Dark romance literature has emerged as a rapidly growing subgenre of young adult and new adult fiction, particularly through digital reading communities such as BookTok and Wattpad. Unlike conventional romance narratives, dark romance frequently depicts emotionally intense relationships characterized by obsession, coercion, manipulation, trauma, possessiveness, and unequal power dynamics. These narratives often romanticize morally questionable behaviors, including emotional control, non-consensual encounters, and violence, raising concerns regarding their psychological influence on adolescent readers. The increasing popularity of dark romance among female adolescents has generated considerable debate within literary and psychological discourse. Critics argue that repeated exposure to such narratives may normalize unhealthy relationship dynamics and distort perceptions of love, consent, and emotional dependency. Conversely, other scholars suggest that dark romance can function as a form of emotional catharsis, allowing readers to explore complex emotions, trauma, and vulnerability within a fictional setting. This review article critically examines existing literature concerning the psychological consequences of reading dark romance literature among female adolescents. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, literary criticism, and media studies, the paper explores the genre’s psychological appeal, its influence on relationship perceptions and emotional development, the role of social media in amplifying exposure, and the potential therapeutic and harmful implications associated with engagement with the genre. The review further identifies significant gaps within current scholarship, including the lack of longitudinal, cross-cultural, and empirical research on adolescent readers.
Hibba Khan (Wed,) studied this question.