I know this is probably a common topic. For me, I’m not sure if it’s a “trope” or just totally misinformed writing, but it’s how many authors approach alcoholism. Some examples are Girl on the Train and The House Across the Lake, among HUNDREDS. If anyone else here has struggled with alcoholism, you know it’s not just "i woke up after downing an entire bottle of whiskey but was able to shower, down a cup of coffee, and solve a murder. "
The bad boy with a heart of gold as a love interest. Jesus Christ I hate it. Hated it when I still read mainly YA and even more so when I’m dealing with supposedly mature characters. And I’m not talking reserved, cold, sarcastic. I mean the one’s that are just unnecessarily rude and demeaning. It’s a turn off. I don’t care if it’s supposed to be “his way of protecting his vulnerable side”. Well find another way, or better a therapist instead of a relationship.
Yes, absolutely. Any kind of “enemies to lovers” trope ruins a book for me.
For a second, I read that as the love interest with the heart of gold was Jesus Christ.
Oh Jesus! I don’t know what it is about you, but you resurrected my heart!
Raised by a single mum, has major daddy issues, but is willing to literally die for you
I dislike it, too. It encourages young women to orbit around men like this, waiting for them to be nicer, but usually it doesn’t happen.
I just finished a book where the “heart throb” guy was an absolute asshole. And she couldn’t help but fall for him because it was all just a cover because he was just protecting her from himself. Like he was straight up rude and demeaning and threatened to kill her and she’d be like, “but his smouldering eyes said something else”… girl, no.