It's no secret that I am a big fan of romance in YA. I'm a sucker for all things warm and fuzzy, and it really doesn't take much to make my heart melt. In honor of this Valentine's Day, I wanted to dedicate this post to a few of my favorite couples in YA. These are the pairs that keep me swooning long after I've finished their stories.
Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie
(Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty)
The Jessica Darling books may not *technically* be a YA series, but I'm counting it as one. To me, J.D. and Marcus are epic - their roller coaster relationship spans five books and takes us past high school, past college, and into the "real world" of love, life, and Barry Manilow. Jessica is one of the funniest narrators out there, and Marcus's suave flirtations and song writing skills make him a magnetic heartthrob.
Anna and St. Claire
(Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins)
Who says the nice guy always finishes last? Not St. Claire. Good boy to the core, Étienne wins Anna's heart with his charm, wit, and flawed personality. Okay, so his British accent doesn't hurt either!
Sam and Grace
(The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater)
It must be real cold in Mercy Falls if Sam and Grace still need to bundle up. While reading this series makes me crave hot cocoa and cuddling next to a fire, it's a bit too warm when Sam and Grace are in a scene.
Mia and Adam
(If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman)
I get so emotional just thinking about these books . . . I can't even tell you why Mia and Adam are one of my favorite couples. They just are. And after you read If I Stay/Where She Went, they'll be one of yours, too.
Bianca and Wesley
(The DUFF by Kody Keplinger)
Thinking of Bianca and Wesley is sort of like thinking of a dirty joke. It makes you smile and blush a little just from the memory. This snarky, fun couple may have begun as little more than a booty call, but we soon see they're a lot softer than their tough exteriors imply.
Michele and Philip
(Timeless by Alexandra Monir)
Could you imagine dreaming of a beautiful face all your life and then seeing it in person? Michele couldn't until she did, after unexpectedly falling one hundred years into the past. Michele soon finds herself racing through time to keep Philip in her life and out of her dreams. Of course, who wouldn't risk everything for a classy gentleman like Philip?
Jessica and Lucius
(Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey)
It takes Jessica a while to come around, but she eventually sees all that Lucius has to offer. After all, a Romanian vampire prince comes with his own charm. It is mostly through his letters to his uncle that we see who Lucius really is and how he feels about Jessica. His chivalry is endearing, and Jessica learns to appreciate it in the end.
Paul and Noah
(Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan)
Theirs is the most honest of relationships. Built on lust and uncertainty, Paul and Noah are doomed from the beginning. But Paul doesn't let their breakup ruin their future. He figures out how to right his wrongs and make up with the boy he loves. Of course fixing things isn't so easy, but then love rarely is.
Nick and Norah
(Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan)
"I know this is going to sound strange, but would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?" The next time you're out at night, ask a stranger this and in him you'll find your soulmate. Okay, maybe not in real life, but in a Cohn-Levithan novel it sure happens that way! Nick and Norah are two of my all-time favorite characters. I loved being inside their heads and witnessing first-hand all the anticipation, confusion, and thrill of new love.
Amy and Elder
(Across the Universe by Beth Revis)
Amy and Elder may not be a couple in a conventional sense, but they sure do create sparks. Thrust together while fighting a common enemy, these characters must lean on one another while they figure out the fate of their existence. Of everyone's existence! All while traveling through space! I can't wait to see what Beth throws at them in future installments. I think Amy and Elder have the potential to stick together through space (heh heh) and time.
