'It's easy to romanticize toxicity' says star of film about step-siblings' romance

The cast of Your Fault: London discusses the film's popularity, its roots in BookTok, and the complexities of portraying a toxic relationship.

A deep dive into TikTok reveals a vibrant world of short films centered on fictional romances, complete with fan edits, imaginative future scenarios, AI-generated posters, and countless comments treating these stories as reality. This phenomenon has significantly influenced the young adult romance genre, which has transitioned from literature to streaming platforms, becoming a lucrative investment for studios.

The #BookTok hashtag boasts approximately 80 million posts, while #romancebooks has garnered over 6.5 million, prompting platforms to heavily invest in popular novels with dedicated online followings even before filming begins.

The latest addition to this flourishing genre is Your Fault: London, a film inspired by the bestselling works of Spanish author Mercedes Ron. The film features Asha Banks and Matthew Broome, who expressed their astonishment at the fervent fanbase that exists for the franchise.

"The fans are the reason the films are so successful," Banks shared in an interview with the BBC. "The visibility of it and where it lives is so much on social media."

Your Fault: London continues the success story that originated not in Hollywood but on Wattpad, where Ron first shared her Culpables trilogy. The books, titled Culpa Mia, Culpa Tuya, and Culpa Nuestra, were written before Ron turned 20 and quickly became bestsellers, resonating with a teenage audience.

Following their success, the books were adapted into a popular series of Spanish-language films known as Your Fault. The English-language adaptation, Your Fault: London, centers on Noah, who relocates to London after her mother marries a wealthy businessman. In the new city, Noah develops feelings for the businessman's son, Nick, but their step-sibling romance faces challenges due to family conflicts, hidden secrets, and impulsive choices.

Nicole Clemens, head of UK and international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, revealed that the Culpables films have collectively attracted 100 million viewers globally. The series achieved the number one spot in over 170 countries upon its release, with more than 90% of its audience coming from outside Spain, as reported by Amazon in February.

Your Fault: London follows the 2025 release of My Fault: London and will be succeeded by Our Fault: London. The upcoming film will depict Noah's experiences at Oxford University and Nick's career pursuits, with new relationships and past issues threatening to drive them apart.

Banks teased that viewers can expect "a lot of drama," while Broome mentioned that the audience will frequently find themselves torn between the two characters. "You'll be agreeing with one character and then think, 'Oh no, the other one is right,'" he said.

This English-language version features a new cast and is set against the backdrop of London. Banks, 22, found it intriguing that an English adaptation was made so quickly. "But ultimately people love the story and resonated with it so much and that's why it was such a success. So why not?" she commented. "It's so much fun, it's addictive and entertaining and it's great to bring it to a new audience."

Broome echoed her sentiments, asserting that the swift adaptation underscores the impact of Mercedes Ron and her work. For the two actors, an unusual aspect of filming was joining a narrative that already had a substantial and passionate readership.

"You have mega fans of all of these BookTok books," Broome, 25, noted. "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."

Some critics have labeled Your Fault: London as clichéd and unnecessary, with Variety describing the initial film in the trilogy as "a trashy gimmick" and a "tasteless" adaptation of "tawdry teen literature." The Guardian similarly referred to the original Spanish films as "a bizarre and wooden step-sibling romance."

However, the films have found favor among fans of the original books and Spanish adaptations. BookTok creator Tia Saunders, 22, praised the films as "phenomenal and amazing adaptation," emphasizing her enjoyment of the forbidden love aspect and the casting choices.

While Banks and Broome appreciate the support from fans, they acknowledge that the online attention can sometimes feel overwhelming. Broome mentioned encountering AI-generated images envisioning the pair's future together, stating, "which is kind of crazy. I’ll see a poster and I think, 'Wow, we've released a poster' but it's actually just a fan creating one."

To navigate the pressures of fame, the two actors lean on each other for support. Broome explained, "as soon we're overwhelmed we just talk to each other." He also pointed out that, since much of the fandom exists online, they can disconnect by simply putting their phones down.

The pair intentionally chose not to watch the Spanish version prior to filming, wishing to create their own interpretations of the characters. They only viewed the originals after completing their own filming, which Banks described as a delightful experience shared between them. "It was lovely because we watched it together and our version was done so we couldn't compare," she said.

Broome believes that the British adaptation has its own distinct flavor, asserting that "our dynamic is completely different," while Banks added that the change in setting lends a new identity to the story.

The series has ignited discussions regarding whether it glorifies toxic relationships, as Noah and Nick's romance often involves jealousy, secrecy, and conflict. Broome contended that the films actually illustrate the repercussions of such behaviors. "You see it go wrong with Noah and Nick and you see the bad toxic traits that fall out of that. Then you see what you need to resolve the conflict, which is healthy communication," he explained.

Banks added that they aimed to depict two young individuals still discovering themselves, rather than presenting their relationship as an ideal. "It's so easy to romanticize toxicity, and their relationship is full of that, but you are watching them work that out themselves alongside the audience," she stated. The actress expressed her enjoyment in portraying Noah's resilience, saying, "it was so lovely for me to play a strong young female character and I hope that's reflected on the screen."

Your Fault: London is currently available for streaming on Prime Video.