On My Soapbox #001

New Adult... You Suck!


It's no secret that I'm not particularly fond of the new adult genre as a whole, but now? Now I loathe it with a passion I usually reserve for orange juice, animal cruelty and the scent of Vicks Vaporub. Who was it that decided that mixing an overly dramatic young adult romance with mild erotica was a great concept? I certainly wasn't at that meeting.

My issue is, for a popular genre, aren't new adult enthusiasts sick of reading the same tired story lines? Late teen or early twenties boy, meets usually pure slightly younger girl, either one or both have unrealistic issues, an unhealthy relationship, but the sex is incredible? That's not love, that's two barely functioning young adults with a destructive attachment with a sexual bond. I can count on one hand how many new adult series are actually worth the effort, but the countless others have ruined me for the genre.

Going by book reviews and ratings that I've come across, why do we allow new adult authors more leeway with books that should otherwise be condemned? Is the the hordes of teen readers that are swept up in the sexual content, or because mature readers need passion in their lives, no matter how badly it's portrayed. When it comes to an attractive guy who ravishes the female protagonist, it sadly seems that ratings are being written with our loins.


New adult readers, why aren't you demanding more of your story lines, more of your characters and more of your authors who seem to think all you're interested in is a hot guy and sex.

10 comments

  1. I've not had a chance to read New Adult yet but because the publishing industry has labeled stories with 18 - 22 yr-old characters as "new adult", I think some books are getting shoved there that don't fit.

    Also, authors, no matter what they write should try to be a little more realistic (at least that's how I feel) in their portrayals of healthy relationships.

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    1. I couldn't agree more. it's basically young adult with sex and plenty of it. But it seems to be in a classless category all of it's own. It's too smutty to be young adult, and no one that reads adult romances would bother to read it either I wouldn't think. It's a shame, there would be a greater market out there if authors stop publishing the same tired stories.

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  2. Orange juice? How could you hate orange juice? D:
    Yeah, this post is pretty much the reason why I am staying away from NA, and not letting it within ten feet of me. I've read a few synposes, and like you said, they all sound EXACTLY THE SAME.
    A person who cannot seem to form a relationship somehow forms a relationship with someone who seems all innocent and pure but also harbours dark and twistiness, just like them. Oh, and sex. Lots of sex.
    I just cannot bring myself to read any of these books. They all sound kind of tiresome. I like bad boys, but I don't know if I can handle a million books with the same storyline of good girl and bad boy, you know?

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    1. Chiara, I couldn't have said it better myself. I've read a few new adult titles and series that have fantastic, but in all, it's a terrible genre. The only positive is that young adult readers like myself, it's freed up our genre and weeded out all the god awful new adult now.

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  3. Yup, I'm with you. I mean, I'll happily change my mind if I can find some NA books that have a plot. But so far, the 3 I've read had no plot, no life, no originality, and frankly I was bored. If it's just a genre based on sex, then isn't that erotica? Or is this sex-for-younger-people? Which, in that case, is weirding me out. I'm not impressed by this being made a category AT ALL.

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    1. Exactly Cait. Is it an excuse for young adult erotica, put a new label on it and presto... Guaranteed sales. I'd like to read more mature young adult, but why is it all sexually based? Is that what the general reading community wants?

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  4. I think NA readers are quickly wising up to the tricks and techniques of the trade, and they are beginning to sound like one another. There are some truly brilliant NA entries and I'm glad to have read them, but I think you are right, a lot of the storylines sound the same and are just excuses for glorified sex.

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    1. One of the great young adult series I've read is the Summer series by C. J Duggan. She's an Aussie author, so that's a bonus. It's not sexual content I have a problem with, it's the constant sex at the forefront, and the storylines are generally pathetic.

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  5. There are NA books that I did love, but it's true that most are the same. Like those authors are using one formula. That's why I am picky with the NA books I read. I always look for something new, something that isn't all about sex.

    And why do you hate orange juice?

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    1. I'm the same Dre, but even the ones that have claimed to have an in depth storyline seem to revert back to getting it on as well.

      Orange juice just tastes weird. Even the pulp free one. It's thick and syrupy and hurts your throat if you drink too much. Apple juice, now there's a winner.

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