19 Comments
User's avatar
maryam <3's avatar

"Real people don’t get a script. They get bad days, bad timing, insecurities, and the possibility of leaving" i love this whole thing soso much!!

natalia's avatar

thank you so much!

Lydia Lee's avatar

this is SO POWERFUL

allena's avatar

as someone who’s never had a boyfriend before, this is beautiful 🥹 thankyou for writing this!

natalia's avatar

im really glad you've enjoyed this and found yourself in it!

The Pop Culture Princess's avatar

As a hopeless romantic, i loveeeee this piece!! And the paper rings bit?!! omgggg💕

The Darlings club's avatar

The fact that I recognised all the Book couples ☺️

natalia's avatar

oh you get me so well

audrey's avatar

As someone who met their boyfriend also on a dating app and who also spent my youth in the romance YA section in Barnes and nobles, this spoke to me so so much. I used to blame books for making me believe love like that was possible. But I was the fool for thinking that was a bad thing! Esp with social media, I think we all forget love is not such a simple thing and there’s so much beauty in that. Thank you for writing this<3

natalia's avatar

Im so grateful that you’ve enjoyed that! I feel like we’ve been in the same situations so i’m glad my piece found you 🤍

Mona Sidique's avatar

I loved this and i saw so much of myself in your piece. Your writing is a mirror.

Sarah⋆⭒˚.⋆'s avatar

this is the first piece i’ve read from you and you’ve definitely secured a new reader!! this was relatable in every way: my standards for love have also been set by Noah’s letters and Darcy’s walk down a field. thank you for giving me a new perspective on modern dating and some hope for finding love as a hopeless romantic🫶🫶

natalia's avatar

I am so so glad to become your new read Sarah and I'm really grateful I could share my point of view with you! Remember there's always hope for a real beautiful love ♡♡

Olga Wefler's avatar

The line 'Fictional people are safe to love' is the absolute core of this problem. We don’t actually crave the drama of Darcy or Anakin; we crave the ultimate control over the narrative. A fictional man is a domesticated beast: he has already been written, tested, and approved by an author. I have a couple of such characters too)

Rina Clementine's avatar

This is a beautiful piece, Natalia!

natalia's avatar

thank you dear!

Sylvie Korek's avatar

I like the flow. I like reading writing from sb else's brain despite i do not agree with some notions such as "The thing is to notice potential in somebody and a good soul. Because you can work on so many behaviors and your expectations when someone has good intentions toward you and is willing to change for you." Think it can be dangerous for women and talk about it in my writing but am also aware that it paints the world we currently live in where people are willing to do that. Interesting nevertheless

Abhi's avatar

Hi Natalia!! I really enjoyed listening to what you have to say. I am a high schooler trying to do something of impact on Substack. It would mean the world if you could subscribe(I WILL TOO)! Thank you!!

Snotgirl's avatar

Coming from an old lady, please don’t idolize Anakin and Padme.