Guest post written by It Had To Be You author Eliza Jane Brazier
Eliza Jane Brazier is an author, screenwriter, and journalist. She currently lives in California, where she is developing her books for television.
About It Had To Be You (out July 16): Two contract killers, each with a hit out on the other, must fight their growing attraction as they face off in an epic game of lust and murder across Western Europe.
In her three-hour video dissecting Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, ContraPoints argues readers can safely engage in toxic relationships in print. Let’s prove her right with five books about bad love. In honor of Sabrina Carpenter, we’re pairing each book with a tune from a girly pop queen.
Baby, let the games begin!
A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
Soundtrack: My Kink is Karma – Chappell Roan
Downing’s Twisted Love Story is about a relationship like no other. On-again-off-again couple Wes and Ivy 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. Talk about letting it get bad when it ended.
Toxic Scale: 4/5, These two are just too entertaining to earn the full five.
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Soundtrack: But Daddy I Love Him – Taylor Swift
My dream girl Ali is a Swiftie and she has a sense of humor, so she’s getting BDILH for her food science romance. Not in Love features a pair of lovers who think they can change the beat of their hearts but, quite literally, can’t hold back the chemistry. Main Character Rue and her work nemesis Kline have a top secret, super-hot affair that puts the urge in merger. The twist? She’s having his baby. No, she’s not.
Toxic Scale: 1/5, Rue and Kline are more “messy” than toxic, so they score low on the scale.
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft
Soundtrack: Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl – Chappell Roan
Toxic female friendship on the dance scene? It has to be Chappell Roan. We Love the Nightlife tells the tale of two girlies who love to dance, and also suck blood, because they’re vampires. At every party, they’re the party. Until one of the girls wants out, and finds out just how hard it is to leave the party alive…
Toxic 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
One simply cannot discuss toxic relationships in print without mentioning Miss Hoover. We need to pair a classic with a classic, so we’re going with Swift for this one. In It Ends With Us, main girl Lily reconnects with her old flame Atlas, but she’s been promised to another: the super-toxic Ryle. Atlas puts roots in her dreamland and starts a goddamn blaze in the dark. It’s all very drama!
Toxic Scale: 5/5, Ryle and Lily’s relationship is an honest, complex portrayal of abuse, but Lily’s relationship with Atlas gives the audience a couple to 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 force readers to engage in the conversation. In Almost Love, we watch main character Sarah fall hard for older man Matthew. This book examines the dark heart of toxic relationships, and how some people believe that real love is supposed to hurt.
Toxic Scale: 10/5, this book examines every angle of a Bad Romance.
Bonus: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier (aka Me)
My forthcoming novel isn’t exactly about toxic love; it’s just about assassins who kill people for a living. And also fall in love. So, totally healthy, balanced individuals.
Toxic Scale: 0/5, I will not be responding to comments at this time.
