Young adult romance literary novel? hehe

[yoghurtelf]

I'm trying to figure out what my novel should be called. Firstly it's about 19 year olds, so does that still qualify for young adult?

Secondly it is kind of romance, and yet there's no happy ending, so I guess I just answered my own 'romance' question there - NOT romance. hehe.

Then it's about my main character's struggle with her anorexic sister/slowly imploding family, and trying to stay sane with that as well as with losing friendships and breaking up with her boyfriend all in one year.

If there's no real happy ending, can it still be young adult? I don't know if it's a requirement of those to have a happy ending or not.

And what makes or breaks a 'literary' novel?

[MissMacchiato]

With regards to literary novel, I really don't know, but HEA (happily ever after) is a definite requirement of romance. It might be a love story, but if there is no HEA it is most definitely not romance.

YA does not have to have a happy ending. :) hope this helps!

[leahzero]

And what makes or breaks a 'literary' novel?

"Literary fiction" is a wide and flexible category. It can mean anything from prose style (lyricism, emphasis on description, etc.) to subject and theme (universal human struggles, realism, etc.).

When talking about a genre novel with literary qualities, I think prose style is generally considered a strong indicator of "literariness."

[yoghurtelf]

Thanks guys :) I think the best way forward is to show some samples of my work here (which will not happen for a while yet, have to have a read through...it's been way too long) and see what people think it might fit into.