This Rec League comes from Kristin. Thanks, Kristin!
My 13 1/2 year old is an an avid reader. She has recently gotten into romance novels and I want to give her options that are body positive and have healthy relationships, but that are also age appropriate for her. Some of her reading history includes all the harry potter books (repeatedly). One of her favs of all time is Blended by Sharon Draper. She has read the 3 Jenny Han books (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before). What other authors and books do you recommend for this early teen age and romance?
Shana: Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle ( A | BN | K ) is one of my favorite YA romances. It models healthy relationships with friends, parents, and a romantic partner. CW for backstory of attempted sexual assault.
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado ( A | BN | K | AB ) is about a teenager who learns to embrace body positivity. It’s more of a coming-of-age story but there’s a very cute b-plot romance. CW: dieting mom.
Skin of the Sea ( A | BN | K ) is a YA fantasy novel about a young mermaid who goes on an adventure and falls in love along the way. It’s the first in a series.
Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon is an adorable YA romance with faking dating and Jenny Han vibes.
Sarah: Lara, would Poison Study work?
Maureen Johnson writes in several different genres blending mystery, fantasy, and contemporary. Truly Devious ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) might work really well!
Also Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. ( A | BN | K )
Lara: Poison Study is probably YA romantasy. The romance isn’t explored in depth and it’s certainly chaste. No characters in bigger bodies that I recall. Yelena is too busy trying to save herself to worry about her body. There’s lots of really positive stuff around celebrating what your body can do (albeit in a self-defense/combat sense)
I did adore the romance plot.
Sarah: Oh – Anna and the French Kiss ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) is one of my absolute favorite books and I’ve re-read it a bunch of times. An American girl enters a French boarding school in Paris.
Which books would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!