From Sweet to Heartbreaking, 8 YA Romances Perfect for Valentine’s Day

The Art of Lainey, by Paula Stokes
10 out of 10 people who’ve been dumped agree: it tends to suck. There’s the crying, the asking why, the buffet of unpleasant emotions. When Lainey’s boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her, Lainey, with help from her friend Bianca, decides to spend her energy working on getting him back instead of accepting that it’s over. After a chance encounter with a copy of The Art of War, Lainey has the perfect framework for devising a battle that will get her exactly what she wants. But when one wartime move leads to fake-dating her coworker, Micah, Lainey starts to question if her ex is what she wants…or if there’s someone better out there for her.
Romance Ranking: Sweet as a milkshake on a hot summer day

One Man Guy, by Michael Barakiva
Alek Khederian would rather not spend his summer stuck in a classroom, working on getting his grades up. When he meets adventurous Ethan, he starts to wonder if summer school will be so bad after all. Alek has next to no experience with romance, but Ethan makes him want to change that. As the two embark on adventures, Alek challenges the view he has always had of himself. With excellent intersectional representation, this romance balances laugh-out-loud humor with romantic moments that will leave you grinning with your whole face.
Romance Ranking: A honey sweetness that builds slowly and tastes good on nearly everything

Keeping Her Secret, by Sarah Nicolas
Running into a heartbreaker ex at school or the grocery store is highly disagreeable. So imagine spending a whole summer camp season with them…and sharing a bunk bed. After Riya and her childhood best friend, Courtney, share a magnificent kiss, Courtney stops talking to her, and Riya is left heartbroken. Fast forward four years, and Courtney and Riya are sleeping in the same summer camp cabin. Both girls still feel something between them, but Riya doesn’t trust Courtney after her heartbreak, and Courtney is committed to maintaining appearances. While there are some sad moments in this one, the sweet scenes are so adorable you’ll be coming up with a ship name (Riney? Courtya?) to plaster on the biggest banner you can find for your bookshelf.
Romance Ranking: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

Love, Lies, and Spies, by Cindy Anstey
As in Jane Austen’s work, this historical Regency romance is much more than meets the eye. Juliana Telford wants nothing to do with marriage. She prefers the company of bugs over the company of gentlemen looking for a beneficial match. When forced to spend a season in London, she uses it as an opportunity to get her research published. Spencer Northam likewise has no interest in marriage. In fact, he’s undercover as a spy for the War Office. His mission: observing people in Juliana’s circles and Juliana herself. While the humor is rich and the swoons are plenty, Juliana and Spencer both face significant relationship obstacles, especially in a society that doesn’t treat them as equals.
Romance Ranking: More saucy than sweet, just like the characters

The Sound of Us, by Julie Hammerle
Like Keeping Her Secret, The Sound of Us is also set at a summer camp; however, this camp isn’t for recreation or outdoor fun. Kiki Nichols is attending an intense summer music camp where she’s competing for a scholarship to Krause University. Kiki knows how to work hard and follow the rules; after all, that’s how she has lived her entire life. But when she meets a drummer boy who makes the word “forbidden” sound like music in her ears, she struggles to balance opening up and experiencing life with staying in line. Hammerle stuns with her ability to create characters that are incredibly appealing yet prone to three-dimensional mistakes and wrong moves, which lead to a bittersweet, satisfying ending left just the right amount of open.
Romance Ranking: The romance equivalent of a Sour Patch Kid: even when the characters are hard to take, you still forgive them.

Chasing Truth, by Julie Cross
Come for the Veronica Mars comparison, stay for the fan-yourself level of romantic heat in Julie Cross’s mystery romance about Eleanor, the daughter of an infamous con artist, and Miles, the new guy next door who seems awfully suspicious. Eleanor is determined to solve the death, reported as a suicide, of her best friend, Simon, but with every move she makes she keeps running into Miles, who has an agenda of his own. Their suspicion and distrust are just as powerful as their mutual attraction, and readers will be on the edge of their seat trying to find out if Miles (or Eleanor) is at all trustworthy.
Romance Ranking: Spicy, spicy, spicy.

Written in the Stars, by Aisha Saeed
Naila and Saif are deeply in love. The problem? Though Naila’s conservative immigrant parents let her choose most things, from her future career to her hair length, they will be the ones picking her husband. Thus, Naila must hide her relationship, which breaks both her and Saif’s hearts. When her parents discover their love, they’re furious, and send her to Pakistan as a reminder of their culture. The trip takes a sharp turn when Naila finds out her parents have not only found her a husband, but want her to marry him immediately. Isolated and in dangerous waters, will Naila get a chance with her true love, or will she be forced into an arrangement she doesn’t want?
Romance Ranking: Heartbreaker