Discussion: Asshat v Doormat, Bastard v Doormat, H v h

[Vintage]

Don't get me wrong, I love the alpha hero as much, probably, as the next reader. Whether it's Harlequin, erotica, or simple romance the alpha male is the way to go for the most part. A great beta is awesome as well.

However, there seems to be a long term trend for cruel alpha's. Cruel to the point that they won't listen to reason, the revenge angle, emotional abuse, forced seduction, etc.


WHAT makes it so appealing to women as readers in 2016?

As a reader and as potential writer, I would love to hear opinions as there are some pretty outrageous H's out there.

[LadyTechie]

I have to admit I have to take a break from these because that very type of H starts trying my patience. More than that is when just one sexy look or touch has the h falling under his spell despite his asshattery behavior. I would love to see one of them not think how she can't resist him despite having him throw her off a building or run over her foot on purpose. I have to admit the one I'm reading she said she couldn't look at him because she still wanted him at the same time that she wanted to throw something at him. I guess that is an improvement.

[Christine]

I don't find it at all appealing and now stories with those types earn a DNF from me. The H is just so not sexy. I now view that type as some kind of deviant.

I can read the older stories, which reflect the beliefs and behavious of the time, and what was considered acceptable. But now, I find myself thinking wtf is going on here. Are women so unsure of their worth that they'll tolerate this treatment as love? But then, I only have to see how many women put up with all forms of abuse and yet still stay, because "he loves me and I love him".

Makes me wonder about the writers themselves, and the editors and publishers - perpetuating the belief that abuse = love.

Any comments from writers?

[Anna]

I actually hate 'alpha' types - because it seems to be synonymous with asshat. but I can live with alpha / asshat H if the h is not a doormat. TSTL doormat h's are not welcome in my books. I will DNF.
Obviously I need the H to change, grovel etc. the days of him remaining an asshat and someone telling me that is love is over.

That does not mean that I can't read older novels and to some extent still enjoy them. But the asshat / doormat trope is actuallu what turned me off contemporary MF romance about 10 years ago and I didn't come back to it until last year...

If he is an asshat I need her to call him on it. not claim that she loves him for it.

[Anna]

afterthought. I enjoy the bastard / asshat hero in HR - but again, he needs to redeem himself at the end

[Vintage]

I agree. I want some heavy duty groveling, some weight loss. Then again, some of these heroines take forgiveness to such an extreme whether it's the hero or the evil sister/stepsister/mother. They don't even yell first then forgive.

Not sure why authors write that.

[Dani]

Hi! I love alpha H's but I agree that the h's need to be just as alpha I don't mind if the h is sweet as long as she's emotionally strong enough to demand respect. I think it's so popular because it never happens in real life, most guys who are a**holes aren't secretly cherishing some woman, they're just jerks who will never change. I LOVE reading about some super alpha who can only be brought to his knees by his heroine the worse they are the harder they fall right ;) I know she's not harlequin but Marian Tee has some great plots about alpha a**holes who are COMPLETE jerks(plots of revenge, not listening to anyone, assuming the worst and punishing the heroine for it even if it's not true, etc) and end up having to grovel and grovel lol. I think she epitomizes why these types of books are so popular because true love wins only when the woman demands to be the exception to his ways and he finds a way to prove that she is.

[Roro]

For me I can't stand that type of heroes ( crul . Jerk ) treating the lady badly accusing her of every bad thing and then she still lust him how come ! This type of books I don't even finish them that's why I love some authers like Helen Brooks her Heros are nice and respects thier ladies

[Mareli]

I love alpha men but lately, in a lot of books, there are just some very sick men and I cannot understand how women can find them interesting. How can they stand to be abused this way?
The feeling I have reading those books is that those men use women like they were objects (sometimes interchargeable) and I find it really disturbing. Maybe the problem it's me but I dont' want to read those kind of books anymore

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

I think the cruel hero is a staple of the earlier HP books. I feel that my tolerance for it has diminished with time. However, I admit I do like the drama/angst factor and having a cruel hero with a sweet heroine does lend itself to built in angst.

I don't think it says anything about the author that they write it. It's just fiction. I don't look at fiction as a primer for acceptable behavior. Having said that, sometimes I do have to part ways with authors who cross my personal line for hero/heroine behavior.

I don't mind a hero who changes and becomes a better person.