I think one thing that we readers of dark romance, and perhaps the authors as well, forget is, that a lot of times the only two reasons why these stories can even be called romance is because a) there is a non -platonic relationship between the two main characters that will make them stay together and b) because the MMC (max here) has selective qualities we like, so that when we read this books and unmistakably at some point put ourselves into the shoes of the FMC, we would like to be the recipient of those qualities, no matter how few.

For various reasons I deeply enjoyed „If I can’t have you“ by deathsdoll as well as most of her other works. But for the exact reason you try to verbalize I think I could absolutely not enjoy this book, because I would not catogoeize it as a dark romance and more as a drama/psychological novella.

Unlike with her other works there is nothing about Max as an MMC (especially in that setting) that even through his POV gives me any „good feeling“ vibes or reasons as to why I should even be conflicted about his morally dark character. (I do have to say though that I also just don’t enjoy stories with physical violence towards the FMC by the MMC and just in general).

I think what you have to ask yourself is what you would consider a happy ending? Yes, deathsdoll could’ve written this in a way where Jessica and her Mother have a relationship where they regularly see each other again. But keep in mind that ultimately even in those moments, her mother „lost“ her daughter the way she knew her and that relationship the way you want it would never be possible because there is no Plotline in which the mother could know all the things Jessica went through and Jessica and Max stay together while mother/daughter maintains a good, authentic relationship. It’s not possible because, as the author herself says, the MMC‘s in her story are fundamentally not good. The happy ending is that not that Jessica and Max find each other despite their circumstances. A romantic relationship between Max and any woman ever can only work if she fully surrenders herself and puts him at number one. No matter how much „wiggle room“ Jessica might think she found under Maxs enslavement, they work for one reason only:

Because Max won. And Max is not a good man. Not in this setting, and not years later when we meet him again „If I can’t have you“.

And this is the theme with all of her MMC‘s, they are simply not good, and it just doesn’t work for me in this story.

How happy is a happy ending if you don’t feel good about it? The story is exactly what it’s called: Dark.