Looking for books that take place in the 2000s at the latest, if not earlier, follows a male protagonist between the ages of 16-25, even better if we see that journey from 16-25, is generally just adult (absolutely no contemporary YA no matter the age of the characters) “literary fiction,” set in the real world with zero fantasy or sci-fi elements, dark themes, general “angst” as I said, not super interested in romance but any gay plot would be appreciated but isn’t necessary? Bonus points if the characters high school/college plays a large role in the story.
I have a list of books I feel already match the vibe I feel like I’m looking for:
A Little Life (mostly the heavy reliance on male characters + going through their entire aging from teens onward)
My Year of Rest and Relaxation (love the vibes, would prefer something in line with this, again, from a male perspective)
Catcher in the Rye (this one is pretty spot on, but I’ve already read this one, and it wasn’t actually written for a YA audience but 70 years later, what’s considered normal for YA has generally moved this book into a more teen-centric audience)
The People in the Trees (would prefer it if the protagonist wasn’t a pedophile, but loved it)
The Great Gatsby (but would like it to be less focused on the romantic aspects and more the admiration of Jay by Nick)
Twilight (but make it not YA and not hinged on romance)
by Ok_Taro_8370