Young adult romance literature is a type of book written for teenagers. According to the Romance Writers of America, a romance novel has a main love story and ends with a satisfying conclusion. Books from the past often had a teenage main character who was usually female, white, and middle-class. In the 21st century, young adult romance books include a greater range of main characters.
These books were very popular in the 1950s and early 1960s. However, they were replaced by more realistic young adult novels in the late 1960s and 1970s. Romance books became popular again in the 1980s, but at that time, they were often part of series published by specific brands rather than written by individual authors. In the 21st century, new types of young adult romance books, such as paranormal romance, evangelical romance, and dystopian romance, became widely read. Some parents and teachers criticized these books, but when written well, young adult romance novels can show how relationships can be meaningful.
1950s and 1960s
The success of Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly, published in 1942, is widely recognized as the reason for the creation of romance novels specifically for teenage girls, even though Daly believed her book was intended for adults. During this time, young adult romance novels were often called "junior novels" or "malt shop novels." Popular authors included Anne Emery, Rosamond du Jardin, Betty Cavanna, Janet Lambert, Lenora Mattingly Weber, and Mary Stolz.
Romance novels from this era typically focused on family life and home responsibilities. These stories were often set in small towns, and the female characters usually came from traditional, middle-class families. They worried about being popular and finding dates. Gender roles were traditional, and it was expected that girls would become wives and mothers in the future. Physical closeness in these books rarely went beyond kissing. Although there was growing concern about juvenile delinquency in the nation, this issue was not included in junior novels. These books clearly warned readers about the dangers of "bad boys" while emphasizing the importance of heterosexual relationships and modest behavior on dates.
The girls in these books were interested in being seen as attractive, with a focus on facial beauty rather than overall physical appearance. Boys were expected to be loyal and faithful to the girls, and in return, they were described as caring and protective. Romance was shown as the natural connection between boys and girls. Donelson described the typical pattern of these stories:
In the late 1960s, more realistic problem novels became more popular than young adult romances.
1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s, there was a rise in young adult romance books aimed at teenagers. These books were often part of specific series or lines, and the series name was more important than the author's name. Many new teen romance series began during this time, such as Scholastic Books' Wildfire series, Bantam Books' Sweet Dreams, Silhouette (a part of Harlequin) First Love, and Sweet Valley High. Some people think the increase in teen romance books was connected to growing conservative ideas after Ronald Reagan became president. The Journal of Reading noted that girls were buying and reading romance books with great interest, similar to the 1950s and 1960s when these books were popular before.
Publishers wanted to create original books that could be printed directly in paperback, instead of first being released in hardcover. The popularity of teen romance books showed the rise of a new type of bookstore—chain bookstores—and a new kind of book: the paperback original.
Unlike earlier books called "junior novels," which were mostly written by well-known individual authors, the new teen romance books were part of series with specific names and logos. Publishers actively promoted their teen romance books. For example, the Silhouette First Love line had a $1.4 million advertising campaign. The Sweet Dreams series (1981–1995) was the longest-running single-title romance series of the 1980s. Sweet Valley High was the most popular series. Scholastic's Wildfire sold 1.8 million copies of 16 different books in one year. The first young adult novel to appear on the New York Times paperback best-seller list was Sweet Valley High: Perfect Summer in 1985. By 1990, more than 34 million Sweet Valley High books were in print.
Both the "malt shop novels" from the 1950s and the teen romance series from the 1980s promoted the idea that following rules and fitting in was the way to become popular. However, teen romance books were not only about love stories. The main characters were teenage girls learning to balance school, family, friends, and boyfriends. Early books had little or no romantic content, but this changed over time. The 1980s teen romance books were modeled after adult romance stories but with more innocent plots. These books were usually written from the perspective of a 15- or 16-year-old girl experiencing her first love. The stories often included themes of growing up and discovering one's identity. Romance was shown as a key part of the heroine's development, and her success in love helped her change and grow. The focus on personal appearance now included concerns about body shape and weight.
Publishers and education experts gave different reasons for the popularity of these books, such as escapism, conservative ideas, a reaction to books that focused on serious problems, and the appeal of stories that showed love without sex. Authors said the books made teens feel good and showed situations that could happen in real life.
In September 1981, a group of organizations, including the Council on Interracial Books for Children, American Federation of Teachers, and others, released a statement criticizing teen romance books. They were concerned about the messages in these books. However, a survey by Publishers Weekly found that librarians supported teen romance books that showed working mothers, single-parent families, and girls with hobbies and career goals. They believed these books encouraged teenagers to read, even though they criticized the "formula" style of the stories.
Over time, the popularity of teen romance books decreased, and other genres like chick lit (such as Gossip Girl and The A-List) and young adult horror (like the Fear Street series) became more popular. Some people still consider chick lit a type of romance.
2000s
In the early 21st century, more individual authors began writing books. Some well-known authors from this time are Stephenie Meyer, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Louise Rennison, Anna Godberson, Melissa de la Cruz, Cecily von Ziegesar, Simone Elkeles, Lurlene McDaniel, Ann Brashares, Kate Brian, Zoey Dean, Annette Curtis Klause, and Megan McCafferty.
Young adult romance novels in the 21st century include a wider range of main characters compared to earlier books. A popular Harlequin Teen series called Kimani Tru, written by Black authors (both male and female), was created. The first book in this series, Indigo Summer, was published in 2007 and appeared on the Essence bestsellers list. The variety of characters, settings, and storylines has led to the creation of several types of young adult romance books.
Evangelical books are those published by Christian companies, sold in Christian bookstores, and written for readers who follow Christianity. Examples of young adult evangelical romance series include Cedar River Daydreams (Bethany House), Class of 2000 (Harvest House), The Christy Miller series (Focus on the Family), and Pacific Cascades University (Palisades).
In these books, many conflicts involve family problems more often than in secular romances. Nontraditional families are often shown in a negative way, while stable, traditional family structures are presented as important for a character’s happiness. The "boyfriend plot" is less common than in secular romances. Female characters in these books are less reliant on male characters, and more attention is given to their relationship with God and family than with romantic partners.
This subgenre includes teen romance novels that feature LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) characters or themes.
- Something Like Gravity, Amber Smith
- The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, Sarvenaz Tash
- Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan
- What If It's Us?, Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
This subgenre includes teen romance novels with settings and themes from science fiction, fantasy, or horror. After the success of Twilight, Barnes & Noble created separate sections for paranormal romance books.
Paranormal romances often focus heavily on virginity and connect it to morality and goodness. The heroine may see herself as ordinary, but the hero reveals her to be extraordinary. The romance is often described as being meant to happen, and resisting temptation leads to eternal love.
- Intertwined series, Gena Showalter
- Wings series, Aprilynne Pike
- The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Maggie Stiefvater
- Noughts and Crosses series, Malorie Blackman
- Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer
- Hush, Hush series, Becca Fitzpatrick
- Mara Dyer series, Michelle Hodkin
The subgenre of realistic romance includes teen romance novels that include elements of problem novels, which are stories that deal with real-life challenges.
- Annie on My Mind, Nancy Garden
- Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell
- Finding My Voice, Marie Myung-Ok Lee
- Anatomy of a Boyfriend, Daria Snadowsky
- The Infinite Moment of Us, Lauren Myracle
- Dairy Queen, Catherine Gilbert Murdock