Some self - published romance novels with extremely cliché storylines can also be considered in this category. For instance, the ones where the girl from a small town falls instantly in love with a famous actor who just happens to be passing through. The writing is often filled with purple prose and the characters lack any real substance, making them rather trashy in the literary sense.
One example could be 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. It's often considered trashy by some due to its over - the - top and sometimes unrealistic portrayal of relationships. However, it was also extremely popular, which is part of the 'best worst' aspect. Another might be some of the older Harlequin novels that follow very formulaic plots and cheesy dialogue but still have a certain charm for some romance fans.
One example of a trashy novel could be 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. It has been criticized for its simplistic writing style and somewhat controversial themes. However, it's also extremely popular.
Well, the characters can be a big factor. If they are one - dimensional and just there to fulfill a certain role in the love story, like the brooding bad boy or the innocent virgin. And the relationships can be unrealistic, like falling in love instantly without any real development. However, these novels can be 'best' because they provide a quick and easy read. They don't require a lot of mental effort, and for some people, that's exactly what they want when they pick up a romance novel. They're like junk food for the mind.
A classic trashy novel is 'Judy Blume's 'Wifey'. It deals with themes like female sexual awakening in a rather blunt and not - so - refined way. Another one is 'The Stud' by Jackie Collins. It's filled with the glitzy and seedy world of the rich and famous, with lots of affairs and power struggles. 'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo might also be considered in some ways. While it's a great work of fiction, it has elements of violence and a somewhat seedy underworld that could be seen as part of the 'trashy' allure in a literary sense.
Read reviews. Websites like Goodreads have reviews from a lot of readers. If a romance novel has a lot of negative reviews mentioning bad writing, clichéd plots or unlikable characters, it's probably a trashy one to avoid.
Well, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' is often considered in that category. It has a lot of steamy and rather formulaic erotic content within a somewhat basic fantasy - like relationship dynamic.
One example could be 'Fifty Shades of Grey' which has elements of mystery in a rather trashy way. Another is some of the dime - store detective novels from the early 20th century that were full of over - the - top characters and convoluted plots. Also, some of the supermarket - shelf paperback mystery novels with really cheesy covers often fall into this category.
Some young adult novels with overly simplistic views on complex issues can be considered trashy. For example, if a book tries to address a serious social issue like poverty or discrimination but does it in a very superficial way. Also, novels that are just trying to ride the wave of a popular trend, like when dystopian novels were all the rage and some were just really poor imitations. There are also those that have a lot of unnecessary and forced love triangles which seem to be there just for the sake of having some sort of relationship drama.
Another great one is 'Twilight'. It has a strong romantic element between Bella and Edward. The vampire - human love story is filled with passion, danger, and a lot of teen - angsty moments. It's not just about the romance but also about the supernatural world that surrounds their relationship.
One example could be 'Battlefield Earth' by L. Ron Hubbard. It has a convoluted plot and some rather cheesy dialogue. Another might be certain novels in the 'Space Vampires' genre. They often rely on over - the - top concepts and not - so - great writing. And then there's 'The Day of the Triffids', which has some elements that are a bit trashy like its simplistic view of post - apocalyptic survival.