Not looking for recs like 50 Shades or Haunting Adeline where the toxic relationships are portrayed as some sexy, dream relationship.
Most likely these books wouldn't be romance. I'm looking for someone realising they're in a toxic place and, even though part of them wants to stay, developing enough to leave. If there's a HEA for the main character, it's in getting out and surviving that.
Something like season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for example. I'm hoping to find that in novel form.
by Nerual1991
3 Comments
“Bitter End” by Jennifer Brown has a realistic depiction of the courtship, meet cute, honeymoon, abuse, fallout, and escape of a high school girl from an abusive relationship with her boyfriend and it’s framed as a bad thing.
The View from Alameda Island by Robyn Carr is a romance but the main character is leaving her toxic marriage when she meets the main love interest.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Good question and props for the Buffy season 6 reference! I would also love recommendations for this.