My best friend, “Cass” is an author who has a few books out. There are bits and pieces of me and everyone else she loves in everything she does, but she wrote a character heavily based on me for her most recent book. Personality, appearance, some life events, etc. There is a love interest who is also based heavily on a friend of ours, Riley, in the same way. The characters end up together. We all met in college, fwiw. Riley and I have also never dated, hooked up, or anything like that.
I knew this was happening (we have a tradition where I read her 3rd draft), but Riley is not a huge reader so I never mentioned it to them. Same with my husband. The book came out and I didn’t even think about it because while the character is based on me, it is not me.
Well some time later, we were at another friend’s house when Riley was there. Cass asked Riley if they’d read the book. Riley said they were surprised to find out we ended up together and felt it was odd. My husband asked what Riley meant. Cass said the characters were based on us. My husband was surprised. They both asked why we didn’t tell them ahead of time.
Both of them feel blindsided and uncomfortable about it. I said that in my defense, I don’t go spilling details about Cass’ books in general. And again, the characters are not actually us! And most readers, unless they are the creepy “fandom” stalker-y types, would have no way of knowing.
Should I have told them?
I can see how they’re weirded out that characters based on you end up together. It’s almost like Cass is insinuating that you and Riley belong together by putting her semi fictional versions of you together.
Yeah that’s insanely creepy especially as it seems they’re both are (or at least OP) currently married…. Cass sounds like a very odd individual.
That’s Hella weird for your friend to write something like that where you, a married individual, wind up with someone other than your husband. Then to top it off that person you wound up with is in your friend group. You’re friend ITA. Why is she shipping two of their friends?
At this point Cass is writing fanfic about her friends. Their likeness is being used for her material.
That’s creepy.
Cass is the real AH here for writing about people she knows irl without their permission. It’s odd that you aren’t bothered by it and you probably ought to have let your husband know that your friend ships you with another person.
She needs to use her imagination when creating characters, rather than basing them on real people. This will help prevent lawsuits and awkward conversations with friends. YTA and so is your author friend.
YTA
This attitude of complete nonchalance about it is unnerving. I get that it’s basically like fan fiction of two characters that the writer wanted to put together for plot. But you’re saying a lot of yourself is in this character and a lot of Riley is in his character.
I really think you should have given your husband some warning.
These are published books. These are out. There are several volumes of them. It’s weird.A heads up what have been nice. And your defense of why not is weak. The details of her book are not state secrets. I think your partner could have kept themselves blabbing to the public
I mean, you should have said something to your husband, at least. You can see why he’d be weirded out. With that said, basing characters on people isn’t the same as putting people in the story, or is it? How closely do they resemble you and Riley? Some traits, or literally everything? If it’s everything, she is the AH, and she should have disclosed. You as a reader of a preprint should never disclose anything. But your marriage > your friendship with the author, so YTA for not telling him. Riley should have heard it from her, and you’re NTA on that one.
You’re NTA but Cass is for writing about her loved ones without permission, especially in an intimate way
it is very weird your friend is writing a book with characters based on real people, was open about it, and then intentionally set them up with other characters also based on real people. this may not bother you, but i can definitely imagine what goes through your husband’s brain hearing that for the first time and knowing you know and didn’t find anything of it.
this is not a normal thing and i think you should understand why your husband and friends are uncomfortable with this. also…if the fandom were “stalkery types,” they could potentially find this out??? that is a bit more than “based off of”…
As a writer, this is weird. You’re not exactly the asshole, but it’s really weird for your friend to write recognizably about you and hook you up with someone who’s not your husband, and it’s weird why you don’t seem to get why Riley and your husband are bothered by this.
edit for the bot, since it looks like I might be top comment: YTA, but Cass is worse. It’s more “you’re the one acting bizarre” than “you’re the asshole,” imo.
I agree. I’ve been in a situation where I wasn’t warned by an author friend but when I read their book I was disturbed and upset to discover a side character had my exact physical description, a major plot point for her arc revolved a very niche hobby of mine and followed a real life experience I had. The character also ended up with someone not at all like my partner.
I can imagine how Riley feels. It’s very violating if you’ve not consented.
Yeah, what your friend did crosses a line, and it makes sense everyone else is uncomfortable. You’re not crazy for feeling off about it.
She basically “shipped” two of her friends together.
You went on about how the character is you- but backtrack and say its not you? Same appearance, traits, personality, even life story… and she fantasises you in a relationship with another friend…
All of this against Riley’s will or knowledge.
Two people are uncomfortable here. To call them insecure and jealous- or gaslight them into believing they’re mad over fiction- makes you and Cass the AHs.
Cass isn’t original.
Even movies based on real events say, “Based on true events” even if some details are altered.
I wouldn’t be surprised if your husband was wondering, “Why my wife with that friend though? Is something happening?” And for your friend, its fricken weird to have them placed in a relationship with you- even as a character.
I can’t believe YOU’RE not weirded out by it.