This February was doomed to romance since my first viewing of the amazing vlog series, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. After greedily watching the entire 100 episodes over two days (and that was with generous breaks… trust me), I had a desire for everything YA. Turning to my pile of unread YA and my trusty Kindle app, my February has been on a rollercoaster of teen drama and romance. (This list is not complied by rating but in the order that I read them)

Smuggler’s Kiss by Marie-Lousie Jensen

A stunning YA set in the early 1700s when pirates and smuggler’s sailed the seas and evaded the King of England’s Navy and Customs officers. Isabelle thrown out of her known society must fend for herself, very annoying and spoilt to begin with, but the volatile young Will is forced to help her work for a place on the smuggler’s ship. The romance is not the central focus, rather the secrets that surround many of the characters, but the closer they are to discovering them the more peril they walk into. A seething romance, smuggling fine lace, high sea battles, cross-dressing escapades, and rollicking adventure… what else can you ask for?

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

An instant love YA that forms from the application of the Heimlich, performed by Wren, on the unsuspecting Frankfurter consumer, Grayson. Joking aside, it is a sweet romance, with a little comedy, but sometimes felt a little clunky with the bad boy back story for Grayson and Wren lack of development (which was her initial motivation).

The Distance between Us by Kasie West

This YA fell into the rich boy meets poor girl category neatly, but Caymen Meyers is a little more prejudice than most protagonists in this category, as her mother has long warned her of the alluring dangers of rich men (Her father who fled when he heard about the pregnancy was wealthy and his parents paid off her mother to keep away). Xander Spence, the rich hotel owner son, likes Caymen’s sarcastic humour and begins to spend a lot more time with her, trying to keep it casual in case of scaring her away. A cute YA romance, quite humourous, with some adorable scenes; but Caymen’s prejudice was the most frustrating (and seemingly only) impediment to the blossoming relationship, and some plot lines did not resolve fully for my liking.

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

My favourite YA novel that has ever focused on falling OUT of love with someone. Sadie has been in love with her best friend, Garrett, for two years and he only sees their platonic connection. So after some disastrous situations and Garrett’s departure to summer camp, Sadie decides to detox her life and heart of Garrett Delaney. Along the way she not only discovers new friends and places, but herself; and she begins to live her life through her own desires and not through those of Garrett’s. Great characters, plot structure, and surprise romance! Definitely on the ‘re-read’ shelf!

Tripping Me Up by Amber Garza

A romance focused YA, where the invisible girl, Hadley, becomes noticed by one of the more popular guys in her year, Tripp, who she has had a long-time crush on. It is a sweet budding romance, that is hindered by home aspects and social standing at high school, but it manages to survive!

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

One of the steamiest YA in the bunch! Rachel Young is rich, attends private school, a nervous wreck, has over-bearing brothers, and is seen as the replacement daughter for her long dead sister. But through it all she finds solace with her love of cars, and that finds her at an illegal drag way meeting the intimidating Isaiah Walker. He may look the bad boy but Isaiah is more loyal and romantic than first appearance. The story is not driven by their romance, instead forces the two leads to understand their relationship. This is the third book in a series, and I just ordered the first two!