Sorry for what is probably the most chaotic video I've made in a while. I felt like my usual discussion video articulation wasn't up to par, so I compensated with the over the top, gen-z meme editing :)

I'm 24 and I still read YA because I don't relate to the characters in most adult books. I'm not settled in my career. The only bill I pay is for my Paramount+ subscription. I'm not dating, trying to get married, or planning on having kids anytime soon. YA about 17-19 year-olds is my comfort zone because those books reflect the transitional stage I'm in. But I have enjoyed adult books that aren't romances, so I can see myself exploring those stories in the near future.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

I relate to this a lot. I'm 26, I work part time, live with my parents, never been in a relationship, etc. Some of us just take longer to get there and that's totally fine. I've only recently realised that I'm ready to start thinking about the next steps, becoming fully independent, after I finish this masters degree. It may not be coincidental that my tastes are changing as I'm kind've starting to gear towards the next steps of my life.

The burn book 💀

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

I am indeed a fully slut.

Oh this was so fun to watch!! Fck the algorithm, please keep making the kind of content you want to! I am always down for chaos 😌

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

*gives attention to you* i only really read YA romance at times because I find it cute and I don't usually like the messy themes in adult romances lol. i want pure escapism. but otherwise I stick to adult. But I will always have a soft spot for the john green craze haha

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Nothing beats a paper towns!

Yooo glad you're back! In any form you choose to be back. I totally agree with what you said on the formulaic/didactic nature of a lot of YA contemporary; it's a big reason I read a lot of older YA or even MG as a teen rather than what was coming out. I couldn't stand the obviousness of it all. I think John Green's books were what got me to read a little more YA, but I skipped into adult without reading a lot of it. Now there's starting to be more variety, which is great. As far as the covers you showed, it's interesting because they mostly show people from unusual angles (a torso without a head, two people holding hands from the back, an off-center closeup of Dimple with the title on her cup). I think those more artistic takes made those covers much more effective. In my experience, the covers with people on them that readers bounce off of are often fantasy or romance. Fantasy covers with real people can look unconvincing and fake (racist at worst), and real people on romance covers is a whole can of worms (some people say it leads to an overemphasis on sex; some people say it shouldn't be a crime to emphasize sex appeal). Basically this is a long way of saying that the less realistic and more "posed" people's faces look, the more people dislike real people on book covers. I do agree they're not all bad though!

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

I think you hit the nail on the head here! That's exactly what it is. And I also realized as I'm thinking about it and reading your comment that I like illustrated covers that are more natural or artistic as well. Maybe the problem is the overly posed thing!

Awesome insights Saajid! I like how you said you outgrew YA not necessarily because the themes and ideas were different to adult fiction but because its plots were too skeletal for the hungry adult mindset. In the case of Muslim fiction, you reminded me of when I read Orhan Pamuk's Snow this year. It was beautifully fulfilling. Controversial topics mixed with a rich, mature narrative is enough to render YA superficial to a mind that has adjusted.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

I have to check out that recommendation

also, your jacket is amazing!!

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

The love triangle photo 😂 i only have a few authors i read YA for in that they're queer and/or i want to support their debuts. Appreciate hearing your thoughts! Hope you're taking care.

For me, I still read YA books but, like you, I pick and choose which ones I want to read. I haven't found my genre with YA that I enjoy yet, but I keep trying with YA fantasy.

I'm late but here's a tribute to the gods of the algorithm anyway 🙇‍♀️ For what it's worth, I really like your videos and I hope you'll keep making them! I also went from reading a bunch of YA to picking up mostly adult books with a few YA ones here and there, but honestly I'm not sure I would have read that much YA even as a teen if it hasn't been for the hype around them. I started reading regularly thanks to finding bootube in 2014 and spent some years trying all the popular booktube books before I figured out my taste and what works for me, which turned out to be 90% adult books.

Happy to see another video from you. I do not read alot of YA, but recently read and loved I Kissed Shara Wheeler!

I came across your channel from a live you were in sometime ago, I think it was Ms. WOC Reader. I agree with you about growing out of YA. I just started reading ya two years ago and I can tell I'm getting over it. There are good ones but too many times I come across the same thing over and over. My teen daughter dislikes YA. I read it more than she does 😂. As for your videos,do the content that you want. We are here for your genuine self. Peace and blessings 🙏🏾

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, so glad you've found me! Yes, YA can be a bit formulaic (sp?), best to read it in moderation.

I’m really glad you’re on booktube and bookstagram! I enjoy your videos both for the book content and for your style of narration. Also loved the cake content lately and the occasional vlogging. Basically, I like you doing stuff 😄 so I hope you stick around - unless it’s making you feel more bad than good, of course. Well-being always comes first 🤍

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

thank you so much! this makes me feel even more motivated to continue creating ❤

I friggin love your videos. I hope you keep going.

There are some books I DNF'd because they felt really performative. I’ve noticed too that is more in YA books now than adult. It can be annoying when you are like the synopsis sounded so good but the execution was not it.

0:21 I resonate with you so hard on this

10:30 yasss! That's a masterpiece right there we all love❤

I also realized I outgrew YA around 2020 maybe 2021 with very few exceptions. I remember reading something that was the "oh no now I am in love with a rich white guy what do???" And it hit me how I felt like I read the same book a million times before. I've read some amazing YA since but it's hard sell for me now.

Love your videos, keep making them!!

Life with Derek 😭😭😭😭😭

“subpar content” For the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki 😂

I read YA occasionally, but I think what stops me from liking it more is that it does really go through these very heavily derivative cycles. One book will make waves and do something new, and now everything else has to follow that template for like 5-10 years. So I end up really picky with YA and get worried that YA I pick up will just waste my time. I also don't like when books are super on the nose or inorganic with their messaging, but I also think it's hard for me, as an adult, to gauge how necessary or not that blunt messaging is for young people. But that doesn't stop specific YA books from being all-time faves for me. Also, side note, I love your videos, they make me laugh and think, so I will happily watch them no matter how chaotic they are, or how long it takes for a new one. I'm bad at watching any KZread these days except in concentrated bursts, but I'm always happy to see new ones on your channel when I do eventually, sit down to watch some BookTube. Please keep posting, and also please give yourself grace. :)

@booksaremysociallife

10 ай бұрын

Thank you, I agree with everything and I really needed to hear the last part there :)

you are so right about the YA covers having people on them! When Dimple Met Rishi (really all of those books) the cover for it just tells you exactly what you're going to get! I love them! I like to read a few YA a year as a teacher - I definitely stick to YA romance or contemporary mostly though. Just to see what is out there for the kids to read. But it is DEFINITELY not the majority of my reading, nor should it be at my age.

I love your videos, shame on the algorithm for not giving you the respect you deserve!!! One of the things that I personally find hard when reading YA romance novels in particular is the focus on physical intimacy and s*x; I'm a touch-averse asexual, so I find those scenes in books drawn out and uncomfy 😅 I can see how those scenes can be important to young adults learning about themselves and their preferences, so they have value I'm sure, but they are not for me 😅

just started the video and i wanted let you know i always enjoy your videos and appreciate you!

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Yeah, I still occasionally read YA if it sounds really good, but for the most part, I've definitely outgrown it

Absolutely loved this video lol 😂👏🏾 I stopped reading YA years back just because I realized I wanted more from the story that specifically adult sci-fi and fantasy could give me. There have been a few that I've picked up, usually do to readathon and hitting a certain prompt. I think it's totally normal for reading to evolve and change especially as we get older. I've been more inclined to pick up middle grade, but because my niece is now of that reading age and I like to read some of the books I gift her so we can talk about them😊.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

That's so sweet, about your niece!

Oooooh that makes so much sense! Like that people who were into YA are now reading lit fic or contemporary romance or fantasy romance, I never made that connection. I was a John Green girlie myself but nowadays I try to read from a lot of different genres to mix things up a bit lol

I just enjoy you and your content😂😂😂😂

yeah, completely agree with you. nothing wrong with YA, and i still do read it from time to time, but i’m 27 and YA started to get pretty formulaic for me a while ago. i mostly read fantasy, scifi and horror, and find most of what i’m looking for in adult books anyway these days. although, i love it when i do pick up a YA and it still manages to surprise me. they are easier to read and mostly good for me if i feel a slump coming on. generally speaking, though, i have mostly shifted to adult now too which i agree is on par with most people. also just wanted to say even though we don’t read similarly at all, i love your videos! your discussions always manage to be so funny and insightful at the same time. can’t wait for more 😊💙

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Disha! And yes, I feel you. I think good YA in moderations does it for me as well.

June = Expectation 🧘🏾‍♂️reality 🤯

I love ya books romance and fantasy then the after the success of hunger games and divetgent and maze runner i had enough with ya fantasy dystopian..so i decide to expand to biographies, classics, adult thriller or fantasy and kinda like it also tries to comeback to ya but several books are too cheesy for me and i cant 😂 so yeah...

When I got back into reading about 10 or so years ago, I read a lot of YA. I think it was mostly what I read. But, now, I don't read it as often, though there area few that I feel in love with. A Cuban Girls Guide to Tea and Tomorrow is good. Great characters and a good marrying of Cuban culture and British culture. But, mostly I'm into Adult romances like Emily Henry's.

@WellTraveledBooks

Жыл бұрын

this comment reminded me of how much i adored a cuban girls guide to tea and tomorrow!

I'm 43 and was obsessed with YA for the longest but I started to feel a shift around the same time as you. However, I don't think it had anything to do with the books or publishing itself. I think it was the pandemic and political climate. I loved YA because it all felt so emotional to the extreme and it was a contrast to my mundane life. But with everything going on in the real world, I was already in a constant state of heightened emotion and turned to adult books for stories that were more mundane and chill. I'm still constantly asking myself "is it me? am I done with YA?" so I don't know anything for sure. I've definitely be buying a lot less of it. The price difference of the books has been a pain, and sometimes the sex scenes in adult books are more than I can handle lol but overall I'm enjoying reading adult books.

@LibriLabra

Жыл бұрын

Also, I completely understand not wanting to record when your environment is not ideal, but I hope you still do. I will definitely keep watching you talk rain or shine in your car, etc.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

​@@LibriLabraThat means a lot, thank you!

0:32 😭😭😭🤣

I used to be a full YA channel and moved away from it about a year and a half ago because I just couldn’t connect to the stories anymore and that’s ok. They weren’t written for me.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who still likes people on the cover, they look good to me!!!

Yea, I'm with you. I've simply outgrown most YA and it's not fair to the authors to force myself to read it because it's popular just to give it a middling review. I definitely still enjoy the occasional queer YA or more literary focused YA though.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

100%, YA authors don't deserve smartass adults berating their books.

I still read YA but not as much as i used to. I also go into them knowing these weren't written for me. A lot of YA I do read is based on authors I already love.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Same actually, the minute John Green comes out with another contemporary I'm simping

I don't have anything amazing to add, I'm just leaving a comment on a nice video to help with the algorith ;)

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

Thank you ❤😢

Feel like it's great developing a love for a new genre, but also feels a little 'blah' to let the genre that really got you into your reading habits go. I loved reading high fantasy, but for the life of me can't pick one up anymore and feel kinda guilty about it. Great to see a vid by you, sorry the algorithm is being an ass! Not a chaotic vid at all except- STOP poking fun of your past self! Beardless you had aunt-pinchable cheeks and that stripped shirt oozes happiness.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

That shirt is horrendous stop lying! The only thing it oozes is bad taste. And not the auntie-pinching cheeks! Gagging.

I'm just at the point where I'm a little sick of books set in high school. Nowadays when I read a book that's predominantly taking place in a high school, I find it hard to care. I feel so old...😢

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

And things are changing so much with newer high school generations, doesn't really feel like it's for me anymore, cause it's not

@illreadwhatshesreading

Жыл бұрын

@@booksaremysociallife So true.

📚🍦

Consider picking up Babel. Its alternate history majical realism with a cast of characters enrolled in Oxford. I really enjoyed the way it raised roots of words and how they shape a culture

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

I've actually tried to read it but I couldn't get far into it. Same with Poppy War. I did really enjoy Yellowface though.

@GlitterPoolParty

Жыл бұрын

@@booksaremysociallife consider reading you more challenging books with a pencil. Slow down and look up vocab, events, and people. That helped me get through Babel and have something to do with the impact it had on me.

YA wasn't really a thing when I got into reading - you basically went from kids books to adult!

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

It's quite a new thing. Interesting if you think about it because way back in the day, adolescence wasn't even a thing. You went from kid to adult.

@cuppa.books.

Жыл бұрын

@@booksaremysociallife I think you were also potentially thought of as a 'kid' for longer

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

​@@cuppa.books. It varied from culture to culture I imagine, as I would say for many that you were thought of as an adult earlier.

@cuppa.books.

Жыл бұрын

@@booksaremysociallife That's true

Sending you a mistress plus size big big hug of love🫂❤️✨ Here for your content. For some reason Gurl, I really relate to you a lot at this point.

@booksaremysociallife

Жыл бұрын

You mothered with the comment, thank you! Oh you find me relatable? Except my sympathies.