Thursday, October 9, 2025
  • Lowyat.NET
  • Lipstiq
  • Murai MY
  • Miss Murai
  • Varnam
  • Moviedash
  • Autofreaks
No Result
View All Result
Hype Malaysia
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests
Hype Malaysia
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests
No Result
View All Result
Hype Malaysia
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle

What Is Dark Romance & Why Is It BookTok’s Biggest Problem

by Hype Desk
November 16, 2024
Sources: Facebook (@/𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙄𝙏𝙐𝘿𝙀 𝙋𝙊𝙀𝙏𝙍𝙔 ヅ), X (@/LunaYoungman), Nikhil Manan

Sources: Facebook (@/𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙄𝙏𝙐𝘿𝙀 𝙋𝙊𝙀𝙏𝙍𝙔 ヅ), X (@/LunaYoungman), Nikhil Manan

21
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Whatsapp

Books have always been a great source of entertainment. Reading a book can transport you to faraway worlds, full of magic, fantasy and anything that your imagination can conjure up. The only limit is your creativity. 

Now, with social media, it’s been easier than ever to find new books to read, with everyone sharing the books they like online. One could say that reading has even become a trend on TikTok and Instagram with the community there being coined as BookTok. 

Sources: cottonbro studio, TikTok (@/six_of_books06)

BookTok sounds great, doesn’t it? Sharing stories online, meeting people who have the same opinions as you, and can recommend similar books. What’s not to love about BookTok? Well, we have a few gripes with it as a whole. 

No community is perfect, and BookTok is no exception. While there are some flaws (and possibly bad apples) within the community, perhaps the most concerning is what BookTok is best known for: the romanticisation of their favourite dark romance stories.

What is dark romance?

Source: krakenimages.com

This is a sub-genre of romance that’s been widely popularised by BookTok. As the name suggests, the themes in books like these are much darker than a usual romance book, usually having content that involves stalking, kidnapping, abuse or worse. The best example of dark romance we can think of is “Haunting Adeline” by H.D. Carlton. This book perfectly encapsulates the genre as a whole, with its gruesome, and frankly disturbing content. 

This is where the problem begins. “Haunting Adeline” by no means, should be considered a romance at all, and the same goes for other books in this genre. Is beating your love interest into submission really something that should be considered romantic?

(Video) British TikToker Brings 28kg Worth Of Malaysian Snacks Back To London
Source: X (@/postcardsbyelle), TikTok (@/readingwithkenzz), Pinterest (@/ASHsaint66, @/bookstoriess)

That’s right. Dark romance tends to involve abusive behaviours from the male lead. Oftentimes the female main character is coerced into a relationship, either by kidnapping or murdering her close ones. The thing is, on BookTok, this kind of behaviour is considered “hot”. Not only that, but there is the tendency to excuse cruel characters, just because they seem attractive. An argument that’s been floating around to excuse this, is “it’s just fiction, it’s not real”. 

However, based on a study, the thing is, the media we consume does have an effect on reality. What we see can affect how we behave.

“I’ve become upsettingly comfortable with kidnapping.”

This is a quote from a Reddit thread, discussing the impacts of dark romance. The problem with excusing the actions of fictional men is that we slowly become desensitised to their horrible actions. This leads to thinking it’s normal. Then when does it actually happen in real life? It can be treated as no big deal and BookTok is great at using that excuse to justify the dark romances they read. 

Other instances of dark romance

Sources: X (@/erensbbyy, @/Tefy242, @/shoujofever)

Let’s take a break from books, and look at where else we can find dark romance. Manhwa. The glorified abuse in these comics is just as bad as that in books. As it turns out, the readers of the manhwa community are similar to those on the side of BookTok. Romanticising this abuse.

Online is where the two communities differ. Where BookTok makes thirst traps, drooling over the male lead and inserting themselves into scenarios, the manhwa community favours “ship edits”. These are videos where two characters are paired together, as if they are the pinnacle of romance, rather than an abuser and a victim.

@ajunkyla

Felix be like: gini banget jadi bayi yang harus melihat kebucinan mama dan papa☺️ #cryorbetteryetbeg #manhwa #matthiasvonherhardt #leylalewellin #webtoon #manhwafyp #naverwebtoon #manhwareccomendation #fyp #webtoonfyp #foryou #angst #webtoonindonesia #manhwaedit

♬ original sound – Leya 〽️

This looks like a sweet edit, of a mother and father. In reality, the main couple in this manhwa, very aptly titled “Cry or Better Yet, Beg”, suffer from the same abusive tropes, that all dark romance readers seem to enjoy so much. It’s all well and good to read dark romance, but one shouldn’t be romanticising the actions of an abuser.

Source: Andrea Piacquadio

Of course, that’s not to say you can’t read dark romance. Reading anything is fine, as long as you understand that this isn’t something that should happen in real life. Which is the main problem with BookTok. Instead of seeing that this is behaviour to stay away from, they gravitate toward it because it’s considered hot, and look for their own dark romances. What it really is, is an abusive relationship, and that’s dangerous. 

Sources: Psychology Today, The British Psychological Society.

Janae Lee contributed to this article.

BookTokdark romancedomestic abuseHaunting AdelineTikTokTikTok trend
https://lomp.at/b2sdc
Share8SendTweet5Share

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. 

FOLLOW THE HYPE

Image: Freepik
Lifestyle

From Discounts To Cashbacks: Here Are 5 Ways To Earn & Save With ShopeePay

by Kiran P Ganesan
October 9, 2025

It goes without saying that everyone likes a good deal. Rather than spending all  your hard-earned money in one go,...

Read more
Lifestyle

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hosts ‘Coffee Date’ in Celebration of Brew with Benefits Campaign

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre recently hosted an exclusive Coffee Date activation at R Bar on 30th September...

Read more
by Shangkari
October 6, 2025
Lifestyle

LEGOLAND® Malaysia’s Brick-or-Treat Monster Party Returns for Spookiest Season Yet

Halloween comes alive once again at LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort as the highly anticipated Brick-or-Treat Monster Party makes its return –...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
October 3, 2025
Lifestyle

Devialet Phantom Ultimate Lands In KL & Turns Music Into Pure Emotion

Devialet, the French audio powerhouse known for pushing the limits of sound, has finally brought its latest creation—the Phantom Ultimate—to...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
October 2, 2025
Lifestyle

HOYA Expands A Million Visions With Free Kids’ Eye Exams This World Sight Day

Kids today spend more time on TikTok than in the playground—and our eyes are paying the price. Experts predict that...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
October 2, 2025
Lifestyle

From Law Books To Runway Looks: Charlotte Netto Is Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2025

The 26th Annual Miss MalaysiaIndian Global (MMIGLOBAL) Grand Finals lit up Klang as Johor-born Charlotte Netto, 28, a lawyer based...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
October 1, 2025
Photo Credit: Pexel / Kaboompics.com
Lifestyle

Morning vs. Night Hair Routines: When Should You Wash Your Hair?

Hair care isn't just about the products you use – timing matters too. Whether you lather up at sunrise or...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
September 23, 2025
Photo Source: Pexel / Карина )
Lifestyle

What Does Your Favorite Chocolate Reveal About You As A Friend?

While some people consult horoscopes to understand their friendship style, others need look no further than their favorite chocolate. Your...

Read more
by Dean Zaini
September 22, 2025
Load More


TOP STORIES TODAY

  1. 1

    (Photos) HK Actress Nancy Wu Ties The Knot With Doctor BF Akin Chan

  2. 2

    DPR Ian Calls Out Former Labelmate & Exposes Ongoing Conflict Within Company

  3. 3

    (Video) Influencer Apologises To Aaron Aziz After Slander Accusation; Actor & Family Plan Legal Action

  4. 4

    90s HK Singer Shirley Kwan Reportedly Rushed To ICU Over Critical Condition

  5. 5

    (Video) Kasih Iris Leona Buys Her First Car; Number Plate Steals The Spotlight

TOP STORIES TODAY

No Content Available

Malaysia’s live-wire for the latest news, trends, and entertainment is finally here. We are your calendar, your grapevine, your comic relief, your post-event coverage, and your celebrity stalker. Did we also mention that we are also your gateway to the world?



Contact us: newsdesk@hype.my



  • About
  • Advertise
  • Jobs
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Hype Picks
    • Go
    • Eats
    • Style
    • Streams
    • Concerts
  • Celebs
    • K-pop
  • Music
    • Reviews
    • Interviews & Features
  • Movies & TV
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Features
  • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Travels
    • News
  • Giveaways
    • Contests

©2025 Vijandren Ramadass. All Rights Reserved.