The Hopefuls discussion

Hey guys,
I'm in my early twenties, and while I love YA, I sometimes feel like there aren't a lot of books in which the protagonists are over 18. However, I am in college, and I'd love to read about characters who are as old as I am. Can anyone recommend some books with older (but not, like, old-old) characters? I don't really mind what genre they belong to, I trust you :)
Thank you so much xx

Vero wrote: "Hey guys,
I'm in my early twenties, and while I love YA, I sometimes feel like there aren't a lot of books in which the protagonists are over 18. However, I am in college, and I'd love to read abo..."

Have you read Colleen Hoover? Her books lean more towards romance, if you are open to that genre. Her protagonists range from high school seniors to college age to early twenties. You should check her out.

I'm actually scrambling my brain for different characters and books and I am actually struggling as well. I know the Tomorrow Series, John Marsden, I think is 16-18 year old characters, they have a little bit more emotional maturity as well?

The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Patrick Ness, I think has an older teenage range of characters as well?

Wow, you've just discovered something I had even considered! I normally assume characters are my age, or I end up trying to recall how I was then because a lot of characters are more mature than their ages might say.

I hope you find some more young adult protagonists, I am definitely going to keep an eye here for the different responses and stories! xx

Hey there..

I get where you're coming from. Finding books with protagonists that are in their 20s is a bit tricky.

I agree with Traci - you should read some of Colleen Hoover's books (I think the protagonists in Confess, November 9, Maybe Someday and It Ends With Us are in their early 20s).
I really enjoyed The Rosie Project by Graeme Simpsion (although the main characters are a bit older), Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Burying Water by K.A. Tucker. If you like chick-lit books, I'd recommend Paige Toon's books.

Also, I can't not recommend The Bookthief by Markus Zusak - the protagonist is in her early teens, but the book is simply amazing!

I hope this was at least a little helpful.. ;)

I believe Gi's (Giovanna Fletcher) books are about women in their twenties. I'm not sure how old you are when finishing school in England, but Billy and Me takes place 8 years after, so I guess mid-twenties?
Miss Skeeter and her "friends" in The Help by Kathryn Stockett are in their early twenties.
I guess that Jane Austens characters Emma and Lizzy are around 20 (the only two Jane Austen books I've read, maybe there are more twenty-year-old Jane Austen characters in other books?)
But that's about it. I had to seriously think about it and went through all of my books to make sure. There are maybe a few books (i.e. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern) where you see characters grow up, or a few of the many characters are in their twenties.
Anyway, I hope that was helpful
by the way I agree with Ramona, The Bookthief is amazing, read it read it read it! ;)

Vero wrote: "Hey guys,
I'm in my early twenties, and while I love YA, I sometimes feel like there aren't a lot of books in which the protagonists are over 18. However, I am in college, and I'd love to read abo..."

Hey there! There is a great series called the 'I Heart...' series by Lindsey Kelk. It falls into a women's fiction genre and the female protagonist is aged late 20's to early 30's I believe... I first discovered these books when I was 20 and completely identified with the main character even though she was a little older than me.
If you loved On The Other Side by Carrie, you would really like this series. I'm a huge sucker for romantic women's fiction, though!
Hope this helps and good luck on your search!

Thank you so much, guys, my birthday is coming up so I will haul a few of your recommendations :D xx

What about female protagonists in their twenties without romance in the book? Like? Maybe just a new or super strong friendship, but no need to fall in love?

Well I never need love in my books, so I'm all with you there...

I was thinking about this topic for a bit now... And I was wondering if you guys have any books with male protagonists in their twenties? I have been looking through my books and I can't find any protagonists in their twenties (except the few I already commented and Gillian Bradshaw - The Beacon at Alexandria but that has romance in it as well).
The popular distopian/fantasy/sci-fi novels have normaly younger protagonists. Many contemporary novels have older protagonists. For example I was looking at JK Rowlings A Casual Vacancy. This book has quite a few characters but I don't think there is one who is twenty-something-years old. The only genre seems to be Romance/Historical fiction where there are protagonists that age.
I really hope I'm wrong...