I can’t remember if I said this on one of your posts or someone else’s—but I think the way the MMC treats the FMC is a hugely underemphasized factor in dark romance. I really wish it was easier to tell from BookTok recommendations whether the MMC is morally gray from how he acts out in the world or from being an asshole or worse to the FMC. There are plenty of “dark” romances out there where the MMC is a much better model of a partner than the guys in plenty of contemporary regular romances (especially in enemies to lovers plot lines).
I found the Culture Study podcast interesting and started to follow! I wondered, listening to you talk about immersive reading, the place audiobooks have in BookTok. Are people listening to audiobooks, and are they sitting and listening or are they multitasking (I listened to the podcast while doing a puzzle).
I can’t remember if I said this on one of your posts or someone else’s—but I think the way the MMC treats the FMC is a hugely underemphasized factor in dark romance. I really wish it was easier to tell from BookTok recommendations whether the MMC is morally gray from how he acts out in the world or from being an asshole or worse to the FMC. There are plenty of “dark” romances out there where the MMC is a much better model of a partner than the guys in plenty of contemporary regular romances (especially in enemies to lovers plot lines).
this is so insightful, thank you!
I may just have to try a mafia romance soon - thanks for the push!
let me know what you read if you do!
I found the Culture Study podcast interesting and started to follow! I wondered, listening to you talk about immersive reading, the place audiobooks have in BookTok. Are people listening to audiobooks, and are they sitting and listening or are they multitasking (I listened to the podcast while doing a puzzle).