Thread by @TaliaHibbert

I just read a review that really disgusted me. It was for a historical romance featuring queer characters and/or characters of colour, and the reviewer’s treatment of that fact was one of the most upsetting & disheartening things I’ve read in a while.

The reviewer seemed to like the book itself. Their issue was with ‘social justice stuff’ and ‘wokeness’ being ‘forced’ into the book. How was it forced in? Apparently by including queer and non-white characters.

Because we aren’t people who exist and should therefore be present in realistic stories. We’re tools or, according to this reviewer, ‘issues’.

Issues that should be handled ‘one at a time’ to avoid woke overkill.

Right.

The only time—the ONLY time—I see reviewers talking about this is when it concerns marginalised people.

I never see “Good book, but the author shouldn’t have inserted all those professional athletes/handsome billionaire playboys/dukes/wealthy rakes. It’s so forced!”

I mean for one thing, this is romance. This is the genre where we have series following 18 family members through the generations and they all end up in M/F pairings cuz that’s what the author & readers are into.

Where wallflowers all marry the handsomest dukes ever omg

Etc

But when we want stories centring POC and queerness that’s suddenly OTT?

Second of all... what do you think the world LOOKS like?

You really think a diverse book is ‘forced’ as opposed to realistic and normal? What planet do you live on?

Or rather, what reality have you carefully crafted for yourself to avoid the people you find distasteful?

A romance full of queer POC is far closer to my reality than these all-white contemps I see so much of.

A historical romance featuring plenty of queer POC is far closer to LITERAL HISTORICAL REALITY than the all-white fantasy some people prefer.

And you know what? Even if all of this wasn’t true... ask yourself one question.

What is it about including queerness & POC in the romance fantasy (cuz these stories, this genre—it all relies on fantasy) that makes you so upset? That makes you so uncomfortable?

I’ll wait.