Nobody ever said love was easy. But that doesn’t mean it’s not ever worth it. These books highlight all the ups and downs of falling in love and what it means and how much it can change you.

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman

Nothing expresses love is hard better than I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman. Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he has ever loved, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a backpack, a desperate plan, and nothing left to lose. When a fateful accident draws these three strangers together, their secrets start to unravel as they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might just lie in helping the others out of theirs. This is a story that talks about losing love, finding it, and discovering the person you want to be.

Love & War by Melissa de la Cruz

Sure, book one had a happy ending. But now in Love & War, the newlyweds begin their new life in the big city.  Alex is still determined to secure legacy in battles, and confront his rival Aaron Burr when burgeoning law practices. But love is hard. With Alex’s star on the rise, Eliza can’t help but feel neglected by a husband who seems to have time for everyone but her. Torn apart by new trials and temptations, can Alex and Eliza’s epic love survive life in the big city?

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson

Quiet, shy Elyse can’t believe it when she’s cast as the lead in her high school’s production of Romeo and Juliet, but when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye—someone she knows she absolutely shouldn’t be with—she can’t help but be pulled into the spotlight. Austin native Gabe is contemplating breaking up with his popular girlfriend Sasha, but when rumors start floating around, he knows she has the power to change his life forever. Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. In Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson, love has never been more dangerous.

Rookie on Love by Tavi Gevinson

Love is hard. Believe these guys—they know what they’re talking about. In Rookie on Love by Tavi Gevinson, features exclusive, never-before-seen essays, poems, comics, and interviews from contributors like Jenny Zhang, Emma Straub, Hilton Als, Janet Mock, John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Gabourey Sidibe, Mitski, Alessia Cara, Etgar Keret, Margo Jefferson, Sarah Manguso, Durga Chew-Bose, and many more talking about the heart’s most powerful emotion.

Warcross by Marie Lu

Love is hard when the one you love wants to potentially take over the world. In Warcross by Marie Lu, virtual reality is a way of life. When Emika is hired as an inside spy to catch a dangerous hacker, she uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Love is hard when you’re Megan Harper. In Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, Megan is the girl before—all her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are. Megan doesn’t waste time feeling sorry for herself though, she’d rather think about directing theater and pursuing her next fling. But when Megan is cast the lead role in her high school’s production, she meets Owen Okita, who’s thoughtful, unconventional and utterly unlike her exes and wonders: shouldn’t a girl get to play the lead in her own love story?

Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh

In Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh, Mariko escaped an ambush, disguising herself as a boy and gaining the trust of the Black Clan. Little did she know that she would fall in love with one of the bandits, Okami. But love is hard when the one you love gets captured and you have to pretend to literally the entire empire in order to save him. In Smoke in the Sun, Mariko will face the dangers that have been waiting for her in the Heian Castle all to rescue the one she loves.

Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins

Love is hard… especially when you have to travel across waters to find it. In Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins, sixteen-year old Daisy Winters is forced to travel with her sister, princess-to-be Ellie, to Scotland to escape the tabloids. There she meets Sebastian, the prince’s roguish younger brother and Miles, a dashing young aristocrat and friend of the crown. When Miles has been assigned to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, Daisy may just rewrite the royal rule-book to suit herself.

Looking for more recommendations? Check out these books you’ll want to re-read as soon as you finish!