This is what New Adult is supposed to be! I have to be honest, I really have had trouble with the actual definition of New Adult because it just sounds like a weird genre to fill in the hole between Young Adult and melodramatic, bodice ripper romances. And really, why on Earth would that hole even exist? And so I was confused for a long while about what New Adult was, other than Young Adult with more sex. And Brooklyn Girls gave me an answer that, thankfully, wasn't 'oh, it's just more sex AND drugs. Because that's obviously what people in the age group 18-25 do.'And yes, Brooklyn girls showed drugs and alcohol but only to show the characters' growth. And it made the realisation that it is a very stereotypical thing for that age group to do and those people are a minority. Except for the few curious party-goers (but whatever). Anyway, I'm going on a tangent. The point is - sex, alcohol and drugs are prominent aspects of the book - but mostly in the beginning and it's used to show the character's growth. I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about.
So. What my point is... New Adult is character growth in the transition from student to graduate, teenager to adult and all the shenanigans that occur within that time.
Brooklyn Girls does this by telling the story of beautiful Pia who has always found it hard to belong. She's desperate to grow up and be separate from her parents. Romance is part of the story but not a whole lot. Mostly it's about these food trucks that drive around New York selling food. A completely unique premise to show the growth of Pia. Beside Pia, are her four roommates who are also her best friends. These characters managed to have interesting personalities and weren't just supporting because I'm pretty sure this a series about each girl who live in Rookhaven.
I think my biggest annoyance in the book, is the melodrama. I never expected so many thugs and truck violations. I actually don't care about the parties because they're completely normal. But I have got to ask - is a loan shark really that available to young girls? I honestly have no idea.
The friendships in the book are really great and you can tell they will only grow in importance as the series progresses. I actually think I'm most excited for Coco.
In total, I thought Brooklyn Girls was exceptional for its genre. While it didn't address any serious issues such as rape or addiction as seems to be the trend in New Adult, it showed spectacular character growth, using humour and the personalities of the roommates to create something fun and interesting and lovely. Go Gemma Burgess! (BTW I still prefer A Girl Like You - that is a cracker of a book!)
