#without romance

anon, you’ve read my mind — i’m SO for ya books without romance but they’re pretty hard to find! almost every time my brain comes up with a rec the book ends up being middle grade or a book where there may not be romance in the first book but it’s super obvious that it’s setting up for a romance in the second

so with that in mind, excuse the fact that this list will probably not be great

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente — i know i rec this constantly, i just love the story and the writing and anyway it’s a perfectly valid rec here! there’s hints of a ship to come ~in the future~ but the protagonist isn’t dragged into it in this book or the sequel. i haven’t finished the series yet but i think two amazing books with fairies and without romance is a good deal

of course, even though it’s YA the protagonist is 12, so we’re still seeing the trend that only young girls can escape the inevitable Love Interest

Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente — another Valente book but it’s definitely for older readers, not on the verge of middle grade like the other book is

i feel like i could sort of rec Empress of a Thousand Skies here because of the two main characters the female main character doesn’t have a love interest. however, the male main character does and it’s SO boring and undeveloped and unnecessary that i feel like i can’t bring myself to rec it

if you’re interested in comics then Star Wars: Princess Leia is a great one to check out, it takes place between New Hope and Empire Strikes Back so there’s no romance, just Leia saving her people

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson — one of my favorite graphic novels ever (pshh what i’ve totally read lots of graphic novels being my favorite is a huge honor) and no romance for the main character!

we’re getting into middle grade after this because unfortunately i can’t think of any more YA books

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend — comes out on Halloween, i read an arc and absolutely loved it

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

maybe also check out this list!

Because for one thing, I don’t give a shit.  It doesn’t make it more healthy, and it doesn’t squick me less that they could put Steve in a romance with his lost love’s NIECE in the same movie they fucking bury her.  It doesn’t change the fact that Sharon has had little to no development despite being in the last movie, and literally zero relationship with Steve beyond lying about who she was and Natasha inexplicably telling Steve to call her (don’t even get me started on that).

For two, fuck you.  Because comic canon romances clearly have very little bearing in the MCU.  Don’t think so?  Find me Betty Ross.  Or, conversely, find me some comic canon Brutasha.

Hey! In making this list I realized that I haven’t read many Young Adult books without romance- but I have managed to compile this short list:

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor 

The Giver by Lois Lowry  

Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Leverage by Josh C. Cohen (note to reader: contains a rape scene)

Butter by Erin Jade Lange 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Maze Runner by James Dashner

All Fall Down by Ally Carter (border line middle grade book)

Kiki Strike: Inside Shadow City by Kirsten Miller

How To Live A Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller (some romance but in my opinion it does not dominate the story)

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card 

also check out these two lists

Hope that helps!