New Adult novels: Why we can’t put them down
It is a phenomenon that is impossible to miss at the Leipzig Book Fair: hundreds of women flock to brightly designed book tables, eagerly pick up titles, photograph their purchases for social media — and openly admit that these books also include a lot about sex, longing, and first times. Welcome to the world of New Adult novels.
What is New Adult, anyway?
New Adult is a literary genre that sits somewhere between classic young adult fiction and “regular” adult literature. It emerged in the United States around ten years ago and has since taken the German-speaking book market by storm as well. At its center are young women between 18 and 25 — in life phases full of upheaval: first apartments, university, vocational training, first great loves, and the search for and discovery of one’s own identity.
What makes the genre so special is that it fills a gap that for a long time no one even seemed to notice. This stage of life — the transition into adulthood — was barely represented in literature. New Adult is changing that, and decisively.
Why do women of every age group read it?
This may be the most fascinating thing about the genre: the protagonists are young — the readers often are not. Women in their 30s, 40s, even 50s devour these books just as enthusiastically as teenagers. At readings, you sometimes see three generations sitting side by side: daughter, mother, grandmother — all holding the same book.
Why? Because these stories touch something in us that is timeless. First times have incredible magic. Those who still have them ahead of them look forward to them. Those who have already lived them remember them. And those who chose a different path back then may wonder: would I have experienced it like that too — or differently?
Reading creates empathy. It lets us immerse ourselves in realities we may never have lived ourselves and may never live. And that is exactly what makes New Adult so gripping: the closeness to the characters, the immediacy of the experiences, the chance to see ourselves reflected in them.
Sex, longing, and self-discovery — what these books are really about
Yes, New Adult books are also about sex. But that is not the core, it is one part of it. Just like in real life. What really drives these novels are questions like: Who am I? What do I truly want? And am I ready to fight for it — even if it means disappointing other people?
Those are not easy questions. And they are not questions you ask only at 20. They stay with us throughout life.
What also matters is the distinction between New Adult Romance and Dark Romance — two currents that sometimes overlap, but are fundamentally different. While New Adult Romance focuses on emotional depth, personal growth, and relationship dynamics, Dark Romance moves into darker, often deliberately provocative territory. Blanket criticism of the entire genre therefore falls short; each book deserves a differentiated view.
Reading as self-care — and as a quiet revolution
Since Fifty Shades of Grey, something has changed. Today, women no longer read erotic or romantic novels hidden behind a neutral book cover. They put their brightly designed New Adult books on the shelf like works of art. They talk about them on TikTok, recommend them, and meet their favorite authors at fairs.
That is more than a reading trend. It is a statement: My desires are legitimate. My curiosity is legitimate. And yes, I am allowed to read books that excite me — no matter what is in them.
At the same time, reading is one of the most effective forms of self-care. It gives us a break from everyday life, lets us switch off and immerse ourselves — more immersive than any series, more personal than any film. When you read a book, you place yourself inside the characters. That is a form of freedom no screen can replace.
A small tip for finding more reading time in everyday life
Wondering where you are supposed to find the time? Maybe while commuting as an audiobook. While walking. Or — and this sounds crazier than it is — while removing your makeup with your e-reader propped up in front of the mirror. It sounds absurd, but it works wonderfully. A few pages every evening, and suddenly you are right in the middle of a story that will not let you go.
Books that can change lives
Sometimes it is a novel that helps someone through a difficult time. That keeps someone company in the hospital. That gives someone the courage to change something in their own life. That may sound grand, but anyone who has ever read a book that truly touched them knows exactly what that means.
New Adult novels do exactly that: they reflect desires we may never have spoken out loud. And sometimes it takes a character in a book to recognize what we ourselves want.
Want more? About Bianca Iosivoni and the podcast episode
Bianca Iosivoni is one of the most successful German-language authors in New Adult, romantasy, and thrillers. For more than eleven years, she has been writing books that regularly land on the Spiegel bestseller list — including the popular Hailey and Chase series and her current book Silverlight. With millions of readers behind her and a strong presence on social media, she understands like hardly anyone else what moves, touches, and excites women.
If you want to learn more about the New Adult phenomenon, Bianca’s writing process, and why these books cast such a spell on us, be sure to listen to the episode. Katja Burkhardt talks with Bianca about forbidden desires, the boom of an entire genre, and the question of what literature can do to us.
Listen now:“Sex sells? Why New Adult books drive us all crazy” — Glow Up Your Life with Katja Burkhardt. And if you want more, you can find all episodes here in the overview.
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