My Problem With Culpa Mia and Nick Leister.
"Gun to your head, Nick Leister or Nate Jacobs?" Oh, gun to my head? I'd say pull the trigger.
Welcome to my discussion of the Wattpad phenomenon, Culpa Mia, and every problem I had with the work. In case you weren’t familiar with the works, the Culpables trilogy is a book series that originally started on Wattpad, gained a ridiculous amount of popularity, and was later adapted into films.
Culpa Mia, also known as My Fault, is the first book of the Culpables trilogy. It follows 17-year-old Noah Morgan, who will soon be 18, as she leaves her hometown, boyfriend, and friends to move across the country to live with her mother, Rafaela, and her new millionaire husband, William. When she does, she meets Nicolas Leister, her stepbrother, who hides something behind that perfect golden boy exterior.
Now, this isn’t isn't where my criticism starts; stepsiblings fucking isn’t even the worst thing I’ve read and if I’m being completely honest — that’s another story for a different day.
This book is written from a dual perspective, alternating between Nick's and Noah’s perspective. My first problem isn’t the point of view or the writing; it’s the age gap between Nick and Noah.
Nick is 21, turning 22, and Noah is 17, turning 18; I’m 20, I'm turning 21, and I would never consider dating a 16, turning 17-year-old — in what world is that okay? If I were Noah’s mother, I would’ve lost my shit, but then I remember I’m 20 I'm old and have a crush on like four people and that it’s not's deep and that I need to calm down. But first, let’s talk about what Nick thinks about Noah in Chapter Two, and it’s just something that stuck out to me.
But her face was so girlish it was impossible to have any lustful thoughts about her. — Nick Leister, Chapter Two, Culpa Mia.
Another thing that really stuck out to me is how he constantly calls Noah “little sister.” As seen on these various occasions,
“It would be best if we got along, little sister,” I said, turning my back, grabbing my sandwich off the counter, and heading for the door. — Nick Leister, Chapter Two, Culpa Mia.
“Well, we agree about one thing then...little sister,” I repeated, rolling my eyes and enjoying watching her little hands clench into fists. — Nick Leister, Chapter Two, Culpa Mia.
Just as I made it past the doorframe, Dad stopped me—me and my little sister. — Nick Leister, Chapter Two, Culpa Mia.
I hate Nick Leister and this is only the first chapter we have his perspective in that I’ve read.
aaand then I never picked the book up again, I think…
Well… I lied.
I did and I never finished it. I gave up around the 44% mark.
This just goes to show that they really will publish anything — once again, this is Soleil and this is me talking to whatever I want — thank you so much for tuning in.