Back in 2019, Megan Thee Stallion topped the music charts with “Hot Girl Summer.” Though the term had already begun making waves on social media when the song—featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign—was released, it was officially cemented as a Trend, capital T. According to Hot Girl Meg, hot girl summer is about “just being you, just having fun. It’s turning up, driving the boat and not giving a damn about what nobody’s saying.” It's a celebration of confidence and living your best life, saying yes to plans and living it up with friends. It’s a fabulous concept when it’s beautiful outside and it stays light until after 9 p.m. In January, when it gets dark at, like, 4:15, you’re forced into your puffiest puffer jackets and your brain is full of nothing but dreams of a beach vacation? Not so much. That’s where rot girl winter comes into play.
There's no one creator of the term rot girl winter, it just seems to be a seasonal answer to hot girl summer combined with bed rotting, yet another Gen Z-lead trend that basically just means staying in bed all day by choice, thereby “rotting.” On social media, some folks have shared their own takes on rot girl winter, including this curated book list from user @proseandconsreads.