I read a significant amount. I have a goal to read 52 books this year, and I'm two books ahead of schedule - so far I've read thirteen books in 2015. Some have been nonfiction (#GIRLBOSS and Yes Please), some have been historical fiction (Orphan Train and the Invention of Wings). Mostly, however, they've been my non-guilty pleasure reads (only because I don't believe in guilty pleasures) - new adult.
The new adult genre is basically defined as a story that includes characters between the ages of eighteen and thirty. A lot are in college, or recently graduated, and many stories represent what a lot of us twenty-somethings deal with in our quarterlife crises.
There are a few trends in new adult, however, that I am SO FREAKING OVER.
1. Pretentious People
I read a book last night that I thoroughly enjoyed called Bright Side. At first, it seemed to fit a mold consistent with many of the books that I read (which is another trend that I'm tired of, but more of that in a minute). The problem I had, however, is how cool the characters must be.
Case in point - lattes aren't cool. Black coffee, no sugar or creamer, is the only way to go. And if you get some soy-mocha-latte-no-whip-triple-shot thing, you are so not cool. No makeup for the girls, of course, or blow dryers and curling irons. Cool girls are comfortable in their own skin. You have to like really obscure, indie music too - Taylor Swift is obviously a big no-no. You have to be poor, pinching pennies for your daily large (not grande, of course) black coffee fix.
I guess the point is for these characters to be relatable? But I can't relate to them. They ooze of self-righteousness in an ironic kind of way. It's the only reason I gave Bright Side four stars on Goodreads instead of five. The author tried to present her in a very humble way, but it just seemed very pretentious to me. The Fault in Our Stars is another one that gets me on this point - I know, I know. I'm an asshole because they're dying and everything, but their dialogue KILLED ME. Killed me. More-so than, you know, the whole dying thing at the end.
2. Virgins
This is mainly females, of course, because the love interest is always a player and experienced and has to take the v-card from our innocent protagonist. Or, the girl has some sexual baggage and just can't bring herself to sleep with someone else. Maybe it's just because I'm a (whispers) feminist, but I call bullshit. Why can't we have a love story where the girl likes sex just as much as the guy?! Lame. Sauce.
Biggest offenders of the virgin plot? Beautiful Disaster, Fallen Too Far (even though I kind of adore that series), Slammed (love that one too - but the whole Point of Retreat made me want to poke my own eyeballs out), and (the worst) - Fifty Shades of Grey.
Maybe that's why I love Beautiful Bastard and the Stage Dive series so much. Fuck yeah confident, sexual women! Go you.
3. Damaged Protagonists
This is that formula that I mentioned earlier - secretive girl meets arrogant boy and it's all love at first sight and shit...until their pasts come out to play. Usually it's death (sometimes of entire families), sexual abuse, physical abuse, health issues, etc. and it always, always causes enough conflict to drive the two characters apart for ridiculous portions of the book. Again, think Beautiful Disaster, Fifty Shades of Grey, Hero (the newest by Samantha Young - don't even get me started).
Maybe it's because I have about ten thousand stories in my mind, but I can already think of a few different plot points that can create tension without having to come up with the biggest sob story. I would LOVE to see a character dealing with mental illness (in themselves, not a family member). Or, crazy thought, how about a CURRENT situation that drives the story? If an author does want to use their character's past as part of the plot, then just don't hide it. The secrets in some of these stories are ridiculous. So dumb.
So, that's it. My cynical take on the three book trends that need to go away like, yesterday.