While there is still a sizable imbalance when it comes to diversity in books even with the progress that has been made in recent years, there are many great books out there which feature interracial romances that should definitely be on your radar. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary, fantasy, or sci-fi, there’s a story out there with characters like us falling in love, showing the world that love isn’t just black or white and it’s beautiful. So here are seven remarkable novels with interracial relationships you need your radar.
1. Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler
Lizzie, a half-Filipino college girl who is having the time of her life, steps up to the plate taking care of her younger brother when her parents die in a car crash. Lizzie’s love life heats up when when she gets serious about her studies and unexpectedly falls in love with the history TA. You will laugh, you will cry, the steamy scenes in this book will leave you parched. This book has it all. Last Will and Testament is a splendidly written story about mourning and love, regret and risks, trust and commitment and walking through fire with the one person who will always be there with you through it all. I devoured this book and am sure you will too.
2. Like No Other by Una LaMarche
Devorah and Jaxon have lived across the street in Brooklyn their entire lives but their paths haven’t crossed. That is until a hurricane strikes the Northeast and the two find themselves trapped in an elevator. Yep, it’s that concept we all know and love. Except Devorah has grown up in a strict Hasidic home and is forbidden from a relationship with Jaxon. But that doesn’t stop the two as they meet up in secret after the hurricane and get to know each other. As Devorah begins to see a world outside her own more than ever before, she must come to terms with the freedom that she has to choose.
Image via Marie Lu’s Instagram
3. Legend by Marie Lu
The United States is now the Republic and at war with each other. June, born into an elite family is a prodigy being groomed for the highest ranks of the military. Day, half-Mongolian and half-Russian, grew up in the slums and is the nation’s most wanted criminal. When June’s brother is murdered, Day becomes the prime suspect. But this, my friends, is only the beginning. There is so much packed into Legend, the beginning of a fantastic trilogy that has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for weeks and even been optioned for a movie. What’s great is that the romance that forms in this book is a slow burn and realistic in its pacing, leaving you wanting more (in a good way) at every turn once the sparks really begin to fly. All around, this is a fantastic story that you’ll want to read now, before the mainstream audiences get the full wind of it.
Image via Jenny Han’s Facebook
4. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean has written a love letter for every boy she’s ever loved and kept it in a hatbox her mother once gave her. She’s poured her heart out in these letters because she knows they’ll never see the light of day. But then, one day all of those letters are mailed and Lara Jean’s life is turned upside down. But can good come out of these letters? You’ll have to read to find out.
5. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
You may have read and loved Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series. In his latest novel, Afterworlds, Darcy Patel moves to New York City when she gets a literary agent so she can live the author lifestyle that she’s always dreamed of. What’s so fascinating about this book is that in alternating chapters, we get to read the book that Darcy has written. The book is about a girl, Lizzie who slips in the Afterworld to survive a terrorist attack. It’s a very suspenseful novel and as a whole, you’ll flip through this 600 page book in no time.
6. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
Yes, this sounds really depressing but Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is actually a really entertaining, adorable contemporary novel. It’s heartwarming, it’s funny, it’s mysterious, it’s honest, and it has multiple interracial couples within the story. If you’re looking for a quick, delightful read, grab some oreos, prepare to laugh, and open this one up.
7. When We Wake by Karen Healey
Tegan Oglietti is enjoying her life just like any other girl falling in love in 2027. That is until she dies and wakes up one hundred years later, locked in a government facility. Tegan is the first government guinea pig to be cryonically frozen and successfully revived, which makes her an instant celebrity. But as secrets come to light, Tegan must decide if she will keep a low profile and attempt as much of a normal life as possible or fight for a better future for not just herself but those around her. When We Wake is the beginning of an incredibly compelling and more than satisfying sci-fi duology that you won’t want to miss out on.
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