LRT: I think the thing opponents of books aimed at 18-24 year olds don't get is that, yeah, there are books with protags aged 18-24 BUT

the *themes* that we want explored in those are, by publishing's standard, reserved for YA. This makes 0 sense!

I'm sick of people saying "Adult books are right there. Just read those." Because it completely misses the point.

We deserve easily accessible books that explore coming of age, first dates, friendship breakups, and all other YA themes but for 18-24 year olds.

It's humiliating to only be allowed to explore the things that are present in my life *now* as a whole ass adult in books targeted at 16 year olds.

Even writing my currently life circumstances, people argue my writing "feels young for YA" whatever that means.

And that's because publishing insists that you turn 18 and are suddenly indistinguishable from 35 year olds.

I turn 25 this year, and I am sad that I missed my chance to ever read about characters my age doing things appropriate to my age. It's ridiculous.

Also, if you try to plug your own book, I'll block you. I'm not asking for recs. I'm addressing a problem with the trad pub industry.

Also, as a follow up, these things don't end at 24 either. Frankly, I'm an advocate for normalizing these things across all ages.

I just used that age range bc that was in the last tweet, but the point is "let us have this content for adults". Age numbers are kinda irrelevant.

Okay, ALSO this. Do you understand how awful it feels to turn 18 & have never dated when books tell you all 1st loves happen by 18?

If all adventures & firsts end at 18, what does that tell people who can't start living til then? "Sorry, you missed out"? https://twitter.com/horanapologize/status/1360403301746028545?s=19