The NA genre is relatively new, but that doesn't mean it lacks variety. As with all genres, finding "good" books is a matter of personal preference and perseverance. I've been on the prowl for NA romance, and I've found a couple worthy of note:
Ransom by Rachel Schurig
BFFs Daisy and Daltry go their separate ways after high school. She heads to college and he hits the road with his band. In real life, these crazy kids would probably never see each other again, especially since Daisy cuts off all contact. Thank god for fiction, amiright? There's mystery and trauma and words left unspoken, which all adds up to a dollop of frustrating angst, but the sweet build-up of love and trust is worth it.
I should probably admit that I have a soft spot for high school sweethearts <3
The writing was good, and I enjoyed the characters. This novel rates 4 stars for me, and I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy fangirl romance, high school sweethearts, and angsty boyband drama.
This novel surprised me. The blurb mentions "an embarrassing video" going viral...I may be alone in this, but a certain Kardashian popped into my brain. Lo and behold, RUMOR HAS IT is not about a stray sex tape. Surprising, right? Elizabeth Grace took this novel in a completely different direction, and I loved it. There were one or two parts that I thought were a *tad* preachy, but nothing over-the-top, and it didn't ruin my enjoyment. Thanks to the sweet, slow-building nature of the romance, and the unique approach to "limelight", this book lands a solid 4 stars for me.
I recommend RUMOR HAS IT to readers who enjoy inauspicious beginnings, romances where realistic characters overcome their past, and fans of celebrity-falls-for-girl-next-door novels.
Easy and Breakable by Tammara Webber
EASY has been on my TBR list foooooorever.Now I'm wishing that I hadn't waited so long to read it! I'm still emotionally connected to the characters after a week, and I will probably re-read (or re-skim, bc I'll go right to my fav parts) this novel a few times!
The writing was solid and the characters felt real--college-aged and just grown up enough to make adult-sized messes of their lives. The main conflict was two-fold, and both facets were well done, in my opinion. Ms. Webber made my heart melt, and for that I'm giving her novel a 4.5 :) The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because there are several instances of "telling" in the writing, and also because playing "the game" romantically was a turn-off initially. I hate reading about mind-twisting schemes meant to make the opposite sex go wild with lust/love.
This will appeal to New Adult fans who want romance and a plot that isn't focused on popularity, first love, or lusty sorority girls. The depth of this novel will appeal to readers who like their main characters to grow and reach beyond their comfort zones.
The companion novel to EASY is BREAKABLE
This is not just a retelling. In fact, I liked BREAKABLE a bit more than EASY! From LM's point of view, events take on a whole new meaning. Everything is more raw. More broken...and yet, I love him. It was easy to love someone so breakable, mostly because under all the heartache, it was apparent how good LM is. Ugh. Another crush to add to my list!--I swear, fictional hotties make up my daydreams!
Fans of EASY should buy this. Hands down, it's worth it. There were more instances of "telling" is this novel, but there's more than just a romance unfolding as well. In many ways, BREAKABLE is two stories, complete with flash-backs. More sad than happy, honestly...but that makes the sweet, heartfelt moments all the more enjoyable in my opinion.
Hooked on the Game by C.M. Owens
College girl gets mowed down by heavy machinery--in her own house. Ouch. And then she's got to move in with the spoiled brat responsible for the demolition of said house. Double ouch. Is it a little cheesy? Yes. Did I enjoy every minute of it? Yes.
This is a fun, light read with just enough YUM to make it a page-turner. The writing was solid, and the characters were fleshed out enough to make the story enjoyable (even if they weren't developed enough to feel real in the midst of the drama). The plot was interesting, starting with the machinery incident and ending with a honest-to-God con--a stretch, to be sure. However, this novel did what it was meant to do: entertained. I'm a big believer in considering what an author intends with his/her work, and this novel was obviously not meant to be a Nobel-prize winner...with that in mind, I'd give HOOKED ON THE GAME 3.5 stars.
I'd recommend this to readers looking for a light, fun read. If you love tried-and-true opposite-sides-of-the-track romances, this is up your alley.
BFFs Daisy and Daltry go their separate ways after high school. She heads to college and he hits the road with his band. In real life, these crazy kids would probably never see each other again, especially since Daisy cuts off all contact. Thank god for fiction, amiright? There's mystery and trauma and words left unspoken, which all adds up to a dollop of frustrating angst, but the sweet build-up of love and trust is worth it.
I should probably admit that I have a soft spot for high school sweethearts <3
The writing was good, and I enjoyed the characters. This novel rates 4 stars for me, and I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy fangirl romance, high school sweethearts, and angsty boyband drama.
This novel surprised me. The blurb mentions "an embarrassing video" going viral...I may be alone in this, but a certain Kardashian popped into my brain. Lo and behold, RUMOR HAS IT is not about a stray sex tape. Surprising, right? Elizabeth Grace took this novel in a completely different direction, and I loved it. There were one or two parts that I thought were a *tad* preachy, but nothing over-the-top, and it didn't ruin my enjoyment. Thanks to the sweet, slow-building nature of the romance, and the unique approach to "limelight", this book lands a solid 4 stars for me.
I recommend RUMOR HAS IT to readers who enjoy inauspicious beginnings, romances where realistic characters overcome their past, and fans of celebrity-falls-for-girl-next-door novels.
Easy and Breakable by Tammara Webber
EASY has been on my TBR list foooooorever.Now I'm wishing that I hadn't waited so long to read it! I'm still emotionally connected to the characters after a week, and I will probably re-read (or re-skim, bc I'll go right to my fav parts) this novel a few times!
The writing was solid and the characters felt real--college-aged and just grown up enough to make adult-sized messes of their lives. The main conflict was two-fold, and both facets were well done, in my opinion. Ms. Webber made my heart melt, and for that I'm giving her novel a 4.5 :) The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because there are several instances of "telling" in the writing, and also because playing "the game" romantically was a turn-off initially. I hate reading about mind-twisting schemes meant to make the opposite sex go wild with lust/love.
This will appeal to New Adult fans who want romance and a plot that isn't focused on popularity, first love, or lusty sorority girls. The depth of this novel will appeal to readers who like their main characters to grow and reach beyond their comfort zones.
The companion novel to EASY is BREAKABLE
This is not just a retelling. In fact, I liked BREAKABLE a bit more than EASY! From LM's point of view, events take on a whole new meaning. Everything is more raw. More broken...and yet, I love him. It was easy to love someone so breakable, mostly because under all the heartache, it was apparent how good LM is. Ugh. Another crush to add to my list!--I swear, fictional hotties make up my daydreams!
Fans of EASY should buy this. Hands down, it's worth it. There were more instances of "telling" is this novel, but there's more than just a romance unfolding as well. In many ways, BREAKABLE is two stories, complete with flash-backs. More sad than happy, honestly...but that makes the sweet, heartfelt moments all the more enjoyable in my opinion.
Hooked on the Game by C.M. Owens
College girl gets mowed down by heavy machinery--in her own house. Ouch. And then she's got to move in with the spoiled brat responsible for the demolition of said house. Double ouch. Is it a little cheesy? Yes. Did I enjoy every minute of it? Yes.
This is a fun, light read with just enough YUM to make it a page-turner. The writing was solid, and the characters were fleshed out enough to make the story enjoyable (even if they weren't developed enough to feel real in the midst of the drama). The plot was interesting, starting with the machinery incident and ending with a honest-to-God con--a stretch, to be sure. However, this novel did what it was meant to do: entertained. I'm a big believer in considering what an author intends with his/her work, and this novel was obviously not meant to be a Nobel-prize winner...with that in mind, I'd give HOOKED ON THE GAME 3.5 stars.
I'd recommend this to readers looking for a light, fun read. If you love tried-and-true opposite-sides-of-the-track romances, this is up your alley.
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