🎭Hero, Best Friend, or Villain — Which Story Steals Your Heart?

Hello, lovely reader —

Every reader has a favourite perspective. Do you love following the hero's journey, rooting for the loyal friend in the background, or secretly hoping the villain steals the scene? There's no wrong answer — just a story-shaped mirror we thought would be fun to hold up today.

🌟 The Main Character Reader

Some readers live for the epic arc — the impossible odds, the growth, the romance that changes everything. If your favourite books are the ones where someone starts small and becomes unstoppable, you probably gravitate toward romantasy, coming-of-age stories, and hero-driven fantasy. There's a reason "I'll never give up" hits different when you've watched a character earn it.

🌙 The Side Character Reader

Then there are readers who know something important: sometimes the best character in the book isn't the one on the cover. Best friends, found family, the quiet one who somehow steals every scene they're in — these are the characters that make a story feel like home. Have you ever finished a book wishing the side character had gotten their own? Almost every fantasy reader has, at least once.

🖤 The Villain Reader

And then there's the reader who isn't rooting for evil — they're rooting for complexity. Morally gray characters, brilliant masterminds, tragic backstories, the kind of dialogue that makes you pause and reread the line. Have you ever found the villain more interesting than the hero? No judgment here. Some of the best books are the ones where you're not entirely sure who you're supposed to be cheering for.

🎯 Find Your Story Type

Answer honestly, and keep track of your mostly-As, Bs, or Cs.

1. What's your favourite scene?
A) The hero finally succeeds
B) The friends working together to pull it off
C) The villain revealing the master plan

2. Which quote grabs your attention?
A) "I'll never give up."
B) "I'm with you."
C) "You have no idea what's coming."

3. Which character usually becomes your favourite, even when you didn't expect it?
A) The protagonist
B) The loyal best friend
C) The antagonist

4. What keeps you turning pages at 1am?
A) The hero's journey
B) The relationships
C) The tension with the villain

If your answers:

• Mostly As? You're drawn to stories about the hero's climb.
• Mostly Bs? You read for the found family and the friendships that hold everything together.
• Mostly Cs? You're here for the morally gray, the masterminds, the characters who make you root for the wrong side just a little.

📊 Nobody's Just One Type

Here's the thing — most of us aren't purely one category. You might be 60% Main Character, 30% Side Character, and 10% quietly obsessed with every well-written villain you've ever read. Or you might find your answer changes entirely depending on the genre. Romantasy might turn you into a die-hard Main Character reader, while a good mystery has you rooting for the antagonist every time.

This is exactly the kind of thing BookTok can't stop talking about — main character energy, morally gray heroes, the villains we secretly love, the side characters who deserved so much more page time. It's a conversation that never really ends, because every new book adds a new favourite to root for.

💛 A Story Worth Holding Onto

Every reader connects with stories in a different way. Whether you're drawn to courageous heroes, unforgettable supporting characters, or brilliantly written antagonists, the worlds that stay with us often become part of how we see ourselves as readers. That's why so many of you love finding a design inspired by the exact story you can't stop thinking about — a small, everyday reminder of a world that mattered to you. If a particular fandom has been living in your head lately, it might be worth exploring our collections inspired by the worlds readers love most. 

So tell us — when you finish a great book, whose story stays with you the longest? The hero, the loyal friend, or the unforgettable villain?

With love,
The Bean Workshop 🫘