Dishing Junk – The New Adult Genre – WTF or WTG?
Dishing Junk is a feature on the PJV where we dish it out! The girls and I have realized that we need a place to sort of vent our book & book blogger troubles. It might be something small and inconsequential that we thought was inappropriate to mention in a review – or it might be a genre-wide gush. This is going to be where we dish it out. Readers are welcome to participate in the discussion on their own blogs or in comments. Dish it…
Suddenly everyone is asking me about BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. Which leads me to this post.
McGuire’s BEAUTIFUL DISASTER is considered one of the leading New Adult books in the current market.
Young Adult sales are through the roof, authors are dying to get into this Young Adult genre and make some money. But, there are restrictions. You don’t want your heroine running around being all slutty, hooking up with boys and generally acting like a tramp…so is this why we invented New Adult? Most girls wait until college to experiment, right? So, therefore if you want your character to be a bit more experienced and do more sexual things you put her in the New Adult category.
I think I got a bit ahead of myself though. Some of you might be asking what is the New Adult genre?
Really everyone has a different answer. Here is mine, in a handy graphic:
It is supposed to be an in-between. A stepping stone from Young Adult to Adult, but a lot of naysayers have said that it is basically like letting Bella boink Edward with a little more throbbing and a lot less feathers and abstract flashing lights.
Whether you like it or not, the fact is…it’s taking hold. HarperCollins among others are signing author after author to fill this New Adult genre.
Personally, my feelings towards this new genre are – basically authors have been writing about 20 somethings forever. I mean, it’s an age…people write about age groups. We don’t skip any, we even write about people in nursing homes (ahem Nicolas Sparks). College based stories, coming of age in your early 20s…it’s been done. Why are we now classifying them as “New Adult” and is it just because we want to sell more books? Publishers realized that Young Adult books are selling so let’s give them something else to sell? And stuff them with sex – because we all want sex! Sex sells right?
But, this is where I scratch my head, because polls are saying that 52% of Young Adult books are bought by 25+ year olds.
Why are we buying these books?
Teens are fun to read about, they bring us back. The innocence in the characters is refreshing. There is innocent romance which is not all muddied up with throbbing members and heaving bosoms. We want to read about that first time people fall in love, the characters not all broken from prior romances. We like that the young adult voice. Which is what…innocent?
Maybe it is the sign of the times. There is so much sex, violence and intensity on the television, in the news, reading a young adult novel, even if it is violent or angsty is still fresh and there is that word again, innocent…
So, why are we going to like New Adult? I think sales might be good at first, but I really doubt they will rival Young Adult. I think readers are happy right now, publishers aren’t going to lose them, because they aren’t going anywhere! The teens that read The Hunger Games when they were 14 are now pushing their way to adulthood and I bet you they will pick the next big Young Adult dystopian when it is released. Just like this mom of 1, 30 something– that still reads young adult and when is feeling like she needs a few heaving bosoms in her life, grabs an Adult book. But, that is just MHO. XOXO
Will New Adult books be on your plate?
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I think it’s silly. I have read tons of books about people in that age, most not in collage. And they had sex. Do I need a new adult genre? No, why bother? There are YA and adult books. I do not need another genre with teen angst. That’s the reason I dislike many YA books. All that freaking angst. Also the reason why I as a 10 year old skipped from Mg to adult.
I forget my name and all of that! ooops
I skipped Young Adult and went into Adult in the sixth grade. But, I don’t know if I would have if they had the Young Adult market like they have today. I mean really, I was reduced to two authors, RL Stine and Christopher Pike. All the good YA had been published a decade earlier, or really 25 years before. Helloooo Stephen King. Who didn’t muck everything up with sex, so I don’t feel like I was being corrupted. I think this is just a bit of Marketing.
same here with book choices from pike to king
I see SO much potential to New Adult. On one hand, yes it is just a marketing tool, but on the other hand, it could be so….poignant, and realistic. I think it publishers and authors focus on writing heart-felt stories about this age group…word.
But if it continues to be this gross image of “sexy YA,” or soft porn, NO. JUST….NO. That is SO NOT what I envisioned NA as, at all. If authors want to write erotica, there’s a whole genre for that, and it shouldn’t be forced into YA just to create a new genre.
Fabulous post!
nods my head in agreement with this statement. I think Beautiful disaster is bad example of a NA book. I think Easy has been the best example to date of this kind of book. I dNF beautiful
I hear ya. But, I guess that is just all I’m hearing. Like Fifty Shades is technically New Adult – which gives me the shivers. I have not had the pleasure of reading either Easy or BD. So, I’m still in the dark.
I don’t understand the New Adult category. Maybe I don’t like change, but it seems to me that you really only need 2 categories. I don’t know, it just seems like a way to try and make older readers feel like they are not reading teen books. I know I feel kind of funny saying, “oh, it’s a young adult book”. It’s like I’m going through a mid-life crisis and trying to relive my teen years. I know that it is weird to feel that way considering the amount of the older generation that read young adult. Maybe it is just the name of the genre. Anyway, back to point, I think that New Adult is unnecessary. Great topic!
Thanks Tanya. People do like to classify things though. They want a big pretty section that says New Adult somewhere
I see New adult as books where the MC is in her college years (20s). (30s) and higher I see as Adult. Now whether this New Adult or Adult have explicit sex scenes is a whole different matter. I have never correlated those genres with the amount/explicit sex.
I do know there were some authors that tried to push YA Erotica at some point…and it got the freaked out masses screaming NOOOO! So I was wondering if some are using this as that. And I know a lot of Adult books with protags in their early 20s…wouldn’t say they are New Adult books. Look at all these Urban Fantasy, very adult books — all 20s.
Exactly, that’s why I can’t associate erotica with Adult.
Exactly, that’s what I’ve been thinking since they started with this new adult genre. I just think it’s such an unnecessary classification, because all of those books already exist, so when I’m in a mood for YA, I’ll read YA, but when I want something else, I’ll just pick up an adult book. So, yeah, I think it’s a silly genre & I agree it can never overpass YA in sales.
I might be in the minority, but I am looking forward to this new genre. Sometimes I get bored the teen YA redundancy (not that that has stopped me from reading them). I have not read BD or 50 SoG, but I doubt (hope) that they are a true representation of the genre. I’m curious to see what NA books will be published!
On one hand I see the need for it. I’m kinda shocked at what passes for YA sometimes. I don’t think some parents are aware of what’s going on in terms of sex and drugs and whatever other themes might be objectionable to like 14 year old. The parents are thinking ok it’s in the YA section it’s probably fine, but omg some of these books are explicit.
On the other hand, it seems like a marketing ploy. Like YA trilogies somehow.
I kinda think it’s an awesome idea. When I was in my early 20s, I would have loved it. It just helps separate the age of the heroine. Young women probably don’t mind reading something more mature but not too wifey kiddie.
I haven’t been in the mood for YA. But I wouldn’t hesitate to grab one from this genre.
Good point JuJu thanks!
BTW LOVE your Mardi Gras additions.
I agree. I love YA books. That’s why I read them in the first place. It brings me back to place I love to be. Young and innocent, getting into trouble,etc. But I also think that NA has a stepping stone as well. College years for me were a learning experience. Just like most NA books, these not so teens are just trying to find their place in the world. And that’s another place I love to read about. Finding who I am, and where I’m going. You don’t ask those questions much as a teen cause you don’t think about it.
Nice post!
I think it’s somewhat influenced by the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ phenomena – I mean, there’s no denying that the slew of recently published New Adult books follow certain sexualised tropes (and most New Adult authors have similar self-published/fan-fiction beginnings as E.L. James). But, you’re right, that grey area of no-longer-a-teenager-not-quite-an-adult 20′s land has been oft explored in both YA and Adult-Adult books. The New Adult subgenre has always been there, it just hasn’t been brilliantly marketed.
I think the current trend of sexualised New Adult will fade – but the more complicated explorations of charting the 20′s territory will remain. Authors like Melina Marchetta and Laura Buzo are the better representatives of New Adult writing. And I think it’s influenced by changing soci-economic dynamics too – when you look at the average age of children leaving home now, it’s mid-to-late 20′s so, arguably, lots of us are still living in a landscape where we’re still exploring ‘firsts’ and family still play a major part. That’s what is really at the root of New Adult and it’s influenced by real-life circumstances.
I would have loved it if the New Adult genre existed when I was in college. I tried to find books about college when I was attending college but had no luck. I guess I wasn’t really sure what to type in the search engine…
Now, I’m not really hung up on that. I’m a sucker for YA books, but when I want something more grown-up I’ll pick out an Adult book. Preferably one WITHOUT heaving bosoms and throbbing members. I’m not really keen on that sort of stuff.
There are boundaries with YA that NA will allow for which is good. I think there’s a lot more room for NA in the contemporary sub-genre as there are issues raised in college that might not get raised in high school. So they can be helpful to YA readers or NA readers alike. Issues about independence, drinking, hooking up at a party with some random dude. Getting stuck with crazy roommates.
It’s probably less of an interest for paranormal. I love the YA adventures and then the adult ones. Cat and Bones 4-Eva!
Ahem. Anyway…
I don’t see much of a need for a NA pnr. The Chicagoland Vampires books are pretty chaste when it comes to the “boinking” as you mentioned above. Although I suppose at college you’d have a lot more freedom to go around and kick-a**. But then you’d fail out pretty quickly and get stuck moving back home. And that doesn’t make for such a stellar hero/heroine.
So after my ramble-y comment. I say YAY for NA contemp. And maybe not so much YAY for NA PNR/UF.
And maybe it is a way to sell more books, but hey, I LOVE the idea of more books selling and less bookstores closing.
I actually like it. I was never a YA person and I mean that literally. When I was in high school I was out doing all kinds of pretty bad stuff – so I just can’t relate to that sweet romance stuff I guess.
Anyway – I have this new adult blog (which was designed by Parajunkee, thank you) and it’s growing like crazy. I can hardly keep up with it, that’s how big it’s gotten.
This genre EXPLODED last year but I think, at least from what i can tell, we’re branching out from these typical college stories now. And personally, I’m glad. I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings in this genre – I have a lot of author friends who are moving into new adult – yes, so they can make money. But also because as an author – it gives you so much more freedom in character development. Right now there are no rules, and that’s pretty cool.
As the parent of a pre-teen, I’m glad the NA label is around. There are some YA titles that are really not appropriate for younger teens, but the YA genre is so broad that sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s okay for the younger teens and what’s not. I just finished a YA that I was going to pass to my daughter when I finished, but after reading – DEFINITELY NOT: the first chapter contains talk of virgins, wet dreams, and daydreams about penises. Not appropriate for the younger teen crowd.
Ah, so now its explained, I was curious about this New Adult genre that popped up. I know I should be more aware since I’m an author, but sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the new and improved pop-ups in the business.
I probably would’ve enjoyed the YA now available when I was a kid, after all I loved V.C. Andrews–pretty racy stuff back in the early 90s. Then again I didn’t get into romance until my late 20s, so I don’t think New Adult would’ve been my thing. I think maybe it’s geared more toward the older crowd (like me) reliving their youth? Or not, idk since I haven’t read any New Adult.
I both love and hate the NA idea. I hate that it’s another marketing ploy, but I actually love the idea of the category. I typically avoid most adult romances. I don’t really know why, but eventually I just got tired of it. There’s a disconnect reading romances involving 40 yr old divorcees when I’m only 25. Somehow, I can relate/connect/reminisce with YA. But I’m also 25 and while I don’t really want my books to be full on explicit, I kind of like that the NA label exists even if only to say “hey, the main character gets down and dirty and few times.” The label just opens me up more “adult” romances that I’ll still relate to.
I’m not a parent, but I assume it’s also helpful for them.
I don’t like that it seems like the NA label is revolving around the amount of sex or how graphic the sex is instead of the actual ages of the characters because some books I’ve read are clean, but the main character is 18 or 20 or something. So is it only NA is it’s sexual? I’m so confused.
Great post!
Can we PLEASE, if we’re going to do this at all, just rename “Young Adult” to “Teen” and then make “Young Adult” the college years? “New Adult” makes no sense. It sounds like New Releases in “Adult”! Or at the very least it’s confusing because if you’re “new” to being an “adult” well then, you’re “young.
To recap, let’s have it go:
Board Books
Picture Books
Chapter Books
Middle-Grade Books
Teen Books
Young Adult Books
Adult Books
Thank you and good night! lol
http://www.katlovesbooks.blogspot.com
I actually appreciate this New Adult category! I’m quite astounded with the number of steamy novels cropping up lately, that is so not YA and yet not so…adult. And not chick lit. So while it may seem like a marketing ploy, it does help me in my categorization and when choosing books. So far I haven’t read an NA book – but Beautiful Disaster is on my list…maybe about a hundred books down the line. I’m not sure if I want to get into the new genre though!
I love NA books and I think this genre (most books) are more realistic. I mean Jace and Clary have been together how long and they still haven’t had sex! No wonder he is so moody! I’m sure this could happen but most likely not. Patch and Nora in the Hush, Hush series don’t ever have sex. She is willing to die for him but isn’t sure if she’s ready to have sex with him? WTF! Shane and (I can’t remember the girls name, Clary?) from the Morganville Vampires series are on the 13th book or so and they STILL haven’t had sex either. There comes a point where it just gets ridiculous. I don’t need to read about all the details (although it doesn’t bother me) but I would like to know that it happens.
I mean this in the least bitchy tone possible but have you read an NA book yet? NA is not just a YA book plus sex and I hate when people describe it as that. Especially people that haven’t read NA books. I do hate the name New Adult though. I would prefer the tern Mature YA or something.
I see (and everyone’s views are different) NA as the MC being 17-23ish years old and the books deal with serious issues like rape, sexual assault, drugs, drinking. Stuff that might offend YA audience (which is 12-17 yrs old). I love all kinds of books whether they are YA, NA or Adult. If you are curious and want to read an NA book here are my top 3 NA books that are not ‘all about sex’.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Slammed by Colleen Hoover
Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
I definitely go through phases, and sometimes I feel like reading a YA, and sometimes I feel like reading an NA…so I think they’ll both always be on my plate, along with adult books. There is something refreshing about a NA, about that feeling of having the world as your oyster in college, a huge world of opportunity. And yes, it is great to read about those characters.