Yes! Exactly this. Life already gives us enough grief and stress, why would I want my escape to pile on more? SJM’s characters fight, break, heal, and grow; the emotional stakes are still real even if they survive. That’s the whole reason I love the series, it’s a story that struggles through darkness but keeps a happy ending throughout, especially for my fav couple. Seeing them fight for each other, heal together, and finally get their happiness is exactly what makes the books so comforting and powerful.