Have you noticed an increase in acronyms when looking for a new book to read? Do you find yourself confused and frustrated by trying to decipher the alphabet soup acronyms that come along with finding a good book to read? Join the club! I’ve loved reading my entire life, and up until recently, I had no idea what half of these acronyms meant. I’m learning that there is definitely a difference that readers should be aware of. So, Young Adult Fiction or New Adult Fiction, what’s your preferred poison?
Young Adult Fiction, also known as YA, tends to be written from the perspective of a teenager, typically between the ages of 13 and 18 (Peraza-Brown, 2022). These protagonists are usually written in a school setting, either high school, boarding school, or an academy of some kind. These novels deal with the beginning feelings of love and angst that teenagers may experience and, if there is romance, it is a sweet or clean romance without any spice or with fade to black/closed door scenes. If there are any fade-to-black/closed-door scenes, they are very, very few and far between.
Instead of giving preference to physical intimacy, usually seen in adult romance, YA can spend more time focusing on the emotional aspects of intimacy. YA novels, though the title suggests they might be more focused on older teenagers, can be a great source of reading material for individuals looking for something a little less spicy or “cleaner” than many adult romance novels. Those looking for fantasy or romantasy need not look further than YA either, in fact, my all-time favorite series are YA novels.
If you’re looking for a fantasy or romantasy YA, I definitely recommend Embrace, the Violet Eden Chapters by Jessica Shirvington. This 5-book series includes Angels, Fallen Angels, and what happens when supernatural beings use Earth as their playground. The emotional journey of the characters in these books is *chef’s kiss*. It’s my all-time favorite YA fantasy/romance series.
New Adult Fiction or NA, is usually written from the perspective of college-age individuals, though they can include upper high-school-aged protagonists as well, typically 18 to 25 years old and in the space between adolescence and true adulthood (Peraza-Brown,2022). Technically, NA is not recognized as an actual category by major book retailers, meaning that sometimes it may be hard to tell the difference between YA and NA (Lasinska, 2024). Unlike YA, NA does have more space for spice and can have more open-door scenes.
If you are concerned about open or closed-door intimacy, make sure to research the book prior to purchasing or renting. A perfect example of YA/NA confusion could be the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these books but, the fact that they show up in many YA categories does make me cringe a bit. There has been a huge resurgence of New Adult Romantasy interest and authors are capitalizing on reader’s desire to eat up everything NA Romantasy that they can find!
Another popular series that is considered New Adult Romantasy is The Empyrean Series (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros). If you’ve read these books or think you’d like them, the good news is, that New Adult Romantasy is a booming genre right now!
Do You Have A Favorite YA or NA Romance, Fantasy, or Romantasy Novel/Series? Drop The Name In The Comments Section And Share The Love!
References
Lasinska, Kasia. (2024, May 23). Breaking down the difference between new adult and young adult fiction written by Kasia Lasinska. Indie Author Magazine. https://indieauthormagazine.com/breaking-down-the-difference-between-new-adult-and-young-adult-fiction/
Paraza-Brown, Polly. “What Is New Adult Fiction? All You Need to Know.” Jericho Writers, 23 Nov. 2022, jerichowriters.com/what-is-new-adult-fiction/#:~:text=New%20adult%20fiction%20books%20(NA,either%20YA%20or%20adult%20fiction.
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