Please, please, please give me books about toxic love

A twisted love story by Samantha Downing

Soundtrack: My fetish is karma – Chappell Roan

Downing’s twisted love story is about a relationship like no other. The couple Wes and Ivy, who are sometimes together and sometimes separated, use each other’s distress as foreplay, to the point that they may have (accidentally?) murdered someone. And now a detective is on their tail. You could say that’s a bad ending.

Toxicity scale: 4/5. These two are just too entertaining to deserve full marks.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Soundtrack: But daddy, I love him – Taylor Swift

My dream girl Ali is a Swiftie and has a sense of humor, so she gets BDILH for her romance with food science. Not in Love is about a pair of lovers who think they can change the beat of their hearts, but literally can’t contain the chemistry. The main character Rue and her nemesis Kline have a top-secret, super-hot affair that stirs the urge to fuse. The twist? She’s having his baby. No, she won’t.

Toxicity scale: 1/5, Rue and Kline are more “chaotic” than toxic, so they score low on the scale.

We love the nightlife of Rachel Koller Croft

Soundtrack: Super graphic ultra modern girl – Chappell Roan

Toxic female friendship in the dance scene? It has to be Chappell Roan. We love the nightlife tells the story of two girls who love dancing and sucking blood because they are vampires. At every party they are the party. Until one of the girls wants to get out and finds out how hard it is to leave the party alive…

Toxicity scale: 3/5, Nicola and Amber have a toxic friendship, but they also have a lot of fun.

It ends with us by Colleen Hoover

Soundtrack: Ivy – Taylor Swift

You just can’t discuss toxic relationships in print without mentioning Miss Hoover. We have to combine a classic with a classic, so in this case we’re going with Swift. In It Ends With Us, lead character Lily reconnects with her old flame Atlas, but she’s promised to someone else: the super-toxic Ryle. Atlas puts down roots in her dreamland and starts a goddamn fire in the dark. It’s all very dramatic!

Toxicity scale: 5/5, Ryle and Lily’s relationship is an honest, complex portrayal of abuse, but Lily’s relationship with Atlas makes a couple the audience can root for.

Almost Love by Louise O’Neill

Soundtrack: Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Louise O’Neill is one of my all-time favorite authors. She tells complicated stories that compel readers to join in the conversation. Almost Lovewe see the main character Sarah falling in love with the older man Matthew. This book explores the dark side of toxic relationships and shows how some people believe that true love has to hurt.

Toxicity scale: 10/5, this book examines every aspect of a bad romance.

Bonus: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier (aka Me)

My next novel isn’t necessarily about toxic love, but about assassins who make their living by killing people. And also falling in love. In other words, completely healthy, balanced individuals.

Toxicity scale: 0/5, I will not respond to comments at this time.