No person can say that they have never experienced a negative emotion in their lives.

The hurt component of the story calls to the part of us that doesn’t want to be the only one experiencing that particular type of painHurt is an undeniable part of the human condition.

This gives the reader the control and space to process these negative emotions and makes them feel more empowered by doing so. However, when reading about characters going through similar experiences, the reader is slightly removed from the situation, given that they have the option and control to limit or stop the stimuli that is causing these emotions. Grief and bereavement can take a toll on us, made all the worse by the unexpectedness of the situation that brings about these emotions.

H/C stories enable the reader to deal with negative emotions in a controlled environmentDealing with negative emotions such as loss of a loved one, misfortune, and pain, is a very difficult process.

Here are a few reasons why H/C stories are becoming more popular: Each reader gets something out of the experience that they take away from reading the book, and it changes how they see themselves and how they view their interactions with their own loved ones. Or they desire to find a love that is as balanced and vital as the one reflected in the book. The reader identifies with either the hurt protagonist or the nurturer in the story. H/C stories appeal to readers in different ways. H/C stories are about the reciprocal nature of hurt and comfort, neglect and nurture, and weakness and strength. How the nurturing protagonist learns about themselves in comforting the hurt protagonist. That the ones around us, the ones who care, have a deep-seated desire to comfort and nurture us through the pain. They showcase how pain is seldom experienced alone. It gives the reader an all-access pass in to the character’s world of pain, and their struggle to overcome or deal with that pain. H/C stories go beyond your average alpha male/spunky female couples (or whatever tickles your fancy), in that in there is an intensity and an openness with which the hurt protagonist’s pain and struggle through that pain is explored. Hurt/Comfort stories are defined as stories that have one character who has physical/emotional/psychological trauma and another character who heals/nurtures/comforts them through it.

But what makes this antithesis journey to romance so desirable? Defining Hurt/Comfort These are the epic love stories that make you hurt so bad that you keep on reading in the hopes that the characters will find that HEA, because, Damn it! They deserve it. But recently, Hurt/Comfort (H/C) stories are becoming more and more popular, where the journey to that HEA is painful, torturous, and downright gut-wrenching.

When most people think about romance novels they focus on stories that work toward a HEA or even HFN ending.

Ethan who loved carter by ryan loveless