My 3 YA Romance Picks For Valentine's Day!

If you're a big reader like me, you'd rather receive a good book from your Valentine instead of a box of chocolates. Well, getting both a good book and chocolates would be nice!

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to dig into stories that have a more romantic tone to them. So I'm going to be doing something a little bit different today. I will be giving you a quick look at what are three YA romance picks that make for some great Valentine's Day reading.

Let's get started, shall we?

By Your Side by Kasie West

The book starts with a girl named Autumn Collins, who finds herself accidentally trapped in the library. She doesn't think that things could get worse, until she realizes that Dax Miller, a boy who is rumored to have spent time in juvie, is stuck with her as well. Autumn hopes that her almost-boyfriend, Jeff, comes to pick her back up, but he never arrives. So she and Dax soon start to open up to each other during their time in the library, and she is soon surprised to discover their connection. 

Come on, it's a teen love story that all starts in a library. Do you seriously think that a book like that would slipped passed my reading radar? This was my first book that I read of Kassie West, and I will say that she doesn't disappoint at creating a great YA contemporary story. There is such a cute premise to this book, with a cast of likable characters to add to it. It put a smile on my face, and I bet it will bring a smile to your face too!

Love and Gelato By Jenna Evans Welch

When seventeen-year-old Lina loses her mom, she decides to honor her wish by spending a summer (and perhaps longer) in Tuscany. Traveling halfway around the world, Lina stays with her mother's friend, Howard, a World War II cemetery caretaker who may or may not be her father. As the story carries on, Lina ends up coming across a journal that her mother when she was living in Italy, and ends up unearthing secrets that have been kept for far too long. And along the way, she even finds love in a charming guy named Ren.

Love and Gelato is another one to check for fans of both contemporary romance and coming-of-age stories. Not only does the book discuss family and first love, but the plot had a lot of nice twists and turns to it as well. I also really enjoyed the element of Lina's mom's journal, too. The story is fascinating, the setting is incredible, and the characters are great. All very good reasons to give this story a try!

Flipped by Wendelin van Draanin

Upon entering second grade, Bryce moves across the street from a girl named Juli, who starts to grow a crush on him. He, however, does not reciprocate, and spends the rest of his elementary school years trying to avoid her. But once Bryce enters middle school, he begins to change and notices Juli's good points, just when their families start to undergo changes of their own.

The moment I was finished reading this book, I had this unbreakable smile on my face! Flipped is one of those stories that just made feel so good on the inside. It seems like a simple tale, but it ends up being an honest, multilayered glimpse into the concept of a first crush. Definitely one that you have to check out!




Alright, I think that does it! Those were my three YA romance picks. But the great reads don't just end there; there's plenty more wonderful stories that I could go on about, and probably many more waiting to be discovered. 

What are some of your favorite romance stories?

'Til next time! Happy Valentine's Day!