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Are there any good fiction books with main characters that are 18-20?

Lately I've been getting back into reading (I haven't read much in a few years) but I can't seem to find any books I'm interested in. Maybe I'm just picky though.

Anyway, I'm 18 years old, and I really like reading stories with main characters about my age so I can relate. I'm also a sucker for YA, but almost every single YA book I've come across has a main character that is 15 or 16, and it bugs me because they just whine and complain about everything, like teenagers do.

I've looked at the "New Adult" genre, which is targeted towards my age demographic, but those books are mostly just romance novels, or realistic fiction about college or something, which doesn't interest me at all. I mostly like dystopian fiction (so yes, Hunger Games) but I've tried to read other YA dystopians and was just majorly disappointed. They had me rolling my eyes and cringing really hard (I'm looking at you Divergent and Wither).

So basically, what I'm asking for is a book with an 18-20 year old MC, dystopian fiction, and YA-like elements with the inevitable love interest, ect. I'm just looking for a good entertaining read, but also something I can enjoy and won't be majorly cliche like YAs tend to be.

Hope you understand all that, I'm not trying to be picky, I just want to know if there are any books out there like this, because I'm having a hard time finding one! Thanks :)

4 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 6
    7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    There are a few good dystopian/sci-fi novels with protagonists more your age, so a lot less angst and whining. Try these.

    Catch Me Falling by David J. Nix. As a caged display in a traveling freak show, 18 year old Crissa endures stares, taunts, and whispers of a terrible word from others: Human. But folks come by thousands to hear her do what no other can do. Sing! In a ‘what-if’ world populated by people who are not quite Human, Crissa's Human face marks her for abuse and grisly death. When a young man with a face like hers appears, she flees with him from those wishing to cage and kill her. Crissa’s flight carries her toward the mysteries of a murky past, her unusual face, and the wonderment of love and belonging.

    These Broken Stars by Aimie Kaufman. Teenage Lilac is the only child of the richest man in the galaxy. Tarver is an 18-year old war hero, but a boy from a far inferior social class. When the two are the sole survivors of a spaceship crash on an unknown planet, they two must undertake a long journey to find rescue. Their initial disgust for one another slowly turns to love as they learn to respect one another’s strengths and weaknesses.

    The Shore of Monsters by David J. Nix – 2011. Five generations earlier, a horde of monsters nearly obliterated humanity. All males are dead or ruined by a monster plague; words like 'father' and 'romance' have lost meaning. When teenager Sky joins an expedition to the shore that falls apart, she must survive amongst the monsters that roam the ruins. She gets unexpected help from a very surprising source. Mystery, action, and romance follow!

    Blood Red Road (Dustlands) by Moira Young – 2012. In a post-apocalyptic future, 18-year-old Saba’s twin brother is stolen by black-clad riders. When tough-as-nails Saba launches a relentless search to recover him, she must fight for her life in gladiator cages, overcome enemies both creature and human, and learn to trust others for the first time. And try as she might, she can’t help but fall for the charming scoundrel Jack, who just may understand her more than she knows.

    Incarceron by Catherine Fisher – 2007. Incarceron is a prison so vast that it is self-sustaining. Generations of prisoners are born inside, doomed to a life in prison. The novel weaves two story lines: that of 17-year old Finn, who hopes to become only the second person to break out of the prison, and Claudia, the warden's daughter who hopes to escape an arranged marriage. When each discovers a crystal key, they find that they can communicate through the devices, and pledge to help one another. The story lines merge in a fantastic twist you won’t see coming.

    Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman - In an alternate reality England, white-skinned people, called Noughts, are an underclass minority oppressed by a dark-skinned majority descended of Africans, called Crosses. Nought teenager Callum falls for Sephy, the daughter of a politically powerful Cross. As their romance grows, so does their safety in a society that does not tolerate racial mixing. When Callum's family is implicated in a terrorist act, the lovestruck teens face difficult choices. Regardless of your heritage, this story will lend you a new perspective on race and what it means to be human.

    Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi – 2010. In a near future of rising seas, no oil, and extreme poverty, a teenager works as a shipbreaker - one who salvages rusting ships for parts. When he finds a wrecked super-yacht after a storm, he thinks his days of poverty are over. However, he gets swept into an adventure when bad people come for the one survivor of the wreck - a rich, beautiful girl who owns the vessel.

  • 7 years ago

    Have you tried reading The Giver? Maybe 1984 or Fahrenheit 451? Clockwork Orange even? These all have characters a bit older except for The Giver or A Clockwork Orange,but they are easily relatable. Try googling Young Adult SciFi novels. Do some research on it.

  • 7 years ago

    I signed up for Book Send and Book Bub. U pick your favorite genre and they send u daily emails with a list of books u can download or buy and have sent to u. These r free to do and u can change your settings anytime u change your mind. I have downloaded hundreds of free books. The books r free or discounted any where from .99 to 2.99 sometimes a little more. They r great to have. I have found some great books and series.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    I think the problem is, you haven't let go of the childhood need to read books about someone who is their own age or marginally older.

    Young Adult books are not written for adults, they're written for teenagers and are called young adult, because this feeds their egos.

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