From fantastical to contemporary, these diverse YA romance novels featuring Latinx protagonists will be loved by readers this Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the year.

 Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid. Knopf. ISBN 9780593375761. 
Gr 7 Up–This exquisite piece of speculative fiction powerfully highlights the challenges facing young adults by creating a microcosm of the world’s problems inside the Atlanta airport. Strangers James, cued as Latinx, and Michelle, biracial French and Thai, move through the chaos while sharing vulnerable conversations. VERDICT An honest, evocative, and multilayered examination of humanity, full of both fear and hope. Recommended for first purchase.

 Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063296725. 
Gr 7 Up–Jaxon Santiago-Noble, 16, is no stranger to death. That still doesn’t prepare him for the night his ex-best friend (and first crush), Christian Reyes, comes back from dead. This a beautiful queer romance reminiscent of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End, with Jaxon and Christian drawn together by their shared past and shared commitment to keep Christian alive amid a hunt to uncover Jaxon’s secret family history. VERDICT A perfect queer and spooky addition to YA collections.

Crashing into You by Rocky Callen. Holt. ISBN 9781250861894. 
Gr 10 Up–Leti Rivera holds her heart in her fist to keep it safe, and only slowly begins to release it when she is forced to stop and notice Jacob, whose gentle innocence, patience, and even height bring her joy. Callen presents a spunky, realistic Latina in a fast-paced novel with themes of love, loss, street racing, family, and a strong Latine identity. VERDICT This novel should hold an important place in teen libraries.

Guava and Grudges by Alexis Castellanos. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547613717.
Gr 10 Up–Star-crossed lovers whose embattled families have a history running competing Cuban bakeries take the figurative cake in an enemies-to-lovers romance. Their secret collaboration for Ana Maria to win a recipe competition using Miguel’s photography will not only get them in trouble with their families but uncover the real traitor. VERDICT Teen romantics and foodies will clamor for this debut. A great read for those who enjoyed Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee, Eight Dates and Nights by Betsy Aldredge, and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey.

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho. Inkyard. ISBN 9781335454331. 
Gr 9 Up–In this debut YA romance, locally owned businesses in Olinda, Brazil confront the big, bad, evil corporation that sabotages them, ultimately pitting small businesses against one another. Such is the case for Salt, a bakery that sits across the street from Sugar, the rival bakery. Lari, from Salt, and Pedro, from Sugar, take this feud into the kitchen, and the slow sizzle delightfully becomes romance. VERDICT A fun read that will have readers cheering for the courage and love of the two protagonists.

Viva Lola Espinoza by Ella Cerón. Penguin/Kokila. ISBN 9780593405628. 
Gr 9 Up–Readers will fall for Lola, a character who loves to read and adores adventure. Lola travels to Mexico City to spend time with her grandmother. While in Mexico City, she meets the flirty Rio, who makes her realize that there actually is a curse stopping her from falling in love. The story progresses as a love triangle blooms, especially when she meets Javi. VERDICT This debut novel is cute and warm; it will keep readers flipping through the pages and swooning over the romantic moments, as well as interested in the well-written and engaging story.

I Wish You Would by Eva Des Lauriers. Holt. ISBN 9781250910554. 
Gr 10 Up–It is a week before the start of senior year, and class president Natalia Diaz-Price is busy planning and running the Senior Sunrise camp night. Ethan Forrester is Natalia’s best friend and secret crush. This friends-to-lovers story imparts lessons about the importance of communication for relationships. VERDICT A feel-good love story that touches on important issues faced by young adults today. Recommend where upper YA books are popular.

[Read: 30 Picture Books to Celebrate the Diversity of Latinx Heritage]

 Wings in the Wild by Margarita Engle. S. & S./Atheneum. ISBN 9781665926362. 
Gr 6 Up–Two Cuban teens are from different backgrounds, but their divergent paths cross in Costa Rica, where, like lush rainforest flowers, a romance blooms. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Engle’s past works will get swept away, and new readers are given many points of entrance and connection in this relevant and poignant work. Hand to fans of Ellen Hagan’s Don’t Call Me a Hurricane.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber. Wednesday Bks. ISBN 9781250863898. 
Gr 9 Up–This moody, darkly emotional Gothic romance weaves threads of untimely death, family secrets and betrayal, bloodthirsty haunted houses, spells, vampires, and a passionate heated love story more or less successfully. Along with a strong infusion of Spanish culture and language, Garber’s skillful sensory descriptions bring the setting and characters to life. VERDICT A convincing and darkly romantic YA, even if slightly scattered.

 With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250873378. 
Gr 9 Up–Nigerian teen Enore moves to America with her mom and sister before the beginning of her senior year. A chance meeting with fellow cute senior Davi puts her on an unexpectedly optimistic path. Igharo’s debut YA novel packs a punch with all the joyful feelings that come from a first love, coming-of-age romance. Enore is Nigerian and Davi is Brazilian American. VERDICT For fans of Emma Lord or Nicola Yoon, this hopeful romance that follows two teens through times of grief and joy will resonate with many readers.

 Just Say Yes by Goldy Moldavsky. Holt. ISBN 9781250863249. 
Gr 8 Up–Seventeen-year-old Jimena Ramos learns that she is now living in the United States illegally. Desperate to change that, she embarks on a journey that takes her through a maze of online dating and creepy classifieds in search of a green card marriage. VERDICT A great romance with characters who, despite ridiculous moments, have relatable anxieties and fears. A first good purchase for any library serving teens, but especially for collections where there might be a need for a lighter companion to The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

Daniel, Deconstructed by James Ramos. Inkyard. ISBN 9781335010025. 
Gr 9 Up–High school senior Daniel's (Black, Cuban American) camera helps him experience the world as a detached spectator, as he’s less inclined to see himself as the main character in his own life. That’s why, when the handsome and fascinating Gabe (Black, nonbinary) enters the scene, Daniel sees Gabe more as a love interest for his best friend than for himself. VERDICT Ramos’s world-building is at once authentic yet wholesome, while never veering into the saccharine. While Daniel himself would prefer not to be in the spotlight, romance readers will not be able to get enough of him as a protagonist.

10 Things I Hate About Prom by Elle Gonzalez Rose. Random/Joy Revolution. ISBN 9780593705179. 
Gr 9 Up–In this realistic fiction title, longtime neighbors, best friends, and soulmates Ivelisse “Ive” Santos (drama department tech nerd) and Joaquin “Quin” Romero (heartthrob baseball star) face a tumultuous high school. VERDICT Teens will enjoy this title with its comedic plot twists, U.S. high school drama themes, and the friendship-to-love relationship between two realistic Latinx teens.

 Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose. Random/Joy Revolution. ISBN 9780593645796. 
Gr 7 Up–Rose’s debut novel is a wonderful and witty rom-com. It’s smartly written with funny, memorable scenes and the swooniest romantic lines. Devin Baez and Julian Seo-Cooke have been enemies forever. When Julian asks Dev to be his fake boyfriend to deflect an unwanted suitor’s attention, of course chaos and love ensue. VERDICT Innocent camp high jinks, siblings who care deeply for each other, family loss, Latinx and Asian representation, and a sweet hopeful LGBTQIA+ love story—this is a must-have for teen libraries everywhere.