Published Books Derived From Fanfiction - Are They Actually Worth Reading?

As someone who has actively read and written fanfiction since I was probably thirteen years old, you would think that as an adult, I would read more books that were originally written online as fanfiction. But in truth, my knowledge of published fanfiction doesn't really extend past Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, After by Anna Todd, and The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, which is unfortunate because in my opinion, most of these books are terrible representations of quality fanfiction.

Though it may be hard to believe, there is some really great fanfiction out there. While I haven't read a lengthy fanfiction since happydays1d started writing Duplicity in 2019, I'll occasionally read short fanfic blurbs on Tumblr. Shoutout to pedgito, joeloverture, and gutsby for being my current favorite fanfiction writers - if you enjoy characters played by Pedro Pascal, definitely check out their stuff on Tumblr!

In honor of SenLinYu publishing their iconic Dramione fanfiction "Manacled" in September of 2025, I've decided that this is going to be the year I start reading published books that originated as fanfiction to see if any of it is actually worth reading. If you think this sounds like a fun challenge, consider joining me!

Without further ado, here is the list of books I plan on reading this year that were originally published online as fanfiction. If I miss any good ones, please let me know!

1. Alchemised by SenLinYu - Alchemised is the main reason I've decided to embark on this journey and make this list. I haven't read the original fanfic because I'm not a huge Draco Malfoy fan, but the premise of it always sounded so interesting to me, so I'm beyond stoked that SenLinYu has decided to let Random House Worlds turn "Manacled" into a published novel. Alchemised will be released September 30, 2025. If you're not sure what the story is about, here is the summary:

   
   

   Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed.

   
   

   In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive.

   
   

   According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit?

   
   

   To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight—to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self—is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.

   
   

   If you don't think this sounds absolutely incredible, please don't talk to me. I think SenLinYu was also partially inspired by "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood for this story, which is so interesting. I'm ready to jump on the hype train and be destroyed by this story because I've heard it's absolutely devastating.

   
   

   

2. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley - This is another popular Dramione fanfiction originally titled "Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love." This book is being published by Penguin Publishing Group and I think it sounds really cute and fun. The cover is absolutely stunning and this book is the first in a series, which is also exciting to know. The publication date is July 8, 2025 - so unfortunately we have to wait for this one too, but here's the premise:

   
   

   When Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, falls ill, he realizes he needs the expertise of a very specific healer. As fate would have it, that healer belongs to an enemy faction, the Haelan Order.

   
   

   Aurienne Fairhrim and her fellow Haelan are inundated by sick children suffering from an outbreak of a long-forgotten Pox. Unable to get the funding needed to launch an immunization program, the Haelan Order is desperate for money – so desperate that when Osric breaks into their headquarters to bribe Aurienne to heal him, she is forced to accept.

   
   

   As Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of the Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which only fuels the tension between them.

   
   

   This sounds like a juicy slow burn enemies-to-lovers moment and I'm here for it. They say if you enjoyed "Gothikana," "Apprentice to the Villain," or "Long Live Evil" that you'll like this one, and while I haven't read any of the above, the premise sounds really fun, so I just know I'm going to love it.

   
   

   

3. Rose in Chains by Julie Soto - I believe this started as another Dramione fanfiction called "The Auction." I don't know as much about this story, but I'm fairly certain Julie Soto has published another book that was originally Reylo fanfiction (don't worry - we'll discuss it later), so she must really love fan culture. The cover art screams romantasy, but that's never a bad thing - who doesn't love a good romantasy? I'm not sure if the previously mentioned books have any smut, but I'm pretty sure this one is supposed to. This book will be published by Grand Central Publishing on July 8, 2025 - unfortunately another one we have to wait for, but hopefully it will be worth it. Here is the plot for those interested:

   
   

   The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.  

   
   

   Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, the world as Briony Rosewood knows it is changed forever. Evil has won, and her people face imminent servitude, imprisonment, or death.  

   
   

   Stripped of her Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly sold off to the highest bidders in an auction—and as Evermore's princess, she fetches the highest price. After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven Hearst, scion of a family known for their cruelty.  

   
   

   Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help—and hope—may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

   
   

   I feel like it sounds very similar to Alchemised, but just a bit simpler. Either way, I'm super pumped to read it, as well as Julie Soto's other published fanfiction.

   
   

   

4. Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto - I'm not going to lie, until I just now looked into Julie Soto's books, I could have sworn her novel "Forget Me Not" was originally a Bucky Barnes fanfiction, but apparently it's a completely original story with original characters, so we're moving onto her second book "Not Another Love Song," which was originally a Reylo fanfiction titled "The Food of Love." This fanfiction was reworked and published by Grand Central Publishing on July 16, 2024 - so I can read it as soon as I want to - yay! Let me just say, I think the cover art is stunning. It feels so intimate and steamy. I'm actually obsessed with it. I know this book is about musicians, and I love anything about musicians, so I might have to pick this one up sooner rather than later. Here is a summary:

   
   

   Gwen Jackson is a self-taught professional violinist. Xander Thorne is the exact opposite—a rock star cellist with a bad attitude. They both play in the Manhattan Pops, and their styles couldn’t be more different.

   
   

   When Gwen is offered first chair of the orchestra (a role Xander has coveted for years), she can’t help but notice a hostile sense of competition between them…but also an electric chemistry, as they’re forced to work together. As they compose and play songs together, it’s clear that their powerful connection could make for a performance that will blow everyone’s minds.

   But can their slowly growing romance survive the pressures of success?

   
   

   Giiirl, sign me up! I love the idea of Gwen and Xander having to work together despite their hostility. I also heard there's a really juicy cello scene... If it entails what I'm picturing, I will not be disappointed. In fact, I will probably be writhing on the floor. So frickin' excited to read this one!! Don't let me down, Julie Soto!!

   
   

   

5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - Speaking of Reylo, if we're talking about published fanfiction, we must discuss Ali Hazelwood and the fictional universe she's created that contains multiple men in STEM who look just like Adam Driver. Many people wonder if Ali Hazelwood's entire catalog is solely Reylo fanfiction, and while I don't think that's the case, I do believe "The Love Hypothesis" and "Love on the Brain" might be. I will probably read them both, but "The Love Hypothesis" has the better cover, so I'm going to start with that one. "Head Over Feet" was what this fanfiction was originally titled. It was picked up by Penguin Publishing Group and released on September 14, 2021. Here's a rundown of the plot:

   
   

   As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships—but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

   
   

   That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor—and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs.

   
   

   Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

   
   

   I'm not going to lie, at one point I did own a physical copy of this book, but I donated it to my local library without reading it because I'm not super interested in the story. However, I'm going to force myself to read it as a part of this journey I'm embarking on, so I'll just borrow it from the library that I donated it to. This book is widely known across the bookish community as a published fanfiction, so I feel like it's an important story to add to the list. I fear I'm not going to like it, but who knows? Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. Moving on.

   
   

   

6. The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon - I wasn't actually aware this book was a Reylo fanfiction until I started doing research for this blog post. It doesn't have the best reviews on Goodreads, but I think the plot still sounds really interesting. It was originally published on AO3 as "Landscape With a Blur of Conquerors," but it was picked up by HarperCollins and published on October 3, 2023. It's tagged on Goodreads as an enemies to lovers romantasy which is right up my alley! I'm pretty sure the male main character is also a shadow daddy! Here's the premise:

   
   

   All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, she found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire’s shadows.

   
   

   Prince Alaric, the emperor’s only son and heir, has been tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with the strength of his armies and mighty shadow magic. He discovers the greatest threat yet in Talasyn: a girl burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. He tries to kill her, but in a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

   
   

   This war can only end with them. But an even greater danger is coming, and the strange magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Talasyn and Alaric must decide… are they fated to join hands, or destroy each other?

   
   

   It's highkey giving "Shadow & Bone," which is so exciting for me, and the fact that it's also based on a Star Wars fanfiction has me squealing. I hate the name Alaric because Matthew Davis ruined it for me, but I think I can get past it for this book. I'm obsessed with an arranged marriage in a fantasy and a badass female main character who can kill, so I'm really excited about this one!

   
   

7. 

   Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren - While this cover is absolutely hideous, turns out that this 2013 release was originally a Twilight fanfiction. I've never read a Christina Lauren book, but I guess this is a good place to start. From what I gather, Christina Lauren wrote this fanfiction - which was originally titled "The Office" - because they were dissatisfied with how the Twilight series ended with "Breaking Dawn." After growing immensely popular online, the story was picked up and published by Gallery Books on February 12, 2013. Here's the Goodreads description:

   
   

   Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

   
   

   Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

   
   

   As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

   
   

   This truly feels like a "Fifty Shades of Grey" moment, so I'm not overly excited, and I really wish they would redo the cover, but it sounds sexy I guess. We'll see.

   
   

   

8. Babydoll by Thea Lawrence - I don't think Thea is a very well-known author, but I remember her from when I was publishing Bucky Barnes fanfiction on Wattpad. I read some of Babydoll when all the characters were from the MCU. I can't recall if the book had a different name at the time - I just remember I really enjoyed Thea's writing style and the general premise of the story, so I wanted to throw it in here as a fun little self-published moment. The cover is stunning and the fact that it takes place in the 80s really intrigues me. Thea published "Babydoll" on September 17, 2023. Here's the summary I pulled from her website:

   
   

   It’s the Fall of 1986, and Phoebe Miller is a rock journalist for Titanium Magazine. Her newest assignment involves following Damien Bell and his band, Revolver, on their last North American tour before they head back into the studio to record their sophomore album.

   
   

   Damien is loud, obnoxious, has a reputation for excess, and he hates journalists, but he seems to have a soft spot hidden beneath all of that bravado.

   
   

   Phoebe prefers to be a fly on the wall, but she has a nasty habit of falling for men who she knows will break her heart.

   
   

   Quickly, Damien and Phoebe find themselves pulled into a tumultuous and fiery mutual attraction that can’t be ignored— one that puts Phoebe’s job and her journalistic integrity on the line.

   
   

   I'm so excited to read this one. Like I said before, I love a story about musicians. I just might have to order the paperback because the cover of this one is so gorgeous.

   
   

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I'm excited to tackle this list of eight books to find out whether books derived from fanfiction are actually worth reading. Consider taking the list on with me! We'll make it a challenge. Let me know in the comments what books you're excited to read or what books you've already read. The ones I'm most looking forward to are "Babydoll," "Alchemised," and "The Hurricane Wars."

As I read these books, I plan on posting my reviews on here, so make sure to keep an eye out for them! I'll try to remember to link them on this post as I read.

Thanks for reading!