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
No Limit on Love
A nonbinary romance set amidst a storm, and its character’s struggle with climate anxiety.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL640L
Stuck with You
Two frenemies become lovers in this story of Queer joy and playful romance.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL550L
Walk This Way
A romance about a teen who feels he has to hide the fact that he does drag to get a boyfriend.
$14.95, 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
Dogs Don’t Break Hearts
After being gaslit by his ex-boyfriend and losing his friends’ trust, Beck volunteers at a pet shelter, where he finds canine comfort and a new romance.
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3
Lonely in Happy Town
A romance set in the world of gaming, a lonely teen finds himself crushing on a girl — both in his favourite video game and in real life.
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3
Line Drive to Love
Caught between earning her spot on the team and the girl she might love, Rory is forced to choose: the game or the girl.
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 14-18
Not Not Normal
It can be hard to see in ourselves the good things others see in us. Not Not Normal shows readers that if we let our friends in, the love they have for us can help us grow our self-confidence.
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 14-18Reading level: Grade 3
Summer with Sunil
Faced with a boring vacation with their parents, a chance encounter at the beach could turn Dominic’s dull summer into an adventure of self-exploration and young love!
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 14-18Reading level: Grade 3
Losing Hit Points
After Rumour came out as trans, Journey—her best friend—dropped her. When a D&D game brings them face-to-face, Journey must confront their shame and their suppressed romantic feelings
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL670L
Luscious Love
The classic summer love story of a girl meeting a girl, and the lingerie store they both work at that threatens to ruin it all.
$16.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL730LNo Limit on Love
A nonbinary romance set amidst a storm, and its character’s struggle with climate anxiety.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL640L
Secret Me
Secret Me is a coming-out story that reflects the lives of teens today. It’s a moving romance of authenticity and heart.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13+Reading level: Grade 5Lexile Reading Level: HL850LStuck with You
Two frenemies become lovers in this story of Queer joy and playful romance.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL550L
Real Love: LGBTQ+ Teen Fiction 20 volume set
Short, readable books focused on teen LGTBQ romances.
$299.95, SetInterest ages: 13-18
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.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL530LWalk This Way
A romance about a teen who feels he has to hide the fact that he does drag to get a boyfriend.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL620L
The Love Code
A lesbian teen romance set in the competitive world of technology and robotics.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL540L
Confessions of a Teenage Drag King
A teen living a double life discovers that the girl they have a crush on appreciates both aspects of their identity.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL600L
Love, IRL
A same-sex romance that explores what happens when love online and in the real world collide.
$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3
Ace of Hearts
Alvin is ready for romance, but he may never be ready for more$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: 800L
We Three
A teen finds romance at summer camp and becomes the centre of a polyamorous relationship with two very different partners.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL600L
Prom Kings
A light-hearted same-sex romance about finding the person you are meant to be with, who might be closer than you think.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 2Lexile Reading Level: HL550L
What Makes You Beautiful
The story of a young person finding a place among other LGBTQ teens, and discovering the truth about their own orientation and gender.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL630L
Charming
A young woman follows her heart to find her voice in a modern LGBT retelling of a classic fairy tale.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 3Lexile Reading Level: HL520L
Cinders
A young woman’s kindness, inventiveness, and hard work earn her love in a modern LGBT retelling of Cinderella.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL570L
Just Julian
A young gay man finds the courage to stand up for himself in an LGBTQ twist on Romeo and Juliet. Romeo gives Julian the strength to face his depression and take a stand against homophobia.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL660L
Romeo for Real
A young man comes to terms with his sexuality in a modern retelling of a Shakespearean classic. When Romeo’s homophobic friends can’t accept him as gay, he must prove that his love for Julian is real.$14.95, PaperbackInterest ages: 13-18Reading level: Grade 4Lexile Reading Level: HL600L