So part of my bookish resolutions for 2013 (and continued for this year) was at least TRYING some of the genres I really haven’t read from/was kind of scared of. Thus, Courting Genres was born last year — I enlist the help of “experts” in the genre (you can still help me with some genres!!), they give a few picks for me and then YOU all vote. Then I get all gussied up and start courting that genre with the 2 books with the highest votes. I started with Courting the Adult Romance Genre and now I’m on to the “New Adult” genre.
The winners are …
(This book is 5 bucks for the Kindle if you want to join me!)
This one is only $3.99 yay (since it’s not at my library)
My Initial Reactions
1. Hopeless and Easy are definitely two that I’ve seen people who are a) not fans of NA books or b) don’t really read them actually liked so that’s good yah?
2. I read the description for Easy and I really have no idea what it is about. So vague and mysterious haha. The summary for Hopeless gives a little more but I’m pretty in the dark as to what it is even about. Besides romance. SO MANY SECRET THINGS.
3. I’ve heard lots of talk of this Dean Holder character so I’m excited to meet him!
4. I’m honestly kind of relieved to see Beautiful Disaster didn’t win because I’m not sure I was ready to go so balls to the walls right out of the gate because I’ve heard so many POLARIZING things about that book, more than most books, and I’m just…not ready.
5. I’m just kind of nervous about there being the kinds of cliches I try to avoid. I mean, I’m fine if it’s really well done or it makes me FEEL something but yeah..I’m just nervous.
6. Slammed by Colleen Hoover was the third most voted for sooo it seems everyone loves her books.
SO TELL ME. Have you read either of these novels? Do you think I will like them? Which one do you think I’ll like more? Or just give me a boost of moral support as I enter into this courtship! ALSO..check out my original “courting” post and see which genres I still need experts for!! Also, feel free to join me in my endeavor!
Angie F. says
I really liked Easy (which is why I voted for it)! There’s a great romance and a great message that’s relevant to all women, not just college girls.
Hopeless isn’t even NA. It’s sexed up, dramafilled YA. Seriously, the characters are 17 and in high school. The first 60% is a creepy semi-abusive relationship, but the rest is pretty fantastic. Lots and lots of twists and drama, and shock after shock.
Nuzaifa @ Say It with Books says
I’ve read both and I did like both so I think they are great books for you start out with. But my vote’s definitely for Hopeless because COLLEEN HOOVER!!! You should definitely check out Slammed once you read these two because it’s my all time NA favorite.
Hope you enjoy both books, Jamie-Happy Reading! 🙂
Hana says
I have wanted to read Easy but my library doesn’t have it and there are just too many books that are free on my TBR for me to buy that just yet. However I did read Hopeless and enjoyed it. I don’t think I went as wild about it as some readers–there is just so. much. drama! I also agree with your other commenter that said it might just be sexed up YA. Shouldn’t the characters be out of high school for the NA genre? Dean Holder is responsible for himself, though, so maybe that makes him enough of an adult. Anyway–hope you enjoy your experience with them 🙂
Lauren @ Lose Time Reading says
YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! I am so happy that these two won!! I hope you love them Jamie 🙂 Easy is just AHH!! It’s what started my love for New Adult and Hopeless is just as good. These were the first two I read as well 🙂 I just CANT WAIT to see what you think!!!
Leanna says
Easy is pretty good. I liked it, didn’t love it. I have a somewhat iffy relationship with NA! I haven’t read Colleen Hoover but I’ve heard good things.
Brooklyn Girls is a fun ‘NA’ read and different from the NA norm. And Cora Carmack’s books are a lot of fun!
Gillian says
Ooo, that’s cool that you’re venturing into NA! I’m not… well, I thought Easy was pretty overrated, honestly, but it has its good qualities, so I hope you like it more than I do. I haven’t read Hopeless, but if you enjoy your foray into New Adult, I recommend you try Cora Cormack. Losing It is great, and Faking It is even better and really funny.
Christina says
Easy is probably my favorite NA read, and I’ve read quite a few of them. Hopeless is good too, so I think you’re starting out with a solid group.
Nadia says
Came here to give moral support ha!
I’m on the fence with NA so far. I have read some books I’ve enjoyed, and others I’ve hated. One of my best friends who’s also a bookworm, tells me Easy it’s one of her fave books so far, and I trust her taste in books so that one is on my list.
Good luck!
Missie says
I haven’t read either of them, the genre sometimes scares me because I get worried it will be like Fifty Shades of Gray
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Lori says
Easy was one of the first NA books I read and I really liked it. I haven’t read Hopeless yet but I have it and hope to get to it soon. I’ve heard lots of great things about it. I hope you like these books, and the genre. Like YA, I’m glad to be seeing more variety available within the genre. I still prefer YA to NA, but I do enjoy reading about the age range that NA offers. Happy reading!
Alexa S. says
I’ve read EASY, on Ginger’s recommendation, and I really liked it! I read it all in one sitting, which was lovely. Even though it’s a tad dramatic, it’s still fun to read. Happy reading J!
Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages says
I didn’t read Easy for so long because the description was so vague. But when I finally read it I loved it so, so much. It was like a more intense, but not cheesy or cliched, version of my college experience. Hopeless is good, too, I really liked it, but it does have a lot more of the overdone NA tropes. Enjoy! I can’t wait to hear what you think of them!
Dreams says
Easy was not at all what I thought it was going to be. It was more “real” than I was prepared for. But I have to say it was well written and I actually liked it. I have not gotten to read the other book yet, but it sounds good.
Happy reading!
Tanya says
I picked up Easy last year not knowing much about it. It was *so* much more than I expected. I simply loved that book. Jacqueline and Lucas’s story really pulled me in. I couldn’t stop thinking about it even after I finished it. Enough so that I decided to check out Webber’s website and ended up ordering two bookplates for my copy of Easy, which she signed. Now I’m all excited for Lucas’s story, Breakable, which comes out in a few months. Tammara Webber definitely has a fan in me. I hope you’ll love it, too!
Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea says
I really enjoyed Easy. I read it last month and it just felt like it was everything an NA book should be, and not at all like some of the NA books that seemed to pop up throughout last year. I’m still yet to read Hopeless, I picked up Finding Cinderella when it was a Kindle freebie a few months ago and read it as a standalone and I enjoyed Colleen Hoover’s writing, so I’ll hopefully it up soon. I can’t wait to see your thoughts on both of these!
Stephanie @ Inspiring Insomnia says
I’ll be blunt – I hated Hopeless. It glamorized and romanticized stalking and abusive behavior. Anyone who has actually been on the receiving end of this (including me) knows that it is terrifying and exactly the opposite of romantic. If that isn’t enough, it also has about twenty different, but equally ridiculous, plot twists.
On a positive note, after reading Hopeless and its evil twin, Ten Tiny Breaths, I asked people for suggestions of NA books that don’t romanticize abuse, and Easy is one that was mentioned.
Ania says
Well, I’ve read Easy and, to be honest, was little disappointed… Didn’t like the main character that much and story had a lot of sad parts. But I want to hear (read) your thoughts, too. Sooo, I’m looking forward to this book.
Haven’t read any of the Coleen Hoover’s works before, so I want to try.:)
My favourite NA is (and I think will stay like that for many years, because none of the books have replaced it) Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I loved that book to bits and at first didn’t even know why.:D But now I know: it was like some of my all time fav TV shows and I really liked the characters (even messed up ones).
Nicole Hewitt says
I just recently got Hopeless and I’m really excited to read it! I loved Slammed! My very favorite contemporary NA book is actually one that’s not super well-known – Girls Love Travis Walker by Anne Pfeffer. It’s the first NA book that I read that I really enjoyed. (Well, maybe I read Slammed first, but I didn’t really consider that one NA – more like mature YA).
Anyway, hope you enjoy your reads!!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) says
Easy was really, really good! I hope you like it! I have Hopeless on my ereader … I might have to read it now that that one is up there with Easy! Hope you enjoy your foray into new adult books!
Danielle @ Love at First Page says
I’m not sure that Hopeless is really NA, but regardless it’s a good book.
Easy is fantastic! I’m looking forward to your thoughts on it. 🙂
Sarah says
Easy was the first NA book I read, and I absolutely loved it. It’s been hard for me to find other NA books that even compare – many fall into the same recycled plotlines and cliches, so I wouldn’t say I’m a big NA fan because there are only select ones that I really liked. Easy is definitely at the top for me.
Wendy says
I did really enjoy Easy, hope you do too!! If those NA foray goes well, seriously read Wait for you. 🙂 I will forever book push that one haha 🙂
Kelley says
I have read Easy and Hopeless and have to say these are AMAZING introductions into the NA World – I love both writers.. If you don’t love Dean Holder after reading Hopeless – just *Sigh*! I agree that both summaries make it difficult to tell what is to come but, especially for Hopeless I think it’s amazing – it kept me off guard and loving the story the whole time. I read the Slammed series first, but Hopeless cemented I am a total fangirl for Colleen Hoover. Happy Reading!
Kritika says
I’ve been super reluctant to read NA too, so I’ll be sure to check out your reviews! I’ve heard really polarizing things about Beautiful Disaster too, but most reviews I’ve read of Colleen Hoover’s stuff have been good. Good luck with your “courtship” 🙂
– Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider Silk