What happens when the man who would have you blocking his number, changing your locks and calling your mates for backup becomes the very man you can’t stop reading about?

Welcome to the deliciously dark world of dark romance, where obsession, forbidden desire, morally grey men and seriously questionable behaviour have readers hooked. But what’s really going on beneath the surface? Is it the danger, the power, the fantasy of being desperately wanted, or something a little more complicated?

In this episode, we’re exploring the explosive popularity of dark romance, the authors pushing its boundaries, and the psychology behind our fascination with fictional men who would be walking red flags in real life. We’ll get into BDSM, dominance and submission, tantric intimacy, consent, coercive control, and why surrendering power by choice is very different from having it taken away.

We’ll also look at academic research into how readers engage with dark romance, including work published in Porn Studies in 2026 examining sexual power dynamics, arousal and the distinction between fictional fantasy and real-world preferences.

Because enjoying a dark fantasy doesn’t automatically mean you want to live it. But understanding where fantasy ends and reality begins? That’s a conversation worth having.

So grab your favourite drink, get comfortable, and let’s talk about sex, power, obsession and the dangerously seductive world of dark romance.

Because sometimes the biggest red flags are the ones we can’t stop turning the pages for.

This episode explores adult themes, including BDSM, stalking-themed fiction, sexual power dynamics, coercive control and consent.

Research and further reading

• Circana BookScan — romance publishing and sales trends: https://www.circana.com/
• Mel Monier, Reading the dark romance: exploring audience engagement with sexual power dynamics in dark romance novels, Porn Studies (2026): https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2026.2665166
• Porn Studies — research on dark romance, consent and reader engagement: https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2025.2586593
• Dunkley and Brotto, The Role of Consent in the Context of BDSM: https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063219842847

Beneath the Scars with Zoe — honest conversations, uncomfortable questions, and everything worth exploring beneath the surface.

Welcome to Beneath the Scars with Zoe — where the conversations are honest, the humour is a little filthy, the healing goes deep, and absolutely nothing is off the table.

I’m Zoe Hethershaw — author, holistic health practitioner, survivor, truth-teller, and a woman who’s lived enough life to know that sometimes you have to laugh so you don’t bloody scream.

We’re talking love, lust, sex, relationships, trauma, healing, dating disasters, and all the wonderfully messy things that make us human. We’ll dig beneath the scars, challenge the bullshit, question what we’ve been taught, and have the conversations people whisper about but rarely dare to say out loud.

There’ll be a little wisdom, a lot of honesty, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and absolutely no pretending we’ve got our shit together when we haven’t.

So, whether you’re healing a broken heart, rediscovering your sexuality, navigating the dating jungle, or simply wondering what the actual fuck happened to the world…

You’re in the right place.

Pour yourself a drink, make yourself comfortable, and buckle up, darling.

This is Beneath the Scars with Zoe.

We’re going beneath the surface, beyond the bullshit, and straight to the truth.

Because life is too short for fake smiles, mediocre sex, emotionally unavailable men, and pretending we’re fine when we’re absolutely fucking not.

Let’s talk about it.

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, depression, anxiety, trauma, spousal abuse and other difficult life experiences. Some of the topics may be distressing for listeners. Please take care of yourself while listening, and feel free to pause or step away whenever you need to.

What happens when the battles we’re fighting on the inside are the ones nobody else can see?

In this episode of Beneath the Scars with Zoe, I’m joined by the wonderful Adam Le Grand, an SEN Facilitator with 20 years of lived experience, who is passionate about getting one important message out into the world: we need to talk about mental health.

Adam is a genuinely lovely guy with a desire to make a difference, break down the stigma surrounding mental health, and encourage people to have the conversations that are often left unspoken. Because depression and anxiety aren’t things we should have to hide, feel ashamed of, or struggle through in silence.

Together, we talk about the realities of mental health, the impact of trauma, the struggles people carry behind closed doors, and why creating space for honest conversations matters so much. We also explore the difficult subjects that affect people’s lives, relationships and families, including suicide and spousal abuse.

This isn’t about pretending that life is easy or that a few positive words can fix everything. It’s about recognising that people are human, that struggles deserve to be heard, and that asking for help should never be something we’re ashamed of.

I’m a firm believer that we need more honesty, more understanding and fewer assumptions about what someone else might be going through. Sometimes, simply knowing that somebody is willing to listen can make a difference.

Adam, thank you for being willing to speak openly about these subjects and for wanting to help bring conversations about mental health into the light.

Because here on Beneath the Scars, we know that there’s always more to someone’s story than what we see on the surface.

Listen in, join the conversation, and remember: you don’t have to pretend you’re okay to deserve support.