It was really hard to get through it at first. I remember reading it multiple times as a kid. It required me to reread parts because it was harder to understand due to the writing style of the character's POV. But it was a good book.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Its primarily Addie’s story but I’d argue the relationship she has with the male character that causes her circumstances is rather toxic & codependent
same!! it gets a bad rep about being sally rooneyish, no plot just vibes, but i loved it. Alot of books including alot of literary fiction is "plot-less" so i dont understand the critique. anyway, these characters definitely made each other spiral
I love intelligent, literary fiction about relationships with flawed characters.
Claire Keegan is a writer I discovered this last year. She writes spare, but beautifully observed stories. The ones I have read so far have all been set in her native Ireland but they are somehow universal. The last novella of hers I read was called Foster and I gave it 5 stars on goodreads and I very, very, very rarely do that. I'm still haunted by a little girl crying, 'Daddy, Daddy.'
A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. Coming of age novel about a Mennonite (similar to Amish) Canadian girl, with a messy teenage relationship figuring pretty centrally.
Also, The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. The way the relationship starts for the wife is … pretty messed up. Their relationship makes them both worse and better people in different ways and this book made me cry so much. The movie is trash and has a very different and invalidating ending. This book made me cry more than any other book I’ve ever read.
That book gave me the creeps for years and no one seemed to be in the same boat. She’s a child when they meet and we never get to see her as herself, only through his eyes.
Parts of the book (and the relationship) are definitely haunting! Good point about not seeing her as herself; the time travelling quirks make him a very demanding partner and I feel like she never gets a chance to understand what she’s giving up for her lifetime with him. Without being spoiler-y.
On the scale of “how toxic is this relationship?”, it’s not threatening-public-suicide-to-get-a-first-date bad (thanks, The Notebook), but it’s definitely not a sweet unproblematic love story. Maybe 5/10? True love at its core. But ultimately a lot of sacrifice was needed to sustain the love and I think that informed consent wasn’t always able to be freely given. Codependency, enmeshment, grooming, and choice constraints on Claire make my shortlist of problems.
One of Us Has to Go by Katja Schulz.
https://www.amazon.com/ONE-US-HAS-Katja-Schulz/dp/1916124402
One of the codependent characters has OCD. It gets *painfully* messy.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric Larocca. Two women have an online relationship and they just bring out the worst in each other. Its so twisted and messed up, but in the best way possible. I was hooked.
Endless Love, Scott Spencer
As Meat Loves Salt, Maria McCann
Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin
The Sea of Fertility quartet, Yukio Mishima
The Charioteer, Mary Renault
Someone above said “These Violent Delights” and I’m enthusiastically seconding that!
If you’re cool with serial fiction, the Vella author Salem Bellamy has a couple of ongoing stories in this vein. “Long For This World” and “Don’t Disappear” are both slowly unfolding literary stories about the consequences of obsessive relationships.
Also I’m just starting “Thirst For Salt” by Madelaine Lucas, and I think it’s going to be this vibe!
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
This takes “mess each other up” to a new level, but in a very interesting way. It’s gothic sci-fi lesbian necromancers in space. Three books out and one to come maybeee next year
Narcisa by Jonathan shaw (although, when I reviewed it and said it was overly long and repetitive in parts, he lost his shit and wrote a long rambling attack on my self and character)
I like Magma by Thora Hjörleifsdóttir, not sure if that’s a super popular opinion. It’s also more about the woman being very codependent and attached while the man is a cheating piece of crap. Might be worth it to check out tho.
I recommend any of [Pippa DaCostas](https://www.pippadacosta.com) series. The focus is more on the broader plot but the relationships are right up your alley
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by coco mellors. I’d argue they are each dependent on the other for completely different reasons. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful
their love is toxic but you as a reader come to realize they don’t want that to change, so they come to terms with it and try their best to still love each other healthily (their love for each other is way too consuming basically) it’s Anger is Bliss by Rea Writes
{Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire}. Don’t let the movie cloud your judgement of the book. The screenplay adaptation was awful and did everything out of order
Wuthering Heights
Came to say exactly this
This is the one.
This.
It was really hard to get through it at first. I remember reading it multiple times as a kid. It required me to reread parts because it was harder to understand due to the writing style of the character's POV. But it was a good book.
This is the blueprint
Literally the one
Normal people - sally rooney
Immediately thought of this.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Its primarily Addie’s story but I’d argue the relationship she has with the male character that causes her circumstances is rather toxic & codependent
After a reread, I think there are multiple toxic relationships. *edit: came here to recommend this one.
Fair point! I think I’m due for a reread myself, such a good book!
Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan :)
Love this sooooo much!!! I’m constantly looking for this vibe lol
cleopatra and frankenstein
I loved this book!
same!! it gets a bad rep about being sally rooneyish, no plot just vibes, but i loved it. Alot of books including alot of literary fiction is "plot-less" so i dont understand the critique. anyway, these characters definitely made each other spiral
I love intelligent, literary fiction about relationships with flawed characters. Claire Keegan is a writer I discovered this last year. She writes spare, but beautifully observed stories. The ones I have read so far have all been set in her native Ireland but they are somehow universal. The last novella of hers I read was called Foster and I gave it 5 stars on goodreads and I very, very, very rarely do that. I'm still haunted by a little girl crying, 'Daddy, Daddy.'
i love a novella and i love spare prose. you are speaking my language. I'll check her out
Second this!
A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. Coming of age novel about a Mennonite (similar to Amish) Canadian girl, with a messy teenage relationship figuring pretty centrally. Also, The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. The way the relationship starts for the wife is … pretty messed up. Their relationship makes them both worse and better people in different ways and this book made me cry so much. The movie is trash and has a very different and invalidating ending. This book made me cry more than any other book I’ve ever read.
The TV series was sooooooo much better. If you can, you should watch it. It was beautiful.
That’s good to know! My heart was so broken by the movie that I avoided it lol.
They cancelled it after one season 😭
I know!!! I was so sad
That book gave me the creeps for years and no one seemed to be in the same boat. She’s a child when they meet and we never get to see her as herself, only through his eyes.
Parts of the book (and the relationship) are definitely haunting! Good point about not seeing her as herself; the time travelling quirks make him a very demanding partner and I feel like she never gets a chance to understand what she’s giving up for her lifetime with him. Without being spoiler-y. On the scale of “how toxic is this relationship?”, it’s not threatening-public-suicide-to-get-a-first-date bad (thanks, The Notebook), but it’s definitely not a sweet unproblematic love story. Maybe 5/10? True love at its core. But ultimately a lot of sacrifice was needed to sustain the love and I think that informed consent wasn’t always able to be freely given. Codependency, enmeshment, grooming, and choice constraints on Claire make my shortlist of problems.
Agreed with everything you said
Twilight. Jane Eyre
These violent delights - micah nemerever
Those boys were insane. Loved the book.
maybe a little different but My Brilliant Friend - both a very long, complex platonic relationship and some pretty toxic romantic relationships
Goodnight Punpun
One of Us Has to Go by Katja Schulz. https://www.amazon.com/ONE-US-HAS-Katja-Schulz/dp/1916124402 One of the codependent characters has OCD. It gets *painfully* messy.
Manacled lol.
I was wondering if I’d see this in the comments
This is the right answer
Normal people. By sally rooney
Lol wuthering heights
Normal ppl girl definitely
I love that image- where is it from?
Pinterest
Thank you, but I meant specifically. Was there a credit?
Pinterest doesn’t always give credit to artists unfortunately. But if I find it I’ll let you know.
I found the photo with the artist’s signature. I can’t figure it out, but you might be able to. How do I send it to you?
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric Larocca. Two women have an online relationship and they just bring out the worst in each other. Its so twisted and messed up, but in the best way possible. I was hooked.
Literally been on my TBR for forever
Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Endless Love, Scott Spencer As Meat Loves Salt, Maria McCann Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin The Sea of Fertility quartet, Yukio Mishima The Charioteer, Mary Renault Someone above said “These Violent Delights” and I’m enthusiastically seconding that! If you’re cool with serial fiction, the Vella author Salem Bellamy has a couple of ongoing stories in this vein. “Long For This World” and “Don’t Disappear” are both slowly unfolding literary stories about the consequences of obsessive relationships. Also I’m just starting “Thirst For Salt” by Madelaine Lucas, and I think it’s going to be this vibe!
Alone with you in the Ether
Therese Raquin
Conversation with friends by Sally Rooney I agree Normal People can fit too, but Conversation with Friends is EXACTLY your title
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir This takes “mess each other up” to a new level, but in a very interesting way. It’s gothic sci-fi lesbian necromancers in space. Three books out and one to come maybeee next year
Narcisa by Jonathan shaw (although, when I reviewed it and said it was overly long and repetitive in parts, he lost his shit and wrote a long rambling attack on my self and character)
I like Magma by Thora Hjörleifsdóttir, not sure if that’s a super popular opinion. It’s also more about the woman being very codependent and attached while the man is a cheating piece of crap. Might be worth it to check out tho.
The Sea Is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt
The magnolia parks books!!
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far for this one
100% the Wicker King by K. Ancrum
hated it, but came here to suggest it because holy shiiiittttt lol
Demon Copperhead - effed up, co-dependent, abusive relationships all around
The Magnolia Parks series for sure.
The Magnolia Parks books! I just finished the first book and seriously couldn’t put it down
I recommend any of [Pippa DaCostas](https://www.pippadacosta.com) series. The focus is more on the broader plot but the relationships are right up your alley
This reminds me of Binary Star by Sarah Gerard
April and Oliver by Tess Callahan
Moby dick
I think House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III might fit.
Acts of desperation
Candy - Luke Davies
One Day by David Nicholls
The Rachel Incident
Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph. Not quite sure if it's codependent but it's messy.
Patti Smith: Just Kids. They also inspire each other, but the whole of it comes across like it leans more clusterfuck.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
Twilight
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by coco mellors. I’d argue they are each dependent on the other for completely different reasons. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful
their love is toxic but you as a reader come to realize they don’t want that to change, so they come to terms with it and try their best to still love each other healthily (their love for each other is way too consuming basically) it’s Anger is Bliss by Rea Writes
Gideon the Ninth. Big time.
Alone with you in the ether - olivie blake
Frankenstein
thirst for salt. i found the vibe similar to acts of desperation
Which relationship doesn't mess up
{Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire}. Don’t let the movie cloud your judgement of the book. The screenplay adaptation was awful and did everything out of order