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.
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. 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.)
That’s why I created this list of clean YA romance novels. The books recommended on this page aren’t just prime examples of clean teen fiction. They’re also generally suitable for a Christian audience. 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 with higher aim.
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 encourages seeking pleasure outside of self-gratification and gives you the sense of not being 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.
- Lust is limited. (i.e., instances of characters visually salivating over someone’s ripped biceps or toned abs. This one is hard to avoid completely, but can be overdone, even in clean romances.)
- Kissing scenes are brief, not overly graphic, and don’t cross 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.
- 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.
Whether you’re a reader of faith, or simply looking for a clean read, you’ve come to the right place!
Clean YA Romance Novels
Mainstream novels suitable for a Christian audience.
Picture Perfect Boyfriend
clean YA romantic comedy by Becky Dean
When photographer Kenzie Reed invents a fake, boring boyfriend named Jacob to appease her straitlaced optometrist family, her plan backfires spectacularly when the very real—and far from boring—Jacob unexpectedly shows up at the airport to join them on their Hawaiian vacation.
What readers think: Great pairing of main characters. Jake appreciates Kenzie for who she is. And 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.
Hearts Overboard
clean YA romantic comedy by Becky Dean
After her ex publicly calls her boring and stuck in her ways, Savannah joins her mom on an Alaskan cruise determined to prove him wrong—until her longtime nemesis Tanner Woods challenges her to embrace every wild adventure on board, forcing her to question whether the man she’s trying to impress is really the one she wants.
What readers think: More great travel fiction from Becky Dean. This one also deals a bit with teen mental health through the main character’s anxiety issues. There’s a lesson to be learned in this story about finding the balance between accepting yourself and striving to overcome your faults.
Guitar Notes
clean YA romance by Mary Amato
Tripp, who plays guitar only for himself, and Lyla, a cellist whose talent has already made her famous but not happy, form an unlikely friendship when they are forced to share a practice room at their high school.
What readers think: 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. 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
When Mia schemes to win over the school heartthrob through her best friend’s matchmaking service, she never expects the real spark to come from the charming photographer capturing her heart instead.
What readers think: This is your classic sweet YA love triangle, and the story 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
clean YA romantic adventure by Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls #1
At a secret academy for teen spies, elite operative-in-training Cammie Morgan can crack codes and outfight trained agents—but navigating first love with a boy who can never know her true identity may be her riskiest mission yet.
What readers think: Great 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.
Content warnings: Contains a few brief instances of mild profanity.
Also by Ally Carter: Heist Society
The Distance Between Us
clean YA romance by Kasie West
Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers, convinced that the rich can’t be trusted after years of watching them from behind her mother’s porcelain-doll shop counter, finds her defenses crumbling when charming, wealthy Xander Spence walks into her life and seems to understand her like no one else ever has.
What readers think: This is the classic falling-for-the-rich-boy trope. Witty, relatable characters; realistic contemporary fiction, and no closed-door hookups (one pitfall of many “clean” fiction titles).
Content warnings: All of Kasie’s Wests books have one scene of passionate kissing (that doesn’t escalate), and this is no exception. If that makes you uncomfortable, feel free to skip this book.
Want more Kasie West? Check out my reviews, recommendations—and cautions—in YA Fiction for Christians: A Look at Author Kasie West.
My Favorite Color is Your Something Blue
clean YA romance by Eva Austin
After a disastrous first meeting leaves Morgan covered in blue slush, she’s horrified to discover the rude stranger is a groomsman at her favorite babysitter’s wedding—and even more horrified when the happy couple decides they’d be perfect together.
What readers think: Definitely written in the vein of Kasie West, this book is light, witty, and romantic. And while it’s marketed as mainstream fiction, I give it bonus points because the characters mention going to church, youth group, and prayer.
Content warnings: One brief, passionate kiss.
The Art of Us
clean YA romance by Julie Wright
High school senior Ireland Raine hides the fact that she’s homeless while falling for charming artist and guitarist Kal Ellis—until he betrays her secret, landing her in foster care with her worst enemy and forcing her to choose between forgiving the boy who broke her heart or facing the world alone.
What readers think: This story paints a stark picture teen homelessness. I found the MC’s haughtiness a little off-putting, but not unrealistic.
Content warning: An incident of sexual assault is addressed, but not detailed.
More Clean Mainstream YA Romance Novels For Christian Teen Readers
Check out the clean YA romance novels featured elsewhere on my blog. (Links will take you to my full review of each.)
The Lunar Chronicles
Clean YA sci-fi & fantasy by Marissa Meyer
We Were Beautiful
Contemporary romance by Heather Hepler
Matched series
Sci-fi dystopia by Allie Condie
It Started With Goodbye
Contemporary YA fairytale retelling by Christina June
Christian YA Romance Fiction
Read my Christian YA Romance Short Story!
Seventeen-year-old Karima Hadad had the perfect life until one impulsive decision handed her boyfriend the power to destroy her reputation overnight. Now the girl voted Most Likely to be America’s Next Top Model by her classmates is hiding behind her curtains, watching the world move on without her—and stealing glances at the boy she never should have pushed away.
A tender, honest YA short story about a Christian teen who’s learning that shame is a liar, God’s love is louder than a locker room, and the clumsy-awkward boy next door might be the fresh start she no longer deserves.
Subscribe and receive an instant download of The Green Grass Grows Again today!
Destination Unknown
contemporary Christian YA romance by Amy Clipston – Roadside Assistance #3
When a D in Calculus forces perfect senior Whitney Richards into tutoring sessions with mysterious bad-boy Taylor—the boy from the wrong side of the tracks her world rejects—she quits cheerleading, defies her friends, and risks her carefully planned future to finally discover her true identity and God’s plan for her life.
What readers think: This one is more than just a romance. It also grapples with difficult family relationships, friend trouble, and finding your identity in Christ. (See my review of the first book in the series, Roadside Assistance, on my list of low-violence YA fiction recs.)
Under the Magnolias
Historical Christian YA romance by T.I. Lowe
In 1980s Magnolia, South Carolina, a grieving teenage girl struggles to hold her shattered family together on their struggling tobacco farm while hiding dark secrets—until a forbidden romance with the wealthy boy she’s always loved forces a devastating public reckoning that brings both heartbreak and hard-won freedom.
What readers think: This is a well-written work of Christian YA fiction, but it’s not for everyone. The story deals heavily with grief, mental illness of a parent, suicide ideation, and less-than-perfect Christian characters. Definitely not for those looking for a light-hearted read. But the romance was sweet, and the rich imagery brings the Southern setting to life.
Content warnings: Mild violence, including multiple suicide attemps with limited details, brief description of a murder, and a death scene. Contains some mildly sensual language and situations.
Waterfall
Christian YA time travel romance by Lisa T. Bergen – River of Time #1
When bored modern teenager Gabi Betarrini touches an ancient handprint in an Etruscan tomb during a family trip to Italy, she’s catapulted into fourteenth-century Italy—right into the heart of a violent battle between rival knights—where her life suddenly becomes far more dangerous and exhilarating than she ever imagined.
What readers think: This time-travel story is mostly set in the historical side of things, so it’s fitting for lovers of medieval romance. Faith is integrated naturally.
Content warnings: Contains briefly graphic battle scenes.
Just One Wish
YA Romantic Comedy by Janette Rallison
Desperate to help her little brother Jeremy believe he can beat cancer, seventeen-year-old Annika Truman promises him that a magic genie will grant any wish—only to find herself on a frantic mission to Hollywood when he wishes for his hunky TV idol to visit him before his surgery.
What readers think: The MC’s lying and manipulation was off-putting at times, but certain other characters make the story worth reading. I appreciated the raw consideration of God’s character in the face of human suffering, and conclusions drawn at the end. It’s not marketed as Christian, but it has Christian elements so I’m including it here with no shame.
The Trials of the Title
Christian YA romance by Joy Crain – The Royals of Andelar #2
Three years after her sister was banished for forbidden love, Princess Saraphina escapes her own looming arranged marriage by traveling incognito to America to find her lost sister—only to meet Prince Alexander of Andelar, sparking instant attraction that turns complicated when an accident leaves him with no memory of his royal identity or their growing connection.
What readers think: A great book for lovers of princess romances. 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
When a family crisis forces Hadley to move in with the father she’s never known, she must navigate a new home, unexpected siblings, and a senior project alongside a frustratingly guarded—but undeniably charming—mentor.
What readers think: Authentic, witty characters keep the story from becoming too heavy. 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.
After the Thaw
Christian romantic suspense by Therese Heckenkamp – Frozen Footprints #2
Haunted by a kidnapping she thought she’d left behind, Charlene is drawn to a small town by chilling threats and a dying promise—only to come face-to-face with the one man she has long struggled to forget: Clay Morrow—ex-convict and brother of her kidnapper.
What readers think: 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 involved in her horrific kidnapping experience. But if you can look past that, you will find a love story with plenty of suspense. Can be read as a standalone, but makes more sense if you read book 1.
Content warnings: A moderate amount of semi-graphic violence, including a prison fight, gun and knife violence, attempted sexual assault, and holding people against their will. Mentions of a Satanic cult. Recommended for older YA readers.
A Daring Sacrifice
Christian YA medieval romance by Jody Hedlund – Uncertain Choice #2
Juliana, a noblewoman turned woodland thief, steals from the rich to feed the starving peasants oppressed by her tyrannical uncle—until she robs a childhood acquaintance, Lord Collin, who discovers her identity and challenges her to live as a proper lady on his estate for one week or return to a life on the run.
What readers think: Great female Robinhood story. More engaging and less predictable than some of Jody Hedlund’s other books. Faith elements are naturally incorporated and not “cheesy.” Balanced mix of romance and action, plus a beautiful example of Christ-like sacrifice later in the book.
Content warnings: Some violence, including a number of battle scenes, though none are overly graphic. Some mentions of torture.
More Christian YA Romances
Check out the Christian YA romance novels featured elsewhere on my blog. (Links will take you to my full review of each.)
There You’ll Find Me
Christian YA romance by Jenny B. Jones
Charmed Life series
Christian YA romance by Jenny B. Jones
Unblemished
Christian YA fantasy by Sara Ella
Anomaly
YA Christian sci-fi dystopia by Krista McGee
Protector
YA Christian sci-fi dystopia by Megan Schaulis
Tournaments, Cocoa & One Wrong Move
Contemporary YA Christian fiction by Nancy Rue
More Clean Teen Fiction Reading Lists
Looking to read in a different genre? Check these out!
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But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
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.
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