Best Young Adult Romance Books 2023

“It will only take time, but I must have you. I will own you.” Catalina chuckled…. “That will be over my dead body.” In the dark and dangerous underworld of Mexico's mafia, Catalina, an orphan is forced to make a desperate choice: Become the slave of the ruthless Mafia gang leader, Miguel Alejandro or spend the rest of her life in debts and misery. As she navigates her new found world of crime, hot passion and love, secrets start to uncover and her new found love might just be responsible for her life's misery. Will her love for him conquer her feelings of betrayal or will the darkness surrounding Miguel consume them both? Find out in this explosive tale of passion, romance, love, betrayal and survival.

Lexi Rose is a young woman who leaves her home at a tender age, driven by the desire to achieve great success in the bustling city, she embarks on a journey to seek all that life has to offer. Longing for the love and fulfilment she lacked as a child, she navigates through life in search of the one thing she feels is missing - the perfect partner by her side. Lucas Lucero, a merciless Mafia Boss, possesses an allure capable of driving any woman to experience unparalleled pleasure. Though he exudes elegance, his reputation precedes him and serves as a warning- he will break anyone who crosses him. Yet, despite his unwavering determination to live a life entangled in danger, fate brings him face-to-face with Lexi. Lucas, a man who thrives pursuing the forbidden, instantly becomes captivated by her presence. However, Lexi is unlike any other woman Lucas has encountered before; she battles with her own demons which adds an element of wildness and unpredictability to her life. Driven to have his own perfect partner by his side, Lucas sets out to tame Lexi’s wild nature. But can Lucas and Lexi survive a tumultuous romance that promises constant ups and downs? Can he truly accept the demons that lie deep within Lexi, love her unconditionally and embrace the depths of her heart?

~"Why is the best fruit always forbidden?"~ Alecander Blackford is that perfect Alpha blessed with the face of an angel but cursed with overbearing parents who would not stop tailing after his ass. After he runs away from the pack to stay at his aunt’s house, he did not expect that he would meet his mate who turned out to be more than he had expected and everything he was not. Soft, caring with a touch of defensive instincts, Elristeya Larsen is just that girl who has two parents that were in love since forever and a brother who would do anything to make her frustrated. When she meets her brother’s new best friend, it turned out to be the Asshole that had slammed the door in her face, Alec. She was undeniably captivated by his hypnotic orbs and the way he looked like everything a human was not. Like a different breed. Alec’s entire plan to stay away from her as far as he could begins to fall flat right before his own eyes. No matter how he tried to ignore her, like a moth to a flame he was attracted to her. When circumstances fell into place, they slowly began to get closer, creating more connection and strengthening the bond between them. Elristeya soon realized that Alec was no prince charming of hers but her beautiful downfall. Her perfect nemesis. Her flawless damnation. Theirs was the mate bond that was never supposed to be formed. Forbidden right from their births and when they try to fight against the fate that binds them, ugly and haunting secrets, capable of ruining them both and those they cherished, from the past are unleashed, threatening the soul bond they shared.

In the wake of a tumultuous breakup, she finds an unexpected ally in her ex-boyfriend's wealthy and enigmatic uncle. As she navigates the complexities of post-relationship chaos, the uncle's incredible generosity thrusts her into a world of luxury and indulgence. Amidst the glittering façade, she must grapple with newfound desires, unanticipated challenges, and the blurry lines between gratitude and independence. In this tale of unexpected alliances, she discovers that the path to self-discovery is sometimes paved with surprises and silver spoons.

She was supposed to heal him, not crave him. Olivia Carter, a divorced physical therapist, thought her new job with the Chicago Blizzard hockey team would be simple—treat injuries, keep her head down, and cheer for her son on the ice. But when the team’s arrogant and devastatingly handsome captain, Xander Hayes, lands in her care, everything spirals out of control. He’s engaged. He’s her son’s best friend. And he’s forbidden. What begins as teasing flirtation turns into stolen touches, midnight encounters, and a dangerous obsession neither of them can resist. But secrets never stay buried—especially in the world of fame, fortune, and ruthless tabloids. When their affair explodes into the public eye, Olivia risks not only her career and reputation, but the one bond she can’t afford to lose: her son’s trust. Will Xander choose his fiancée, his career, and his best friend… or the woman he should never want?

“There was a fucking earthquake. It caused an avalanche on the mountain. Didn’t you feel it, you lazy piece of shit?” I yell at Kaleb. “No, I didn’t. I was fucking sleeping. Quit bitching at me.” he says. He’s wearing nothing but grey sweats that hang low on his waist. God, how can someone so fucking hot be so fucking annoying? “We are stuck here. There’s at least 25 feet of snow blocking us in this cabin. Lily and your parents can’t get back either.” I tell him. “Thanks for the observation. If we can’t get out, they obviously can’t get in.” “Can you not be a snarky asshole for 2 minutes?! We are literally fucking stuck in this cabin together for god knows how long!” I yell at Kaleb. He’s so infuriating sometimes. “Relax. I’m sure we’ll probably be out in a few hours.” “Oh you’re sure, are you? Well, guess what dipshit? The guy on the radio said they’re focusing on the surrounding areas first and then they’ll be working on the mountain. That could take fucking days, Kaleb.” Kaleb takes a step closer to me. “Don’t talk to me like I’m fucking stupid, Riley.” “Oh yeah? What are you doing to do?” “If you don’t stop with this bratty attitude, I’m going to fuck it out of you.”

I had fallen in love with my father’s friend—the man I was supposed to call “uncle,” Kael Viremont. For a while, I thought he loved me too. We even had this silly little promise—that if I turned twenty-seven and still want to be with him, then we could be together, publicly. Five days before my twenty-seventh birthday, I overheard him saying he’d never liked me. That he was going to marry his childhood sweetheart. And as if that wasn’t cruel enough, he was planning to use the wedding to cut me off for good. So I did the one thing I should’ve done a long time ago—accepted that he and I would never belong to the same world… and disappeared from his life for good.

“I know you want me. Petals.” His husky voice broke the silence in the room. “And I want you too.” My excitement spiked up as he ripped off my nightwear and did the same with his clothes exposing his well-built body. We were naked now, and his scrutinizing gaze made my heart race with anticipation. It was as if my mind had gained complete control of my body even as I willed myself to stay in control, it wasn’t working. “Uncle Ivor. This can't… you know Dad will–” I tried one more time, still in shock that this was happening. “This will stay between us. It will be our little secret, petals.” He whispered again, climbing the bed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every girl has that time when they crushed on that one person they shouldn’t crush on and couldn't have, and it was quite the same for Renee Morse, especially when that harmless crush turned into something as endearing as obsession. She always dreamed about herself in the strong arms of her godfather and her dad’s best friend, Ivor Walker. His voice alone is enough to make her knees weak and nipples erect. Her body aches for him, her fantasies of him leaving her trembling, and her desires unrelenting. When her parents moved away for work and she had to spend her holiday with him, she took it as a sign from the universe and decided to seduce him until he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She succeeded, but little did she know that forbidden relationships always bring havoc and nothing is as simple as she thought. With enemies lurking and secrets from Ivor's past resurfacing, how long can they keep their relationship hidden? Will their love last the test of time, or will they drift apart?

When Corinne turned fifteen, she was sent to live with the Silver Stone pack… To learn how to be a wolf. Half human, half wolf, with no awakened wolf inside her. An outcast. Weak. Labeled “the hybrid”… But what no one knows is that she carries an Alpha aura she should never have had. Three years of bullying and silence, And three years of falling in love with the one man she was forbidden to want. Glacier… The Alpha of Silver Stone. Her father’s closest friend. A man whose heart was sealed shut by betrayal, who turned his back on the Moon Goddess forever. He swore no mate would ever threaten his control… Until Corinne’s scent began to change. As her eighteenth birthday draws near, A bond awakens. Impossible to deny. A hunger she was never meant to feel. Can a weak hybrid become an Alpha’s mate? And can an Alpha refuse fate… simply because she is his friend’s daughter? In a world ruled by laws, Love may be the one crime that is never forgiven.

They killed her on her twentieth birthday. Her own brother sold her like cattle while his best friend watched her bleed out in the woods all for the "greater good" of their failing pack. Ivory Vale died with tears in her eyes. A betrayal like no other. One year later, she was reborn with a hunger for revenge that threatens to consume what's left of her soul. *** Dangerous, devastatingly handsome, and absolutely lethal, Dante Torrino has never met a threat he couldn't eliminate until he finds a silver-haired she-wolf covered in fluid who makes his control crack. He should kill her. His family's ancient curse demands it. Every instinct screams she's dangerous. Instead, he saves her life and finds himself drawn into her web of vengeance and secrets. Because the more he learns about her death, the more he realizes her enemies might be connected to his own family's dark empire. Some betrayals run deeper than death. Some vengeance burns hotter than hellfire. And some loves are worth being reborn for.