Monster Romance: Why Are We Attracted to the Monstrous?

TL;DR: Monster romance, a literary subgenre featuring romantic relationships between humans and fantastical creatures like demons, vampires, and aliens, has exploded in popularity on TikTok and in bookstores since 2023. Psychologically, this phenomenon addresses deep human needs for unconditional acceptance, secure attachment, and safe exploration of transgressive desires in a context where many experience relational fatigue from modern dating dynamics. The genre appeals particularly to people with anxious attachment styles who fear abandonment, as fictional monsters offer devoted, non-ghosting partners who desire them without conditions. While reading monster romance can increase empathy and help people identify their emotional needs, psychologists note potential concerns when fiction becomes an exclusive emotional refuge or creates chronic dissatisfaction with real partners. Understanding your attraction to these narratives reveals important information about your attachment style and relational patterns, functioning as a tool for self-knowledge about what you're seeking in relationships.

Orcas, demons, vampires, werewolves, tentacled creatures... The monster romance phenomenon has exploded. On TikTok, the hashtag #monsterromance has racked up hundreds of millions of views. In bookstores, novels featuring love stories between human women and non-human creatures sell by the millions. And this isn't just a passing trend: it's a fascinating psychological phenomenon that says a great deal about our relationship with love, desire, and otherness.

What Is Monster Romance?

Monster romance is a literary and cultural subgenre that features romantic (and often erotic) relationships between a human character and a fantastical creature: orc, dragon, demon, vampire, werewolf, alien, Lovecraftian entity, or any other form of "monster."

Unlike classic dark romance, which stages power dynamics between humans, monster romance pushes otherness to its extreme: the partner is literally not human. And that's precisely what captivates.

The phenomenon emerged massively through BookTok (TikTok's literary community) starting in 2023-2024, driven by authors like Ruby Dixon (Ice Planet Barbarians), Katee Robert, and Finley Fenn. By 2025-2026, it had become a genuine cultural movement.

Why Does It Work? The Psychological Analysis

1. Unconditional Acceptance

The monster, by définition, exists outside all social norms. It doesn't judge according to human criteria -- weight, appearance, social status, income. In these stories, the heroine is desired exactly as she is, without conditions.

In psychology, this fantasy directly addresses the need for unconditional acceptance theorized by Carl Rogers. Many readers report that these stories give them a sense of emotional safety they don't find in conventional romance.

"He doesn't compare me to anyone. He doesn't even know what human beauty standards are. He wants me, period." -- A common BookTok comment

2. Attachment and Bowlby's Theory

Attachment style plays a key role in the appeal of monster romance. People with anxious attachment -- who fear abandonment and constantly seek validation -- find in these stories a partner who can't leave them for "someone better" (there is no one comparable).

The monster represents a fantasized secure attachment: a powerful, protective figure, entirely devoted. It's the antithesis of the emotionally avoidant partner many women encounter in their real relationships.

3. Taboo as a Space of Freedom

Psychoanalyst Esther Perel reminds us that desire needs transgression to sustain itself. Monster romance offers a space of total transgression -- without the real-life consequences of a toxic relationship.

It's a psychologically safe space to explore:

• The desire for submission without the risks of a real power dynamic


• Attraction to radical difference


• Fantasies that society deems "inappropriate"


• Curiosity about the unknown and absolute otherness

4. The Contrast with Relational Disappointments

The monster romance phenomenon emerges in a context of widespread relational fatigue. Dating apps, ghosting, breadcrumbing, situationships... Many women express exhaustion with human partners' behaviors.

The monster, paradoxically, is more reliable than the average human partner in these narratives:

• It communicates its intentions clearly (often bluntly)


• It doesn't ghost


• It doesn't play subtle power games


• Its devotion is total and non-negotiable

5. The Mirror Effect: What Does It Say About Our Relationships?

The popularity of monster romance reveals, in contrast, the relational shortcomings of our era:

Monster Romance and Mental Health: Should We Worry?

What's Healthy

• Exploring fantasies in a fictional setting is psychologically beneficial
• Reading romance (monster or otherwise) increases empathy and emotional understanding
• These stories allow people to name needs (safety, acceptance, passion) that they sometimes struggle to identify in real life
• The BookTok community creates social bonding and reduces isolation

What Deserves Attention

• If fiction becomes the only emotional refuge at the expense of real relationships
• If the standards set by fiction create chronic dissatisfaction with real partners
• If attraction to fictional power dynamics masks a repetition of toxic patterns (trauma bonding, emotional dependency)
• If consumption becomes compulsive and interferes with daily life

The Link with Attachment Styles

Recent research in psychology suggests a correlation between romantic literary preferences and attachment styles:

• Anxious attachment -- attraction to stories of absolute devotion, "fated mates" (destined soulmates)
• Avoidant attachment -- preference for narratives where the monster respects the heroine's independence
• Disorganized attachment -- attraction to chaotic dynamics, monstrous enemies-to-lovers

Understanding why certain narratives appeal to you can be a powerful self-knowledge tool. Your fictional preferences aren't insignificant -- they reflect your deep emotional needs. Take the Psy Test → — 30 questions, anonymous, PDF report (€1.99).

Conclusion: The Monster as Revealer

Monster romance is neither a deviation nor a simple fad. It's a psychological and cultural phenomenon that highlights our fundamental relational needs: to be desired without conditions, protected without control, accepted without judgment.

If this genre speaks to you, ask yourself: what does the monster offer me that I can't find in my real relationships? The answer may be the starting point for deep reflection on your relational patterns.

And if you want to go further in understanding your relational dynamics, analyzing your conversations can reveal patterns you're unaware of -- no monsters, but the same honesty.

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Gildas Garrec, CBT Psychotherapist -- Psychologie et Serenite

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Watch: Go Further

To deepen the concepts discussed in this article, we recommend this video:

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FAQ

What are the key characteristics of monster romance?

Explore the psychology of monster romance. The most characteristic features involve repetitive patterns that impact daily functioning and interpersonal relationships in predictable, often self-reinforcing ways that persist without intervention.

How does cognitive-behavioral psychology explain monster romance?

CBT analyzes this through automatic thoughts, core beliefs, and avoidance behaviors — a framework that identifies the maintenance mechanisms keeping the difficulty in place and provides targeted points for intervention through structured cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments.

When should someone seek professional help for monster romance?

Professional consultation is warranted when monster romance significantly impacts quality of life, relationships, or work performance for more than two weeks. A CBT practitioner can propose an evidence-based protocol tailored to your specific presentation, typically 8 to 20 sessions depending on severity.