What are some popular books with realistic gay love stories for young adults?

'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda' is a great pick. It tells the story of Simon, a high - school student who is gay and trying to navigate his identity while also dealing with a blackmail situation related to his emails about his crush. It's a really relatable story for young adults.

'Heartstopper' is a popular choice. It's a graphic novel series that follows the relationship between two boys, Charlie and Nick. It's very sweet and positive, and has been praised for its representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in a young adult context.

A great one is 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe'. It shows the friendship and budding romance between two young boys against the backdrop of the 1980s. It deals with themes like family, identity, and coming - of - age in a really relatable way for young adults.

I highly recommend 'Eleanor & Park' by Rainbow Rowell. It's a sweet love story set in the 1980s. The two main characters, Eleanor and Park, are from different backgrounds. Their relationship develops gradually as they share their love for music and comics. It's a simple yet touching story that captures the essence of first love and growing up.

'The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue' also fits the bill. It has a historical setting and the main character, Monty, is on a journey with his best friend (who he has feelings for) and his sister. It has adventure, humor, and a lovely slow - burn gay love story.

Another good one is 'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson. It deals with the difficult topic of a high school girl who has been raped and her journey to find her voice again. It's very real and raw, and it shows how hard it can be for a young person to face such a trauma. The writing is powerful and it has helped many young adults who have gone through similar situations.

One characteristic is that they often deal with real - life issues relevant to young adults like friendship, first love, family problems, and school - related stress. For example, in 'Speak', it focuses on the protagonist's struggle in school after a bad experience. Another is that the characters are usually in their teens or early twenties, making it easy for young readers to relate to. They also tend to have a contemporary setting, reflecting the current world that young adults live in.

Definitely. 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth is a well - known realistic fiction book for young adults. It's set in a dystopian Chicago where society is divided into factions based on personality traits. Also, 'Thirteen Reasons Why' by Jay Asher, which although controversial, has been widely read by young adults. It tells the story of a girl who commits suicide and leaves behind tapes explaining her reasons.

The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green is a popular one. It's a story about two teenagers with cancer falling in love. 'Thirteen Reasons Why' by Jay Asher is also good. It deals with issues like bullying and teen suicide.

Another great one is 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han. Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved but never sent them. When the letters get out, her life, especially her love life, gets turned upside down in a really interesting way.