Reading is supposed to be relaxing, like a walk on a soft, sandy beach or a cup of hot cocoa during a snowstorm. When you pick up a book, you should be allowed to sink fully into the world in which your characters live and forget your own for a while.
At least, that’s how I see it.
But relaxing into a fictional story is super difficult if you have to stay on guard for questionable content, and worse if the content gets so bad you have to pull yourself out of the book completely. Unfortunately, this is the reality of YA fiction. Publishers know that sex and sin sell. They’re exciting and addictive, pulling you in even when you disagree with what the characters are doing.
In many ways, romance novels are porn for women. They do to us what images do for men. (Don’t believe me? Check out this post from Girl Defined.)
Praise Jesus, clean teen fiction hasn’t disappeared completely. You just have to know where to look. That’s why I compiled this list of clean YA romance novels—so you can relax into the books you read rather than worrying over what might be on the next page. Try any of these for a sweet YA love story without all the smut.
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and
blogger for teens ready to level up in faith.
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In This Article
About the Books on This List
What makes a novel clean? For me, “clean” romance isn’t just about closing the door on steamy scenes. I don’t want to get all the way through a book only to have the characters hook up in the end, even if it fades to black at that point. I want a story that is not only engaging and entertaining but leaves the reader with a better sense of high moral values and encourages you to pursue a lifestyle that seeks pleasure outside of self-gratification.
In a way, clean YA romance novels should give you the sense that you are not alone in choosing higher standards. The books on this list go beyond closed-door romances, and each adheres to these standards:
- No sex between unmarried characters (even of the closed-door variety)
- Little or no sexual language and innuendo (I try to note the books that have any of this, but it’s hard because in our sex-saturated culture, sometimes we don’t even recognize sexual references for what they are)
- Kissing scenes are brief, not overly graphic, and don’t cross any lines into heavy petting or other sexual contact
Beyond sexual content, a few other standards apply to every book I recommend:
- Little to no profanity (especially strong language)
- YA-appropriate levels of violence (I make a note of violent content for any book this applies to)
- Mainstream fiction books do not contradict Christian beliefs or promote unbiblical lifestyles
- Christian fiction books accurately represent God and interpret the Bible correctly, when applicable
Take Note!
I try to include content warnings where necessary, but sometimes I miss something or forget what I’ve read, particularly in regards to language and profanity. If in reading any of these books you find something I missed that readers should be warned of, drop me a note!
Clean YA Romance Novels
Picture Perfect Boyfriend
clean YA romantic comedy by Becky Dean
Summary:
Kenzie Reed is happiest when she’s capturing nature through the lens of her camera. The problem is her straitlaced family of optometrists doesn’t take her art seriously, so she’s taken to setting aside her dreams and conforming to their depressing vision of her future. She even makes up a fake, boring boyfriend—Jacob—to get her parents off her back.
But when “Jacob” shows up at the airport and joins their family vacation to Hawaii, Kenzie can’t reveal him as a fraud without confessing her lie, so she’s stuck playing along while trying to find out who he really is. No way is she going to fall for him—because even though he’s funny, nice, smart, and cute, he’s also a liar. Isn’t he?
My thoughts:
Two things I loved about this book (besides that it was clean with no swearing or sex):
1) The pairing of the main characters. I loved how Kenzie could tune out everything else when she got into her artistic zone, and while Kenzie’s family found her whims exasperating, Jake found them intriguing.
2) The setting because, hello, Hawaii! Becky Dean did an outstanding job bringing the setting to life in a way that fits the story and makes you feel like you’re riding along.
If you love travel, art/photography, and boys who appreciate eccentric characters, you’ll love this book
Borrow My Heart
clean YA romance by Kasie West
Summary:
Wren is used to being called a control freak. Sticking to her self-imposed list of rules helps her navigate life and guard her heart. But when she overhears a cute guy named Asher getting verbally destroyed by his friend for being catfished, she makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision and pretends to be his online crush. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing. Before long, Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she’s not who she says she is?
My thoughts:
This is an adorable story, complete with a whole shelter of rescue pets. It also touches on some serious themes, including social media etiquette and family dysfunction. Kasie West is the Queen of Clean YA Romance Novels, and quite possibly my favorite YA author overall. The kissing scenes in her stories never escalate to sex, there are no closed-door hook-ups at the end, and profanity never goes further than “he cursed under his breath.”
Read my clean teen fiction spotlight on Kasie West to learn more about this author’s clean YA romance novels.
Guitar Notes
clean YA romance by Mary Amato
Summary:
On odd days, Tripp uses a school practice room to let loose on a borrowed guitar. Eyes closed, strumming that beat-up instrument, Tripp escapes to a world where only the music matters. On even days, Lyla Marks uses the same practice room. To Tripp, she’s trying to become even more perfect—she’s already a straight-A student and an award-winning cellist. But when Lyla begins leaving notes for him in between the strings of the guitar, his life intersects with hers in a way he never expected.
My thoughts:
This is a beautiful story about forbidden love and the power of music to bring souls together. The characters are real and relatable and the plot takes a rather mundane setting (the practice room) and turns it into a place where life-altering discoveries are made. I loved the unique way Mary Amato incorporates music into the story. There are more heavy moments in this book than some of the others on the list.
Match Me If You Can
clean YA romance by Tiana Smith
Summary:
Mia’s best friend is Athens High’s most trusted matchmaker. But when Robyn refuses to set Mia up with the guy of her dreams, Mia uses Robyn’s service to make sure popular Vince falls hard enough to ask her to homecoming. What Mia doesn’t count on is Logan, the surprisingly suave and persistent school newspaper photographer who’s showing interest in her. So she comes up with the perfect solution: direct Logan’s feelings towards her friend Elena.
Except Elena likes Vince, and now Mia has two weeks before homecoming to fix the mess she created.
My thoughts:
This is your classic sweet YA love triangle, and the best thing about this book is it stays lighthearted all the way through—perfect for readers who want to avoid deep and dark topics. As far as content, this one is squeaky clean with zero profanity and quick, limited kissing scenes.
I’d Love to Tell You But Then I’d Have to Kill You
Gallagher Girls #1
clean YA romantic adventure by Ally Carter
Summary:
Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a clandestine, all-girls, spy school. Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, but she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real “pavement artist” — but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
My thoughts:
This is the first book of a series for readers who like a little adventure and espionage with their romance. And despite the whole spy-school-killer implications, the overall tone of the book is very witty and comical. Some readers mentioned occasional sexual references and mild profanity, but I don’t remember those from when I read the book.
Also by Ally Carter: Heist Society
We Were Beautiful
clean YA romance by Heather Hepler
Summary:
Struggling with guilt over the crash that killed her older sister and left her terribly scarred, fifteen-year-old Mia is sent to New York City to spend the summer with a grandmother she’s never met. There she’s taken under-wing by blue-haired, vivacious Fig, who introduces Mia to her friends (including artistic Cooper, the boy who’s always on Mia’s mind), and Mia learns she’s not the only one with a painful past. But her inner scars run deep and aren’t simple to heal … especially when she finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel died.
My thoughts:
This is one of the more somber books on the list, dealing with issues like death, grief, guilt, and abuse. But it’s not a drag. The characters are fun, the incorporation of art is unique, and the book makes for a great journey through New York City through the eyes of a teen. And while it’s technically a romance, I felt the romantic parts came secondary to the main plot. Great for readers who don’t like things to get too lovey or mushy.
Christian YA Romance Novels
Summary:
Three years ago, Princess Saraphina’s older sister was stripped of her title and banished for loving a man their abusive father didn’t approve of, thrusting Sara into the role of heir. Now her father is gone and Sara has one month before she’s crowned and forced into an arranged marriage. So she travels to America incognito to find the sister she’s missed all these years.
Once heir, now the spare, Prince Alexander struggles to find his place in Andelar’s royal family. When his father grants him a leave of absence to travel, he takes the much-needed reprieve from the pressures of the palace, renting one side of a duplex owned by Sara’s family. Attraction flares when he first meets Sara but quickly tempers when an accident leaves Alexander without his memory and any recollection of who he is. As secrets unfold and dreams collide with the harsh realities of responsibility, Sara and Alexander learn not only who they are but also what it means to trust their future to God.
My thoughts:
If you like princess romances, you will not be disappointed. The plot is easy to follow, with smooth switches between the two POV characters, and the story mixes centuries-old traditions of royalty with modern-day life (think cell phones and airplanes). The story does touch on darker topics like abuse. I found the Christian principles to be sound and naturally mixed in with the story. This is appropriate for most teens. It isn’t necessary to read Book 1, though doing so will give you more family history on Alexander’s side.
Salvaged
Christian YA romance by Shanna M. Heath
Summary:
High school senior Hadley’s world is turned upside down by her grandmother’s bleak cancer diagnosis. Forced to relocate from her home in Maryland to Kentucky to live with the father she never met and the step-family she didn’t know she had, Hadley faces a world of unknowns and her hopes of snagging her dream internship seemingly disappear. But with her new life comes the unexpectedly pleasant role of half-sister and a daunting senior project peer mentored by none-too-welcoming-but-totally-hot Colton. As she struggles to find her place in her new family and say goodbye to her grandmother, Hadley can’t help but wonder if God has abandoned her.
My thoughts:
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Shanna through my Christian writer’s group. As a middle school teacher, she has a knack for creating authentic, witty characters that keep the story from becoming too heavy. Salvaged, her debut novel, is a sweet story that touches on the deeper topics of loss and purpose with enough comic relief to keep the reader from becoming completely depressed at any point. The handling of biblical themes is both accurate and appropriate for this genre.
Summary:
Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now at twenty-two, she’s put that trauma behind her for a promising future with handsome firefighter Ben Jorgensen. But then sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive Charlene to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget: Clay Morrow–ex-convict and brother of her kidnapper. He’s also the man who once helped save her life. Despite the odds, Charlene and Clay forge a tentative friendship, unaware of a brooding, mounting danger that seeks to destroy them both.
My thoughts:
The sequel to Frozen Footprints (which I reviewed in my list of YA Christian Fiction Thrillers, Suspense & Horror), After the Thaw is heavier on romance than its prequel. The characters are no longer teens and some readers might be troubled by Char’s conflicting feelings for a man she only knew through a horrific kidnapping experience. There is also a moderate amount of semi-graphic violence. But if you can look past all that, you will find a love story with plenty of suspense. It can be read as a standalone but will make more sense if you read Book 1. Recommended for older YA readers.
Summary:
Juliana has become skilled at hiding in the woods from her tyrannical uncle Lord Wessex—manager of the land she rightfully owns, who believes she was killed along with her father. She uses her stolen goods to provide food and shelter to the peasants her uncle has taxed into poverty. But when she robs Collin Goodrich, her red hair betrays her true identity. Lord Collin remembers Juliana from their childhood—and challenges her to stay on his estate for a week in hopes she will leave her thieving ways and become a proper lady once more. Juliana is intrigued by Collin and his charms, but only time will tell if he can overcome her distaste for the nobility and win her heart.
My thoughts:
If you like Robinhood stories with a strong female lead, A Daring Sacrifice will satisfy your reader cravings. This story features engaging writing and isn’t at all cheesy, as Christian YA fiction books are often labeled. Readers will enjoy a balanced mix of romance and action, plus a beautiful example of Christ-like sacrifice later in the book.
Clean & Christian YA Romances From My Other Reading Lists
See my reviews for other books that fall under the category of clean or Christian YA romance novels.
- Lunar Chronicles series, by Marissa Meyer (sci-fi fantasy romance)
- Matched series, by Allie Condie (sci-fi dystopia)
- There You’ll Find Me, by Jenny B. Jones (Christian YA romance)
- Charmed Life series, by Jenny B. Jones (Christian YA romance)
- The Unblemished Trilogy, by Sara Ella (Christian YA fantasy)
- Anomaly, by Krista McGee (Christian sci-fi dystopia)
- Protector, by Megan Schaulis (Christian sci-fi dystopia)
More on Holiness & Purity For Christian Teen Readers
Why does it matter what we read or think about? These posts will enlighten and encourage you in holy living.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Are you aware of just how sexualized our literature and media are? See how to weed out this blind spot in Not a Hint: Living Pure in a Sexual Culture
Wondering how to find good books with high moral values? See How to Find Clean Young Adult Fiction in a Dirty Market and 6 Red Flags to Watch For in YA Christian Fiction.
For a stark look at how fictional romance compares to real romance: Christian Romance: The Lie Behind the First Kiss in Fiction
Why bother with purity and holiness at all? The Right Reason for Purity: It’s Not What You Think
If you’re struggling with lust and temptation: The Battle Against Lust and How to Kill it
