If you have ever been pulled into a show, movie, or book and found yourself oddly invested in one character, you are not alone. Sometimes it is a quick crush that fades when the credits roll. Other times it feels deeper, like you are rooting for their happiness and thinking about them long after the story ends. For a growing number of people, that intense pull has a name, and they say it describes a real part of who they are.
Fictosexuality refers to romantic or sexual attraction toward fictional characters. For some, it is not a passing fascination but something that plays a meaningful role in their identity and relationships. Therapist and gender expert Rebecca Minor has explained that this attraction can be emotional, romantic, or sexual. In some cases, it can feel stronger than attraction to people in real life.
Minor also pushes back on the idea that these connections are trivial or “just in your head.” People who identify this way often describe their bonds with fictional characters as deeply felt and genuinely significant. That might sound surprising if you have only experienced a brief celebrity style crush on a character. But for them, it can shape how they understand intimacy, desire, and partnership.
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It is also not the same as ordinary fantasy. Plenty of people daydream about a character or think, “I wish someone like that existed,” and then move on. Fictosexuality goes further, especially when the attraction is focused primarily or exclusively on fictional figures rather than real people. Certified sexuality educator Aubri Lancaster, who works with asexuality and aromanticism, has noted that fictosexuality is often discussed as a micro label within the asexual spectrum.
That does not mean everyone who relates to the term experiences it in exactly the same way. Lancaster describes it as something that might stand alone as a main identity label or sit within a broader constellation of how someone understands their sexuality. What is clear is that the concept has become more visible recently, even though the term has been around for roughly two decades. Social media has helped, especially spaces where romance fandom thrives, including BookTok and its massive romance community.
Have you ever felt a surprisingly real attachment to a fictional character, or do you see this as simply another way people name their experiences today? Share your thoughts in the comments.
