In the 2010s, dark romance has become an increasingly popular and distinctive subgenre of contemporary romance. Unlike regular romance, dark romance promises a focus on more complex, ambiguous, and oftentimes taboo tropes, including stalking, violence, and emotional manipulation. This fact becomes concerning when one considers the genre’s almost limitless accessibility due to the internet and its highly supportive online community. Given the persuasive effect of mainstream media, the lack of cri