LGBTQ fiction for today’s teens!
★ School Library Journal starred series
Real Love is a new collection of hi/lo YA novels that focus on realistic teen relationships. The novels feature diverse teen characters in contemporary settings as they experience love, romance, dating, sex, body image, LGBTQ issues, and more.
From authors who write from real-world experience, these contemporary YA romances will engage the most reluctant teen readers.
New in the series
In a Heartbeat
A romance about a trans teen boy who wants to get away to reinvent himself, only to find someone who loves him for who he is.
$8.99, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL530L
Walk This Way
A romance about a teen who feels he has to hide the fact that he does drag to get a boyfriend.
$8.99, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL620L
About the series
- Themes: LGBTQ+; love and romance; body image; dating & sex, cross-cultural romance; and more
- Featuring diverse characters and contemporary settings
- Written by authors who connect to today’s teens
- Reading levels grades 3 – 5
- Ages 13+
Reviews
Praise for In A Heartbeat
“This story isn’t just about teen romance, but also gives subtle insights into the angst of many trans kids… Harwood-Jones has done a great job of characterizing the real emotions and anxieties of trans teens…This is a wonderfully hopeful story, and I can’t wait to put a copy in my junior high classroom library.”
— Jen Bragg, Wayves Magazine
“Every teenager could identify with the need or want to start afresh where no one knows you, especially after a life-changing experience. Nonetheless, young LGBTQ+ youth will easily be able to see themselves reflected within the story.”
— CM: Review of Materials
“This brief read with a simplified style intended for reluctant and struggling teen readers, provides much-needed queer representation for this format.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Walk This Way
“The story’s lighthearted energy and zinger lines create a sitcom-esque vibe where every character is a little larger than life. There are a few poignant moments that add pathos without ruining the over-the-top vivacity. Readers will have a ball and may learn a little about LGBTQ+ history along the way.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Praise for The Love Code
“LGBTQ+ teens will easily be able to see themselves in the story.”
— CM: Review of Materials
“A sweet and uplifting novel for reluctant readers.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Shows that LGBTQ+ teens experience many of the same issues when falling in love that non-LGBTQ+ do.”
— CM: Review of Materials
Praise for Confessions of a Teenage Drag King
“A fun and authentic queer teen romance.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Love, IRL
“Extremely wholesome depiction of queer teen dialogue.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Praise for We Three
“We Three is unapologetically, concretely queer. It manages to tackle difficult topics, including transphobia, homophobia, and cis-sexism in a way that’s organic and unstifling and introducing the reader to characters and relationships that navigate these oppressive systems and showing in a visceral way what it means to grow up while embodying these differences.”
— Quill & Quire
Praise for What Makes You Beautiful
“This is certainly a valuable novel for readers finding their own identity in the LGBTQ+ community, or for readers who want to be allies to the community.”
— Resource Links
Praise for Cinders & Charming
“[Charming and Cinders are] engaging stories that fill a need for reluctant readers seeking positive, inspiring stories of same-sex relationships.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Clearly the LGBTQ+ community is central to the novel. As well, the issue of how social media is used and abused is key … both [Cinders and Charming] deal with complex modern themes and complicated challenges which will resonate with young adult readers.”
— Resource Links
Praise for Prom Kings
“With YA novels that discuss cisgender and transgender and fluid gender teens in short supply, Tony Correia’s Real Love Books will fill a niche in many libraries.”
— Resource Links
“This is a short and sweet take on a prom story that is full of awkwardness, but also softness.”
— Candid Cover
Praise for Love is Love
“The book is highly effective in showing the importance of accepting difference in gender, relationships, and body types on a societal level, and the damage inflicted upon those who do not conform to expectations.”
— Quill & Quire
“A sweet love story. Delicately tackled some difficult issues facing teenagers.”
— Louise Horobin, Educator
Praise for Same Love
“A quick, entertaining read.”
— Quill & Quire
“The dynamically sketched characters, sharp banter, and quick action will keep readers hooked through this sprint of a novel.”
— Sachi Neumann, Librarian
“The plot overall was powerful and elicited an extreme emotional response, which good books should.“
— Kt Kincaid, Bookseller
Books and sets in the series
Run and Gun
A young teen uses basketball to find a balance between his school teammates and his friends from a disadvantaged part of town.$8.99, PaperbackInterest ages: 10-13Reading level: Grade 3
