Full disclosure, I’m a 43 year old mom of 2 boys. I am also a voracious reader. I love stories and I always have. One of the consequences of being a voracious reader is that I’ve always been so, which meant that I found adult books by the age of 12 and never looked back. Until now.
Perhaps I’m an oddity in this, or maybe they’re just suddenly becoming really good, but I’ve discovered young adult books in the last few years. They’ve become a bit of a guilty pleasure, with so much angst, self-discovery, and directionless rebellion, but wow, so much fun. I’ve realized that they offer something that can occasionally be missing from adult books.
Now, to be fair, I’ve not become an exclusively young adult reader. To be perfectly honest, they are only one of the genres that I read, and not even the main one, but here is a list of what I find in them that I rarely see elsewhere.
- Introspection. So much introspection. It could also be deemed downright gratuitous but I also find it deeply satisfying. I remember being sixteen and embedded in deep concerns about relationships, the future, and what it all meant. I think we lose this as we get older. We get too busy to just sit there and have a good brood. These books remind me that, sometimes, it’s okay to settle in and pour out all our feelings and thoughts into a journal.
- Slow-burn romance. I love a good romance, and I absolutely adore a good adult romance. These are fun and wonderful things. But, sometimes a six book series that has a lot of will they, won’t they, resulting in, gasp!, a single kiss, can be so satisfying.
- They are quick reads. They’re written for teenagers, usually, and so the writing level is going for immersion. They can suck you right in so quickly that you’ve consumed a 600 page novel in the space of an afternoon. As a busy, working mom who just wants the occasional mini brain-vacation, this is ideal.
- Series. Those 600 page novels are often part of a long series where you get to revisit the same characters and locations for extended periods of time. I find this so cozy…they’re the literary equivalent of fuzzy jammies, slippers, and a warm cup of coffee.
So, my thoughts on this: I called YA fiction a guilty pleasure, and I suppose I’ve often felt this way because I can also fall victim to a bit of snobbery. I think I’m too old for that now and I’m waving my flag proudly. I’ve discovered Young Adult novels and I love them. Now I’m off to read something delightful and cozy, in my fuzzy jammies, with a coffee.
I love the phrase, “literary equivalent of fuzzy jammies.” Totally relatable! I think that my “fuzzy jammies” guilty pleasure are picture books. They still capture my imagination and remind me of simpler times, while often containing breathtaking and moving illustrations and text. They’re not just for little kids, people! Never underestimate the power of books, period! Having grown up in a household of literary snobs, it is liberating to explore other genres and enjoy them deliciously.
I’m curious: what YA books/ series are your faves so far?
Hello! I’ve really enjoyed Cassandra Clare’s “Mortal Instruments” series and Sarah J. Maas’s “Throne of Glass” series, though the latter is definitely “older young adult”! Thanks so much for commenting, my friend!
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