Better as an adult book

[AntonelaMaria]

I agree that this book has inappropriate themes for the young adult audience. However, there may be some other reasons for this labeling.

Perhaps the author's reason for targeting this age group has more to do with marketing. Maybe book sales are higher among this age group? Nowadays, a lot of young adults seem interested in darker themes, both in books, TV series, and movies.

As for the author's potential, maybe she should have slowed the romance aspect of it, and definitely lean into a more full-fledged dark novel! But then she would have had to target a more mature audience...and maybe that would have had an impact on sales.

I like the idea of a darker novel especially based on Adam's character and the first part of the book. I think you are right regarding sales I remember some scandal last year with very popular author and book that was clearly adult but was promoted as YA. So sales matter and I guess YA is a popular genre. For me, this book was in some in-between space.

[Nym182]

I felt it too. The storyline is suitable for young adults. But some portions like Adam's feelings towards his mother, his darkness,Terry's kidnapping can draw some bad impression on teenagers.

Especially cause Adam doesn't face any consequences for his actions!

[Nym182]

I agree that this book has inappropriate themes for the young adult audience. However, there may be some other reasons for this labeling.

Perhaps the author's reason for targeting this age group has more to do with marketing. Maybe book sales are higher among this age group? Nowadays, a lot of young adults seem interested in darker themes, both in books, TV series, and movies.

As for the author's potential, maybe she should have slowed the romance aspect of it, and definitely lean into a more full-fledged dark novel! But then she would have had to target a more mature audience...and maybe that would have had an impact on sales.

In this case, I think the author overshot her mark making it too dark, but you make an excellent point!

And I agree with her slowing down the relationship aspect! They went from 0-60 in like... a month haha And I do acknowledge that one's first love can feel very strong but the author doesn't acknowledge the pitfalls of that type of "passion"

[kaylahk17]

I agree that the sexual themes and even the amount of language and blunt violence makes it more of an adult novel. I think there is a lot of grey area when it comes to the young adult section that needs attention. I am 25 years old and I enjoy many books in the young adult section. I do think young adult's age range should be so large that it encompasses young teenagers through people in their 20's. This book may be fitting for older teenagers and then young adults in their 20's and older but not for ones on the younger portion of the spectrum.

[evraealtana]

I couldn't agree more with you on this. The heavy sexual undertones, the themes of kidnapping, rape, murder, and such are wildly inappropriate. And while this may not be a popular opinion, as so many people are raving it's 4-star quality, but I really did not enjoy this book, at all. The best I can give it is a 2.

... Adam is not a hero-- he's a garbage human being... In no universe is this a YA fiction novel.

I agree 100% on Every. Single. Point.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way; I have been surprised to read through the reactions and repeatedly see "yes, X was wrong, and Y was kinda messed up, and Z is questionable... but 4 out of 4 for SURE! Recommend to everyone!!!"

[Nym182]

I couldn't agree more with you on this. The heavy sexual undertones, the themes of kidnapping, rape, murder, and such are wildly inappropriate. And while this may not be a popular opinion, as so many people are raving it's 4-star quality, but I really did not enjoy this book, at all. The best I can give it is a 2.

... Adam is not a hero-- he's a garbage human being... In no universe is this a YA fiction novel.

I agree 100% on Every. Single. Point.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way; I have been surprised to read through the reactions and repeatedly see "yes, X was wrong, and Y was kinda messed up, and Z is questionable... but 4 out of 4 for SURE! Recommend to everyone!!!"

Right? I mean, like what you like but I just could not understand some of it's rave reviews... Especially since they would praise Adam and Carly's "love" or credit the "character development"

[writestuff]

I fully agree here. I felt a little uncomfortable with this being for younger readers. I think ditch the middle ground and go full dark and make it an adult title.

[evraealtana]

Especially since they would praise Adam and Carly's "love" or credit the "character development"

[gilliansisley]

I couldn't agree more with you on this. The heavy sexual undertones, the themes of kidnapping, rape, murder, and such are wildly inappropriate. And while this may not be a popular opinion, as so many people are raving it's 4-star quality, but I really did not enjoy this book, at all. The best I can give it is a 2.

... Adam is not a hero-- he's a garbage human being... In no universe is this a YA fiction novel.

I agree 100% on Every. Single. Point.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way; I have been surprised to read through the reactions and repeatedly see "yes, X was wrong, and Y was kinda messed up, and Z is questionable... but 4 out of 4 for SURE! Recommend to everyone!!!"

Truly, truly, truly. The 4 out of 4 stars, saying that this is the most bestest book ever and they can't wait to read the next book and I'm like, "Yo... did you get a different version of this book than me? One without the fantasizing about f*cking his mom, or the whole kidnapping and killing a young woman and pretending it just didn't happen?" How can anyone recommend this book to young readers!?

I just wanted to grab these people by the shoulders and demand how they weren't thoroughly disturbed by the beginning of this novel, and are they okay!?

[gilliansisley]

I couldn't agree more with you on this. The heavy sexual undertones, the themes of kidnapping, rape, murder, and such are wildly inappropriate. And while this may not be a popular opinion, as so many people are raving it's 4-star quality, but I really did not enjoy this book, at all. The best I can give it is a 2.

... Adam is not a hero-- he's a garbage human being... In no universe is this a YA fiction novel.

I agree 100% on Every. Single. Point.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way; I have been surprised to read through the reactions and repeatedly see "yes, X was wrong, and Y was kinda messed up, and Z is questionable... but 4 out of 4 for SURE! Recommend to everyone!!!"

Right? I mean, like what you like but I just could not understand some of it's rave reviews... Especially since they would praise Adam and Carly's "love" or credit the "character development"

I ALWAYS check the reviews before starting a book, and I went into this thing with super high hopes, thinking it was going to be a fantastic read.

Started the first few pages and felt like I'd been "Fire Festivaled". I was promised an adventure-filled story, I got horny for mom. I was promised a magical love story, I got an emotionally abusive and toxic mess. I was promised character development, and I got a completely disgusting piece of crap who killed a girl.

This showed me the valuable lesson that some authors will pay for the synopsis to be professionally edited, but skip the extensive editing necessary for the book itself. I felt bamboozled and lied to.

[Anonymus]

I definitely think that this is better categorized as a adult book. It had way too much violence. I think it’s better as a adult book, and the young adult is not a good rating.

[evraealtana]

I was promised a magical love story, I got an emotionally abusive and toxic mess.

This bothered me, too. I'm worried that young adult readers may not yet know the difference.

Sometimes authors forget just how young their readers really are. A 13, 14, 15 year old may believe (s)he is all grown up and can handle the world, but that person's ideas about life are still in the process of forming. Reading things like this that are advertised as "incredible love stories" normalizes toxicity and blurs the line between what is desirable in a partner and what is hazardous.

[SurroundedByBooks]

Phew! I’m a few chapters in and was wondering if anyone else felt this was pushing YA boundaries.

I don’t mind YA having edgy elements but I think it was the list of tools he had prepared for his night of kidnap/rape/torture that made me go woah!

[Amy747]

I agree that darker topics are better for mature adult minds than impressionable teenage minds. I speak from experience when I say this, as a book thats too full on for its intended audience, can have traumatic consequences for its reader.

[Nym182]

I agree 100% on Every. Single. Point.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way; I have been surprised to read through the reactions and repeatedly see "yes, X was wrong, and Y was kinda messed up, and Z is questionable... but 4 out of 4 for SURE! Recommend to everyone!!!"

Right? I mean, like what you like but I just could not understand some of it's rave reviews... Especially since they would praise Adam and Carly's "love" or credit the "character development"

I ALWAYS check the reviews before starting a book, and I went into this thing with super high hopes, thinking it was going to be a fantastic read.

Started the first few pages and felt like I'd been "Fire Festivaled". I was promised an adventure-filled story, I got horny for mom. I was promised a magical love story, I got an emotionally abusive and toxic mess. I was promised character development, and I got a completely disgusting piece of crap who killed a girl.

This showed me the valuable lesson that some authors will pay for the synopsis to be professionally edited, but skip the extensive editing necessary for the book itself. I felt bamboozled and lied to.

It's like Twilight but with superpowers!