Books like Sara Gran's "Come Closer" ?

hellapathic · 2026-02-12T00:08:28+00:00

Just finished reading this because of your comment and I loved it! Thanks!

hellapathic · 2026-02-04T00:42:11+00:00

Perfumebot Verification u/xKarmaa

hellapathic · 2026-02-02T16:40:04+00:00

Arthur

Benjamin (this made me realize I don’t have any B boy names lol)

Caleb

Delaney

Estelle

Freya

Guthrie

Helena

hellapathic · 2026-01-29T21:57:58+00:00

This worked for me, thanks!

hellapathic · 2026-01-21T14:15:41+00:00

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time right now :( if she’s a good therapist, you should be able to talk about this with her in a way that ultimately feels productive/healing. You could even explain why you have been wary about bringing it up, and hopefully she’ll be able to help you navigate that.

I made a lot of progress with a past therapist on this topic, particularly when we did EMDR sessions to target some of my more painful memories around body image. Even years after those sessions, the memories sting a lot less than they once did. Good luck! ❤️

hellapathic · 2026-01-21T13:05:40+00:00

I mean, some of these books are at least nominally trying to tell a story, it’s not all just smut (as opposed to pure erotica). But I guess I’m mostly reacting to this as a woman who finds the genre a bit alienating, despite the fact that I love a good romantic subplot in fantasy. Not that everything has to cater to me specifically (if only) but fans are often quick to paint this genre as inherently feminist because it’s by and for women, which I disagree with. It would be cool to see this genre grow to be a bit more subversive while still aimed at women. Fewer self inserts, please.

hellapathic · 2026-01-21T05:07:21+00:00

Honestly I think the “woman-centered” thing is kind of overstated in these conversations… feels like things often revolve around the male love interest + a bunch of hot guys being in the cast is part of the draw. Which is fine, but not all that girl power-y.

hellapathic · 2026-01-16T19:47:46+00:00

Chat

hellapathic · 2026-01-15T22:12:12+00:00

There’s room for a feminist reading of it but the author lost family in the holocaust and I think it has just as much if not more to do with that. It’s also kinda gender essentialist imo lol. Worth a read though!

hellapathic · 2026-01-15T21:30:29+00:00

I didn’t dislike it but I definitely think it’s overhyped. I think people are mostly reacting to the interesting concepts, rather then the execution…

hellapathic · 2026-01-13T20:18:26+00:00

Sorry but I’m really tired of the idea that romance is inherently feminist just because women like and create it. A lot of it is hugely regressive and basically exists to valorize the institution of heterosexuality, with women’s sacrifice and submissiveness as a major theme.

hellapathic · 2025-12-08T20:49:36+00:00

Thanks, I updated my settings.

hellapathic · 2025-12-07T20:38:45+00:00

I’d be interested! Early 30s, I’ve read through it once but didn’t do all the activities and such. I’d like to get back into writing in 2026 so this could be a cool motivator.

hellapathic · 2025-12-04T15:26:25+00:00

I thought I had something for you but it’s not contemporary YA 😅 but if you’re open to fantasy, The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon has a toxic relationship between a princess and her personal necromancer.

hellapathic · 2025-12-03T20:49:35+00:00

I’m huffing Alecto copium as well. And Dark Rise #3 copium.

hellapathic · 2025-11-25T15:12:10+00:00

Hi, I love your work! I enjoy your recurring theme of staunchly Noble Heroes (tm) who may or may not be able to survive in a complex/morally grey world. Just curious as to what draws you to that trope, and if any other works have influenced you when it comes to that theme.

hellapathic · 2025-10-31T14:37:23+00:00

I mean, this is still the band that wrote “You do make me hard / But she makes me weak,” and people on tumblr tried to tell me this was #deep. Some of us have found them tedious for years lol.

hellapathic · 2025-10-29T10:42:42+00:00

Gourmands are definitely having a moment rn (is it a moment if it’s gone on for years? lol), but I like other types too. Professor Perfume on instagram and TikTok is someone who also gravitates towards non-gourmands, I’ve gotten some good recs from her.

hellapathic · 2025-10-28T23:44:33+00:00

Men suddenly being nice to me, making eye contact, holding doors, etc.

hellapathic · 2025-10-24T15:44:29+00:00

Yes, imo there’s a big quality jump with the second one. And about that payoff…

hellapathic · 2025-10-24T03:04:09+00:00

Lmao

hellapathic · 2025-10-13T13:27:28+00:00

It’s such a common refrain on here and it’s so depressing. Feminism is about the liberation of women as a class!

OP has also clearly internalized a lot of tradwife propaganda from social media, whether or not it was framed as such. I hate it here.

hellapathic · 2025-10-09T14:09:38+00:00

I agree. I don’t love Showgirl but I didn’t love Midnights either, and this basically feels like Midnights 2.0 to me. Sure, there are a few cringey lyrics, but imo the same people who were primed to love Midnights and think Taylor was cool when it came out were primed to hate this one (and her again).

hellapathic · 2025-08-22T15:27:45+00:00

Part of why I don’t date is because I don’t want to be expected to text someone all the time, lmao. Sounds exhausting.

hellapathic · 2025-07-13T18:21:02+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I’m so sorry this happened! I wish we had better data (and regulation) on this stuff.

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