Okay, so morally I know cheating is wrong. Like very wrong. You’ve committed to someone and it’s disrespectful to them to cheat on them. But (and I hate myself for thinking this) aren’t there times when you are rooting for the cheating? And you feel it is justified? Take Anna and the French Kiss for example. Obviously, Anna and St. Clair are meant to be. But throughout a majority of the story, St. Clair is dating Ellie. Despite this, weren’t you rooting for Anna and St. Clair to have one, hot, melting kiss and declare their undying love for each other? Or, in Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt. The whole story is about how a girl falls in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. And as much as she tries to deny their feelings, it is just too strong. Was her being the “other woman” to her best friend’s boyfriend justified? Like, cheating is so wrong. But if two characters are meant to be, does that make it right?
Or, sometimes, there are times when someone cheats (accidentally?) and you just want them to be forgiven because they are so obviously sorry. In Secret Life by Bria Quinlan, Chris was hurt and not in his right mind when he cheated (?) on Rachel. He was so sorry, and didn’t mean the action he committed, but does this mean he should be forgiven? I tend to think yes, but that’s only because I ship the couple and I want them to be together. I think if it was in real life I wouldn’t forgive, but that’s because it’s so hard to know what is true love in real life. It’s so easy in books.
I don’t know if you can sense my moral dilemma, or if you even have the same dilemma as me. Maybe you’re sane and decided that cheating is wrong-no exceptions. I am always confused because sometimes outside forces get in the way of true love, and I am just always rooting for that true love, no matter the cost. And sometimes this involves cheating. But like I said before, this statement makes me feel kinda icky inside, because cheating is just so wrong.
What’s your opinion on cheating in novels? Is it ever justified? Should cheaters ever be given second chances and forgiven? Let me know in the comments below!
Fire and Rain Books 