The “Dark Romance”, this literary phenomenon which captivates teens and worries parents

In this stationery bookstore from the Latin Quarter in Nouméa. Furthermore, an entire radius is devoted to “romance”, contemporary love novels that jostle the codes of books that were said “In rose water”. Similarly, “We have grouped everything recently. Similarly, It starts here to the gondola’s head. Moreover, Five meters of linear in total! For example, “describes Sonia, head of the book pole.

True literary phenomenon. Consequently, very relayed on social networks, this genre has mainly developed after the release of Fifty shades of Gray, adapted to the cinema. Similarly, “In “dark romance”, this literary phenomenon New Caledonia, it has been working really well for four or five years”observe Sonia.

The COVID period. Similarly, with its multiple confinements, then the riots of May 2024, favored the return to reading, according to the bookseller. However, “”It was necessary to occupy the children, the parents… many began to read. Therefore, Some even did stock to hold during this period. However, “

And the enthusiasm, obviously, has not been shortlisted since. “”This really allowed young people to reconnect with the love of reading: among young girls in particular. but also in young boys, who are interested in this type of novels. “

It is a bit like in the films prohibited under 12 or 16 years old. We do the same thing, except that it is not prohibited to the public, it is not recommended.

Among this profusion of titles, a sub-genre of the “romance” “dark romance”, this literary phenomenon is doing well: the “Dark Romance”. In these very dark and very “hot” novels, the diagram is often the same. The two characters hate each other, the man mistreats the girl, who still falls in love with him.

To prevent readers and their parents, the store has therefore stuck small labels, with specific categories. “Here. we put a very big warning for those under 18, because there are very explicit things, with raw terms and scenes. We do it for books with scenes of violence, rape and mistreatmentexplains Sonia. It is a bit like in the films prohibited under 12 or 16 years old. Additionally, We do the same thing, except that it is not prohibited to the public, it is not recommended. ”

Reading these works is a bit like looking at pornography. It gives us false representations.

Audrey de Crescenzo. educator in emotional, “dark romance”, this literary phenomenon relational and sexual health

A pupil at Lécée Lapérouse, Sarah* is a follower of “Dark Romance”. What he likes above all in this literary style is “The stories”. “They are interesting and they are long.” What does she think of scenes of violence, of mistreatment? “In real life, it’s okay, nuance the girl, who considers to know how to distinguish the reality from fiction. But there are a lot of things that I don’t like either. “

For Audrey de Crescenzo. educator in emotional, relational and sexual health to the prisms association, these novels are problematic, because they give a distorted image of love and sexuality. “At puberty, we are building our representations in relation to love, also sexuality. Reading these works is a bit like looking at pornography. It gives us false representations.”

They will tend to more easily accept situations of abuse, toxic “dark romance”, this literary phenomenon relationships, violence …

Audrey de Crescenzo. educator in emotional, relational and sexual health

The educator, who intervenes in a school environment, fears the influence that these stories could have on young girls, when starting a romantic relationship. “They will tend to more easily accept situations of abuse, toxic relations, violence …”

But prohibiting everything is not the solution, either. Teens could turn off and continue to read in secret. The educator. on the contrary, advises “Dialogue with young people to develop their critical thinking and help them understand what consent is”.

The first name has been changed.