25 YA Romances of 2023

Did someone say YA romance? We can’t end the summer love without sharing some fan favorite reads of 2023. These new releases did not disappoint! If you have been busy with life and have not had the chance to find your next YA read, scroll through this list of the 25 most anticipated YA romance books of 2023. It’s okay if you don’t have the time, having them on your shelves will just add a little pop of color.

Did I mention these are the most prettiest YA covers? Number 11 is my favorite.

YA romance was the first genre I seriously gave my time to growing up. I was about eleven years old when I picked up my first YA novel, Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski. Reading it was like finding gold; I was so ecstatic! Then I found out it was book 1 in a series. I immediately checked out the second book from the library. My world forever changed after that; and that’s the beginning of when I stumbled into YA romance.

It’s no secret that YA romance has a piece of my heart. It was the genre that pinballed me into the literary world. For that, I am grateful.

On that note! Check out the 2023 roundup of some amazing YA romance novels. Next on my YA romance reading TBR is Imogen, Obviously. Have you read it?

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyuito

Synopsis: Chloe knows what it takes to be the perfect Liang daughter--stay in Manila, study business management, and join the family company. But when she unexpectedly gets off the wait list for USC, her dream of becoming an animator in the United States is suddenly within reach.

Before she goes, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe's eighteenth birthday. And while a party with all her friends and family sounds like the perfect send-off, the huge production her auntie wants--complete with ball gowns and a choreographed dance number--makes Chloe want to pass out from stage fright.

To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao--or arranged date--after another. Why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer? At home in the Philippines, Chloe has her future all planned out for her. In America, nothing is certain. With a career in animation far from guaranteed, Chloe must decide if following her dreams is worth everything--and everyone--she'll be leaving behind.

Get Chloe and the Kaishao from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Check out the review I wrote here:

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach

Synopsis: From Not Here to Be Liked author Michelle Quach comes a smartly funny, heartfelt story told in dual POV about a young woman roping in her childhood crush to act as an honorary male heir to fulfill her grandfather's dying wish. A story about first love, familial duties, and finding yourself--perfect for fans of Emiko Jean and Loan Le.

Francine loves her grandfather, but their time together is running out. He has one final wish: to see a male heir carry on the family traditions. Francine knows his ideas are outdated, but she would do anything for him. Her solution? Ask Ollie Tran, a family friend (and former crush, not that it matters), to pretend to be ceremonially adopted and act like the grandson her A Gung never had.

Ollie has always made a point of avoiding the odd, too blunt (and fine, sort of cute) Francine, whose intensity has always made him uncomfortable. So when she asks him to help deceive her dying A Gung, Ollie's definitely not down. He doesn't get why anyone would go to such lengths, even for family. Especially with a backwards (and sexist, Ollie keeps stressing) scheme like this.

Francine, however, is determined to make it work, and soon Ollie finds himself more invested in her plan--and in her--than he ever thought possible. But as the tangled lies and feelings pile up, Francine will have to discover what exactly she needs for herself--and from Ollie. Because sometimes the boy you always wanted isn't what you expected.

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Throwback by Maurene Goo

Synopsis: Being a first-generation Asian American immigrant is hard. You know what's harder? Being the daughter of one.

Priscilla is first-generation Korean American, a former high school cheerleader who expects Sam to want the same all-American nightmare. Meanwhile, Sam is a girl of the times who has no energy for clichéd high school aspirations. After a huge blowup, Sam is desperate to get away from Priscilla, but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back.

To her shock, Sam lands in the '90s . . . alongside a 17-year-old Priscilla.

Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive '90s attitudes, and her growing feelings for sweet, mysterious football player Jamie, who just might be the right guy in the wrong era.

With the clock ticking, Sam must figure out how to fix things with Priscilla or risk being trapped in an analog world forever. Sam's blast to the past has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. One thing's for sure: Time is a mother.

Brimming with heart and humor, Maurene Goo's Throwback asks big questions about what exactly one inherits and loses in the immigrant experience.

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Check out the review I wrote on Soapberry Review here:

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

Synopsis: Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs--in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt's struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan's stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

In Theo's glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo's relatives reveal their true colors--but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can't risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.

Can Dylan save his family's business and follow his heart--or will he fail to do both?

Get Fake Dates and Mooncakes from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Clementine and Danny Save the World (and each other) by Livia Blackburne

Synopsis: You've Got Mail gets a fresh YA twist in this irresistible rom-com that spotlights the power of activism and community organizing in the face of gentrification, perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and Yes No Maybe So.

Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888.

Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea.

When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok's beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause--and each other--they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years.

When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?

Get Clementine and Danny Save the World (and each other) from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Café con Lychee by Emery Lee

Synopsis: Theo Mori and Gabriel Moreno have always been at odds. Their parents own rival businesses--an Asian American café and a Puerto Rican bakery--and Gabi's lack of coordination has cost their soccer team too many games to count.

Stuck in the closet and scared to pursue his own dreams, Gabi sees his family's shop as his future. Stuck under the weight of his parents' expectations, Theo's best shot at leaving Vermont means first ensuring his parents' livelihood is secure.

So when a new fusion café threatens both shops, Theo and Gabi realize an unfortunate truth--they can only achieve their goals by working together to cook up an underground snack operation and win back their customers. But can they put aside their differences long enough to save their parents' shops, or will the new feelings between them boil over?

Get Café con Lychee from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Plus One by Kelsey Rodkey

Synopsis:

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Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Synopsis: A swoony, heart-melting YA romance from beloved author Rebekah Weatherspoon about two awkward teens who decide to practice dating in order to be good at the real thing. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.

Sixteen-year-old Bethany Greene, though confident and self-assured, is what they call a late-bloomer. She's never had a boyfriend, date, or first kiss. She's determined to change that but after her crush turns her down cold for Homecoming--declaring her too inexperienced--and all her back-up ideas fall through, she cautiously agrees to go with her best friend's boyfriend Jacob. A platonic date is better than no date, right? Until her friend breaks up with said boyfriend.

Dumped twice in just two months, Jacob Yeun wonders if he's the problem. After years hiding behind his camera and a shocking summer glow up, he wasn't quite ready for all the attention or to be someone's boyfriend. There are no guides for his particular circumstances, or for taking your ex's best friend to the dance.

Why not make the best of an awkward situation? Bethany and Jacob decide to fake date for practice, building their confidence in matters of the heart.

And it works--guys are finally noticing Bethany. But things get complicated as their kissing sessions--for research of course!--start to feel real. This arrangement was supposed to help them in dating other people, but what if their perfect match is right in front of them?

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When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass

Synopsis: There are two things Tess Crawford knows for sure:

She's destined to be a great Trinidadian Carnival costume designer like her renowned uncle, Russel Messina, and will one day inherit leadership of the family's masquerade band, Grandeur. Her classmate, the popular social media influencer, Brandon Richards, is the bane of her existence. Everything about him irks her, from his annoying nickname for Tess ("Boop") to his association with David, her awful ex.

But when the future of Grandeur nears the brink of collapse in the face of band rivalry, Tess finds to her chagrin that she must team up with Brandon in a desperate attempt to revive the company.

As Tess and Brandon spend more time together, Tess begins to wonder if everything she thought she knew might not be so certain after all....

Set in lush, gorgeous Trinidad, this is a novel about finding love in the most unexpected places.

Get When the Vibe is Right from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

Synopsis:

Coley always seems to be alone during the summertime. With the lost of her mom, she is sent to live in rural Oregon. With an already fragile heart, Coley meets Sonya and she cannot deny the quick attraction.

But Coley doesn't think she should be loved. If everyone she loved have left her, why should she put herself in that position again. Coley may feel the connection, but Sonya's never been with a girl before. What if Sonya leave Coley too?

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If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So

Synopsis:

It’s summertime and Elsie is going to have a memorable season filled with love. At least, that’s what she’s hoping for. Elise finally has the courage to tell her longtime crush that she likes them, but not without some unforeseen events. Ada knows Elsie like the back of her hand, nothing can prevent that. That’s when Joan comes in; she’s Elsie’s childhood best friend, and takes all of Elise’s attention as if the past never happened.

In an opportunity, Ada tells the story of how her grandmother had once had a pen pal who is only a train ride away from Elsie’s Oxford home. This story pushes Elsie to create the perfect grand gesture for her crush. It’s s summer adventure that leads to heartbreak, broken bonds, and reignited relationships..

Get If You Still Recognize Me from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra

Synopsis:

Rubi Ramos is betting on her “recipe for success” for a spot at Alma University. With only graduation a few months away, devastating news rocks Rubi’s world. She was waitlisted. Instead of worrying about it, she assures herself that she can win over Alma University and start her road to success.

What Rubi doesn’t take into account is the cute tutor, Ryan. To keep herself focused, she immerses herself into the First Annual Bake Off. Rubi’s passion for baking and determination may be strong enough to mask her feelings. Can Rubi check off everything on her success list, or does her heart win over the future?

Get Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Synopsis:

Imogen Scott, the World’s Greatest Ally, is totally a heterosexual. But mix in new friends, she may be thinking outside her comfort zone. Gretchen and Lili are her queer best friends. Imogen fully supports Lili’s newly out lifestyle and even joins in on the fun.

But there is one thing Imogen didn’t see coming. Lili lied to her new friends that Imogen was Lili’s ex girlfriend. The new friend group have no idea that Imogen is straight, even Lili’s new best friend Tessa.

Is Imogen really who she says she is? Tessa is the key that could change Imogen’s world.

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Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Synopsis:

Bradley Graeme, the star football player with OCD, is top student in all his classes. But only class that is giving him trouble is with his former friend Celine. She is a total conspiracy-theory over anything. With a social media following, she shines in the world of UFO talks, but she definitely is not for the popular crowd at school like Bradley. That’s how their falling started, Bradley chose the cool kids over his best friend, according to Celine.

Their relationship now is all bicker and rivalry. But when Celine runs into Bradely at a survival course in the woods, their tension has to be put to the side in order to work together out in the wild. With time to actually talk and reminisce on their past, their conversations (and hearts) take a different turn.

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The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado

Synopsis:

Whit Rivera is a go-getter, but all her goals shift when her summer before classes begin adds a level of worry she hadn’t prepared for. Being diagnosed with PCOS is not what Whit needed right now. She was suppose to have the best summer with her friends and boyfriend, but instead she had been stuck in and out of the doctor’s office. As school is back in session, she reaches out to her friends and builds back that relationship they lost within those few months. In an effort to continue the bond, she enlists them on being committee members for the school’s fall event, and Whit was going to be the main organizer.

That’s when Whit is thrown into the role with Zay, her middle school “ex” and now frenemy. Whit sticks to her books and schedules as Zay goes with the flow, but their teamwork is smooth and enjoyable. Almost too enjoyable…

Is their feud the end of it all, or will they put it past them and start anew?

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The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Synopsis:

Elijah Ri is set for a summer internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, in New York City. As the son of the company, he thinks himself as the prince of the corporation. Instead, he has to share a small place with overworked interns doing the same responsibilities.

Jessica Lee is excited to learn the ropes at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. Much to her shock, she is named a the executive-in-training intern living in a brownstone to her own.

Elijah and Jessica come across each other and learn that their positions are not their own, they were switched. Since they both have the same Korean name, the company mixed them up. But Elijah prefers to stay out of his father’s sight and Jessica wants to make as much connections as she can, they decide to stay in each other’s spots.

They work together to get what they want out of the experience, but they get more than they bargained for. As new feelings bubble to the surface, they need to decide whether their newfound crush is worth the risk of their careers.

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The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim

Synopsis:

Zahra Khan is living a Jane Austen story. Although she is basically Bangladeshi royalty, that doesn't help with her financial security. In order to save money for school, she works at Chai Ho and takes as much hours as she can. But her Amma has another plan. She wants to set Zahra up with a “good match,”. That’s where Harun Emon comes in with his wealth and good-looks, but he is just not matching with Zahra personality wise. Nothing like the dishwater at Chai Ho, Nayim Aktar.

Harun confesses that he is not interested, he and Zahra make a pact to sabotage their parents’ hopes and end their match before it gets too far. But that is not how Jane Austen wrote it to be. Will Zahra go with her feelings, or is there other paths in motion?

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Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant

Synopsis:

Delilah is comfortable to herself and rather stay on the sidelines. But her go-with-the-flow attitude gets her into a new situation, what is she to do. When she is placed as the singer in her friend’s punk band, she has to confront her nervous emotions. Reggie describes himself as a D&D Dungeon Master who has a secret identity as the writer who posts about critiquing the game.

These two do not run in the same circles but for some reason they keep meeting during major holidays. Delilah envies Reggie’s demeanor, who is always open about who he is, something Delilah has struggled with.However, Reggie is pretending to be confident. He knows he isn’t someone to be with a cool chick like Delilah, right?

Their crushes start to get stronger the more times they run into each other, but are they in love with the version they think of each other or their true selves?

Get Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

This Is How You Fall in Love by Anika Hussain

Synopsis:

Zara is a hopeless romantic who loves love. This gives her the confidence that she too will have a heartfelt love story. But when her best friend Adnan practically begs on his knees to have Zara pretend to date him so know when will find out about his own secret relationship, Zara second guesses herself. Is this what love is for?

Home life is not going so well for Zara. Her parents are always fighting, and if Zara agrees to pretend date Adnan, who her parents adore, maybe they will cool off from the arguments. This isn’t the love story Zara had pictured, but maybe she can show a positive influence on her parents. Pretending shouldn’t be too hard, right? But then a new boy enters Zara's life and her plans start to shift. Can Zara save her family, or is she in for a whirlwind of a emotions?

Get This Is How You Fall from Bookshop.org | Amazon

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill

Synopsis:

Miles Jacobson is an everyday sixteen-year-old trans boy who has two simple New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend Shane McIntyre, and 2) win the biggest classical piano competition against his arch-nemesis. But life isn’t that simple. Shane has been ignoring Miles since he came out as trans. And now his piano teacher keeps pointing out that he plays like “doesn’t know who he is”.

Despite all the downward spirals, miles meets Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle. Eric is kind, thoughtful, and kind of cute…This messes with Miles’s ultimate goal: reunite with his ex, and Eric’s presence is not helping. But in order to get close to Shane, Miles needs to pretend to date Eric to attend a couples-only Valentine’s party. The lies blend into truth as Eric admits to his feelings towards Miles, but Miles is having a hard time accepting that. Can Miles finally see that the real goal is to accept himself, or is he destined to be almost enough?

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They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody

Synopsis:

Jonah Collins can call Dylan Ramírez anything, such as an arrogantly spoiled golden boy. And the same goes for Dylan who thinks Jonah is an attention-seeking, talkative asshat. Their friends think totally differently, like that Jonah and Dylan are actually lusting for one another. And the thoughts turn real when they wake up in bed together after homecoming.

Terrified of what everyone will think, they fake a relationship to date long enough in order to end the whole relationship. Fake dating + Breakup = no more rumors. But that’s not how it goes. As they spend time together, they start to develop something more than hatred. Is this the beginnings if love?

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The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirda

Synopsis:

Shireen Malik is having a hard time getting over the breakup of her now ex-girlfriend, Chris. She just received an acceptance to be a contestant on the televised baking competition show, but the news isn’t so great if she can’t share it with Chris.

But Shireen doesn’t need to break the news to Chris because Chris is also a contestant on the show. With their distance from each other, Shireen makes friends with the outgoing Niamh. Is it a friendly encounter, or is Niamh suggesting something else?

With the competition, Shireen has more than just baking to worry about.

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Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler

Synopsis:

Natalya Fox needs to make the biggest decision of her life. In the next twenty-four hours she needs to choose if she will stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad or spend it with her estranged mom in LA.

What will she choose?

How can anyone…Instead, Natalya is set in two alternating timelines. Timeline 1: she’s in NYC, hoping to repair her relationship with her mom, figuring out her future, and building up the courage to go after the girl she's always wanted. Timeline 2: she’s in LA with her mom hoping to repair their relationship, figuring out her future, and fall for the guy she never saw coming.

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The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell

Synopsis:

Wren Wheeler learned that she is not meant for oversea travel. She flew five thousand miles across the ocean for her senior-year trip to London. This trip was meant to be the most life-changing event in her life, but Wren’s planned itinerary is worthless. If she makes it, she can still have breakfast at The World’s End restaurant, one of her plans that she is determined to make happen.

As luck would have it, the restaurant is closed for renovations. Wren runs into another patron, a boy who looks awfully like the British Prince, Theo. He happens to be on the run from the palace and his controlling mother. When Wren pushes past tourists to get the prince to safety, he agrees to reward her with a favor of her choosing.

That’s when a comet decides to come full speed to Earth. For her favor she asks the prince to get her to her family as soon as possible before the end of the world. With their new bargain, the pair set out to Theo’s family’s compound in Santorini to charter Wren a private jet home in time to say goodbye. But the Prince has his own plan in motion, one that could ruin both of their goals.

Get The Prince and the Apocalypse from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover

Synopsis:

Ro Devereux has a superpower, she can predict your future. Well, you actual superpower is making an app that can. With the help of her neighbor, Ro designed to app to be like the classic game MASH. The app can even match users with their soulmates. What was suppose to be a class project turns into a global trending app. As she works to develop it further, when she tries out the soulmate feature on herself, it’s discovered that her childhood best friend, whom she had a friendship-destroying fight three years ago, is her true soulmate.

Ro and Miller are now fake dating to prove her app’s legitimacy. Although this app starts to take a different turn that Ro didn’t see coming. Can she control this new life, or is her future already set for her?

Get Seven Percent of Ro Devereux from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan

Synopsis:

Madhuri does not want to go into her senior year being told by her astrology-obsessed mother that she is destined to fail, big time. On top of that, her family is cursed to marry their first love, and Madhuri is too young for that. She want to explore and grow in herself when she leaves for college in a year.

In order to change her fate, she enlists in Arjun’s friendship into her experimental relationship. If Madhuri can date Arjun until the end of senior year, then she can say that she beat the curse; if they break up. Arjun has his own hypothesis and hopes to prove Madhuri wrong. Who will win? Will Madhuri go off to college single, or will Arjun live out his life with his one true love?

Get Kismat Connection from Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Want a full list of these 25 YA Romance books? Check out my Bookshop page here

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