught up in a deadly reality more frightening that Romiette's nightmare -- and in a desperate struggle to avoid the tragic fate of Shakespeare's famous young lovers."

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

You know from the beginning (hello, title) that there will be a tragedy happening (or rather, that one already did), but still, this book teases it out until the very end. It takes place at a tony boarding school, where all seniors have to write a paper for their fave English teacher about tragedy.  Duncan moves into his new room (it's like a dorm), and by tradition, the previous occupant has left him a 'treasure'.  Tim MacBeth, an albino, was the senior who lived there the year before, and a terrible tragedy befell him... He has left Duncan a series of CDs with his own voice telling his story of what happened the year before... when he met Vanessa and fell in love with her, but got roped into the annual senior "Game" by her popular (and jealous) boyfriend, Patrick. On top of all that, Duncan is in the midst of his own ill-fated romance.

To all the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Now a Netflix film, as well. From the publisher: "Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved.

When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control."

Sequels: P.S. I Still Love You; Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

From the publisher: "Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden. When Naila breaks their rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents are livid. Convinced she has forgotten who she truly is, they travel to Pakistan to visit relatives and explore their roots. But Naila’s vacation turns into a nightmare when she learns that plans have changed—her parents have found her a husband and they want her to marry him, now! Despite her greatest efforts, Naila is aghast to find herself cut off from everything and everyone she once knew. Her only hope of escape is Saif . . . if he can find her before it’s too late."

The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor

From the publisher: "Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when star basketball player Brady Cullen convinces her strict father to let them date. That summer, Bettina falls in love with Brady and the freedom that comes along with him. But when school starts up again, Brady unexpectedly changes for the worse. Unable to give up on her first love just yet, she finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship.

Then she meets "Cowboy," a smoldering older guy and the last guy her father would approve. Yet he is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina. When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life."

HS

Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin

From the publisher: "Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict—much more than just the concrete blockade between them. Their fathers, however, work in a distrusting but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that brings Ronit and Jamil together. And lightning strikes. The kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hatred.

The teenage lovers fall desperately into the throes of forbidden love, one that would create an irreparable rift between their families if it were discovered. But a love this big can only be kept secret for so long. Ronit and Jamil must face the fateful choice to save their lives or their loves, as it may not be possible to save both."

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13b by Teresa Toten

From the publisher: "The instant Adam Spencer Ross meets Robyn Plummer in his Young Adult OCD Support Group, he is hopelessly, desperately drawn to her. Robyn has an hypnotic voice, blue eyes the shade of an angry sky, and ravishing beauty that makes Adam’s insides ache. She’s also just been released from a residential psychiatric program—the kind for the worst, most difficult-to-cure cases; the kind that Adam and his fellow support group members will do anything to avoid joining.

Adam immediately knows that he has to save Robyn, must save Robyn, or die trying. But is it really Robyn who needs rescuing? And is it possible to have a normal relationship when your life is anything but?"

My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma

This funny romance by a local author made me want to watch all the Bollywood movies it refers to!  Everything that happens to Winnie Mehta she compares to the plot of a movie.  Her parents married because of a prophecy, and Winnie's prophecy made it seem like her boyfriend, Raj, was the ONE.  Then she comes home from camp and finds out he cheated on her with Jenny Dickens.  UGH.  How can she fulfill her destiny if Raj isn't the one?  But wait, what if she doesn't want that destiny?  HOW can she be happy?  And why does Raj seem determined to mess up her senior year, and all her college-application activities??  And why is Dev so cute... and flirty?  He can't possibly fulfill her destiny... he doesn't fit the prophecy...  This book was funny, and romantic, and showed Indian culture and family life in a real way. 

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

From the publisher: "Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear.

Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected."

Also by this author: A Step Toward Falling; Just Breathe.