TL;DR: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is objectively one of the darkest books in the English canon. It’s not a "romance" in the modern sense—it’s a cycle of domestic abuse, revenge, and generational trauma. However, it’s also a high school staple that is currently being "aesthetic-fied" by TikTok. If your teen is diving in because they saw a "Dark Romance" edit or because they’re hyped for the 2026 movie starring Jacob Elordi, they need a parent who can help them distinguish between "literary tragedy" and "relationship goals."
If you skipped this one in AP English, here’s the spark notes: Wuthering Heights follows the intense, obsessive, and ultimately destructive relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Heathcliff is an orphan brought into the family who is treated poorly, disappears, and returns as a wealthy man hell-bent on ruining everyone who ever slighted him.
It’s gothic, it’s rainy, there are ghosts, and almost every character is deeply unlikeable. Unlike Jane Eyre (written by Emily’s sister, Charlotte), there is no moral redemption here. It’s a slow-motion train wreck involving two people who are "soulmates" in the sense that they are both equally volatile and miserable.
Right now, Wuthering Heights is having a major "cool" moment for two reasons:
1. The "Dark Romance" Pipeline
On TikTok, the "Dark Romance" genre is massive. We’re talking about books that feature "morally grey" (read: often abusive or criminal) male leads. Many teens are moving from Colleen Hoover books or Twilight into the classics, looking for that same high-stakes, "toxic but hot" energy. Heathcliff is the blueprint for the brooding, vengeful anti-hero.
2. The 2026 Movie Hype
Emerald Fennell (who directed Saltburn) is adapting the book for a 2026 release. With Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi cast as the leads, the internet is already losing its mind. There is a lot of controversy—specifically that Elordi is "too white" to play Heathcliff, who is described in the book as "dark-skinned" and "Lascar"—but the star power alone means your teen is going to see clips of this on Instagram for the next two years.
The short answer is: No, not for most high schoolers (ages 14+), but it requires a "media literacy" talk.
The "darkness" in Wuthering Heights isn't about gore or explicit content (it was written in 1847, after all). The darkness is emotional and psychological.
- Domestic Violence: There are scenes of characters being struck, held against their will, and emotionally tormented.
- Cruelty to Animals: Heathcliff, in his villain era, does some pretty gnarly things to a dog to prove a point.
- Obsession: The "love" portrayed is actually a form of mental illness and possession. Catherine literally says, "I am Heathcliff," which sounds romantic until you realize they are both destroying each other’s lives.
If your child is a sensitive reader or currently struggling with their own mental health, the relentless bleakness of the moors might be a bit much. But for most, the "darkness" is exactly what makes it more engaging than a "safe" book like The Great Gatsby.
How does it stack up against what they’re already watching?
- Compared to Euphoria: The book is much tamer in terms of visuals but arguably just as heavy in terms of toxic relationship dynamics.
- Compared to Stranger Things: It lacks the "fun" adventure elements. It’s pure psychological dread.
- Compared to A Court of Thorns and Roses: It’s far more literary and lacks the explicit "spice" of modern New Adult fiction, but the "problematic male lead" energy is identical.
Middle School (Ages 11-13)
Too early. Not because of the "darkness," but because the Victorian prose is dense and the themes of generational revenge will likely bore them. If they want gothic vibes, try Wait Till Helen Comes or Small Spaces.
Early High School (Ages 14-15)
The Sweet Spot. This is when most honors English classes assign it. They are old enough to handle the "mean" characters and can start to deconstruct why Heathcliff acts the way he does (nature vs. nurture).
Late High School (Ages 16-18)
Perfect. They can handle the nuanced discussions about the 2026 movie's casting controversies and the way TikTok romanticizes toxic behavior.
If your teen is reading Wuthering Heights for fun, the most important thing you can do is check their "compass."
Modern digital culture—especially TikTok and Wattpad—has a habit of turning "red flags" into "bouquets." They see a guy who is obsessed, controlling, and vengeful and they call it "devotion."
Brontë didn't write Heathcliff to be a boyfriend goal. She wrote him to be a force of nature that destroys everything he touches. If your teen thinks Catherine and Heathcliff are "goals," it’s time for a conversation about what a healthy relationship actually looks like.
Conversation Starters:
- "Why do you think Heathcliff is so angry? Does his past justify how he treats Isabella?"
- "Is Catherine actually in love with Heathcliff, or is she just obsessed with a version of herself she sees in him?"
- "How do you feel about the casting for the new movie? Do you think a 'pretty' Heathcliff makes people overlook his actions?"
Learn more about how to talk to your teen about toxic media tropes
Wuthering Heights is a masterpiece, but it’s a "feel-bad" book. It’s dark, it’s depressing, and it’s full of people making terrible choices.
Is it "too dark"? For a high schooler, probably not. We live in an era of 13 Reasons Why and The Hunger Games; a Victorian novel about a guy being mean on a hill isn't going to break them.
The real risk isn't the darkness—it's the romanticization of the darkness. As long as they understand that Heathcliff is a cautionary tale, not a dream guy, let them enjoy the gothic drama.
- Check their feed: If they’re into Wuthering Heights, they might be seeing a lot of "Dark Academia" content. Usually harmless, but keep an eye on the "Dark Romance" side of things.
- Watch together (later): When the movie drops in 2026, it’ll be a great opportunity to compare the book's grit to Hollywood’s gloss.
- Offer alternatives: If they love the vibe but need something a little less toxic, suggest Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or The Shadow of the Wind.
Ask our chatbot for more "Dark Academia" book recommendations for teens