My Dark Romeo

Dallas and Romeo’s relationship follows the enemies-to-lovers trope. Explore how the authors satisfy and/or subvert this trope to complicate the protagonists’ love story. How would the novel’s explorations of love change if Dallas and Romeo liked each other when they first met?

Dallas and Romeo fight for power throughout most of the novel. Analyze the characters’ reasons for attempting to control or dominate each other. How does their desire for control relate to their circumstances in the present and their experiences in the past? What makes their attempts for control similar and different? Cite specific examples from the text.

Craft an argument that supports or refutes the following claim: Romeo’s character exhibits toxic masculinity. Analyze how and why Romeo behaves in aggressive, cruel, and emotionally manipulative ways. Does his behavior change, and how do his behavioral patterns relate to the novel’s broader commentary on patriarchy, misogyny, and dominant gender norms?

Compare and contrast Romeo’s and Shepherd Townsend’s characters. Does Romeo offer Dallas a different life than Shepherd created for her? If so, how? Examine how each character influences Dallas’s sense of freedom and autonomy.

Analyze the role of the novel’s micro and macro settings. Consider how Dallas’s life in Chapel Falls compares and contrasts with her life in Potomac. How do the novel’s different settings evoke different facets of Dallas’s character?

Analyze Senior and Madison Licht’s characters as literary devices. How do they create tension and conflict and impact Dallas’s and Romeo’s personal growth journeys? How would the novel change if Senior and Madison were more docile figures?

Explore the interplay between Dallas and Romeo’s sexual and emotional relationships. What is the connection between their sexual intimacy and emotional intimacy? How does one bond inform the other, and why? Cite specific examples from the text.

Analyze My Dark Romeo as a work of dark romance. How does the novel adhere to the conventions of the genre? Does it subvert expectations? If so, how? Use textual evidence to support your answer.