I grew up in Texas where sex-ed curriculums ranged from spotty and misinformed to totally nonexistent. Therefore, as a teenager, I learned about sex from the novels I read—at that time, I was devouring Meg Cabot and John Green books—and I remember wishing for more tangible information. (This was before Urban Dictionary and Tumblr, unfortunately.) Fast forward a decade, and I’m the one writing YA novels. I no longer live in Texas, but my passion for crafting sex-positive, uplifting, and accessible books for teenagers remains central to my life as a writer and reader.
I wrote...
The Night When No One Had Sex
By
Kalena Miller
What is my book about?
It's the night of senior prom, and eighteen-year-old Julia has made a pact with her friends. They have secured a secluded cabin in the woods, one night without parental supervision, and plenty of condoms. But as soon as they leave the dance, the pact begins to unravel. Alex’s grandmother is undergoing emergency surgery, and he and his date rush to the hospital. Zoe is trying to figure out how she feels about getting off the waitlist at Yale. Madison’s chronic illness flares, holding her back once again from being a normal teenager. And Julia’s fantasy-themed role play gets her locked in a closet.
The Night When No One Had Sex finds a group of friends navigating the tenuous transition into adulthood and embracing the uncertainty of life after high school.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Full Disclosure
By
Camryn Garrett
Why this book?
This contemporary YA novel is honest, open-hearted, and rings true to the teenage experience. Simone is HIV positive, a reality that makes sexual relationships complicated and her presence at a new school potentially dangerous, thanks to a series of anonymous notes in her locker threatening to out her. In this debut novel, Camryn Garrett deftly navigates complex subjects while infusing Simone’s story with humor, hope, and all the excitement that accompanies first love.
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The Darkness Outside Us
By
Eliot Schrefer
Why this book?
This science fiction novel from Eliot Schrefer has it all: a thrilling adventure in space, a disembodied robot withholding information, and a pair of adorably opposite boys falling in love. This dramatic story about survival, love, and love as a means of survival is on the upper end of YA, but it’s one youdon’t want to miss! Be prepared to laugh, cry, swoon, and throw your book across the room in shock because this one will stick with you long after the final page.
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Today Tonight Tomorrow
By
Rachel Lynn Solomon
Why this book?
If you’re wanting young adult romance with well-crafted sex scenes that are equal parts sweet, funny, and informative, Rachel Lynn Solomon is your gal. Today Tonight Tomorrowtakes place in twenty-four hours in the city of Seattle as two high school rivals team up to win the senior class scavenger hunt. This fun, light-hearted novel is a great read for teens and adults alike! (And Solomon also has some stellar adult romances, if that’s more your speed.)
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Last Night at the Telegraph Club
By
Malinda Lo
Why this book?
Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1954 at the height of the Red Scare, this quietly powerful coming-of-age novel by Malinda Lo is guaranteed to astound. A confused and questioning Lily Hu is torn between her commitment to family, a new friendship that blossoms in unexpected ways, and her discovery of a tantalizing queer nightclub in her own neighborhood. This sapphic historical romance is full of beautiful prose, striking images, and a tenuous exploration of forbidden love.
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Red Hood
By
Elana K. Arnold
Why this book?
This exquisite novel by Elana K. Arnold opens with an evocative sex scene and only gains momentum from there. Not for the faint-hearted, this fairytale explores themes of toxic masculinity, rape culture, and violence. Unlike some of the other books on this list, Red Hoodis not an uplifting book about teenage sexuality. But if you’re wanting a gritty, daring novel that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and leaves you aching for more…look no further.
