Dahlia Adler is an Associate Editor of Mathematics by day, a blogger for B&N Teens by night, and writes Contemporary YA and NA at every spare moment in between. She's the author of the Daylight Falls duology, the upcoming Just Visiting, and Last Will and Testament, as well as over five billion tweets as @MissDahlELama. She lives in New York City with her husband and their overstuffed bookshelves.
Leave It on the Track (2025) Margot Fisher "Never has a book punched me in the gut so hard, so fast, but Fisher skillfully builds both readers and Moose back up with both tender self-empowerment and a cruisin' for a literal bruisin'. A truly great debut about coming into your own under the toughest of circumstances, and so queer it could be its own roller derby team."
Girl Next Door (2025) Rachel Meredith "Witty, sexy, and the best kind of messy, Girl Next Door is my favorite brand of beautifully chaotic and honest romance. I devoured it in one sitting, and you better believe I'll be picking up whatever Meredith writes next."
I'll Pretend You're Mine (2025) Tashie Bhuiyan "A sweet, swoony, banterrific rom-com wrapped in a deeply heartfelt and healing journey of selfhood and independence, I'll Pretend Your Mine is the perfect pick-me up--no faking necessary!"
It's a Love/Skate Relationship (2025) Carli J Corson "Fiercely competitive and fantastically fun, It's a Love/Skate Relationship has enough sparks in its enemies-to-lovers romance to melt an entire ice rink. A definite winner of a sports romance, with high marks for great banter and a delightful cast!"
Time and Time Again (2024) Chatham Greenfield "Profoundly hopeful and deeply relatable, Phoebe's journey is an honor to experience. The perfect tenderhearted romance for those who struggle to find themselves in the genre."
Wish You Weren't Here (2024) Erin Baldwin "As a summer camp lifer, Wish You Weren't Here is the wildly fun, nostalgia-inducing romance of my dreams. It's the perfect summer read for any time of year, with an ending so satisfying, I actually shed a few tears!"
One Killer Problem (2024) Justine Pucella Winans "Somehow both spit-out-your-drink hilarious and surprisingly tenderhearted, the 'killer problem' I had with this book was a total inability to put it down. Gigi Ricci is a stellar protagonist for the ages."
The Only Light Left Burning (2024) (All That's Left in the World Duology, book 2) Erik J Brown "Brown has somehow achieved a book that is romantic, hilarious, warm-hearted, hopeful, and page-turningly thrilling all at once. I was hooked from beginning to end."
These Bodies Between Us (2024) Sarah Van Name "A gorgeous, wistful meditation on the pleasure and pain of adolescent girlhood, friendship, and the magic of summer."
The No-Girlfriend Rule (2024) Christen Randall "The perfect blend of romance, geekery, self-discovery, and creative storytelling, The No-Girlfriend Rule affirms that even the bumpiest journeys can have joyful endings."
I Hope This Doesn't Find You (2024) (I Hope This Doesn't Find You, book 1) Ann Liang "Liang hits every mark in this wildly fun fake-dating adventure straight out of my romcom dream journal. I loved every minute of it!"
Just Happy to Be Here (2024) Naomi Kanakia "Kanakia's razor-sharp candor, insight, and nuance make her one of YA's most fascinating and relevant authors. Just Happy to Be Here is an absolute and necessary game-changer."
Stars, Hide Your Fires (2023) Jessica Mary Best "A delightfully mischievous adventure full of intrigue, betrayal, and a touch of romance. Get ready to join your new favorite rebel crew."
Where You See Yourself (2023) Claire Forrest "Forrest's triumphant, warm-hearted, and romantic debut takes ableism to task while celebrating both learning and fighting for what you deserve. I cheered, I cried, I fist-pumped."
Something Like Possible (2023) Miel Moreland "This wonderful book has something on the ballot for everybody, including political nerdery, adorable romance, righteous anger, and queer joy. I emphatically vote for Miel Moreland as an author to watch!"
If Tomorrow Doesn't Come (2023) Jen St Jude "A gorgeously written master class in exploring queerness and depression with honesty, gravity, and balance, If Tomorrow Doesn't Come is an absolute life-changer - and life-saver - of a book. It had my heart simultaneously cracking and blooming with hope from its very first lines long past The End."
When You Wish Upon a Lantern (2023) Gloria Chao "Chao is a master of interweaving delightful romance with a deep and abiding love for tradition, culture, and community. When You Wish Upon a Lantern fittingly glows with warmth and light while giving you all the sweetness, humor, and charm you could ask for."
Always the Almost (2023) Edward Underhill "Deeply witty, romantic, authentic, and above all, triumphant. Edward Underhill is unquestionably a debut to watch."
Mistakes Were Made (2022) Meryl Wilsner "Mistakes Were Made is so sexy and compelling, reading it is like being in on the most tantalizing secret. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading, smiling, or blushing. Simply delectable from start to finish."
The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen (2022) Isaac Blum "An uncannily insightful and resonant look into a world few of us call home and most never get to see. Bold, brave, and brutally honest, it holds a permanent piece of my heart."
We Weren't Looking to Be Found (2022) Stephanie Kuehn "We Weren't Looking to Be Found tells a story of mental health and girlhood with tenderness, nuance, and above all, raw honesty. Nobody hurts, heals, and surprises like Stephanie Kuehn."
Body Grammar (2022) Jules Ohman "Ohman deftly crafts a heart-aching, healing, and clarifying journey of self-acceptance, trauma recovery, and queer love in this debut coming-of-age novel."
The One True Me and You (2022) Remi K England "The One True Me and You positively fizzes with joy, hope, affirmation, and the feeling of anticipation that comes with being on the edge of something new and fabulous. A fun fandom romance guaranteed to put a smile on your face."
And They Lived... (2022) Steven Salvatore "Captures all the best and most terrifying parts of loving both yourself and others, masterfully balancing a dreamy romance with the raw honesty it takes to sustain it. This book is a true delight."
Love Somebody (2022) Rachel Roasek "Roasek dives in to the messy, confusing experience of queer adolescence with deep care, tenderness, and clarity. Teens are going to find a home in this book."
The Reckless Kind (2021) Carly Heath "Three queer disabled teens forge their own path to love, family, and independence in this nuanced, delightful, and beautifully set historical adventure. If you read to be inspired that a better future is out there and in your control, this is the book for you."
Briar Girls (2021) Rebecca Kim Wells "Briar Girls is a tantalizingly dark and majestic fairy tale filled with love, betrayal, and the ways the two inevitably intersect. Strap yourself in for a romantic and magical adventure."
The Dead and the Dark (2021) Courtney Gould "Gould's debut is an utterly dreamy romance in the midst of a living nightmare, and a true testament to the power of love in a world of hate. It's exactly the book we need right now."
It Ends in Fire (2021) Andrew Shvarts "An addictive and invigorating tale of romance, revenge, and rebellion. Alka Chelrazi is a heroine I'd gladly follow to the ends of the earth."
Not My Problem (2021) Ciara Smyth "A book that manages to be both tenderly gutting and absolutely hilarious. I want to be best friends with Saoirse Clarke."
Ghost Wood Song (2020) Erica Waters "Ghost Wood Song is a dusky, haunting daydream of a debut that hits all the right notes."
The Mermaid, The Witch, and the Sea (2020) (Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, book 1) Maggie Tokuda-Hall "An utterly romantic and breathless adventure that wouldn't let me sleep until I'd devoured every last word. It's a journey of love, magic, and self-discovery unlike any I've ever read."
Throw Like a Girl (2020) Sarah Henning "Nothing beats sports romance by someone who truly knows and loves sports, and Henning is among the best of the best. Throw in a brilliant family dynamic and great friendships, and this is everything I love about contemporary YA."
The Never Tilting World (2019) (Never Tilting World, book 1) Rin Chupeco "Complex, brutal, romantic, and terrifying. With a phenomenal cast of characters who stick to your bones and vivid worldbuilding that shows up in your dreams, this is a book that demands to be experienced."
The Girl You Thought I Was (2018) Rebecca Phillips "The Girl You Thought I Was is an honest, compelling, nuanced look at fallibility, forgiveness, the unhealthy ways we cope, and the people who make us want to be better. If you're a fan of character-driven contemporary, don't miss this one."
And She Was (2018) Jessica Verdi "Verdi just gets better and better with every book. And She Was is a beautiful, multilayered journey of love, understanding, and empathy that made me want to be a better daughter, ally, and person."
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (2017) (Montague Siblings, book 1) Mackenzi Lee "An outrageously fun, witty, fascinating, and romantic adventure, starring a memorable trio I’d happily travel with for ages. Lee is a definite force in diverse historical YA."
Geekerella (2017) (Once Upon A Con, book 1) Ashley Poston "An utterly charming take on Cinderella that sparkles with witty banter, Geekerella is the perfect YA fandom fairytale."
