When It Is Too Big in Historical Romance
Disclaimer: with the exception of Passion (which I love!!), I’m not recommending the other two books on this list but rather have included them for science!!! I can’t really speak too deeply to the Celeste Bradley because it’s not available on Kindle and I had to dig around to get a sense of its use of this trope. I do have the Robin Schone and I found it to be super problematic. Therefore this post is a discussion, not a recommendation, of these titles…and honestly this trope on a whole 🙏🏼❤️.
Now, that said, what is this trope? Obviously, well-endowed heroes are a dime a dozen in Romancelandia, but, after reading Passion, I became aware of a trope that takes this commonplace to a new level. Specifically, we see the histrom hero who is TOO big…so big that he hasn’t been able to (fully or even partially) fit inside of anyone before.
I think this trope is really interesting because it often creates some sense of virginity (or just actual virginity) for the hero. It makes physical what is often the emotional reality: he hasn’t been able to fully connect with anyone else before his love interest.
To be honest, while I think this trope has the potential to be hot (see Passion), it also seems to quickly get into problematic/squicky territory—at least due to how it has been executed in the past. It really easily shades into gender essentialism (and there is also some weird Orientalist stuff around this trope?? It’s bad). In short, I wanted this post to be fun and flirty, but the source material was a little bit more complicated!!! #historicalspicyromancebooks #historytiktok #historicalromances
The "too big" trope in historical romance novels stands out as one of the more unusual and controversial character elements frequently employed to add tension and intrigue to romantic plots. This trope generally features a hero whose physical endowment is so large that it leads to complications in intimacy, often resulting in him being a literal or figurative virgin. This dynamic is not merely a physical obstacle but a metaphor for the hero’s emotional barriers, symbolizing his inability to fully connect with others until the love interest enters his life. Several well-known works use this trope to varying effects. For instance, in the novel "Passion," the hero's enormous size prevents full physical intimacy with previous partners until he meets Passion, who is portrayed as having an almost magical accommodating ability. This introduces a fantasy element that is both erotic and symbolic of true love transcending physical limits. However, the trope is not without its pitfalls. Critiques have noted that when executed poorly, it can slide into problematic territory, including reinforcing gender essentialist views—suggesting that masculinity or heroism is defined by physical traits alone. Moreover, some portrayals may contain Orientalist stereotypes that exoticize or fetishize certain characteristics in ways that can perpetuate harmful cultural biases. Works like those by Celeste Bradley and Robin Schone highlight attempts to navigate or resolve these challenges, sometimes introducing subjects like graded dildos for gradual accommodation or specific anatomical secret positions to make intimacy possible. Yet these narrative choices do not always avoid squicky or uncomfortable connotations. Beyond the narrative drama, this trope also sparks discussions among readers and authors about consent, realistic portrayals of intimacy, and respect within romantic relationships. It challenges writers to blend fantasy with sensitivity, ensuring characters' experiences and fantasies are portrayed with complexity and respect rather than mere titillation. Overall, the "too big" trope serves as a multifaceted narrative device encompassing themes of vulnerability, emotional intimacy, and physicality. Its presence in historical romance can make for compelling storytelling when handled thoughtfully, but it demands awareness of the possible implications and cultural sensitivities inherent in its depiction.