Disclaimer: This is my opinion and one I'm passionate about. I have nothing against the people that enjoy reading/writing such stories (a few I'm even friends with), so you do you. I'm also not bashing any specific book. This is my overall opinion of the genre.

Okay, now that this out of the way *deep breath* let me start!!

I remember enjoying this genre when I was 12, along with a lot of my friends as it was really popular back in those days. And it had quite a negative impact on our mentalities. Let me tell you how.

First of all, glorifying sfuff that doesn't deserve to be glorified, even in fiction, does have a negative impact. There are so many people reading your books out there and every book you read sort of gives you a different perception on things. This can be a really good thing sometimes and bad at others.

So basically what happens in these "player" stories is that there's this guy who's a piece of shit. Let's call him "Jim".  He's even a bully sometimes which not only makes him a piece of shit but the whole fucking shit. He manipulates and uses other girls/women for sex, holding not a single ounce of respect for them. But oh it's totally excusable since he has a tragic childhood story. *massive eye roll*

Then suddenly, our protagonist catches his attention. Let's call her perfectelina. And oh she's such a special snowflake and she's so not like other girls, she'll "tame" all his player ways.

First of all, this protagonist who has no problem with Jim sleeping around, has the audacity to shamelessly slut shame the antagonist for doing the same thing i.e sleeping around. Like honestly, the antagonist is literally the female version of the player in such stories. But suddenly, that makes her a "slut".

And when Jim does the same thing? Oh that makes him hard to get, a player, so swoon-worthy, such a bad boy. *cringe plus eye roll*

One of the reasons Jim likes Perfectelina is because she's "pure" *another eye roll here* , which is because she's had no romantic/sexual experience, ohhh jeez she's so innocent, Jim needs her innocence to be protected.

Umm wtf Jim? You hypocritical banana peel.

These stories endorse negative ideas like:
1. Sex is something prideful for guys while it's shameful for girls
. Such mentalities and ideas lead to rape culture and slut shaming eventually.
2. Your past excuses your present actions.
3. Treating other women like shit is okay as long as you love and respect just one "special" one.

Now that I've vented out my anger about Jim, let's move on to the female protagonist aka perfectelina.

Okay, first of all, Perfectelina isn't even all that special or unique. She's a character that most introverted bookworms will relate to except the fact that she's annoyingly close-minded and oblivious. That makes her unique, I guess? The close-mindedness and obliviousness. Or the fact that she loves alienating herself from other girls.

This can leave quite a harmful effect on the young girls reading the book. They'll use phrases like, "I'M nOt lIkE oThEr gIrLs!"  to impress guys or hold a sense of self-importance.

Stfu, what's even "other girls"?

No two girls are completely alike just as neither are two guys. Your gender does not fucking define you, little cabbage. There are girls who enjoy casual relationships, flings,  some who only do serious and some who don't date . There are girls who are into sports, partying, extroverted shit. Then there are some introverted ones who stay quiet and enjoy books.

Not doing stereotypical shit that's expected from females does not make you a special snowflake.

Everybody is special in their own way. Yes, even those girls/women that Tim so shamelessly used and disrespected. And his cliche ass sob story does not justify such behavior.

It would be okay if the girls were only looking for a fling with him too, nothing serious. BUT HE FUCKIN USES AND DISRESPECTS THEM WHICH IS NOT OKAY.  Seriously, I've read stories where Jim and his friends make bets on who can make a girl fall in love with them and take her virginity first.

Seriously, fuck you, Tim. I will strangle you with your leather jacket, you little bitch.

And Perfectelina? Grow the fuck up, sweetie. You ARE like other girls and there's nothing wrong with that! Stop slut shaming female-Jim and fucking dump Jim because he's SHIT.

Honestly, if Jim had some character development like realizing how his past actions have made him a bad person or toying and manipulating others is not okay, I wouldn't have a problem. But he literally has no development besides falling in love with perfectelina.

I just wish people could understand that there's nothing wrong with doing whatever you want as long as you aren't hurting anyone else. Both female-Jim and just-Jim would be decent people if they weren't jerks. It's the blatant disregard for other's feelings that makes them little shits. And maybe if by the end of the story, they stopped being shits, I'd actually like them.

That is all, ladies and gentlemen.
This is the angriest post I think I've written? Sorry if it was a little too much lol but I needed to get it out.

xoxoxo
Nushie