(Rant Review) Y'all I just can't... The Wild by K Webster | Taboo Romance Book Review | Booktube

[@meowlo-the-mood-reader]

i'm very tired of these kind of stories being sold as "romance". I read a book earlier this year with pdf files and grooming presented as a beautiful romance born of tragedy or w/e like this one is. Please be honest and stop calling these things beautiful romances. There's a place in fiction to explore these stories but I don't really think it's the romance shelves. I read a lot of dark romance and dark fiction and I don't want to be the kind of person who is like "don't romanticize bad things!" but there's just something about The Wild and this other book I read (All the Ugly and Wonderful Things) that just...something about it is not sitting right with me.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I'm having the same difficulty. I'm not saying "don't write it". I'm not even saying "don't romanticize it" - but there's a difference to me between the characters deluding themselves and the author trying to delude their audience, particularly when it's being done off-page. It doesn't sit right with me either, though I find articulating the *why* of it in a precise way difficult.

[@ettaetta439]

Thank youuu. I think suppressing people's dark fantasies does more harm than good, and people should be able to explore them in fiction. But the authors need to actually be aware that what they're writing is WRONG IN REAL LIFE, and it shouldn't be in the romance section. I get so pissed off when I see that authors clearly don't understand that what they're writing is messed up. They end up writing shitty books that feel like they're trying to convince you that incest is good, actually.

[@KirkpattieCake]

I BEEN WAITING to hear your thoughts on this one. I also read some dark stuff in a variety of categories. Usually when I review or talk about a book, I'm responding to the characters and situation in particular or sharing how I read a situation and what I think of it. Authors can write and explore a lot of terrible and extreme situations and I don't think that reflects on them in a negative way specifically. I mean, look at Lolita. Pending on which "commentary" you look at, I've seen some say Lolita glorifies pedophilia while others said obviously it shows a tragedy and an unreliable narrator and others have supposed it expresses some experiences an author has. For me, I think where this book specifically bothered me was the eroticism and romanticism of grooming and pedophilia. It did feel like pedo porn, it wasn't a tragedy or for a point other than titilation that is eroticizing the ages and the relationships. On top of that, while I think that books stand on their own in reader interpretation during the reading, I personally look to the author for intent to compare my experience with what the stated goal was. Webster saying this is a love story and purposefully trying to hide the elements of pedophilia and grooming make the book much more dubious than "just a book with taboo elements." It's the calling it a love story and wanting to expose more people to it to try and convert people that makes it read... a certain really gross way. While authors can't control how readers respond to their stories, if an author writes something and then in personal commentary glorifies it, that's the thing that makes me question a book's purpose and what the author was trying to do. I've seen way too much true crime content that shows how normal SA and CSA actually are and too much normalization and CSA tbh that the commentary of "this is a romance story" is.... something that makes my eyes squint.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I think that's where I'm having such a hard time, too. I finished this book *weeks* ago and I'm still processing it, but not because of the book itself. It's the way it was sold, the way the author discussed it outside the pages of the story. I'm still processing. I'm not sure I'll ever fully understand *why* Webster chose to approach it in this particular way, other than marketing. It's the only thing I can come up with. That doesn't make it true, but it's certainly the only thing I came back with when I reached into the grab back of possible reasons.

[@elainagilbert7663]

Personally, I don't feel that the baby being a boy changes anything because Devon was so heart set on the taboo of her relationship with Reed so if there's a sequel where something happens to Reed and he dies, she may seek comfort elsewhere and she won't look far.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

What a horrifying thought... I *see* it, now that you've pointed it out but... I kinda wish I didn't now. One of those "can't unsee it" things. Thanks a LOT, Elaina! XD

[@elainagilbert7663]

@@EfiLovesBooks Sorry to do that to you. I realized it and needed to share it or else the thought might've eroded my brain.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I can 100% understand. Misery loves company, after all. You're always welcome to share your misery with me. :D

[@morleywritesbooks]

i remember YotA going over this with similar points, and she was uncomfortable even though she reads/likes dark romances

[@EfiLovesBooks]

Same boat. I read a lot of dark and disturbing content, but it doesn't usually *bother* me the way this has bothered me, and is *still* bothering me, weeks later.

[@PopChanx]

I don’t think it is unfair to input judgement for the author when the way they’ve handled things is actually dangerous. If a crime is committed, intentions matter to an extent, but there’ll always be consequences. This is at least an analogous situation. I don’t care how risqué or taboo you want your writing to be, but if the text itself doesn’t condemn the actions taken, the bare minimum is ensuring readers’ safety. There are no excuses for such behaviour, ESPECIALLY when most abused children suffer by the hands of entrusted adults. It’s such an unfortunately common trauma, and to go the extra mile to try and hide it? It’s even more insidious. Either way, this was the first time I’ve stumbled across your channel. I like the way you articulate your thoughts, and I hope to see more of your content! Much love to you always and thank you for sharing.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I think it was the hiding of it, more than anything, that I was so troubled by. It took me weeks to fully process how I felt about this book. I definitely try to avoid ascribing motive to people, or making assumptions about why they chose the things they did, but this one was particularly hard for me, and I'm not sure I was entirely successful. Either way, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation!

[@TheSuefriend]

I'm shocked at how irresponsible this author is with trigger warnings.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

It's the intentional "don't tell people" for me. "Irresponsible" doesn't begin to cover it.

[@spookyfirst9514]

10:57 Which is why I'll never read this book. I listened to YOTA's review of it, and that was as far as I could stand. Another book that had severely emotionally stunted characters was the His Name is Augustin series. The protagonist in that book behaved like a nine year old. The only good thing about it was the author never marketed it as a YA book. This one uses 'negative' publicity to market itself, another thing I don't agree with.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I get outrage marketing, but like, at least be honest about what it is? And for heaven's sake, don't actively encourage people to HIDE it!

[@spookyfirst9514]

@@EfiLovesBooks I just got to the part she asks people not to tell anyone how it's pure fetish porn. That's shady.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

@@spookyfirst9514 yyyyup

[@lostsnowman127]

Late to the party. Male here. I still think Reed was over the line with Sabrina. Sabrina is a tragic case. The author could have used sorrow and dead and cold bedroom to contrast the mayhem Reed causes with Devon. Same outcome, and Devon is with someone less angry. Instead his treatment of Sabrina acts as the tone check for his character. This is why dark stories aren't my deal. The male erotic lead is often insufferable.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

There are so many other ways it could have been done. This just... wasn't it for me. At all.

[@jujucat7126]

The way you talk is so pretty, it made me even more interested in your channel, congratulations! 🎉🎉

[@EfiLovesBooks]

Thank you, that's a very nice thing to say.

[@jujucat7126]

@EfiLovesBooks English is not my first language and it's really hard for me to find content creators with fluent speech for me to train my skills, you will be valuable for my studies! 😄😄

[@donhilljr.4890]

I think this was a mislabeled extreme horror story 😳

[@EfiLovesBooks]

Accurate.

[@KenjiiH]

I've listened to other reviews of this book and I find yours to be most entertaining. I am finding a low tolerance for abuse disguised as kink. I realize it is fiction but some people's first interaction with kink can be through books or movies. Most people don't do research and end up thinking abuse is ok. Thank you for your dark humor and delivery. I'm here for it all 😂

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I'm glad you had a good time!

[@Stonedandbookish]

One of my favorite book tubers covered this like twice and I'm living for it bc it sounds gross

[@EfiLovesBooks]

It was certainly an experience.

[@judgepunisher7113]

I used to watch you play overwatch like 8 years ago, crazy to see your still doing content after these years lol, looks great keep it up!

[@EfiLovesBooks]

Hey man, thanks! Hope you're well.

[@andreabailey676]

Way to many pedo books coming out lately. I find it gross.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

It's not new. They've been around forever. I think it's more the fact that we have places to *talk* about them now, so people are more aware of their existence, whereas before you would never really know unless you intentionally went looking for them.

[@NicolesBookishNook]

😬 nope 😬

[@EfiLovesBooks]

That's pretty much where I'm at, too, Nicole.

[@petitluna2571]

After seeing the hundresd of 5 stars under the review of this book at Amazon all I can think is that the acopalyspe is no longera a fear but a source of hope for humanity lol.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

People like what they like. This one definitely was not on my "things I like" list.

[@wolfzbyte]

Wow, this book just shouldn't exist and definitely not marketed as romance. So gross.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

I don't know that I'd go so far as to say it shouldn't exist. I feel like authors can (and should) write about difficult, controversial, and taboo topics - it helps people explore their thoughts on those topics in a safe environment. That doesn't mean I agree with the way the content was handled (both on-page and off-page), but I'm not going to go so far as to say it shouldn't have been written or published. If nothing else, it's given us all the opportunity to discuss how *not* to handle these topics, right? That, in and of itself, has value to the community, and wouldn't be occurring if the book did not exist.

[@wolfzbyte]

@@EfiLovesBooks Market it as a drama or something, but to pass this as a romance is all sorts of ick

[@EfiLovesBooks]

@@wolfzbyte Absolutely agree.

[@michellecgb]

She thinks she wrote a beautiful love story? I’m sorry, but I don’t think this author is right in the head.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

That's what it said, yes. Taste is subjective, I guess.