Alright, gather round. We need to talk.
And no, it’s not a coincidence, I’ve been seeing this trend everywhere. Let’s start from the very beginning, shall we?

I read books. All kinds of books. History, romance, fantasy, thriller, self-help, psychology, you name it, it’s on my shelf (or shamefully buried in my “to be read” pile).

Lately, I’ve noticed something very disturbing in modern romance novels: women are being portrayed as absolutely pathetic.
Begging for love. Desperate for male attention. And I, for one, am sick of it.

Back in the day, I used to skip the parts where the girl was sobbing over some emotionally unavailable bloke who barely noticed she existed, and of course, at the end, he’d “choose” her simply because, well, she was the last one standing. Romantic, right? (No. Just no.)

Case Study in Tragic: Flock by Kate Stewart

Let’s get specific:
I recently read Flock by Kate Stewart. The main character, Cecilia, was so pitiful I wanted to reach through the pages, grab her by the shoulders and give her a good shake. Girl, WAKE UP!
She falls for not one, but two men (because one wasn’t enough to ruin her self-esteem, apparently), who treat her like dirt and toss her the barest scraps of affection, and she’s absolutely fine with it.

Reading this book had me so furious I physically threw it across the room a few times… yet somehow, I soldiered on and finished it (because Dustin paid for it lol). By the end, I didn’t know whether I felt more sorry for her or angry that she’d made me waste hours of my life on her tragic love story.

Honestly, maybe the real problem is me. Maybe I expect too much like basic respect, decency, and human kindness in a relationship. Wild, I know (Imagine me rolling my eyes here)

The Bigger Problem: What Are We Teaching Young Women?

Here’s the scary bit:
Younger girls are reading these same books, internalising these toxic narratives and thinking this is what romance should look like.
“Oh, how romantic! He ignored me for months, but in the end, he realised he loved me!”
Meanwhile, I’m over here thinking, “Babe, he couldn’t even text you back.”

Is it any wonder so many stay in toxic relationships? Is it any wonder they believe love equals pain?

Why Can’t We Have Nice Things (Like Healthy Relationships)?

Why don’t more authors write characters with actual backbone?
Men and women who have strong character, proper values, and, I know this is revolutionary “self-respect“.

Why do we glorify kidnapping, assault, emotional damage, and call it “dark romance”?
At this point, if a book is marketed as dark romance, I immediately assume it’s about a bloke treating his girlfriend like rubbish, while she’s so traumatised she thinks it’s “true love”. Hard pass, thanks.

Good Books Do Exist (Thankfully)

There are books out there that get it right.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (no relation, sadly) and the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, absolute gems.
Strong women, actual self-worth, proper story arcs. Not just endless crying into pillows waiting for Mr. Toxic to get his act together.

Conclusion (Before I Throw Another Book Across the Room)

So here’s my public service announcement for the week:
If you know any good books where people are not “miserably in love” with each other, please let me know.
Save me. Save the bookshelves. Save the next generation (i know i am drametic).

Loads of love (and a bit of exasperation),
Hannah