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A lot of todays bestsellers started as fanfictions favorties
A lot of todays bestsellers started as fanfictions favorties
Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis Began in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Before it was a BookTok darling, The Love Hypothesis was Star Wars fanfiction. Originally titled Head Over Feet, the story imagined Kylo Ren and Rey as colleagues in academia.
Ali Hazelwood’s reimagined love story quickly struck a chord with readers—and once she removed the IP-specific details, it transformed into a best-selling romance featuring Professor Adam Carlsen and PhD student Olive Smith.
E.L. James Brought Vampires Into the Boardroom
E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey famously began as Twilight fanfiction. After falling in love with Edward and Bella, James wrote Master of the Universe, a steamy rework that recast the characters into the corporate world.
The story’s runaway success on fanfic forums led to a publishing deal—and eventually, a blockbuster film trilogy starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.
Anna Todd’s One Direction Obsession Sparked a Film Franchise
What started as Harry Styles fanfiction on Wattpad turned Anna Todd into a literary sensation. Bored of waiting for updates on her favorite stories, she wrote After, centering on a rebellious British heartthrob named Hardin—clearly inspired by Styles.
That story evolved into a global phenomenon, spawning a five-film series with Hero Fiennes-Tiffin in the lead.
Christina Lauren: From Twilight Fanfic to Mainstream Romance Royalty
Writing under the pen name Christina Lauren, best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings spent years crafting Twilight-inspired fanfic before launching a wildly successful career in original romance fiction.
Today, their books are staples of romance shelves, and their journey from AO3 to the New York Times bestseller list continues to inspire.
The Stigma Around Fanfic Is Fading—And That’s a Good Thing
Despite lingering bias in traditional publishing circles, fanfiction is increasingly recognized as a training ground for storytelling.
Anna Todd calls fanfic “pure passion,” noting how many powerful narratives originate from love for characters, not commercial goals.
And with millions of engaged readers on platforms like Wattpad and AO3, publishers are taking notice.
Source: People
