Admittedly, when I was younger I used to enjoy fluffy YA romance novels; and I was less bothered by this than I am today. And maybe part of my frustration is coming from my much older, somewhat jaded lesbian self. Maybe.
What I would like to talk about today, is the Lux series by Jennifer L Armentrout.
You all know the deal- Introverted, "not like the other girls" main character is seduced by the bad boy next door, who is a total jerk to her and yet somehow- surprise, surprise- she falls in love with him.
This is problematic for a number of reasons. The first and most glaringly obvious of which, is that- oh hey, he's an ASSHOLE. But she loves him anyway... Of course she does.
Is this really what we want to promote? That if someone is nasty to you, but they're like, totally good looking... That you should date them anyway? Why?
WHY?!?!?!?!
This is glorification of emotional abuse and it needs to stop.
Young girls should not be taught that this kind of relationship is okay, or even normal. It's not!
I am struggling to make my way through the second book (Onyx) right now; and man... It's hard. I hate it. I hate the protagonist's complete obsession with a guy who is literally an abusive narcissist. I hate the way this series justifies his behaviour because he's "hot." And I hate the way that this stereotype is perpetually thrown around in literature because ABUSE, IS. NOT. SEXY.
Please, PLEASE, I implore you: Be critical of these types of stories and characters. Think for yourself and recognise that these abusive assholes do not deserve praise and they should not be romanticised. Ever.
I am going to finish reading Onyx, because, well, I paid for the eBook. So I will read it. But I will not be reading the rest of the Lux series, because I don't support insta-love with abusive, narcissistic assholes and the girls who willingly fall victim to them. I don't support emotional abuse. And I will not support its glorification in books. I just won't.
If you have anything to add to this conversation, I would love to hear it in the comments. Let's start this conversation. It's important and it is worth having.
Until next time, bookbugs!
Rhi xo
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