High-School & College Romances
ROUND UP
It’s Back-to-School Season!
It’s back-to-school season. These young adult and new adult romances take place on a high school or college campus, or at internships.
Pack your lunch and grab your books, it’s time for our favorite class: Romance 101.
Victoria Loves Back-to-School Season!
Crisp fall air, brand new notebooks and pens — what’s not to love about back-to-school season? And now that James and I are all done with grad school, we’re always a little bit nostalgic about not prepping for a brand new school year. BUT that’s not stopping me from diving back into high school, college and grad school to relive those glorious days.
Plus! I may be biased, but I’m the biggest fan of falling in love (and then marrying) your college sweetheart.
The romances on the list below range in sub-genre and tropes, but hopefully they’ll bring you back to campus and the magic of academia.
Favorite Scene
“Enemies-to-lovers— it’s our trope, Buxbaum.”
- BETTER THAN THE MOVIES by Lynn Painter
Back-to-School Season Recommendations
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Begin Again by Emma Lord (Amazon)
A new school year means a fresh start, but for Andie Rose, it’s quite a rocky beginning when all her plans crumble at her feet. This YA romance does a beautifully nostalgic job of bringing together the unease and excitement of the first few days of college and the journey to finding oneself (and love) amidst the chaos.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Today Tonight Tomorrow (Rowan & Neil #1) by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Amazon)
This 24-hour romance between two overachievers is a high-school dream come true. Fall in love with the city of Seattle through the game of Howl as these two sweet characters find the love that’s hummed under the surface of their rivalry for the past four years.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
HELLO, PROFESSOR: Love, Theoretically (The Love Hypothesis #3) by Ali Hazelwood (Amazon)
This is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book to date (think: enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, workplace romance) AND the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition of this book features an essay by the author which outlines each chapter’s connection to a Taylor Swift song. If you can get your hands on a copy, you won’t be disappointed… by the book or the exclusive content!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
IN-PURSUIT OF A DOCTORATE: The Love Hypothesis (The Love Hypothesis #1) by Ali Hazelwood (Amazon)
This romance features a broody love interest starring in an age-gap, workplace romance. This is a STEM love story might make you wish you majored in the sciences so you could spend some time in the lab to conduct some research.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
IN THE CLASSROOM: Only When It’s Us (Bergman Brothers #1) by Chloe Liese (Amazon)
A series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings unwinds when Willa finds herself sitting next to Ryder in class and they are forced to work together on a project. Only When It’s Us is an enemies-to-lovers sports romance with disability and mental health representation, and it’s an introduction to one of my favorite literary families - the Bergmans!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
NEED A TUTOR?: The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy (Amazon)
This Tik-Tok recommendation lives up to the hype. Hot hockey player in need of some academic tutoring? Yes, please. Cute tutor in need of some love tutoring? Even better. Fair warning, you’ll be reeled into the Off-Campus series, just in time for college sports to kick-off.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
STRAIGHT-A STUDENT: Faked (Ward Sisters #2) by Karla Sorensen (Amazon)
Twin sisters swap places for a night, giving straight-A student, Clare, the opportunity to spend time with her long-time crush. But when someone else shows up at her doorstep and messes up her plans, a fake relationship, opposites attract story comes together. If you’re in the mood for fun banter and low-angst, here’s a book for you.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1) by Scarlett St. Clair (Amazon)
My high school reading list would have been significantly better if this was on the list. College journalist, Persephone, finds herself in a bit of a bind after a night out takes an unexpected turn. This risqué urban retelling of the King and Queen of the Underworld paints is the guilty pleasure you’ve been waiting for. There’s drama, action, and a whole lot of steam.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han (Amazon)
Lara Jean and her sisters will always hold a special place in my heart (as one of three girls). Falling in love in high school (and before) is not easy — you make a lot of mistakes and pursuit people you should probably stay away from — but this series
VICTORIA’S RATING: X/5
ONLY HALF THE COUPLE IS IN COLLEGE: Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang (Amazon)
Baby-step into dark romance with this brother’s best friend, forced proximity love story. When Alex is tasked with watching over his best friend’s younger sister, Ava, secrets emerge that could destroy everything they hold dear.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
GRAD SCHOOL INTERNSHIP: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren (Amazon)
Beautiful Bastard is the reason I fell in love with alpha-hole heroes and billionaire romances. The queens of romance have written a cheeky MBA-candidate FMC who has interned as an assistant to Bennett, who has returned from France to take on his rightful place at his family’s company… what happens next is pure fire. Probably don’t read in public.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
A RHODES SCHOLAR: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan (Amazon)
Things are falling into place for Ella — she’s received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford and offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on a presidential campaign. But a chance meeting with a local is about to make her question if her perfectly laid plans are truly what she wants. Settle in for a love story that will unfold exactly how you don’t expect. As this is written by Julia Whelan, you should opt for the audiobook.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
The Best of the Best: Victoria’s Top Pick
LIGHTHEARTED ROM-COM: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (Amazon)
A Haus of Hamilton Book Club Pick! THIS BOOK. Neighbors, childhood friends turned enemies with the potential lovers. A right-in-front-of-you, always been you type of love. *Swoon* !! Better Than the Movies is my middle school idea of high school romance come to life. If this book doesn’t make you wish you were heading back to school this fall, well, I don’t know if we can be friends anymore. (I kid… Maybe).
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
DARK BULLY ROMANCE: Lords of Pain (Royals of Forsyth U #1) by Angel Lawson & Samantha Rue (Amazon)
Trigger Warnings GALORE! Lords of Pain is the first book in this 15-book series and your entry into one of the most addicting reads you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing. It’s dark, twisted and honestly very f*cked. BUT the world building, character development and the steam is worth it. If you’re in the mood for something grittier, darker and you’re able to stomach the trigger warnings, get ready for all-nighters because you won’t be able to put these books down.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
ROMANTASY: Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros (Amazon)
Dragons, magic, an unexpected heroine, and a ruthless (and smoking hot) wingleader. Another Tik-Tok sensation that lived up to the hype (and honestly, maybe even surpassed it). I’ve read this book multiple times and it gets better with each read courtesy of all the Easter eggs Rebecca has woven through. This academic experience is unlike any other book on this list: Friends, enemies, lovers. Life at Basgiath War College will keep you on the edge of your seat because there are only two ways out: graduate or die.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
