Roxane Gay expresses her conflicted feelings about the Fifty Shades series, suggesting that while it can be entertaining, it fundamentally serves as a guide to maintaining a controlling and abusive relationship. The series presents a troubling narrative where manipulative behavior is romanticized, cleverly masked by the seemingly appealing sexual elements of the story.

Gay views the trilogy as a dark fairy tale, where dangerous tendencies are made alluring through erotic encounters. This juxtaposition creates a false sense of desirability around unhealthy relationships, which can lead readers to misinterpret the nature of love and control in real life, highlighting the serious implications of the narrative.