If your jaw dropped down because you never thought I'd read a book like this, I can assure you, my brain doesn't understand it, either. Picking up this book (or series) was the last thing I ever intended to do. But here I am, having read that tome full of drama, drama, love, sex, and a bit more drama.

So why did I read it? Why did I read a book like this if the one genre I avoid by all costs is cringe-worthy romance (and horror - sometimes easily to be confused! haha).
It actually started out with the movie. Based on a promise I made a couple of months back, I was dragged to the cinema to watch the movie, and while I can write a list with all the moments that made me cringe (and wonder how my teeths are still intact), I have to admit, it works as a guilty pleasure movie. And admit it, we all have them.
So the first thing I did, was get the e-book because my curiosity couldn't let me leave it be. I had to know how a fanfiction got to be turned into this big screen adaptation. Was it that good? How did it differ from many other fanfics that are out there? How come this has become such a world-wide bestselling phenomen?
Then I read it, and I think I understand now. I think what really helped boost the story is the fact that it has been written during One Direction's high. Everyone was obsessing with that band back then, everyone knew about them; of course people tend to look for stories about them - fake or real. I myself who barely read any fanfiction at all, have once or twice googled some after being devasted of a book, or when I wanted another ending for the story, or when I just couldn't let go. So I can understand the need of 1D fans going on Wattpad, looking for some stories of their favorite band - even if I never really look up fiction based on real people, I get it.
What is suprising is that beside of the described appearances, the characters in the book are nothing alike their band members. Of course we couldn't know, but it feels more like Todd has given them the look of the band members, and nothing else. Also the story revolves around Tessa, the protagonist. It's her story to tell, it's her feelings we get to experience, and it's her struggles we have to live with through.
Hardin - who has been inspired by Harry Styles - is the other main protagonist of the story, even though it's not told from his POV. My younger sister keeps obsessing over him, and I think I get it. Didn't we all obessed over Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries. The image of a bad boy turning partially good for a kind, innocent girl is something especially a younger audience loves, and sometimes even my peers tend to prefer such a story to distract themselves from real life problems - myself included.

But that's what it is, actually. A distraction. An addicting one for that matter, but nothing that'll stay with me forever. However, I can not speak for the billion of readers who love this story, who still obsess over it, or who have found friends because of it. I can imagine that this story makes up for a huge ride, if read as a fanfic where one has to wait for chapter after chapter to be released. The drama makes you want to keep reading, the romance between Hardin and Tessa might be at some times toxic, but makes you ship them, makes you hope for them to figure it out. So when I read this, I knew the reason for this phenamonen is this: It gave readers something new: a college story, romance, drama, sex. A young audience barely gets so much trouble and steamy scenes in a high school romance. Also being able to read about college life has an appeal to it. I remember loving watching those rom-coms the most as a teenie. Didn't we all always dream of a future like in the movies?