I don’t read a lot of New Adult but I’ve been trying to find things that I think I might like because I LOVE the idea of reading about twenty-somethings. So let’s talk about two that I read this month!
Luck on the Line by Zoraida Cordova
This one was enjoyable and OH BOY did it make me HUNGRY. A lot of the story takes place in a restaurant and the male lead is a chef soooo FOOD FOOD FOOD so naturally I was into that though I think it is the author’s duty to send samples of the food to readers whilst reading because COME ONNN. Oh did I mention he’s a really HOT chef? I really enjoyed Lucky as a heroine — she’s headstrong and confident but she totally is a mess the way a lot of us are in our early twenties. I loved that Lucky kind of bounced from one thing to another in this journey to figure out what she wanted. I think Zoraida captured that “I don’t know what I want to do with my life” feeling so well. Plus Lucky has this guilt from her father’s death that has always kind of lingered with her and caused this growing fracture between her and her mom (who is a hot mess). I enjoyed the romance because it is a trope I LOVE (a “hate” to love story) and I enjoyed their amusing banter throughout the book. I think the only thing I was disappointed in was that the tension between them was going so well and then when they finally had “a moment” where things could change between them it went at breakneck speed to intense love. The sexytimes were…well SEXY…especially a certain kitchen scene. But I just felt like a serious love relationship came too fast for my own taste. It was an enjoyable romance that read quickly and is perfect if you want a lighter romance without TOO much angst. Oh hey and it’s $2.99 for Kindle!
Rating
Rebound by Noelle August
Man, I have to say I didn’t LOVE this one like I did the first book in this series, Boomerang. I liked it and it definitely held my attention but it didn’t shine for me as Boomerang did which is a shame because I was really excited to get to know more about Adam and Alison — the CEO of Boomerang and the daughter of a potential investor who also know as Ethan’s former girlfriend who cheated on him (which I LOVED getting to see the other side of THAT story). I thought the romance was kind of similar to Mia and Ethan (no idea who each other is when they first hook up…oh and it’s a sexy scene) and then find that it complicates things professionally but I found this one to be more angsty and dramatic than Boomerang. It was nice to see our favorite characters again and get to know these two better but I don’t know…the spark I felt for Boomerang just wasn’t there despite there being some really great moments.
I enjoyed it just fine but surprisingly I didn’t fall in love with Adam and Alison like I thought I would. Both of their stories were interesting and their chemistry was good (seriously sexy!!!) but I just didn’t feel giddy about them like I did Mia and Ethan. I think maybe because both Adam and Alison have these major trust issues and these bad things that happened and it fell more in line with the New Adult “saving each other from the past” stuff I don’t like? I can’t quite put my finger on it. Despite that, the writing is still fantastic and I LOVE getting to know all these employees at Boomerang which seems like such a fun company to work for. I really do love that these books continue to showcase twenty-somethings trying to figure things out career-wise and with themselves in those tumultuous 20’s years in addition to all the romance. I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book because it stars GREY who is Adam’s brother who we got a nice glimpse of in this one and from what was teased he’s going to have an interesting story!
Rating
Have you read either of these? What did you think if you have? ALSO I would really love some New Adult recs — in any genre not just romance. I love the idea of reading about twenty-somethings trying to figure out life, work, romance, etc.
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook says
I’m a big fan of the hate-to-love trope too. I haven’t read either of these. While I do like New Adult, I have to be in the right mood. Sorry that Rebound didn’t live up to Boomerang.
Jamie says
Same here! For some reason this month I was so in the mood for them haha. And gahh yeah that hate to love trope gets me EVERY TIME. I will never tire of it haha
Krystal @ Books Are My Thing says
Have you checked out the 2B Trilogy? I really liked those. There’s obviously romance to them, but there’s a lot of FIGURING OUT LIFE AND ALL THE HARD THINGS to them as well.
Jamie says
I haven’t!! I will have to check them out because that sounds so up my alley! Thank you, Krystal!!
Angie F. says
I haven’t read either of these, but I love NA! My most favoritest, which is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ is Vain by Fisher Amelie. The best way to describe the MC is rich bitch. She is AWFUL, but it’s the story of her becoming not awful. Basically she gets sent to work at an orphanage in Africa after she’s caught with drugs for like the billionth time. I cried…twice! It’s heartbreaking and heart warming, and just aahhh!! I’m probably not describing it very well, but it’s amazing.
Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas is also wonderful! It’s about a girl who gains a lot of weight after an accident, and isn’t feeling too comfortable in her new body. And it’s not helping that she’s a fashion major and has been designing clothes for stick women which she is no longer! Of course there’s a romance, and she learns to love her new body and all that awesomeness!!! Also made me cry.
Finally, Treble Maker by Annabeth Albert. It’s a M/M romance set in an a capella competition! This one is SUPER steamy…like crazy steamy. One of the love interests is out and proud and glittery! And the other is…out but conservative and unsure. And it’s just sweet. And sexy. And funny.
Jamie says
OMG Angie you are the best!! Thanks for all these recs!
megan says
One of my favorite New Adult authors is Sabrina Bowen. She has the most nuanced characters and writes great diverse characters (They are all white but one has a disability and one is gay). Her books are available for like $3 on kindle. Highly recommend.
Jamie says
Ooh thank you for the rec! Appreciate it!
Sarah K says
Oh that’s too bad you didn’t love Rebound as much as Boomerang. I actually LOVED it. Adam and Alison weren’t my favorite characters in Boomerang but I fell in love with them in Rebound. I’m SOOOO excited to know more about Adam’s brother Grey in Bounce!
Lisa @ Reading, Writing, and Random Musings says
I highly recommend The Man I Love and Give Me Your Answer True by Suanne Laqueur.
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
SECRET SOCIETY GIRL SERIES by Diana Peterfreund (you knew I was going to say that, right?). Also, One and Only by Viv Daniels, of course. =p
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (aka the fug girls) is really, really good NA. SO GOOD.
I’ve recently become a huge fan of Courtney Milan, who usually writes historical romance (they’re really good), but she has a new NA romance out called Trade Me which I really enjoyed.
Ari Carr says
Id’ definitely recommend It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane. It’s about 30-somethings, but still just as good. It has the whole “oh my god, what am I doing with my life?!” thing, and deals with work and relationships. It’s really, really good, and this is coming from someone who usually hates romance novels!
Ksenia says
The best NA I have ever read is Erin Lawless The Best Thing I Never Had. It’s split between the same characters finishing college and then again five years later. It’s British and its super cute. She’s got a new one just out I think that’s also 20somethings – I got it on netgalley but i’m saving it for my vacation but it’s had some really good reviews on Goodreads already 🙂
Adriane says
I adore CJ Duggan… She has a Summer Series and another pair of books, Paradise City that the first one just came out.
JoLee says
I haven’t had a lot of luck with New Adult either, but I do LOVE Diana Peterfreund. I strongly second the recommendation of her Secret Society Girl series. And I’m reading One & Only right now ( published under Diana’s New Adult/Romance pseudonym, Viv Daniels), and I am really enjoying it, too.