If you don’t mind Christian-influenced books…
Francine Rivers- Mark of the lion series

Better off Friends
The Upside of Falling
When You Reach Me

She wants modern stuff. Wouldn’t consider Jane Austen etc.
- OP

Anonymous wrote:paper towns. I may be wrong but I think it’s relatively clean. the author has published several other novels as well.

My 12-y.o. son just read this. He said that he skipped a few parts that felt a bit mature to him, but he enjoyed it. He’s not drawn to the sexy stuff yet, but loves romance.

I do t know how they have aged. But, I read quite of bit of Victoria Holt in middle school.

Anonymous wrote:All the Tamora Pierce books. She wrote several series.

There’s definitely more than kissing in the lioness books, and I think the wild magic ones too. They aren’t smutty like Sarah Maas books or anything, but they do contain references to sex.

Maybe georgette heyer? And of course Jane Austen if she is an advanced/ambitious reader. Here’s a list of clean regency romance: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/25046.Clean_Regency_or_around_then_Romance_Novels

Catfishing on Catnet is super sweet. I think there's a sequel.

I recommend letting the kid read what they want as long as they can take it to a good mature place and have conversation with them.

That said, many of the things in YA section fit the requirement you seek.

paper towns. I may be wrong but I think it’s relatively clean. the author has published several other novels as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pride and Prejudice, Emma..

I love Jane Austen, but my own dd needed a little help getting used to the language of that era, despite being a very strong reader and having a larger than average vocabulary. We read those books aloud and discussed what some of the phrases meant.

I remember reading The Little Princess as a kid and picking up the word ‘queer.’ Which is how they kept describing Sarah Crewe. I used the word several times, loudly, in public to point out people I found strange. My parents had to have a chat with me about how words can take on new meanings over time. Calling people queer is more akin to calling them gay. It was eye opening to me, and a cautionary tale for a young reader.

A year or so, I randomly picked up one called Holly Jolly Diwali that I really enjoyed. They talk about sex a little, in an emotionally mature way, but if I remember right they only actually kiss. I remember because it struck me at the time that it was nice to have a fun romance novel that was also “clean,” for people who wanted to avoid explicit scenes.

If your daughter likes the style more than the romance itself, there are also “chick lit” type authors like Sophie Kinsella who are light and fun without the sex scenes. I think she might have one or more YA novels, but her adult novels are totally accessible for a teen. JoJo Moyes is similar and also (if I remember right) has little sex and it’s non-explicit.

Anonymous wrote:Pride and Prejudice, Emma..

I love Jane Austen, but my own dd needed a little help getting used to the language of that era, despite being a very strong reader and having a larger than average vocabulary. We read those books aloud and discussed what some of the phrases meant.

I loved Daphne DuMaurier about that age...Rebecca, The King's General, Jamaica Inn, The Glassblowers...

Pride and Prejudice, Emma..

Agreed about rather having my daughter read what she wants and using it to have some good conversations about what constitutes good relationships/sex than try to control the sexual content and allow her to buy into the dysfunctional relationships that most romance novels feature.