Woman froze mid-way through friend's novel when the villain had an altered spelling of her husband's name — then realized she was in the book too
Author's husband 'has been more emphatic about finding something 'off' about her'
Some friends think they know what's best for you, but the way they show their care can do more harm than good. 34-year-old u/IAmSunshineForever found out how her 40-year-old friend she met in grad school truly felt about her marriage after she read a book the latter wrote. At first, she thought the book was hilarious, but when she figured out who the villain actually was, she pieced the story together and was "disappointed and disgusted" by her friend. The post was shared on September 23, 2026, and it received 1,700 upvotes and 107 comments.
One-sided feelings
Years ago, the author and her friend lived together and bonded because of their shared trauma and school-related stress. Soon, the author realized her friend had feelings for her. At one point, they became extremely close, but she had already clarified she didn't feel the same way or have any romantic interest in her. Later, the author began dating someone and moved out. Fast forward years later, the author eloped with her partner in a small, intimate wedding, surrounded by family, and had a child. The author's husband had always respected their friendship, but recently, "he has been more emphatic about finding something 'off' about her." The author brushed it off, but noticed her friend grew more distant as the years went by. The friend became more vocal about her distaste for the author's husband. "She confronts me about not standing up to him," and "my spouse became less happy with how she interacts with me and spending time with her."
Big bad husband
The author found out from another friend that her "friend" had been talking behind her back. "She spends a significant amount of time talking trash about me and my spouse." She said the author's husband forced her to elope and talked badly about her wedding. The author thought she was bitter because she wasn't invited, and began distancing herself from her. Recently, her friend asked the author to read a book she wrote. The author found it funny that she was a character in the book, but then, "I get towards the end, and the villain ends up being named an alternate spelling of my husband's name. He is a disgusting character doing truly awful things, then takes me hostage along with the her-coded character." When she realized that the book was a "fantasy about removing him from my life," whatever trust she had was broken, and wrote she "will be continuing to distance" herself.
Friend's approval
Friends don't always have to like or love their friends' partners, but there should be limits to how far they go to express their disapproval. A study by Shuangyue Zhang and Andy J. Merolla, cited by Psychology Today, found that 59% of respondents who did not like their friend's romantic partner voiced their opinions. Their main reason for expressing their thoughts was to protect their friend (57%). 26% did it for the sake of being honest, and 15% shared their opinions because their friend asked for their thoughts. 5% believed they had a "better perspective" and owed it to be honest with their friend. The friend was vocal about her opinions, but when she wrote the book and turned the author's husband into a disgusting villain, she crossed a line.
'Fatal attraction bunny boiler'
Netizens were a little concerned by the friend's behavior and advised her to gradually step back from the friendship. u/404Cat wrote, "Bro, she's 40? Very emotionally immature. That's weird stuff, like it would be embarrassing even in your 20s to do that s---." u/Forsaken-Estate4041 added, "I hate that I can relate to this. Block and run. It does not turn out pretty if you keep contact with her."
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