Beatings that are a hit! With its toxic relationships, its scenes of violence against women and its unhealthy atmosphere, “dark romance” lives up to its name.
“Dark romance” stories generally feature young heroines who suffer abuse (kidnapping, violence, non-consensual sexual relations, humiliation, etc.) from a hero embodying the alpha male archetype. However, these intrigues lead to a passionate and torrid love story.
This subgenre of sentimental literature, which appeared in the 2010s, has been a hit since the early 2020s thanks to the Canadian self-publication site Wattpad and the BookTok communities on TikTok and Bookstagram on Instagram.
A huge success among teenagers
This sulfurous genre has doubled its sales in 2023 and now represents 7% of book sales, according to a survey by the Figaro. Organized in November 2023 in Strasbourg, the New Romance Festival, dedicated to this genre, saw its 3,500 places sold out in just a few minutes. Faced with this literary phenomenon, publishers absent from the segment are launching their labels one after the other.
The genre particularly appeals to young readers, with the core target being 15-25 year olds. Some booksellers are reluctant to highlight dark romance on their shelves, because some fans of the genre are 12-year-old girls, reports BFM.
Torture, threats, humiliation
With his trilogy CaptiveSarah Rivens, a young 24-year-old author, reached the top of the book sales podium in France in early 2023, dethroning Prince Harry’s memoirs. With her 9 million readers, this young 24-year-old author has become the most read Algerian in history.
In her trilogy, the high priestess of dark romance features Ella, a young girl detained by a mafia network, led by a certain Asher. A very complicated love story will be born between the two protagonists, even though the powerful godfather does not hesitate to stick Ella’s hand on the still hot hotplate when he is angry!
Torture, threats, submission… In the post-MeToo era, dark romance raises as many questions and controversies as it arouses passions among its many readers.
And you, what do you like about dark romance? What do you like about these novels? How did you discover this genre? Do you understand that this genre raises questions? How do you keep up to date with current events around this genre? What are your favorite novels and authors?
