Love, Censorship, and Controversy: Why Romance Novels Keep Getting Banned

What’s so dangerous about love stories? According to book bans sweeping U.S. schools, plenty.

Romance novels—especially those aimed at young adults—are among the most frequently challenged books in America, according to PEN America. The primary reason? Sex. Even if it’s only hinted at or handled with care, the presence of romance and intimacy is enough to land many titles on the chopping block.

But these books do more than tell love stories. They explore themes of identity, consent, agency, and relationships—critical topics for young readers navigating their own coming-of-age journeys. In many cases, these novels have won literary awards, inspired movies, and turned reluctant readers into lifelong book lovers.

Yet, school districts across the country continue to remove them from shelves. Here’s a look at some of the most frequently banned romance novels of the 2023-2024 school year.

The Most Banned YA Romance Novels

📖 A Court of Thorns and Roses series – Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury)
This wildly popular romantasy series follows 19-year-old Feyre Archeron as she’s swept into the world of fae and dangerous magic. With over 270 documented bans, it’s one of the most frequently challenged books in schools.

📖 Throne of Glass series – Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury)
Maas’ other bestselling series—about a teenage assassin in a corrupt kingdom—was banned over 180 times in the past year, making it another major target of book censorship.

📖 Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo (Dutton Books)
Set in 1954, this National Book Award-winning novel follows a Chinese American teenager discovering her sexuality in the midst of Red Scare paranoia. A bestseller, yet frequently challenged for its LGBTQ+ themes.

📖 The Fault in Our Stars – John Green (Penguin Books)
A heartbreaking love story between two teens with cancer, this beloved novel (and its movie adaptation) has been repeatedly banned despite its themes of resilience, love, and loss.

📖 Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston (St. Martin’s Griffin)
What happens when the First Son of the United States falls in love with a British prince? This queer rom-com turned movie phenomenon has faced challenges across school districts for its LGBTQ+ content.

📖 Like a Love Story – Abdi Nazemian (Balzer + Bray)
A deeply moving historical romance following an Iranian boy coming to terms with his identity during the height of the AIDS crisis in New York City. It’s a story of love, activism, and self-acceptance—yet has faced bans for its queer themes.

📖 Twilight series – Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown & Company)
Love triangles, vampires, and werewolves—this blockbuster series may have captivated a generation, but in 2023-24 alone, it was banned in 34 instances.

The Battle for Books

While censorship of romance novels is nothing new, the growing trend of book bans—especially targeting diverse voices and LGBTQ+ stories—raises serious concerns about access to literature. These novels offer young readers the chance to see themselves in love stories, explore different perspectives, and engage with meaningful themes.

So, what’s really being banned here? Books? Or the freedom to read about love in all its forms?