darkromancesblog

Dark Romance is probably one of the most judged genres out there, honestly, most of the criticism comes from people who have never even read it.

Readers see one out of context of scene say, “You’re romanticizing abuse” or “It’s all smut, there’s no plot“. Meanwhile, platforms like TikTok, especially BookTok, have become huge spaces where readers come together to share what they love. So why are dark romance readers the one constantly pushed to the side and judged for what we read? Isn’t the whole point to not judge a book by its cover (pun intended)?

Let’s be honest, dark romance does include a lot of taboo themes (Little Stranger… yeah, you know exactly what I mean. Love me some Malachi). For someone who mainly reads fantasy or crime thrillers, hear about Malachi and his screwdriver might be uncomfortable. But it’s not like we ACTUALLY want our foster brother to do that to us (and if you do, no judgement here!). People constantly blur the line between fiction and reality, and that’s where a lot of the judgement comes from.

It also dismisses the fact that readers are allowed to explore things- yes, even kinks- through fiction without being labeled or shamed for it. And let’s be real, being a woman already comes with enough judgement when it comes to sexuality. Getting called “sick” for what we read just adds another layer of unnecessary shame.

That trigger warning list? For us dark romance readers it’s like a menu for us, the more the better!

Dark romance isn’t for everyone, and it’s not supposed to be. But dismissing it entirely ignores the complexity, emotion, and storytelling that draws so many readers in.

Dark Romance started out as a genre I was honestly scared to even dip my toes into. I have friends who would religiously read them and tell me all about them, but I strictly stayed in my lane- young adult romances. The lovey dovey college romances, best friend to lovers, childhood friends to lovers… that was my comfort zone.

Then I started seeing reviews all over TikTok, and after a while I just thought “Fuck it, this actually seems like something I could get into”. At that point, I have never read anything remotely “spicy”- no smut, no explicit language, nothing like that. And while I’m definitely no saint, reading it felt like a completely different experience.

Of course, the first book I picked up was Haunting Adeline by H.D Carlton (and some of you probably just sighed, screamed “YES”, or already know where this going). As controversial as this book is, it was the one that pulled me in, like it has for so many of you.

The intensity, the passion, the character of Zade Meadows, the complexity of the plot- and wowww… the smutttt was something else that’s for sure (if only me back then knew the kind of smut I would be reading now). It was everything I didn’t expect but pulled me right into the depths of each inked word.

That experience completely changed the way I saw romance as a genre. Dark Romance isn’t just about the shook value, it’s emotional, layered, controversial and honestly very addicting. And that’s exactly why I created this space, to talk about it, break it down, and share the books that leave a lasting imprint.