Trying to determine Women's Fiction or YA?

[melanie_1922]

My novel surrounds a 17 year old girl who falls in love with the boy who helps her recover after being beaten and raped. I initially thought it should be YA; however, it might be too heavy for that genre. What do you think?

Thank you both for your replies! I feel much more confident now with my decision.

[sbs_mjc1]

Have you taken a good look in the YA section of a library or bookstore?
Your book would certainly not be too "heavy" for that genre.

[lachrymal]

Agreed. If you read a lot of YA, you'll see that a lot of it is not light and fluffy stuff. Some of it is quite stomach-churning (e.g., Living Dead Girl). All topics are pretty much fair game (if dealt with responsibly), but I'd say that in YA, many things are covered more tastefully and a little less graphically than in adult lit.

[Heather B]

Without a more comprehensive run down of your book I can only hazard a guess and say YA.