Nothing Like the Movies is a realistic fiction young adult romance novel following the destined pair, Wes and Liz. Wes and Liz weren’t like any other high school couple, they and everyone around them knew that they were absolutely perfect for each other. Unfortunately, at the start of their freshman year of college, Wes’s life turns upside down, forcing him to move back to his hometown, Omaha. After months of long-distance, they grow apart unwillingly.
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel follows Greg Heffley as he tries (and fails) to navigate the world of middle school romance. When a Valentine’s Day dance is announced, Greg is determined to find a date—only to end up stuck as the awkward third wheel to Rowley and his last-minute date. Between cringe-worthy attempts at impressing girls, disastrous school events and family drama, Greg’s romantic ambitions quickly unravel in the most hilarious ways.
Just for the Summer follows Emma and Justin, two people cursed with bad relationship luck who agree to spend a summer together to break the cycle. What starts as a lighthearted arrangement soon turns into something deeper, forcing them to confront their fears about love and commitment. With witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and emotional depth, their story unfolds in a way that is both heartwarming and engaging.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a YA romance that follows teenager Liz Bauxbaum, who is a hopeless romantic who has given up on love. Her view of love changes after a previous character from her life, Wes Bennett, a popular boy who always gave her a hard time, returns to her town. The book navigates the highs and lows of untangling their love but must see if they can both overcome their own fears.
Liz Buxbaum has been waiting for her swoon-worthy, perfect rom-com love story her entire life, a dream she’s been chasing ever since her mother died when she was young. So, when her childhood crush, sweet and incredibly charming Michael Young, moves back to boring old Omaha, Nebraska, she takes the opportunity with both hands, but it won’t be easy.
Sophie’s world is falling apart. Griffin, her longtime boyfriend, has unexpectedly dumped her, leaving her with a crushed and shattered heart. Her parents are away and her older sister’s about to have a baby, and she’s being forced to spend her winter break at her grandmother house, aka family central. Things couldn’t get any worse, could they? Except they do. By miles. Nonna’s decided to set up Sophie for . . . blind dates? Her family is betting.
Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone is a heartfelt story of rekindled friendships, hidden desires, and self-discovery. When Hannah saves the life of Emory's boyfriend, Luke, it sets off a chain of events that forces the former best friends to confront the rift that once drove them apart. As they reconnect, Hannah and Emory, both seventeen, must navigate their complicated feelings, first loves, and true connections, ultimately finding the strength to face the truth and follow their hearts.
Evie Thomas has stopped believing in love. After her parents’ divorce and her dad proposes to the woman he cheated with, Evie has cemented her opinion on love. Which is, to be clear, that it must be avoided at all times in order to preserve sanity. That is, until she meets X. Her attraction to him is unexpected, and him being her new dance partner isn’t helping matters. X is very different from Evie, in a good way. They sign up for a dance competition together, with only a few weeks to prepare. The strangest thing keeps happening to Evie, too.
It’s 1986, and Eleanor just started 10th grade at her local public school. She met a boy, Park, on her bus and started sitting next to him every day because everyone else thought she was weird. She and Park start becoming closer and soon become lovers. In the end, they both lived happily although it might not have been the way they imagined it to be.
A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen is a quirky rom com about a girl named Liza who is desperate to find her one true love. Liza was always a big dreamer, hardworking, and smart, but her mom, Mrs. Yang, begs to disagree. Due to past circumstances with Liza dating guys who didn’t meet any of her mother’s criteria, Mrs. Yang is desperate for Liza to date a nice, smart, good looking ASIAN guy.
