5 Reasons I've (Mostly) Quit Young Adult

Hey, everyone!


Today I wanted to talk about the young adult category for the book world. I hesitate to say genre, since you can have a contemporary young adult novel or a paranormal young, the same as you can have an adult paranormal or an adult contemporary, so really calling it a genre doesn't make much sense...

I digress.

Anyway, back on topic. The more I read, the less I find myself going further and further away from young adult. While I've broadened my horizons quite a bit this year (including historical, fantasy, and sci-fi - go me!), it's been almost exclusively new adult and adult novels. In fact, I think the series I picked up last week has been the first taste of young adult I've had this year. I've enjoyed it, but it has definitely reminded me why I drifted from YA in the first place. I'm counting YA as a book where the protagonist is between the ages of 13 and 17-18.

5. Keepin' it PG-13

This is one of my biggest issues with YA: the censoring. For most YA books (not all, of course), the violence, sex, swearing, ect is diluted to some extent and in some way. Don't get me wrong, I expect that and am totally okay with it when the target audience is in the 15 and under crowd. But for the novels geared towards older teens, it bugs me a bit. The vast majority of 16/17/18 year olds are fully capable of dealing with the stark truth of such matters, and have more than likely experienced some - if not all - of the material censored themselves. 

After reading YA, I have the intense desire to dive into the filthiest, smuttiest smut I can get my hands on. 

4. High school years aren't fun

I was home schooled and didn't attend a physical high school, but I can fully relate to how difficult the high school/teenage years are. Physical, mentally, emotionally, it is tough, especially before the age of 16 or so. I'm not that far out of the YA target audience myself, and I have no desire to revisit that.

3. 2getha 4 evah

I love romance. Love it. In fact, my last Top Ten Tuesday was 10 reasons I love romance. I want to swoon over a couple, and completely believe in their relationship and commitment. In YA, especially without a paranormal element, I just...don't. There's a constant seed of doubt, a feeling of fleetingness to the relationship, and I don't like it.

2. So much potential! 

Some YA novels have the most interesting and unusual plots that just beg you to pick them up. The potential is so deep and amazing in tons of YA, and I'm always so eager to immerse myself in the plot. I usually wind up being a tad disappointed, unfortunately. Either poor characterization, a choppy plot, or fear of going too far holds the story back, and it's frustrating.

1. Love triangles

Okay, this isn't a YA exclusive (unfortunately), but it is far to prevalent there, especially for the paranormal genre. There is nothing, nothing in a book I hate more than a love triangle, either a full blown one or a maybe-maybe-not one. I want to root for one couple, and fall in love with one hero. It infuriates me on every level when it gets split up. 

I get the intense urge to throw a book when there's something in the synopsis along the lines of "good friend who's always there for you/mysterious new boy". Even if it doesn't end in a love triangle, it makes me go:

I can think of only one book where a love triangle was believable, well done, and not rage inducing, and it was a YA, believe it or not. Few authors can pull it off, so I wish it wasn't so popular.

Side note: a love triangle (or really, as I understand, just a love shift) is the reason I'm avoiding the sequel to a book I mostly enjoyed earlier this year. *coughACourtOfMistAndFurycough*

So that's it! This is why I've (mostly) quick young adult. What about you? Do you love or dislike YA?

Novellas: Love Them or Hate Them?

Hey, everyone!


Today I want to talk about novellas, those shortish stories authors love adding to series. People seem to either love or hate them, so I thought it'd be interesting to talk about them.


Personally, I usually enjoy novellas. I (usually) like what they add to the story, and I'm always up to read more of a favorite series.
I've found that there's three categories novellas tend to fall into, regardless of how good the story itself was. Have you noticed this pattern?

1. Wow, that blew my mind and truly improved my reading

This is for those gorgeously rare novellas that really, truly add something to a beloved storyline. Whether it's an integral backstory that puts a character in a new light, a glimpse into the future, or an offshoot event that opens your eyes, these stories are incredible and vital. I've only read one so far!

I viewed the rest of this trilogy in a completely new way after reading this.

2. Enjoyable, but optional

These stories are enjoyable on their own, and add icing on the cake to the series.  However, it's entirely possible to read the full length novels and not miss much at all.

I really loved getting a peek inside Reyes' head!

5 star read, and well deserved for the couple. Not necessary to read, though!

3. Not worth reading

These don't add anything to the series, and you're better off rereading a full length story.

I adore both these authors and series, but I didn't really feel anything for these two stories. 

What do you think of novellas?

Let's Discuss: Favorite Format

Hey, ladies!


We all love do read, but do you prefer one format over another?

My preferences have changed hugely over the past six months or so. I used to be a hardcore physical book reader. You couldn't pay me to touch any kind of e-reader. Then I discovered novellas, books that aren't usually released in paperback form. I wound up downloading the Kindle app, "just" for those books I couldn't get in physical form. One thing turned into another (mostly I found out about free ebooks), and I caved and bought a Kindle Paperwhite. Aside from my dogs and my Nikon, it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.
That said, I still read all three!

Paperback

Let's be honest here: there's nothing quite as beautiful as a well stocked bookshelf. The look, feel and smell of real books just can't be beat. I love having shelves on the verge of collapse from just how many books they hold, and a life goal is to have all my favorite books in physical form. "Real books" are extremely satisfying for my more tactile side, and a bookstore is heaven on earth. 

But...they're really expensive. You're stuck reading that one book if you happen to leave with it, and it's incredibly frustrating to loose your page if you accidentally drop it...or if you have dogs or kids, and one of them decides it'd be fun to dive-bomb you. 

Because of all this, paperbacks have become my least used format. I can't swallow the price of them too often!

Kindle/eBook

Nothing but nothing beats the convince of a Kindle. Having hundreds of books at your fingertips is perfect for pretty much all situations. It lets you easily switch back if you read more than one book at once, and it takes up almost no room in your bag. I love being able to share to Goodreads and Facebook, and to buy books right from the device. Adjusting font type and size fixes the problem of most tiny print paperbacks, or those annoyingly large large print physical copies. Not to mention the lower prices for books! The Paperwhite really is just like reading an actual page.

They're a bit impersonal though, and they do require charging. 

Audiobook

An audiobook with a fantastic narrator is my favorite way to read. A narrator that can bring all the emotion and passion into the story and really bring it to life makes the experience almost movie-like. The narrators for Karen Marie Moning's Dreamfever, Shadowfever, Iced and Burned are a truly fantastic pair. Likewise with the narrators for Jeaniene's Frost Night Huntress series or Daryanda Jones' Charely Davidson.

Not to mention listening frees up your hands and allows you to multitask!

On the other hand...a bad narrator can ruin a great book, and they're pricier than most paperbacks if you don't have Audible or utilize Whispersync!

I'll say that audiobooks and paperbacks are my favorite formats, but Kindle is my most utilized. What about you?

- The Bibliophile Babe