What if the books you enjoy reading are quietly changing the way you view love, intimacy, and even yourself?
On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie raises concerns about the growing popularity of dark romance and paranormal romance, genres that increasingly feature explicit sexual content, violence, and disturbing relationships.
The conversation began when a friend of Timmerie’s entered the publishing world. While searching for a publisher for her suspense novel, which includes Catholic and pro-life themes, she discovered something troubling. Although there was interest in faith-filled fiction, she encountered pressure within the industry to include darker, more sexually explicit storylines.
Timmerie explained that paranormal romance can feature relationships between humans and supernatural beings, including demons, while dark romance frequently explores violence, coercion, and abusive relationships.
But her greatest concern is how easily young readers can encounter inappropriate material.
She recalled reading a fantasy series marketed toward teenagers that became increasingly explicit. Eventually, she abandoned it altogether. Months later, she spotted an 8-year-old boy reading that same series while waiting for his mother at a Pilates studio.
Timmerie gently warned his mother about the content, prompting an uncomfortable but necessary conversation.
For Timmerie, this illustrates how repeated exposure to explicit material can normalize unhealthy expectations about intimacy and relationships. She warns that erotic fiction can become addictive, encouraging readers to seek increasingly extreme content.
Her message isn’t simply about avoiding inappropriate books. It’s about protecting human dignity and forming a healthy conscience.
Catholic teaching reminds us that authentic love respects the dignity of the human person. Timmerie encourages parents to pay attention to what their children read and urges adults to examine their own entertainment choices.
For anyone struggling with sexually explicit content, she recommends turning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and seeking God’s grace.
And when difficult conversations arise, don’t shy away from them. Sometimes a loving warning can plant the seed for lasting change.
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