YA Books About Prom

It’s prom season now so we’re celebrating by sharing some YA books that feature this important coming of age dance. Prom is such a prominent night for high school students and it’s a big deal to the characters in the books below. So get out your sparkly dresses and fancy tuxes, we’re going back to high school in these stories. Do you know of a prom YA book that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

1. The Night When No One Had Sex by Kalena Miller

The Night When No One Sex skipped over the dance and went right to this group of friends getting ready for a crazy night without parental supervision. Prom is so romanticized and Miller chose to turn it into a comedy of errors. Right after the dance, this group of friends goes to a cabin in the woods to all have sex with their prom dates. Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned, making it a night they’ll never forget. This book is completely hilarious and is perfect for people who want to read about an unconventional prom night.

2. Operation Prom Date by Cindi Madsen

Kate loves obsessing over her fictional ships, but what she really wants his to date the hot quarterback Mick. With prom coming soon, Kate’s dream is for her crush to ask her. Kate enlists her former best friend Cooper to help her, since he gets flirting and popularity better than anyone. However, Cooper needs a favor in return, leading to the two spending a lot of time together. Cooper gives great advice, but what if she’s been swooning over the wrong guy? Operation Prom Date is the perfect light and fluffy book for prom season.

3. The Best Laid Plans by Cameron Lund

Keely Collins is tired of being the last virgin in her friend group. Before leaving high school, Keely wants to lose her virginity. But she knows all the guys at her small high school in Vermont and she’s not interested in them. Enter Dean: who looks exactly like James Dean, rides a motorcycle and actually seems interested in Keely. But she’s afraid Dean will find out how inexperienced she is and will dump her. Keely hatches a plan involving her best friend Andrew. She asks him to sleep with her, so she’ll know what to do. If only thing were that easy. When unresolved feelings get involved, Kelly finds herself in the middle of a love triangle. The Best Laid Plans ends at the prom, when Keely finally realizes who she wants to be with. This book is perfect for romcom fans.

4. 21 Proms by various authors

21 Proms is a YA anthology book about this important dance. But these authors all have a unique point of view on what the night means for their characters. Expect awesome short stories from David Levithan, John Green and more!

5. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Gia Montgomery’s biggest concern is showing off her hot boyfriend at the prom. Problem is, he dumps her in the parking lot. Instead of telling the truth, she corners the cute guy sitting in his car and gives him a task, to be her boyfriend for a few short hours and then break up with her in front of her friends. Sounds simple, right? It is, until she realizes she can’t stop thinking about him after that night and doesn’t even know his name. While the prom is only at the beginning of the Fill-In Boyfriend, its the major plot point that leads Gia to what she really wants in life. Plus, her fake boyfriend is also one of our favorite YA book boyfriends ever!

6. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

In the last book in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series, Lara Jean is experiencing everything senior year, including the prom. She’s waited so long to go to her dream dance with her boyfriend Peter Kavinsky. The ending to this sweet coming of age trilogy is perfect for fans of realistic YA books. While Lara Jean has a lot of fun getting dressed up with her friend, she also has to consider what her life will be like after high school.

7. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Liz Lighty never thought she could win a crown in small Campbell, Indiana. But when her plans for college financial aid fall through, she has no choice to campaign for prom queen…and the scholarship money that goes with it. You Should See Me in a Crown is a YA book that champions diversity. Liz is black and queer in a town that’s not so accepting. Liz has no desire to be in the spotlight, but she endures it to achieve her dreams.

8. Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has loved Margo Roth Spiegelman for as long as he can remember. And after they spend one night together on an adventure, he can’t stop thinking about her. But after that amazing night, Margo disappears, leaving Quentin to try to find her. Prom happens at the end of Paper Towns, but it isn’t how Quentin expects it to go. While nothing goes as planned in this story, we like the realistic depiction of the end of high school and how Quentin just wants to enjoy prom night with his favorite people before moving away to college.

9. A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall

A Prom to Remember follows the lives of seven seniors as they try to navigate prom night. Some can’t wait to go to the biggest dance of the year, while others are far more anxious. Overall, all seven seniors have something to worry about, whether it be relationship drama or accidentally being nominated for prom king. This is a fun and cute story about how everyone views prom differently. If you liked Hall’s A Little Something Different, than you’ll enjoy this book too.