Wattpad is a weird place. It's this digital wild west where a teenager can type a story in her bedroom and, a few years later, see that same story sitting on a shelf at Barnes & Noble. That’s basically the trajectory of The Upside of Falling by Alex Light. It isn’t just another YA romance. It’s a case study in how the "fake dating" trope, when handled with a certain level of sincerity, can transcend its online origins and become a staple for Gen Z readers everywhere.
Becca Adams doesn’t believe in love. Her dad left, her mom is struggling, and she’s tucked herself away into books because they're safer than real life. Then you have Brett Wells. He’s the golden boy. Football captain. Popular. Has it all, right? Except he doesn’t. He’s tired of the pressure to be perfect, and he’s tired of people meddling in his business. So, they fake it. They pretend to be a couple to solve their own social problems, and—surprise, surprise—the lines get blurry. It’s a premise we’ve seen a thousand times, from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before to The Hating Game, but Light does something specific here that keeps people coming back.
Why The Upside of Falling Hits Different
Most people think "fake dating" is just a cheap plot device to force two characters to kiss. It is. But it’s also more than that. In The Upside of Falling, the fake relationship acts as a shield. Becca uses it to stop people from pitying her because of her family situation. Brett uses it to manage his image. Honestly, it’s relatable. We all perform versions of ourselves for the public. We all have that "Instagram version" of our lives that isn't quite the truth.
Becca’s cynicism isn't just "edgy" for the sake of being edgy. It’s rooted in a very real, very documented psychological response to parental abandonment. When a parent leaves, the child often develops an avoidant attachment style. They stop trusting the "happily ever after" narrative because they saw the "once upon a time" crumble in front of them. Alex Light captures that skepticism perfectly. Becca isn't just a girl who needs a boyfriend; she's a girl who needs to realize that one person’s failure to stay doesn't define the value of love itself.
The Brett Wells Appeal
Let’s talk about Brett. He isn’t the "bad boy" trope that dominated Wattpad for a decade. He’s not punching holes in walls or being toxic. He’s just a guy under a lot of pressure. Readers in 2026 are largely over the "alpha" hero. We want emotional intelligence. We want a guy who actually listens. Brett fits that "Golden Retriever" energy that has taken over BookTok.
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He’s a foil to Becca’s darkness. While she’s cynical and guarded, he’s trying to maintain a facade of perfection. When they’re together, the masks start to slip. That’s the real "upside" the title refers to. It’s not just about falling in love; it’s about the benefit of letting your guard down. It’s about the relief that comes when you stop pretending.
The Wattpad to Traditional Publishing Pipeline
You can't really discuss this book without talking about its history. It started on Wattpad, a platform that has birthed massive franchises like After and The Kissing Booth. But The Upside of Falling feels different from those. It’s cleaner. It’s softer. It’s less about the high-octane drama and more about the quiet moments between two people who are just trying to figure out high school.
The transition from a digital manuscript to a HarperCollins published novel involves a lot of "cleaning up." In the original Wattpad version, the pacing was a bit more episodic—common for stories updated chapter by chapter. The published version tightened the narrative arc significantly. However, it kept that raw, accessible voice that made it a hit online. That’s the secret sauce. If you polish a Wattpad story too much, you lose the "voice" that made millions of people click "next chapter" in the first place.
Is the Fake Dating Trope Dead?
Not even close.
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Actually, it’s arguably the most popular trope in contemporary romance right now. Why? Because it provides a structured environment for intimacy. In real life, talking to your crush is terrifying. There’s no script. In a fake dating scenario, there is a script. You have to hold hands. You have to go on dates. You have to talk. It removes the "will they, won't they" anxiety for the characters and replaces it with "how long can we keep this up before we admit it’s real?"
It’s the ultimate form of wish fulfillment.
Addressing the Critics: It’s Not All Sunshine
No book is perfect. Some readers find The Upside of Falling to be a bit too "sweet" or "predictable." And yeah, if you’re looking for a dark, gritty exploration of the human soul, this isn't it. It’s a YA contemporary. It’s meant to be a comfort read.
One common critique is that the ending feels a bit rushed. In about 280 pages, Light has to move from "strangers" to "fake couple" to "real couple" while also resolving Becca’s deep-seated trauma regarding her father. It’s a lot of ground to cover. Some readers feel the resolution with Becca’s family happens a bit too quickly, almost as if it’s a subplot that gets eclipsed by the romance.
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But honestly? That’s often how being seventeen feels. Your romantic life feels like the entire world, and your family issues are this heavy background noise that you only deal with when you’re forced to.
Specific Moments That Stand Out (No Major Spoilers)
- The bakery scenes: Food is a love language in this book.
- The contrast between Becca’s home life and Brett’s seemingly perfect family.
- The way Brett defends Becca without being overbearing.
These small details are what separate a "factory-made" romance from one with actual heart. Light focuses on the way Brett looks at Becca when she’s not looking. She focuses on the silence. Sometimes, the most romantic part of a book isn't the dialogue; it’s the stuff the characters don't say.
How to Get the Most Out of This Book
If you’re planning on diving into this one, go in with the right mindset. This isn't high literature. It’s the literary equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of tea. It’s for the days when the world feels a bit too loud and you want a story where you know, deep down, things are going to be okay.
Actionable Steps for Readers:
- Read the Prequel/Spin-offs: If you finish the book and want more, Alex Light has continued to write in this vein. Check out her other works on Wattpad or Amazon to see how her style has evolved since the 2020 release of Upside.
- Annotate the Tropes: If you're a writer or a student of literature, use this book to study trope execution. Highlight where the "fake" becomes "real." It’s a great exercise in understanding narrative beats.
- Check Out Similar Authors: If this hit the spot, you’ll probably love Kasie West or Jenn Bennett. They occupy that same "sweet YA" space that focuses on emotional growth over gratuitous drama.
- Join the Community: The BookTok community for Alex Light is still active. Engaging with other readers can offer fresh perspectives on Becca’s character growth that you might have missed on a first read.
The real takeaway from The Upside of Falling is that vulnerability isn't a weakness. It’s actually a superpower. Becca starts the book thinking her walls keep her safe, but she ends it realizing those walls just kept her lonely. That’s a lesson that stays relevant long after you graduate high school. Sometimes, you have to risk the fall to find out that you can actually fly. Or, at the very least, that someone is there to catch you.