It’s easy to romanticise toxicity’ says star of film about step-siblings’ romance

It s easy to romanticise toxicity – TikTok’s vibrant ecosystem has birthed a new generation of young adult romance stories, often imagined and reimagined by fans who treat fictional relationships as if they were real. These digital creations, ranging from meticulously crafted fan edits to AI-generated posters and millions of comments dissecting every detail, have reshaped how audiences engage with romance narratives. Now, the phenomenon has spilled into the film industry, turning beloved novels into streaming successes with built-in fanbases before a single scene is filmed. The latest example is Your Fault: London, a film adapted from the bestselling Spanish trilogy by Mercedes Ron. The project, starring Asha Banks and Matthew Broome, highlights how social media platforms are now investing heavily in stories that resonate with online communities, creating a new pathway for literary fiction to thrive on screen.

The Franchise’s Digital Origins

Mercedes Ron, an Argentine-born author, began her journey on Wattpad, a storytelling platform where she published the Culpables trilogy—Culpa Mia, Culpa Tuya, and Culpa Nuestra—before she turned 20. The series, which quickly became a sensation among teenagers, was later adapted into a successful Spanish-language film franchise titled Your Fault. This transition from online text to cinematic storytelling has been remarkable, with the original trilogy’s films reportedly reaching 100 million viewers worldwide. Notably, the Spanish-language versions dominated the box office in over 170 countries at launch, with the majority of audiences hailing from outside Spain. The global appeal of Ron’s work underscores the growing power of digital platforms in shaping cultural narratives.

Your Fault: London follows the English-language adaptation of Ron’s trilogy, reimagining the story with a London setting. The film centers on Noah, a young woman who relocates to the capital after her mother marries a wealthy businessman. Her growing bond with the businessman’s son, Nick, forms the heart of the narrative, but their relationship is constantly tested by family dynamics, hidden secrets, and impulsive decisions. The series continues with My Fault: London (2025) and will conclude with Our Fault: London, expanding the story as Noah pursues a university education and Nick navigates his professional ambitions. These plot developments introduce new conflicts, such as evolving relationships and unresolved tensions, keeping the saga fresh for both existing fans and newcomers.

Actors Embrace the Fandom’s Energy

For actors Asha Banks and Matthew Broome, the experience of bringing Ron’s story to life has been both thrilling and unique. Banks, 22, notes the surprising speed with which the English adaptation was developed. “It was interesting they were doing an English version so quickly,” she says. “But ultimately people love the story and resonated with it so much that’s why it was such a success. So why not?” Broome, 25, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the franchise’s ability to generate intense online engagement. “The fans are the reason the films are so successful,” Banks explains. “The visibility of it and where it lives is so much on social media.” Broome adds that the audience’s anticipation creates a sense of excitement that’s hard to match. “You’re making something with an added level of excitement because you know people are going to watch it. We don’t know how they’ll receive it, but they will definitely watch it.”

The duo has also shared how the pre-existing fanbase influences their creative process. Broome mentions seeing AI-generated images of the characters’ future together, a testament to the fervor surrounding the franchise. “I’ll see a poster and I think, ‘Wow, we’ve released a poster,’ but it’s actually just a fan creating one,” he says. This phenomenon, where fans actively shape the story’s perception, has been both a blessing and a challenge for the actors. “Having each other has helped the young actors navigate the attention,” Broome explains. “As soon as we’re overwhelmed, we just talk to each other.” Their collaboration has allowed them to balance the pressure of meeting fan expectations while staying true to their own interpretations of the characters.

Critics and Fans: A Divided Perspective

While the franchise has been celebrated by many, some critics have questioned its originality and depth. Publications like Variety and The Guardian have described the films as “clichéd,” “unnecessary,” and even “fanfiction-like.” Variety called the first film in the trilogy “a trashy gimmick” and a “tasteless adaptation of tawdry teen literature.” Similarly, The Guardian noted the original Spanish films’ “bizarre and wooden” portrayal of a step-sibling romance. These critiques highlight the challenges of translating a beloved book into a visual medium, particularly when the source material has already been deeply ingrained in fans’ imaginations.

Despite the criticism, fans of the books and Spanish films have largely embraced the English-language adaptation. BookTok creator Tia Saunders, 22, praises the films as “phenomenal and amazing adaptations.” She particularly appreciates the “forbidden love element” and the casting choices, which she believes enhance the story’s emotional impact. “It’s easy to romanticise toxicity,” Saunders says, a sentiment that resonates with many who have followed Ron’s work since its Wattpad debut. For her, the films represent a natural evolution of the original material, allowing it to reach a wider audience while maintaining its core themes.

Banks and Broome have also acknowledged the dual nature of the online attention their work receives. While they’re grateful for the enthusiasm, they admit that the pressure can be intense. “The intensity of the franchise’s existing fanbase is something we didn’t expect,” Banks says. Broome adds that the rapid turnaround of the English adaptation “emphasises the power of Mercedes Ron and her books,” which have become cultural touchstones. The actors’ ability to connect with the story and its fans has been a key factor in the project’s success, proving that the emotional core of the narrative remains universal even when reimagined for a new audience.

The success of Your Fault: London reflects a broader trend in entertainment: the fusion of digital engagement and traditional storytelling. As platforms like TikTok and BookTok continue to shape how audiences discover and interact with content, the line between fan fiction and mainstream media is blurring. Ron’s work exemplifies this shift, demonstrating how a story born online can evolve into a global cinematic phenomenon. For actors like Banks and Broome, the experience is a testament to the evolving role of social media in influencing the creative process. They’ve not only brought the story to life but also ensured it remains relevant to a new generation of viewers who grew up in the digital age.

As the trilogy progresses, the English-language version is expected to maintain the same level of popularity as its Spanish counterparts. The London setting, while a departure from the original, offers a fresh perspective that may resonate differently with audiences. Whether it’s the intense family drama, the allure of forbidden love, or the global reach of the franchise, Your Fault: London is a product of a new era in storytelling—one where the audience is as much a co-creator as the author. The film’s success underscores the power of social media to amplify literary works and transform them into cultural phenomena, proving that the romance of the page can indeed translate to the screen with equal fervor.