Thoughtful Thursday: the new "New Adult" genre

*not my picture*

If you haven't heard about this genre, I'm not surprised. It only originated in 2009, and has since received a lot of ridicule. Many dismiss it as a re-branding of chick-lit, or an excuse to sex-up YA novels. In some cases, sure. But universally? That's an exaggeration. It shows an unwillingness to get with the times. New Adult books exist to bridge the gap between what is young-adult and adult fiction. It's an absolutely necessary genre, and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't been around for a longer period.

What will you find in a NA novel? Usually, a main character who is between 18-30 years old. They are dealing with things that one deals when entering "the real world". College, careers, love. It explores adult themes, but appeals to a younger audience.

Now why is this necessary? As I said before, it's bridging the gap between YA and adult. I've read a few NA novels over the years that were deemed YA, but seemed a little mature for the genre. And I've felt conflicted about the YA tag on them. It just didn't seem...right. 

The great thing about the NA genre is that you have an a story for younger audiences that does have sex in it. It's differentiates and that's a good thing for readers, and parents, especially, who want to watch what their kids are reading.

I hope that this genre gets the credit it deserves. It does SO MUCH MORE good than harm. But just like any other genre, it might not be someone's favorite, and that's okay.

Here are list of some popular NA books you might have heard of:

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

2. Easy by Tamara Webber

3. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

4. Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout

5. White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

6. Love Story by Jennifer Echols

7. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

8. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

9. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

10. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry