Meanings
- neologismuncountableA book genre featuring romantic relationships in which characters act in unethical or abusive ways.
Contrary to fears that dark romance promotes violence or unhealthy relationships, many readers engage critically with these narratives.
2024 November 19, Magali Bigey, “Reading dark romance: The ambiguities of a fascinating genre”, in The Conversation, archived from the original on 03 Nov 20252 more examples
What's calming for one person might be a nightmare for others, which is why dark romance as it's currently understood has often been a genre found easiest through authors who self publish.
2025 February 11, CT Jones, “Why BookTok Is Absolutely Obsessed With Dark Romance”, in Rolling Stone, New York, N.Y.: Penske Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2025Villains who love to the point of obsession, characters who bare the bloody wounds of their trauma, lovers who will kill to protect what's theirs — these are among the hallmarks of dark romance books.
2025 September 25, Brynne Weaver, “Brynne Weaver's Favorite Dark Romance Books”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Sep 2025
Cite this entry
dark romance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dark%20romance
“dark romance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dark%20romance. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dark romance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dark%20romance.
Source: dark romance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.