Dreamboat or Douchebag Archives : All About Romance

Blast from the Past: Mr. Darcy: Douchebag or Dreamboat?

By Dabney Grinnan|2022-06-10T05:15:47-04:00June 12th, 2022|Categories: Dreamboat or Douchebag|Tags: Douchebag or Dreamboat, Mr. Darcy|

originally posted on July 14, 2014

Welcome to the AAR “Douchebag or Dreamboat” series, in which AAR staffers take famous literary heroes to trial for perceived slights, misdemeanors and otherwise unsavory behaviours. Are they a victim of their circumstances, time and/or personality, or are they just plain douchey?

Mr. Darcy: Imperious Misanthrope or Just a Shy Guy?

One of the best things about being an AAR staffer is the fantastic conversations and debates we have off-line. Usually, they begin when one of us has an idea for a blog post and would like input or opinions from the rest of us. Often we find ourselves going off on tangents, and some very interesting discussions arise.

Recently, one such a discussion had us putting none other than Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, beloved hero of Jane Austen’s sublime Pride and Prejudice, through the wringer. The original topic was the prevalence of what we’ve coined the Alpha […]

The Way Back on Wednesday: Alex Markov: Dreamboat or Douchebag?

By Maggie Boyd|2021-09-09T09:04:41-04:00September 8th, 2021|Categories: Anne AAR, Caroline AAR, Characters, Dabney AAR, Dreamboat or Douchebag, Haley AAR, Heroes, LinnieGayl AAR, Maggie AAR, Mary AAR|Tags: Douchebag or Dreamboat, Kiss an Angel, susan elizabeth phillips, Wayback on Wednesday|

(originally published on June 3, 2016)

In another of our occasional series in which we discuss the merits – or lack thereof – of fictional heroes and heroines, AAR staffers turn their attention to Alex Markov of Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Kiss An Angel taps into the classic “arranged marriage” trope. The two protagonists, Daisy and Alex, are blackmailed into marriage by a third party: Daisy’s dad. Daisy agrees in order to avert legal trouble and avoid prison. For Alex Markov, this was his year for paying off big debts, first with his deathbed promise to Owen Quest to take the circus out for its last season under the Quest name, and then by agreeing to marry Max’s daughter. In all these years Max had never asked anything of him as repayment for having saved Alex’s life, but when he’d finally gotten around to it, he’d asked for a doozy. […]

Dreamboat or Douchebag: The Christian Grey Edition

By AAR Admin|2017-06-23T08:30:21-04:00February 13th, 2015|Categories: Characters, Dreamboat or Douchebag, Heroes, Maggie AAR|Tags: 50 Shades of Grey, Christian Grey|

I read my first Harlequin Presents when I was in sixth grade. It was Lord of La Pampa by Kay Thorpe and for the decades since I have remembered the line “With a woman like you there can be no other way.” This was said by the hero moments before he forced himself on the heroine. Because he was an Argentinian cattle baron, in my head the line was delivered in a sexy, sensual Spanish accent.

I mention that experience because when I picked up Fifty Shades of Grey a few months ago I felt very much like I was reliving that first encounter with Harlequin. It seemed very Old Skool 1980’s bodice ripper. Christian Grey had all the core characteristics of the alpha hero of the time which is described in Beyond Heaving Bosoms as:

These heroes aren’t just determined, assertive, and confident—they’re hard, arrogant, and harsh and the heroine is often afraid of him. He’s a punisher as […]

Sweetheart or Shrew? Sister or Skank? AAR announces a new yet to be named series!

By Dabney Grinnan|2017-06-23T08:30:24-04:00December 12th, 2014|Categories: All About Romance, Characters, Dabney AAR, Dreamboat or Douchebag, Heroines, Romance reading|

'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' FILM - 2005 Keeper or Kick-Her-to-the-Curb?

In July, AAR introduced the new series “Dreamboat or Douchebag” in which our staffers weigh in on the merits and demerits of famous literary heroes. These pieces have been some of our most popular and have generated a set of robust comment streams. They’ve also been a hell of a lot of fun to write.

Thus, we’ve decided to begin a similar series about heroines. Over the next year, we will set our critical sights on some of literature’s most contested heroines and pass judgement upon them. (We may even add in a movie heroine or two–wouldn’t it be fun to assess Vivian from Pretty Woman or evaluate Princess Leia?)

There are two things we are considering as we begin. The first is what makes a good heroine? There is, unsurprisingly, no consensus on that. Maggie likes a heroine who’s “well written […]

Jamie Fraser: Dreamboat or Douchebag?

By AAR Admin|2017-06-23T08:30:24-04:00December 10th, 2014|Categories: Dreamboat or Douchebag, Maggie AAR|Tags: Diana Gabaldon, Outlander|

Outlander has been in the Top 15 of AAR’s Top 100 Romances since we began doing them in 1998. It has a DIK review here. In 1991 it won the RITA award for Best Romance Novel. I think it is pretty safe to say this novel is a beloved romance for many, many people.

Hero Jamie Fraser tends to be a fan favorite. He was No. 2 in our Top Ten Heroes Poll done in 2009. Claire and Jamie ranked third in our Top Ten Couples Poll. So could a guy this popular ever rate as a douchebag?

For some the answer is a resounding yes. And it all revolves around a handful of scenes.

The Background: We are all familiar with Stonehenge. What some don’t realize is that, while nowhere near as magnificent, there are other ancient circles of rock all over the British Isles. Thanks to a standing stone from one of […]

Rhett Butler: Dreamboat or Douchebag?

By AAR Admin|2017-06-23T08:30:24-04:00November 13th, 2014|Categories: Dreamboat or Douchebag, Maggie AAR|

Gone with the Wind is not a romance novel. But it is often mistaken for one – it made the Top 100 Romances at AAR in 1998 and in 2000. (See also here. And here.) And Rhett Butler is often lauded as a romantic hero. In truth, he is a rake and scoundrel, a forerunner if you will to the many rakes and scoundrels that people the pages of historical romances. The original, totally hot bad boy – and in my humble opinion, a douchebag. […]

114

Max de Winter: Dreamboat or Douchebag?

By Dabney Grinnan|2017-06-23T08:30:26-04:00September 4th, 2014|Categories: Dreamboat or Douchebag, Maggie AAR|Tags: Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca|

When I was preparing to write this column I was of the firm opinion that Maximillian de Winter was a definite douchebag. My vague memories of him, from reading the book years ago, were of a cold man who married a mouse of a girl and then began to coolly neglect her as she was bullied by those around them. In many ways he was to me the epitome of a romance alphahole – proud, rich, and full of himself. It was surprising when I went back to the text to see how differently the heroine saw him. […]