I have such mixed feelings about all of the dark romance books I see recommended by booktok. It isn't the content of said books that bother me. It's all these negative reviews I see where people complain that the book is "normalizing", "glorifying" or "romanticizing" toxic relationships. Or when I see people talking about how these books are supposedly being recommended to minors?
First of all, these books are explicitly for adults. If a minor reads them that is the fault of their parents/guardians or whoever allowed them to have said books. Not the author. Also, lots of them seem to think you shouldn't write anything with dark content at all because *gasp* think of the children!! Or because they're personally disgusted by it. Please learn the difference between fiction and reality I am begging. Also, don't let disgust dictate morality.
But then you have some valid criticisms about the overall quality of the writing and that's where I don't know how to feel. However, one thing I will stand by is that you shouldn't make fun of people regardless of what they're reading. I don't care how "crappy" a book is. If you make fun of people you are a bully plain and simple and I would much rather hang out with someone who reads pulp fiction over someone who thinks they have objectively superior taste. Suggestions are fine and if I'm being completely honest I don't want to be spending copious amounts of money on books that aren't necessarily well written. With that being said, I don't want to overthink it either.
Anyone else having this problem?
