What Are The Best Young Adult Romance Books 2023 With Diverse Characters?

One thing I noticed last year was a lot of releases that finally made diversity feel woven into the premise, not just a checkbox. A standout for me was 'The Beautiful Ones' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, though it’s more historical fantasy, because the core romance tackles class and societal expectation in a way that really resonated. The characters aren't diverse in a modern, identity-focused way, but the setting's cultural tension creates a similar depth. For something more contemporary, 'The Dos and Donuts of Love' by Adiba Jaigirdar was a delight—a baking competition rivals-to-lovers story with a Bengali-Irish protagonist. The romance is sweet and the food descriptions are a character all on their own.

I have to mention 'Imogen, Obviously' by Becky Albertalli because it handled queer questioning with a tenderness I haven't seen often. It's less about dramatic coming-out angst and more about the quiet, internal realization of who you are when you finally give yourself permission. The friend group feels real, with their own messy dynamics, and the romantic tension builds from a place of deep familiarity, which I always prefer over insta-love. It made me think about how I viewed my own friendships in high school.

My contrarian take is that I was a bit let down by 'Check & Mate' by Ali Hazelwood. The chess backdrop was cool, and the neurodivergent coding was appreciated, but the romantic dynamic felt like a rehash of her adult novels just aged down. I wanted more from the side characters too; they felt like props. So while it technically fits the diverse characters bill with its protagonist, the execution didn’t land for me like some quieter titles did. My personal favorite was probably 'In the Orbit of You' by Ashley Schumacher—a second-chance romance between two kids who met in a trauma support group, one of whom is trans. It’s painfully heartfelt without being saccharine.

Honestly, I scrolled through my 2023 reads on Goodreads and 'If You Still Recognise Me' by Cynthia So stuck with me the most. It’s a UK-set story about a Chinese-British lesbian reconnecting with an old crush online, but it’s also deeply about fandom, family, and long-distance friendship. The diversity is just part of the fabric—the characters’ identities inform their lives but don’t solely define the conflict. The romance is slow, awkward, and incredibly sweet. It just felt true.