Romance Novels for 13 year old????

[Gobbledegeek]

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!

Heart stopper! Lots of kids in my sons class have read them

I loved all of Snowfall, Unquiet Spirits, A Traveller in Time, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, I Capture the Castle and Jane Eyre at that age. I read a few more risqué ones too though, but always had a soft spot for the innocent ones. I enjoyed Marian Keyes as well, but a lot have very adult themes like depression and addiction so I'd not recommend them without reading them first and knowing your DD.

@StamppotAndGravy got there just before me, I capture the castle and the lost art of keeping secrets were my first thoughts. The teen Kelley Armstrongs are good on the fantasy front, set in the otherworld universe. Just read divine rivals and that was great although a very light touch sex scene (post marriage). Margaret Mahy Changeover was my favourite as a teen, although a little darker. T. Kingfishers teen books for teens are great too, reindeer and raven is a lovely and innocent lesbian romance.

Has anyone been to Scotney Castle in Kent and also read I Capture the Castle? That's exactly how I picture it! Wonderful book.

@Gobbledegeek

How 🤔 times change

Rember back in the day

Gothic novel Flowers in The Attic series by Author Virginia, I can't rember her surname

Her books had a cult status back in the 80s era with teenagers girls,

I think if her type of books came out nowadays they would be probably be cancelled for being a bit too controversial,

I allways wondered 🤔 whether Flowers in the attic was based on true story,

I think it's lovely your daughter wants to read a romance story book...

Oh god I remember loving Judy Blume when I was 13 and purchased Forever. What an eye opener for a 13 year old 😂 I was mortified and hid the book in case my parents for some unfathomable reason decided to read it 😂😂

Judy Blume was my go to for this stuff as a teen - they are quite dated now though maybe ? I'm not sure who the modern equivalent is .