I would like to recommend four books that have great romantic subplots. Not your average boy-meets-girl romances. I’m talking about four books with great boy-meets-girl stories.

Number one: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

This is a story about Hazel Evans, her brother, Ben, and the faerie prince they both fell in love with. They’ve known him since they were very young. He had been there long before they had. But he never woke up from his enchanted sleep. Until one day he did. The two are quickly engulfed in a world of magic, new discoveries, and love.

Number two: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

An incredible book about a pair of twins and their love of art. On t heir journey to discovering themselves, they each make friends, each get boyfriends, and each lose people they love. You hear from Noah as he falls in love for the first time, and from Jude as she starts to open up her heart to boys. This is probably one of my favorite books.

Number three: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

First, I just have to say wow. This book is very well-written, and gives us a look into the mind of Mexican-American teenage Aristotle Mendoza. You hear his thoughts about the first person he ever called a friend: Dante Quintana. When Ari saves Dante from a terrible accident, he figures out that they might be more than just best friends.

Last, but definitely not least: The Young Avengers series

A series of comic books about the Avengers’ children. Action, fluff, and feels everywhere! What I love is that it can go from a high-action fight to my favorite couple being cute together over the course of one page. My favorite thing, thought, is… you guessed it: the positive LGBT representation. At one point, you find out that every member of the team fits into the community, each in a different part of the spectrum.

This student book review was written by Elsa, a St. Anne’s-Belfield student. Elsa is in the 8th grade.