I took a pretty hefty hiatus last year from the blog, and when I returned, I was quite surprised to find this quiet, steady little genre that I'd only previously heard inklings of had exploded into the next big thing. For some reason though, despite the fact that I really wanted to lose myself in the new adult (NA) genre, as well, I felt a significant disconnect, and I haven't been able to bring myself to read past a few failed attempts at reading the NA genre.
I'd never be so bold as to say that there is anything wrong with the genre because it's clearly exploding. Authors like Cora Carmack, Jamie McGuire and Colleen Hoover are now household names because they've bridged that gap between YA and adult books, and I think that's awesome. I'll be the first person to say that something was seriously lacking there because we saw YA ending at 17, and then we kind of watched it taper off, losing a lot of potential stories in the process.
In 2009, St. Martin's Press sought out something new that read similarly to young adult fiction, but could be marketed to a more adult crowd, hence a changing in the perception of adult novels and developing a diverse "new adult" market. Guys, I'm all for NA books! Truly, I am. I think it's fantastic when publishers and authors can recognize that something is missing on the market and offer something to entice new readers who might have otherwise felt overlooked.
Here's my thing though...from my perspective, I found a lot of the NA books I tried to simply be hyper-sexualized purely for the sake of giving readers more than we might find in YA. Yes, I realize that my viewpoint is narrow, and I'm missing out on a lot of great stories, which is why I'm actually posting this. I think the new adult fiction has an incredible and fairly untapped potential. Some authors have truly captured the essence of this coming-of-age genre in which characters discover life in the real world, sexual experiences and true growth. Others, however, (and perhaps just the few ones I've read) took the genre at face-value, giving us alpha-males with meek women, an over-abundance of sex and little growth.
What I'm hoping to discover in starting to delve into the genre is a wide range of stories that offer all of the above and more. I'd love to read a book with a female (or male) protagonist that's discovering the trials and tribulations of life as a new adult. I want to watch these characters really delve into their true characters, learning about who they are as individuals, who they are in relationships and what they have to offer all those around them. I want to see tasteful, exciting discoveries in which these characters really come into their own as adults - and I want to hopefully not see all these things too heavily blanketed in a plethora of just sex.
So, lovely readers, lay it on me. What new adult titles have you read that really surprised you with their depth and insight? Trust me, I really do want to set aside my self-imposed aversion to the genre!
I totally agree with what you have to say Melissa, I too want to jump on the NA bandwagon, but the books seem to be falling a little bit flat for me. But two books which I would huge recommend are Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo, they definitely give something different.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jasprit! I actually didn't know that Fangirl was NA, so I'm definitely intrigued now!
DeleteI agree - most New Adult really is just hyper-sexualized YA without the messy relationships that come from that age group. I recently read Unteachable, My One and Only, Come See About Me, and Fangirl which are all New Adult novels I've enjoyed. I'm going to try to find more, so if/when I do, I'll be sure to let you know! Wonderful post, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keertana! I hate to avoid the genre, but I guess I just expect a little more from it :)
DeleteYESYESYES!!! I love the POTENTIAL of NA but...it's not there yet. Right now, it's mostly just romance & bodice-rippers (so to speak) with the 18-24 set. I want more like Fangirl, more books set in college or military and with people struggling to find their way in the world, not just with love but LIFE. Hopefully, that's what's coming. *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteHmm, I struggle relating to YA contemporaries, and usually satisfied my needs in the adult genre, and while I do not want a steady diet of NA, I enjoy them. Foreplay by Sophia Jordan really surprised me, as did Remembering Joy by Jenni Moen.
ReplyDelete"I found a lot of the NA books I tried to simply be hyper-sexualized purely for the sake of giving readers more than we might find in YA. [...] I think the new adult fiction has an incredible and fairly untapped potential."
ReplyDeleteI've gotten that impression as well, but because so many books are SO similar in that regard, and because there's so much potential, I'm inclined to believe that it's an effect of the market boom and not of New Adult books inherently. I'm hoping once things settle down and people stop seeing as "the next big thing that we need to do RIGHT NOW, GO, GO, GO" then we'll get more...for lack of a better word, mature stories.
I think NA can be a really tricky genre, it's definitely flooded with the hyper-sexualized, over-dramatized stories you mentioned, but now that the genre is a little more established, I feel like we're getting more of the nuanced stories I was hoping for originally. I adored Easy by Tammara Webber, that was one of the first ones I read. And I of course love Cora Carmack. I just read Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase and LOVED that one, I will definitely be seeking out more books by her now!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! All of the NA books I have read are pretty much about a virginal girl that gets with a more experienced bad boy or something very similar. My favorite NA is Easy by Tammara Webber, but I haven't read that many. You'll have to let me know if you get some good recommendations. From what I am seeing, Fangirl by Rowell is a must!
ReplyDeleteNA has been VERY hit and miss for me. Cora Carmack's books are pretty fun reads, but I have yet to read an NA that I've really fallen in love with. I've heard good things about Colleen Hoover's books, but I've yet to read her.
ReplyDeleteI share your concerns about the NA genre. Actually, I have yet to read any NA books (which clearly must be rectified at some point). BUT contemporary isn't my favorite genre and all NA books seem to be contemporary. I am thinking that starting with an author I already like who has written for others/genres might be the way to go. Diana Peterfreund has just published a NA book under a pseudonym, so I may give that a try.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to see what recommendations you receive and what NA books you try out yourself!
I do think you have reason to think the NA books are hyper-sexualized because a lot of them are. I don't mind reading more sensual reads, but to be honest I don't know why they are just labeled adult. I recommend Colleen Hoover's Slammed and Tammara Webber's Easy. Both are not overly sexual, Slammed is quite clean in fact, and both are really great stories, IMO. :)
ReplyDeleteI've read HEAPS of reviews on New Adult books but to be honest, haven't dived into them that much. I agree with the NA genre, some people are using it to focus on more sex than your average YA book but others are doing incredible things with it like Colleen Hoover. I think there is room to move in this space over the next year or so, and I can't wait to see what comes out! I would really recommend Rebecca James' Sweet Damage & Beautiful Malice, some amazing NA psychological thrillers (not much sex)
ReplyDeleteJeann @ Happy Indulgence
I am in LOVE with New Adult books, because they're still a YA type but older and more mature. I never realized the whole sex thing though which is totally true and I agree with you. I would love to have some coming of age books!
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed that the genre hasn't really met it's full potential. There is more to becoming an adult than hot sex. It never seems to explore any other aspect. College is just a backdrop.
ReplyDeleteA few I liked - they did have sex but I thought it was done well - and about more than just sex - are Faking It/ Finding It by Cora Carmack, Easy by Tammara Webber, Foreplay by Sophie Jordan and Sea of tranquility by Katja Millay.
Those are still more relationship focused than i would like but explored more of the issues about becoming an adult than most NA.
I agree with so much of what you have said about NA. I tend to read it as a guilty pleasure but I still don't get it really because so many of the characters don't seem real to me. I know Asheley at Into the Hall of Books always has some GREAT NA recommendations. She has a lot of positive things to say about this genre and has weeded out the ones you have mentioned. Personally, I have really liked Stir Me Up and A Little Too Far the most. They both had some meat to the story (ha, the good kind) and also you could tell the author did research and wasn't just so focused on the sex. Hopefully those work out for you!
ReplyDeleteHmmm I think I actually haven't read any New Adult book. Yet. I think it's great that authors see that there is something more to improve in the reading world and try to fill that up with new ideas. But I agree with the hypersexualised part. All of the books I've heard of in the NA genre just give more sex. And I can't help thinking that there should be something more that appeals to people; more mature characters, different problems but all that there seems to be is more sexual action. But like you said, I am no NA professional and I might miss out on a looot of great stories.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, I will try NA eventually. I have to try a right way to plunge in it though ;)
I seem to have become picky with my NA but agree with Karen's list of books to read. I also liked Rule & Jet by Jay crowdowner ...those are another good series. But yes I think it should real and not too many broken boys where sex is healing :(
ReplyDeleteI've managed to steer clear of the Losing It type books so far, although I did try Easy which wasn't terrible but I'm not much really a fan of the good girl/bad boy trope - why do they always have tattoos?! Surely that cliche is played out now considering everyone from your cousin to your grandma has one now.
ReplyDeleteAs for my favourites: I loved Flat Out Love and Flat Out Matt by Jessica Park - I think they would be considered NA. Also, The Secret Society Girl series by Diana Peterfreund (don't let the title put you off). I'm on the Fangirl bandwagon too - definitely one of my favourite books of the year!
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham is a great NA book that I've never seen classified as NA. It features a mid-20s protagonist trying to make it as an actress. She has real world problems, like trying to make rent and pay bills, dealing with the fact that her life hasn't gone the way she assumed it would. And yes, she has some romantic entanglements but they don't dominate the story. It's the kind of "discovering your place in the real world" that I expected when I first heard that NA was a thing, and what I wish there was more of.
ReplyDeleteFangirl (Rowell) could probably pass as NA, since it's set in college. I also have heard good things about Roomies (Zarr/Altebrando), which seems to have an NA feel too. Like you though, I'm pretty wary of NA in general!
ReplyDeleteI agree. The reason I haven't read any NA is because I don't like the focus on romance/sex. I don't mind when it's in a book, but I don't care if it's only about that. The only book I'm interested in is Fangirl at the moment.
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