I'm trying to get back into reading, but the last time I was what you'd call a "bookworm" was when I was in my mid-teens. So now, the books I currently own and interested in are all YA novels. While I still appreciate YA novels, I really want to branch out into more adult lit. That's where my problem is. I don't know where to start looking!
I tend to go more for fantasy and sci-fi, but it's also been so long that I'm not really sure what genres pique my interest nowadays. I do enjoy paranormal/supernatural elements, if that's any help.
by SelkieLesbian
24 Comments
Red Rising would be a good start, i think.
Sci-fi almost feels YA.
If you like things like Hunger Games and Enders Game.
[Sisters of Jade](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60188679-sisters-of-jade), by James Downe. It has badass lady pirates going on an adventure! Quasi-dark fantasy.
invisible library series by Genevieve Cogman! Not YA but has the fantasy/supernatural elements you’re seeking. About a librarian who world/time jumps using libraries as portals.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I kinda descibe it as Twilight for adults.
For something a little bit more literary, try: The House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende or Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel as they both have magic realism in them. The master of course is Gabriel Garcia Marquez in One Hundred Years of Solitude.
I’m happy you want to branch out past YA. I also want to say it’s fine to like YA novels at any age. I’m 45 and some of the best/most fun novels I’ve read lately are targeted at at YA audience.
I feel like some authors get too serious or mature with “adult” novels, but a YA author may feel more free to play around in their genre. YA authors don’t take themselves as seriously.
What did you like when you were reading before and do you think you’d like the same things now?
Try T. Kingfisher’s World of the White Rat books. Start with Clockwork Boys.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.
The Pride of Chanur by CJ Cherryh.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.
Like Water for Chocolate
I’m not normally a fantasy guy, but I’ve been really enjoying the *Rivers of London* series about the London Police ‘supernatural investigations unit’ of magicians. It’s very well written, fun, fast moving, and frequently laugh out loud funny. Definitely not YA, but not a hard read either.
Another fun easy read is Daniel Suarez’s Daemon duology. Starts like a technothriller then builds to society changing true SF.
* [The Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit series ](https://www.goodreads.com/series/61019-bryant-may-peculiar-crimes-unit)by Christopher Fowler
* [The Culture series](https://www.goodreads.com/series/49118-culture) by Iain M. Banks
* [The Chronicles of St Mary’s](https://www.goodreads.com/series/109102-the-chronicles-of-st-mary-s) by Jodi Taylor
* [The Dresden Files series ](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40346-the-dresden-files)by Jim Butcher
The Magicians by Lev Grossman was one of my first forays into adult fiction when I was in my early 20s and I still love it to this day.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is one of my favorite heist books and it’s a great bridge between YA and adult lit. It also has a great gay romantic sub plot if you’re into that.
Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear is an extremely inventive and exciting sci-fi adventure with a queer leading lady. If you’re looking to get into adult space operas this is a really good starter.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt a very long read, if you’re interested in dark academia (sans magic) this one has great characters, is extremely well written, and it’s one of those types of books that’s fun to talk about at parties.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn if you want to jump straight into adult literature this is one of the best options in my opinion. It’s kind of the best example I can think of a solidly adult book that will really capture your attention regardless of the sort of genre you like.
You should definitely check out Seanan McGuire’s *InCryptid* series, it’s about a family of rogue cryptozoologists who just want to study cryptids and help them live alongside us while still hiding in plain sight. Fantastic series, first book is *Discount Armageddon*. I also love the spinoff series, *Ghost Roads*, which is told from the perspective of a hitchhiking ghost. First book is *Sparrow Hill Road*.
Her *Wayward Children* novella series kinda walks the tightrope separating Adult and YA, it’s about what happens when the adventures in those magical worlds on the other side of a mysterious doorway are over, and the child who lived them goes home. First book is *Every Heart A Doorway*.
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Funny, but also insightful.
The Wheel of Time
Anything by VE Schwab, NK Jemisin, Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler or Natasha Pulley
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Emily Wild’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Faucett
Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
And don’t give up on those YA series, A Darker Shade of Magic, Ember in the Ashes, Shadow & Bone, and The Cruel Prince are all great reads. Same with The Bear and the Nightingale.
Red Rising, Lies of Locke Lamora, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Eragon author). Red Sister,
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune:
– fantasy, but feels like a good bridge between YA and adult!
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross:
– fantasy/romance; technically YA but would also be a good bridge to get you in to adult literature!
These are both 2-book series!
David Eddings books
The Fifth Sacred Thing
The enemy by Charlie higson might be worth checking out!
A lot of YA authors have started moving into adult and Vice-versa. You might like
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Unmaking of June Farrow
Ninth House
A History of Wild Places
The Bone Maker
Sounds like you may enjoy the adult titles of Leigh Bardugo, so like The Familiar or the Alex Stern series (Ninth House and Hell Bent are the only ones out, I think it might be less a series and more a trilogy, but I can’t remember for certain)
Seanan Maguire. The Wayward Children series. They’re novellas, but they’re so good.