10 Neurodivergent Romance Books That Are Actually Relatable

Renee Johnson learned quickly that as an autistic Black woman, there is no room for mistakes in her life—especially not in the tech world, in which she’s become a rising star. But when she suddenly becomes thrust into the middle of a social media firestorm, her entire life seems to stand in the balance. And it appears that her former-best-friend-turned-rival, Knox Lyons, is to blame. 

The once inseparable friends and business partners soon find themselves thrust back into each other’s lives. The only difference is that Knox is determined to convince Renee to give him another chance, and Renee wants no part of it. Their chemistry is hotter than ever though, and as secrets from their pasts surface, they can’t help but wonder: what if they were always more than friends? 

Elijah M. Clayton Jr. has promised his dying cousin that he’ll raise her unborn daughter, but he knows he can’t do it alone. On the hunt for a wife, he meets failure at every turn, until he meets Beatrix at a speed dating event. But being on the autism spectrum makes dating difficult, and though he tries to mask it, it seeps through and sometimes scares people away. 

Beatrix Glouster, a plumber, was convinced she had found a great guy in Elijah…until he started asking perverted, probing questions about pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s a tough subject for her after a pregnancy loss and a divorce six years ago, and she promised herself she wouldn’t settle. But then a plumbing job brings her face to face with Elijah the next morning. 

When a call from the hospital interrupts an unexpectedly hot kiss, their lives change forever. An impromptu marriage and raising an orphaned newborn come with lots of emotional risks—are the two determined enough to find their happily ever after? 

School counselor Lucy Galindo is not as put-together as she seems—well, at least not in the real world. In the physical world, she’s sweet and shy, but also struggles with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. But online, @TheMissGuidedCounselor (aka online Lucy) is bold, confident, and gives excellent advice. 

History teacher Aldrich Fletcher took this new teaching job as an escape from his drama-filled family, but it’s been anything but. Instead, he finds himself dodging his ex-girlfriend and pathetically pining over his new co-worker, who always manages to see him at his worst. He often turns to his online confidant @TheMissGuidedCounselor for advice, but then he finds out it’s really Lucy he’s talking to. 

Now the both of them have a secret. And while their chemistry is undeniable, Lucy isn’t sure she can trust him. Can they take @TheMissGuidedCounselor’s advice and step out from behind their screens? 

Sabine Debois has her head on straight: she loves her routine, and as a private tutor for the rich and famous, she never gets starstruck. But when a tattooed espresso fiend saves her from a potentially fatal sweater, she’s grateful. Very grateful…

Sunshine Capone just released the best album of his career, and then his (now ex) girlfriend burned down his house. He moved to Chicago to focus on his music, but now he can’t stop thinking about the sweet teacher with the hazel eyes and bright smile. But she doesn’t need his baggage–between the drama of his past relationships and his inattentive ADHD, he’s a lot to handle, and he knows it. 

But Sabine is about to teach this superstar a lesson in patience, love, and understanding. 

Johanna and Sullivan are a perfect match—too bad Johanna wants nothing to do with him. That is, until she needs a place to stay and Sullivan just happens to have an empty room available. 

The first thing Johanna said to him seven years ago was “I’m not going to sleep with you.” And he’s never forgotten it. In fact, he thinks it may be the reason for his permanent playboy status. She’s the one he wants. For good. 

The Thought of You is a fantastic pick for grumpy-sunshine or roommates-to-lovers enthusiasts. And it also features Johanna’s neurodivergence self-discovery without being cliche. 

To Catch a Firefly has it all: it’s a breathtaking gay love story written in a dual POV that features a childhood friends-to-lovers romance, a neurodivergent main character with selective mutism, intense pining and romantic declarations, and best of all, a HEA under the night sky. 

It begins with Ellis, the friend with selective mutism. His best friend Lucky is his opposite in every way: bold, wild, and outgoing. He understands Ellis, even though Ellis doesn’t have much to say. Ellis fell in love with Lucky without even trying. But he knew Lucky needed more than Ellis could give him. 

So when Lucky sweeps back into town after years of Ellis learning to get over him, and he’s upset and there’s a tension between them, Ellis doesn’t know what to do. But he does know that it’s time to tell Lucky that he loves him.

Take On Me is known for being a refreshing story where the romantic plot line almost takes a backseat. Diana, the neurodivergent main character, is hailed as being incredibly relatable, and she’s going through something that many of us have gone through: her long-time friend has ghosted her. And she’s determined to figure out why. 

Di has some complicated family issues. All of her siblings have neurodivergent struggles too, but she is the only one who is taking medication and going to therapy. While it’s working out well for her, she’s a very black and white person who occasionally misses the mark socially. 

In the midst of her struggles with her friend, her ex, Felix Cayo, reappears. But she just wants him gone—she hates him, after all…right? The only way to know is to remember. If she keeps going over it all in her head, over and over again, eventually it will make sense. 

Ren has been waiting for the right moment to make Frankie Zeferino his since the moment he met her. But as long as Frankie is his hockey team’s social media manager, she’s off limits. 

Frankie isn’t immune to sunshiney Ren Bergman’s charms, and maybe one day she would’ve gone for a guy like him. But after years of being burned by people who learn about her autism and rheumatoid arthritis and see her as a problem instead of a person, she got smart. 

Finally, Ren learns that Frankie is leaving the team to pursue a new career, so he can shoot his shot. But he didn’t know just how hard she was going to make him work for a chance at her heart. 

Khai Diep is convinced he has no feelings. He may feel things like slight irritation, but not the big ones, life grief or love, which is why he steadfastly avoids relationships at all costs. But his family knows better. They know his autism just means he processes emotions differently. Which is why his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. 

Esme Tran, a mixed girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, has always felt out of place. When the opportunity to come to America to meet a potential husband arises, she jumps at the chance; this may just be the break her family needs. But seducing Khai is more difficult than she thought, and she finds herself hopelessly in love with a man who has convinced himself he can never return her affection. 

But Esme’s time in the US is running out, and Khai is forced to understand that he’s been wrong all along: there is more than one way to love. 

Beau Winston is known for being the kindest, most accommodating guy in the world. But when his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired Shelly Sullivan (also known as the bane of Beau’s existence) as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau’s charm begins to falter. Quickly. 

Shelly is not kind, and certainly not accommodating. She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, won’t touch another person, and her parrot only speaks curse words. Beau wants her gone. Until he realizes why she is the way she is. 

Shelly’s heartbreaking story and her struggles with OCD make their situation incredibly complicated. And it’s not made any easier by the character development that Beau struggles through in the duration of this story either. Sometimes, being too nice and accommodating may mean losing what matters most.