If you’re familiar with the blogging or book industry you may have heard the term “New Adult” around and about over the past few months and I decided that it was something I wanted to talk a little bit about on the blog...
So if you’re reading this post then you may know a bit about me and the blog but if not I just want to put it out there that I am 22 years old and this is a blog that reviews and discusses Young Adult and Chick-lit books. Since about the age of 17 I’ve alternated between reading Young Adult and Chick-lit, why? Because they are the genre’s I most relate to. I’m not a teenager anymore but I was not long ago and remember all too well the angst and that feeling of trying to find who you are and all of those incredible firsts and so I find that I connect with teenage characters an awful lot. But then on the other hand I’m also a young woman who can relate to the feelings of dealing with the working world, relationships and friendships, and standing on your own as you’ve flown the nest and are now trying to make a new life and family of your own. All of these topics are looked at in Chick-Lit or Women’s Literature.
I remember thinking when I was 17 that it was an awfully big leap. To go from teenage books to suddenly stepping into the shoes of older women, where was the middle ground? Did people between the ages of 18 to early twenties just not exist in the literary world? I’ve only managed to find a handful of books dealing with people around that age group The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder being one and The Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty being the other. But even those books didn’t seem to have a true home; publishers didn’t seem to know whether to classify them as YA or Adult Fiction because they have such huge crossover appeal. But at last my friends that gap in the market has been realised and so the genre New Adult is born.
New Adult is a new genre for books that don’t quite fit as either YA or Adult Literature. But mostly from what I understand of it they are a more mature version of the YA books that I love now, about people my age, venturing out into the world for the first time on their own and with more mature themes too. I’m so glad that publishers have realised there is this huge other market out there that need books they can relate to and already there have been some exciting new novels released into this genre that seem to be taking the blogosphere by storm. Books like Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Easy by Tammara Webber, and Slammed by Colleen Hoover. I have yet to read any of these new books hitting this genre yet but I expect seems as I’m this genres target audience that I am going to love them.
At the moment all of the New Adult releases seem to be contemporary which is great as I love those kind of books but I can’t help but feel like this is just the beginning and we’ll see all kinds of different stories appear as this genre grows. Hopefully because of the already phenomenal success and popularity of the books mentioned more authors will be tempted to write for this genre too. I for one am happy that my age group finally has a voice in the literary world.
Have you read any New Adult novels yet? As I’m a newbie what would you recommend I start with?
Oh I've seen so many New adult books about Jess, and like you I'm super excited about them too! I have a bunch to get through like Slammed and Easy. The only one I've read so far is Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo which I loved! I can't wait to pick up more of these books! :)
ReplyDeleteOooh I haven't heard of Holier Than Thou, thanks for the rec! *Adds to wishlist.* After all this chatter last night I decided to take the plunge and start with Easy so far I'm really enjoying it!
DeleteI'm 23 and agree with everything in this post!
ReplyDeleteI've only read a handful of these new New Adult novels, and so far I'm liking what I'm seeing. I'd HIGHLY recommend The Secret of Ella and Micha. :)
Thanks for the rec Angie! You'll be happy to know I downloaded The Secret of Ella and Micha on to my kindle right away! :)
DeleteI'll definitely be interested to check out this new middle band of literature. I struggle at the shop sometimes to decide whether a book should be shelved as YA or adult fiction, so maybe those are the books I should try! I find that YA literature can sometimes be a bit too angsty for me (I had such a shit few years as a teenager that I REALLY don't want to relive it now) and I often want a bit more spice in my romances, if you know what I mean, but at 25 I'm not really up in the mummy-lit or high-flying businesswoman bracket either! That's why I tend to flit over most chick lit unless it has a particular hook I love (like a cool setting or a quirky twist), because I just don't relate to it. Looking forward to seeing what you recommend in the months to come! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellie! I took the plunge last night and started reading Easy and so far I'm really enjoying it. There are all of the steamy moments of Adult Books but from a younger voice that isn't as angsty as a teen voice. It might just be my perfect genre! I'll be keeping you up to date as I test the waters ;)
DeleteI find some of the characters in YA books to be too young for me and I want to read about people 18-20s ish. I haven't read anything from this genre yet but I would definitely be willing to give it a go, especially if we really do get something in the middle of YA and adult. I'll be looking to you for some recommendations after you've read some :D
ReplyDeleteAfter posting this I started to read my first NA book last night and so far it is definitely like the perfect middle ground between the two genre's. It's a bit like YA with more mature characters and steamier scenes! I'll be reviewing to let you know how I get on :)
DeleteGreat post Jess! I'be just downloaded Slammed and am looking forward to reading my first 'New Adult' book :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda! I hope you enjoy Slammed :-) Pop back and let me know how you got on!
DeleteEeep! Awesome post!:D
ReplyDeleteEver since I read Easy by Tammara Webber and Slammed by Colleen Hover this past summer, I've become addicted to this New Adult genre. I was already a little burned out on my usual YA Paranormal books, so this genre was a perfect fit for me! It may or may not be because I'm 24 and it's much easier to connect with the characters. (I tend to get impatient with the angsty, immature YA and I'm not ready to jump to the lots-of-drama-get-a-killer-career-get-married-make-babies type of adult books yet LOL).
Anyway... Here's a list that has all the good stuff in NA:
http://www.goodreads.com/genres/new-adult
I personally recommend: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park (one of my all time fav now!), The Sea Breeze series by Abbi Glines, Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt, Just remember to breathe, The Sea of Tranquility, Losing It, The Secret of Ella & Micah, Crash by Nicolle Williams... and I'll stop now. LOL
I hope you enjoy the books you get!:)
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Deea and thanks for the list! I just finished Easy and can see myself getting hooked on this genre too. I just bought The Secret of Ella and Micah and will be checking out the others you mentioned, thank you! :-)
DeleteI'm not American and don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I hope you had a good one! x
I'm addicted to this "new genre"! Since I read Easy by Tammara Webber I'm reading New Adult books and I have a lot of favorites!
ReplyDeleteEasy by Tammara Webber (this is a must read!), Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover.
Another my favorite is My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron, Charade by Nyrae Dawn and The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay!
Oh, and I really recommend to start with Easy by Tammara Webber if you're new to this genre! :)
DeleteI did start with Easy and really enjoyed it! Thanks for the list I'll be checking them out but I think that my next NA read will be Slammed :)
Deletei am loving the new adult genre too! you should check out Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker it is super good!
ReplyDeleteOh I haven't heard of that one *adds to wishlist* thanks!
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