Quirky Love Stories for the Misfit in All of Us

At one point in our lives, we’ve all felt like misfits.

For some of us, feeling like an outcast is a constant pressure, whether we think of ourselves as the oddball in our group of friends or the black sheep of our family. But these incredible YA novels remind us that the feeling of not belonging is comfortingly universal, and that every weirdo deserves an amazing love story.

XL

By Scott Brown

Everyone tells Will Daughtry that he’s a late bloomer. By his sixteenth birthday, Will is just shy of five feet tall with no hope of growing any taller, and he’s always feeling painfully overlooked. It doesn’t help that he’s been pining over his BFF Monica since fifth grade, and she stands tall at 5’10”. But shortly after he turns sixteen, Will shoots up to six feet and continues to grow, and life takes an unexpected turn. XL is a lighthearted, hilarious, and poignant dive into just how awkward being a teen can be, no matter your stature.

Every Day

By David Levithan

Now a major motion picture, this incredible novel from David Levithan is a unique and wild ride through the eyes of A, a person who wakes up in a different body and different life every day, but is always in love with the same girl. It’s a cool blend of sci-fi and romance, featuring a number of fleeting situations and stories that A must navigate as they constantly change identity but remain the same age and in love with the same person.

No One Here Is Lonely

By Sarah Everett

Eden has always been in love with two people: her best friend, Lacey, and Will, her longtime crush. But after losing them both—Will in a horrific car accident, and Lacey to growing up and growing apart—Eden finds solace in a virtual companion account that Will set up long before he passed away. Fans of Black Mirror and Her will adore this chilling and heartfelt tale of a teen girl who falls deeply in love with an echo of the person she once knew, something she knows is a digital clone but can’t seem to let go of.

Field Notes on Love

By Jennifer E. Smith

As much as Hugo loves his home and family, he longs for adventure and something more. After being dumped by his girlfriend, the British teen decides to embark on a summer adventure across the United States. The problem: his nonrefundable companion ticket is already booked under the name of Margaret Campbell, his ex. As fate would have it, there is a replacement Margaret, “Mae,” an aspiring filmmaker about to start college. Mae finds the ticket online, and the chemistry when she and Hugo meet is instant and undeniable. Sweet and full of adventure, Field Notes on Love is a must-read rom-com!

Everything, Everything

By Nicola Yoon

For as long as she can remember, Maddy has been allergic to just about everything. Her rare disease means that she can’t leave her house, so she spends her time isolated in her safe yet sterile home. All that changes when a cute boy named Olly moves in next door and the two teens spark up an unexpected romance. Maddy wants to get out and see the world, and Olly helps her experience life to the fullest, even if it means risking everything.

Hearts Made for Breaking

By Jen Klein

Seventeen-year-old Lark has high school dating down to a science: date a boy, let him down gently, and then move on. Her best friends insist that she’s missing out on the chance to find true love, so Lark takes on the challenge of staying committed to a mysterious new boy at school named Ardy . . . and risks having her heart completely broken. Emotional, hilarious, and deeply moving, this book is perfect for those who love their romance infused with realism and a lovable main character.

The Beauty That Remains

By Ashley Woodfolk

After tragedy strikes each member of a close-knit group of friends, Autumn, Shay, and Logan find that music is no longer enough for them. Spread out over three alternating perspectives, this gorgeous debut novel deals with grief and loss through the eyes of a diverse cast of teens who call to mind the characters of John Green’s and Adam Silvera’s novels. It’s a hard-hitting novel, but every note is perfect.

Instructions for Dancing

By Nicola Yoon

In this romantic page-turner from the author of Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star, Evie has the power to see other people’s romantic fates—what will happen when she finally sees her own?

Quirky Love Stories for the Misfit in All of Us

At one point in our lives, we’ve all felt like misfits.

XL

By Scott Brown

Every Day

By David Levithan

No One Here Is Lonely

By Sarah Everett

Field Notes on Love

By Jennifer E. Smith

Everything, Everything

By Nicola Yoon

Hearts Made for Breaking

By Jen Klein

The Beauty That Remains

By Ashley Woodfolk

Instructions for Dancing

By Nicola Yoon

What type of love story do you like to read? Tell us in the comments below!

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