Star-crossed lovers have been one of the most popular tropes throughout history, and for good reason. Sometimes, all you want to read is a heart-wrenching love story and get way too emotionally invested in the lives of fictional characters. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Whether the book ends with the couple reuniting or torn apart forever, there’s just something special about experiencing the rollercoaster of star-crossed love.
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Stevie and Nora have a secret, epic, once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. However, when Stevie has an accident and loses the last 2 years of her memory, she also subsequently forgets Nora and coming to terms with her sexuality. While it seems like all the odds are against Stevie and Nora, you won’t be able to help root for these two throughout the book.
One of the most classic and well known starcrossed lovers is Romeo & Juliet. You’ll love this heart-stopping retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, where Juliette and Roma are heirs to rival gangs. While they deal with their forbidden feelings, there is also a mysterious and sinister monster lurking in the depths of the Huangpu River that threatens the lives of everyone—no matter which side they’re on.
If you want a book where you won’t be able to predict what comes next, it’s time to start The Mara Dyer Trilogy. After Mara survives a traumatizing accident where the majority of her loved ones die, she begins to be haunted by corpses and having strange visions. And then there’s Noah, the handsome boy at school that is desperate to help Mara uncover what’s going on—even when she is seemingly surrounded by death.
Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, in this start to the Dark Artifices series. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions… The forbidden but destined love between Emma and Julian is one for the history books!
There’s nothing like a time loop to keep you from your true love. Clark has woken up and relived the same monotonous Monday hundreds of times—and he doesn’t know why. Then, Day 310 comes around and Clark meets someone new, a charismatic boy named Beau, during a math class he has gone to 309 times before. While they only spend one day together, Clark and Beau go on a series of “errands” that changes how Clark thinks about his time loop and what he can do to finally break out of it.
Nothing is more starcrossed than Voya and Luc’s tragic and doomed lovestory. Voya is a budding teen witch in a long line of magical ancestors. When Voya fails the trial that grants her powers, her second chance to redeem herself is shocking— all she has to do is kill her first love. And if she doesn’t, her entire family’s magic is at risk.
What happens when you take a couple and force them to relive their tragic love story over and over again? For All Time tells the incredible story of Tamar and Fayard, who have lived a thousand lives to fall in love, but never actually experience it. You’ll be on the edge of your seat until you find out what it’s actually going to take to finally break the cycle.
The early 2000’s was one of the most iconic eras for TV shows. From cheesy theme songs to constant laugh tracks, these retro shows come with their own special brand of nostalgia. Whether you’re thinking of rewatching of your childhood favorite or you’ve been a steadfast fan this entire time, pick your top retro show and we’ll give you the perfect book recommendation!
If you love the beachy summer vibes of Zoey 101, then you won’t be able to put down Alex, Approximately! Similar to Zoey in the Nickelodeon hit, Bailey “Mink” Rydell finds herself moving across the country to the California coast. However, that’s not where the similarities end. Alex, Approximately is a coming-of-age story that explores friendship and love with a humorous and charming approach that fans of Zoey 101 will appreciate.
Drake & Josh is famous for its complicated but loving sibling duo, and Yolk brings a similar dynamic when two estranged sisters that find themselves in quite the unexpected situation. When June gets some shocking health news, she realizes that the only one who can help her is her younger and much more immature sister, Jayne. Reunited under less-than-ideal circumstances, sisters June and Jayne come to learn just how important family really can be.
Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide was likely the saving grace for many growing up, teaching us important lessons like “During the first day: just relax, be yourself and don’t panic!” Blaine for the Win follows high school junior Blaine after he gets dumped by his serious boyfriend… in public… on their one-year anniversary. As Blaine makes the pivot to run for senior student council president and change himself for his ex, readers are bound to learn a thing or two about surviving high school.
What would happen if iCarly didn’t feature Carly and Sam as the two stars, and instead one of them had to be behind the camera and in the shadows? In How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, this is exactly the case. When Moon’s twin sister meets internet stardom, Moon finds herself feeling unwanted and ugly as she’s designated simply as her sister’s camerawoman. But when she decides to take a leap and join a tour bus full of influencers as a “merch girl,” everything begins to change.
That’s So Raven is an iconic retro show which combined supernatural psychic powers with regular teenage hijinks. This is why you’ll love reading See You Yesterday! This fun, unique novel follows protagonist Barrett Bloom as she finds herself living the same day over and over again—and it also happens to be the first day of college! Is Barrett stuck in this time loop for good? Or might she find herself an unlikely (but cute) companion who can help?
If you loved the double identity in Hannah Montana, Of Princes and Promises will be right up your alley! Follow Caterina LaValle as she attempts to keep her queen bee status at school. To do so, she needs to one-up her ex-boyfriend and take someone perfect to the upcoming gala. That’s where a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever their heart desires comes in…
Victorious watchers will appreciate the importance of music in Love Radio’s story. This witty book follows self-professed teen love doctor and aspiring DJ, Prince, and his popular radio segment where he talks about how he can get any girl to fall in love in just three dates. That is until he meets Dani, a love-phobic college student who is purely trying to focus on her studies. What happens when she gives Prince three dates to make her fall in love with him?
Fans of Lizzie McGuire and her iconic movie set in Italy will find themselves just as addicted to Love & Gelato. Like Lizzie, this book’s protagonist Lina finds herself in Italy for the summer and gets caught up in a whirlwind romance that she never thought possible. But not everything is as it seems, especially when Lina unearths a secret that could change everything she thought she knew about who she is…
If you love the magical elements of Wizards of Waverly Place, then your next read should be The Witch Haven. This spellbinding bestseller follows seventeen-year-old Francis as she finds herself with magical powers and sent to a school for witches. Follow along as she explores her newfound abilities, navigates the social hierarchy in her new school, and figures out whether the cute mysterious boy is friend or foe.
While this connection might be more of a stretch than others, both In Deeper Waters and The Suite Life on Deck feature protagonists that must traverse open waters and find themselves in zany situations along the way. In Deeper Waters follows Prince Tal on his “coming-of-age” tour when he sets sail to visit parts of the kingdom he has never seen before. This is where he meets a prisoner, Athlen, and Prince Tal finds himself drawn to him more than anyone else before…
Spanning 9 movies, countless tv shows, and many spinoffs, Star Wars is a sci-fi space epic that has entertained many for the past 5 decades. With its rich world-building, compelling characters, and action-packed scenes, no wonder the franchise has some of the most passionate and die hard fanbases.
If you want to scratch your Star Wars itch but you’re out of new material to consume, have no fear. In this book list, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recommendations for fans of the popular series!
While this may not be the most obvious recommendation for Star Wars fans, Luke Skywalker and Clary Fray, the protagonist of City of Bones, actually have a lot more in common than you might think.
For starters, both Luke and Clary have complicated family dynamics, discover newfound abilities they have to train, and are suddenly caught in a deadly war which they are pivotal factors for. If you’re looking for a new action-packed fantasy series to delve into, starting The Mortal Instruments is a good alternative to rewatching Star Wars again.
For those who love the intergalactic aspect of Star Wars, this book is the perfect recommendation. Follow protagonists Noa, DJ, and Jenny as they suddenly find themselves on a mysterious space ship with no idea how they got there. While there isn’t an evil Dark Side trying to get our heroes to betray their values, the three teens still have to deal with the various dangers that await them in space, from aliens to first loves.
As much as Star Wars is about saving the world and action-packed lightsaber fight scenes, it’s also a story about a rag-tag team coming together to achieve something they never thought possible. Bruised tells a similar tale through a roller derby team, perfectly depicting how a tight-knit community and simple human interaction can make huge impacts on someone’s life.
Fans of Star Wars know how important a rebellion is to restore balance in the universe, especially when it means fighting back against an evil ruling empire. In Sky Without Stars, you follow three protagonists that are caught up in their own planetary power struggle. The first in a series, this book starts an epic journey following a rebel group, hidden traitors, and the fate of an entire world.
Star Wars is famously known as one of the most popular science fiction franchises to exist, so if you’re looking for a new sci-fi story to become obsessed with, The Infinity Courts might be just what you need.
Follow main character Nami as she is suddenly murdered and sent to the Infinity– a place where human consciousness lives when the body dies. However, the afterlife is not the calm post-life haven that you’d think. Instead, Nami finds herself teaming up with a group of rebels to take down an AI force that’s threatening to eliminate all of human existence.
The different characters and relationships in Star Wars is what makes it such an addicting watch that fans love to experience over and over again. For a book with a strong ensemble cast, we recommend Chain of Gold, the first book in the Last Hours trilogy! In this trilogy, you’ll follow Cordelia Carstairs and her friends as they investigate a series of demon attacks and learn to navigate the magical realm hidden within London.
If you love the Jedi order and the lore that comes with it, the world of Scythe is likely just up your alley.
In a world where there is no hunger, disease, war, or death, a group of chosen ones called “Scythes” are chosen to carry out the sacred act of ending life and keeping the population under control. Just like Jedis, Scythes must go through an apprenticeship to learn the responsibilities of this role– and just like in the space epic, there are a couple who take advantage of their powers. Scythe brings a compelling story of rebellion and doing what’s right, something that all Star Wars fans will love.
Nostalgia is a HUGE trend these days, and whether it means bringing back old fashion fads or rebooting beloved TV shows, we’re all for it. In this quiz, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite television reboots and paired them with personalized book recommendations. Find out what’s next on your reading list here!
As we near Valentine’s Day, it’s only natural to start thinking about all our favorite love stories. And at the core of many of those great love stories is a classic romantic trope that feels as familiar as a warm hug. Ready to cuddle up with a great new book, or looking to add one to your (never ending) TBR? We’ve pulled together our must-read book recommendations based on your favorite romantic trope!
Who doesn’t love a good “enemies to lovers” romance? Try out A Pho Love Story! When the daughter and son of rival pho shops meet in a chance encounter, their first instinct is to be true to their family’s rivalries and continue the feud. However, as they keep running into each other, it gets harder and harder to ignore their growing feelings… especially as they learn more about the reasoning behind their families’ competition.
Our recommendation for this classic trope is Sweet & Bitter Magic! What happens when you mix a grumpy witch cursed with the “inability to love,” with a lovable, kind of person who is made of magic but can’t use it? The endearing grumpy/sunshine dynamic! In this spellbinding novel, the unexpected duo teams up for an incredible journey that might not only save the world from a magical plague but also spark a budding romance.
If you’re all about competition and you’re two romance leaders going head-to-head, Today Tonight Tomorrow is the perfect book for you. This story follows high school rivals who have been clashing on test scores, student council elections, and even gym contests for as long as they can remember. But sometimes, those feelings of rivalry can turn into something else the more time you spend together…
For love triangle fans, The Summer I Turned Pretty will hit all your favorite aspects of the trope. Follow the protagonist as she experiences that summer where everything changes. Torn between the dark “bad boy” and the lovable best friend, you realize this love triangle gets much more complicated when the two suitors are brothers.
Coming out in September 2022, not only does Foul Lady Fortune bring you dark and wickedly entertaining story set in 1930’s Shanghai, but you also get a fake dating story with SPIES. Yes, this means plenty of “quick, let’s kiss now that they’re watching” moments and confused feelings as they spend more and more time trying not to get caught in their scheme.
Some of the sweetest and most fulfilling romances come from just two friends. In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, you get just that! The story is told throughout three years, allowing you to see firsthand how a special friendship can turn into much more.
What’s a more iconic forbidden romance than Romeo and Juliet? These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling—except it’s set in 1920’s Shanghai and the protagonists are heirs to two bloodthirsty gangs competing to take control of the city. But sometimes the forbidden heir is just the one you can’t help staying away from…
Sometimes, the first time around just doesn’t work out. That’s what we see in We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This, a story about a failed relationship attempt and its redemption. Even though our two protagonists can’t help but butting heads when they first reunite, those old feelings can always come crawling back.
We get it, there’s way too many good romance tropes to pick just one. And, in Better Than the Movies, you get to experience almost all of them all at once! In this rom com-esque book, you get to see all the best parts of tropes like childhood friends, the boy next door, enemies to lovers, and fake dating, just to name a few.
From skiing and hockey to ice skating and bobsledding, there are so many sports unique to the winter season! Whether you like to get active yourself or cheer from the sidelines, pick a winter sport and we’ll give you a book that matches it!