Hopefully this is the place for dumb questions because I have a few. I've read many, many adult romances. I'm even pubbed in adult romance but now I'd like to try to write a teen romance. I'm assuming they're not the same as adult romances with younger characters. Yes, I know the difference between YA and adult and it's not just age. Just thought I'd clarify.
Anyway I'm not finding anything in the YA romance genre that fits what I have in mind. The contemporaries seem mostly about everything else that is going on in the MCs world. Family issues, school issues, trying to fit in with their new volleyball squad, etc. The romance is mostly the MC wanting to be with boy A but everything else gets in the way. Or the MC is involved in some thoroughly depressing situation like trying to come to terms with a family suicide, death of a parent, drug addiction, what have you, and the boy involved is also from a dysfunctional situation and the story is mostly about them helping one another cope. If I go in the fantasy/paranormal route, then that world completely overshadows everything else.
I'm not bad mouthing any of these stories, and no, I haven't extensively read in the YA genre. I've read the Princess Diaries, and pretty much everything else Meg Cabot has written in the YA genre. Hunger Games, Percy Jackson (which some may argue is more MG). I'm reading a Sarah Mylnoski novel right now - 10 Things We Did that We Shouldn't Have. Its a good read but I'm not getting the impression its going to showcase the romance in a manner that I'm looking for. I'm getting the everything else gets in the way vibe from the bit I've read so far.
So my question - are the types of plots I previously described typical of the YA romance genre? Are there stories where the couple is put together in some situation, there's an attraction, for whatever reason they try to fight it, but they get drawn into a relationship anyway. I'll probably add a fantasy element because I do enjoy those elements, but I want to explore the chemistry and intense feelings that goes with a new romance. I prefer to not have to explore deep traumatic issues to bring about a physical attraction.
So clear as mud? Or have I just simply been overlooking dozens of books that are similar to what I've described?