With the new Wuthering Heights already being one of 2026’s most hotly anticipated movies, the trailer’s got us lusting after the tortured anti-hero once again.
Not helped, of course, by the popular morally-grey trope making its way around #BookTok. But what IS IT about bad boys that keep us coming back for more, even if we know it’s not a good move?
Lovehoney’s relationship expert, Annabelle Knight, decodes why we just can’t seem to resist the pull…
Why do we still love a bad boy?
They’re brooding and complicated, ruggedly handsome, incredibly charming and phenomenal in bed, but yet still so dysfunctional they may as well camp on a therapist’s couch – it appears we collectively still can’t resist the pull of a bad boy.
With a ‘BookTok-ified’ version of Wuthering Heights gracing our screens on Valentine’s Day next year, we’ve got brooding Heathcliff on the brain. But despite all the heartbreak on the horizon, why-oh-why is the pull of the ‘bad boy’ just still too appealing for us to resist? Lovehoney’s resident relationship expert – Annabelle Knight – bares all on the allure of a bad boy.
1. “I can change him”
Many women are – by default – fixer-uppers when it comes to heterosexual relationships. And the allure of a bad boy can often be traced to that little voice in your head whispering, “I can fix him.” That spark of hope, the thrill of thinking you’re the one who’ll soften that rough exterior and finally get him to settle down… It’s irresistible.
2. The thrill of the chase
The common conception is that ‘bad boys’ are ‘harder to get’. The push-and-pull, the hot-and-cold energy, the mystery; they keep you on your toes. It’s the chase that makes your heart pound and your imagination run wild. After all, a little danger just makes the passion feel more electrifying. Scientifically speaking, this can be addictive; the back-and-forth behaviour traps us in a cycle of unpredictable rewards and the release of dopamine and oxytocin in the brain keeps us going back for more.
3. The forbidden excitement
There’s a reason “bad boys” are synonymous with temptation. They break rules, bend boundaries, and make life a little more deliciously unpredictable. It’s the kind of forbidden excitement that’s far more fun when you’re safely watching from your sofa.
Heathcliff-esque men are a far cry from Gen Z’s beloved “softbois” – while the latter may be better for us in the long run, it doesn’t quite bring the same thrill.
4. The “good girl” pressure
With a bad boy, there’s no need to be perfect; you can push boundaries, and explore a wilder side of yourself without judgment – they accept you, “flaws” and all. Suddenly all the pressure to be perfect disappears and we’re presented with this ‘get out of jail free’ card for our responsibilities. In a world where women are constrained by rules and restrictions, the bad boy gives us that true, unabashed taste of freedom. It reminds us that rebellion can be thrilling, and sometimes letting go is the most freeing pleasure of all.
