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Original poster

Romance Novels for 13 year old????

32 replies

Gobbledegeek · 15/12/2023 22:39

My 13 year old DD has just asked for a romance novel for Christmas and I have no idea what to get her!

She loves Jane Austen - watches the adaptations, reads the abridged versions for kids and dips into the real books. I'm guessing she wants something like that but more modern so she can read the whole story. She also likes Downton Abbey and the gentle girly films like Princess Diaries.

I don't think she'd want anything too 'teen' but I dare say she's heading into that territory with this request!

Someone told me to skip YA books and go for easy adult authors like Katie Fforde but I haven't read any so don't know how appropriate?

Any guidance out there for me??!

Thank you!

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 15/12/2023 22:46

My 14 reads Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and a few others. She likes the Christmas stories! She's also into Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir... but theÿ are historical (tudor mainly) novels.

Teen wise maybe HeartStopper - bit of a thing earlier in the year... The Summer I Turned Pretty is a current fad alongside the series.... or Karen McManus I can't remember the title of the books but there is a series....

crumpet · 15/12/2023 22:47

Georgette Heyer.

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 22:56

I read Katie Fforde at that age. There's maybe a very mild bit of sex stuff in the ones I read if I remember correctly (and I mean brief descriptions where it's clear they're going to have sex, but no actual sex is described) but that's about it.
That was some of the earlier ones, I don't know any she's written recently.

OhGingleBells · 15/12/2023 23:02

Little Women and Jane Eyre are perfect for that age and have some lovely romance! With Little Women you’ll want either a version that combines the first two books (Little Women and Good Wives) or to buy both books. The third and fourth have a fair bit of romance too.

Anne of Green Gables takes a while to get properly romantic but it definitely does later on - Anne’s daughter has a romantic storyline in the last book so you could get her all eight books.

I appreciate that these aren’t “modern” but the characters are around her age at the beginning so they should suit her better than Austen.

If not, there are some Cathy Cassidy books that may be of interest. “The Chocolate Box Girls.” There are five or six books about a set of sisters and deal with romance among other things. The girls are young teenagers so it’s all very tame.

“The Fault in Our Stars” is good - a tragic romance about two teenagers with cancer.

“Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret” is an interesting one. There’s some romance and a couple of kisses involved.

“When Lightening Strikes” by Meg Cabot. Think there are a couple of sequels too. Great story with a solid romantic storyline in there too.

The Hunger Games and the prequel have a lot of romance in too. Not necessarily books that would immediately appeal to a romantic girl but definitely a viable option.

Original poster
Gobbledegeek · 15/12/2023 23:04

Thanks everyone! There are some great suggestions there. She'll have a complete romance library soon!

OP posts:
mambojambodothetango · 15/12/2023 23:10

Mary Barton, North & South, Middlemarch, Anne of Green Gables.

CuttingAllTheFlowersStill · 15/12/2023 23:11

I remember reading the Flambards trilogy as a first 'romance' but not sure if it would be a bit dated.

Pastlast · 15/12/2023 23:12

I’ve seen a romance category called something like ‘sweet and clean’ which I imagine covers this type of book. I.e no graphic sex.

TragicMuse · 15/12/2023 23:13

If she wants modern adaptations of Austen then the lovely Melissa Nathan might be right. She was such a good writer...

Darkenergy · 15/12/2023 23:13

I enjoyed Marian Keyes at that age - Watermelon, Sushi For Beginners. If memory serves they were not explicit at all.
I also enjoyed Kevin and Sadie but no idea how they've aged!

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 15/12/2023 23:13

I loved Sweet Valley High if nothing of my mum's appealed. I used to read her Mills and Boons books and later the Silhouette ones. Sexist formulaic nonsense but great all the same. Forever by Judy Blume was my first book with any sex in it though.

ODFOx · 15/12/2023 23:53

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging is pitched right for a 13yo I think; a bit swoony and a bit embarrassing but also ties in the changing relationships with friends parents during young teen hood.

Original poster
Gobbledegeek · 16/12/2023 09:05

Oh yes! I LOVED Flambards!

OP posts:
Wanttobeok · 16/12/2023 09:10

Catherine Cookson?

The girl, the dwelling place, a dinner of herbs are good ones.

I started reading them about that age

tribpot · 16/12/2023 09:19

I think the Laura Wood books might hit the spot - they are YA romance novels with a good feminist twist and nothing inappropriate for a young teen. I've just re-read The Agency for Scandal in prep for the sequel coming out next year. A Single Thread of Moonlight takes place in the same world, and is a Cinderella retelling that is delightful. A Sky Painted Gold and A Snowfall of Silver are set in the 1920s and are lovely. All books also very funny.

thepresureofausername · 16/12/2023 09:21

Meg Cabot teen books

illbeinthegarden · 16/12/2023 09:40

I recently read forever by Judy Blume as absolutely loved her as a young teen... I thought that actually the guy applied some pressure for Katherine to have sex with him and got frustrated with her when she wasn't ready so I'd actually avoid it! It's also really short...

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/12/2023 09:44

crumpet · 15/12/2023 22:47

Georgette Heyer.

I was going to suggest this. It was what I was reading at that age in the 60s but she fell out of fashion. I believe she is now back in.

BlueChampagne · 18/12/2023 12:59

Daphne Du Maurier?

WitcheryDivine · 18/12/2023 13:34

Laughing at the idea of Mary Barton or Middlemarch being light romances for a 13 year old who isn't quite up to Jane Austen to enjoy! (I bloody love the books but they might have to wait til later)

I really recommend Eva Ibbotson - there are quite a few: The Secret Countess, The Morning Gift and A Song For Summer are my favourites and can reread over and over. (They do have war bits in them but mostly near the beginning as some of the heroines are refugees - it's all suitable for kids though). Georgette Heyer a good shout as well. Some are much better than others!

BlueChampagne · 20/12/2023 13:04

I Capture the Castle
The Little White Horse

erinaceus · 20/12/2023 13:08

A little love song by Michelle Magorian was a favourite of mine when I was around that age, it’s sweet.

Welshcake15 · 20/12/2023 13:12

Another vote for the Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging series. I loved them at 13 and still think they're hysterical!

CatChant · 20/12/2023 13:12

KM Peyton - Flambards series, A Pattern of Roses.
Barbara Willard - The Lark and the Laurel, A Sprig of Broom.
Eva Ibbotson - The Secret Countess, The Morning Gift, A Song for Summer, Magic Flutes.

Chugnut · 20/12/2023 13:35

We read copies of Lace, Riders, Jackie Collins at that age 😂 swapped between us at school. Probably more sex than romance though 😂

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