Today's popular reads are unbelievable trashy
Yes, I know, whether popular books are indeed 'trashy' depends on very subjective criteria, but terms like 'trashy' should be implied for titles of often imply poor quality, excessive sex, and indeed, being a total waste of time.
While some trending books, particularly in genres like BookTok's spicy romances, focus on sensational content, many popular books are critically acclaimed. Moreover, it's a given that the perception of a book's 'trashiness' varies by individual, with some readers enjoying the escapism and emotional depth found in various genres.
Lets take one title at random, Your dad will do (a touch of taboo part one) by Katee Robert. The author is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot”. I read also online that her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.
Go to goodreads and you'll see that this book from 2020 is still rated 3.6, and the intro there reads as follows: "I've been harboring a dark secret for two long years. I’ve been fantasizing about my fiancé’s father, thinking filthy thoughts that a good daughter-in-law should not be indulging in. So when I catch my fiancé cheating on me, there’s only one revenge that will fulfill all my needs. I'm going to seduce his father. It’s dirty and it’s wrong, and I don't care. I want him, so I mean to have him. After this weekend, my ex won’t be the only one who calls his father Daddy."
What do some random 5 star-reviewers write about it? "I cannot explain how scorching this book is. But behind the written porn, is actually a story for the romantic. Shane is the sexiest sweetheart and is perfect in handling Lily's grief. He does a wonderful job convincing her that there is a future beyond the hot sex while allowing her to rediscover herself. I also adored the ending which I found to be a pleasant surprise." and "Expecting just some erotica, I dove in and was blown away by a very well written delightful hotness and absolute filth, but also by the explosive chemistry between the characters!! It wasn't so much a forbidden story, I'd say it was one of an inappropriate variety - and I loved every minute of it."
Some random 1 start-reviewers stay a bit more splendidly rational for my taste. "This book was all sex no plot. And usually I would be all down for that. But by the half way point I just didn't feel fun anymore. I have read quite a few Katee Robert books at this point and if felt like quite a set down in regards to her writing. All the constant talk of the heroine's ex (the hero's son) it just made me feel so icky." and " liked the first few scenes, but then I thought we'd get a bit more plot? Like why these characters actually like each other, why I should give enough of a fuck about them to keep reading, etc. What I wanted was Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, basically. But it was just sex scene after sex scene, which in hindsight makes perfect sense for an erotica. But because I am clearly stupid, this book didn't live up to my plot expectations."
Specific sales figures for the book Your dad will do by Katee Robert are not publicly available, but she's a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author alright whose books have sold over two million copies across her career. My question here is, will Katee Robert be in long run a writer of worth just because she's a bestselling author of spicy romance novels, with sales of indiviual titles exceeding even one million copies and praise from Entertainment Weekly? Various reviews highlight her ability to write passionate and suspenseful stories that blend romance with mythology, though success with her work varies among readers, with some finding her writing style or story pacing not to their own taste
While some trending books, particularly in genres like BookTok's spicy romances, focus on sensational content, many popular books are critically acclaimed. Moreover, it's a given that the perception of a book's 'trashiness' varies by individual, with some readers enjoying the escapism and emotional depth found in various genres.
Lets take one title at random, Your dad will do (a touch of taboo part one) by Katee Robert. The author is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot”. I read also online that her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.
Go to goodreads and you'll see that this book from 2020 is still rated 3.6, and the intro there reads as follows: "I've been harboring a dark secret for two long years. I’ve been fantasizing about my fiancé’s father, thinking filthy thoughts that a good daughter-in-law should not be indulging in. So when I catch my fiancé cheating on me, there’s only one revenge that will fulfill all my needs. I'm going to seduce his father. It’s dirty and it’s wrong, and I don't care. I want him, so I mean to have him. After this weekend, my ex won’t be the only one who calls his father Daddy."
What do some random 5 star-reviewers write about it? "I cannot explain how scorching this book is. But behind the written porn, is actually a story for the romantic. Shane is the sexiest sweetheart and is perfect in handling Lily's grief. He does a wonderful job convincing her that there is a future beyond the hot sex while allowing her to rediscover herself. I also adored the ending which I found to be a pleasant surprise." and "Expecting just some erotica, I dove in and was blown away by a very well written delightful hotness and absolute filth, but also by the explosive chemistry between the characters!! It wasn't so much a forbidden story, I'd say it was one of an inappropriate variety - and I loved every minute of it."
Some random 1 start-reviewers stay a bit more splendidly rational for my taste. "This book was all sex no plot. And usually I would be all down for that. But by the half way point I just didn't feel fun anymore. I have read quite a few Katee Robert books at this point and if felt like quite a set down in regards to her writing. All the constant talk of the heroine's ex (the hero's son) it just made me feel so icky." and " liked the first few scenes, but then I thought we'd get a bit more plot? Like why these characters actually like each other, why I should give enough of a fuck about them to keep reading, etc. What I wanted was Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, basically. But it was just sex scene after sex scene, which in hindsight makes perfect sense for an erotica. But because I am clearly stupid, this book didn't live up to my plot expectations."
Specific sales figures for the book Your dad will do by Katee Robert are not publicly available, but she's a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author alright whose books have sold over two million copies across her career. My question here is, will Katee Robert be in long run a writer of worth just because she's a bestselling author of spicy romance novels, with sales of indiviual titles exceeding even one million copies and praise from Entertainment Weekly? Various reviews highlight her ability to write passionate and suspenseful stories that blend romance with mythology, though success with her work varies among readers, with some finding her writing style or story pacing not to their own taste
