My Fault Spain vs. London: Why the Spanish Adaptation Still Has My Heart

Before I compare the two adaptations, I should probably start with a disclaimer.

The step-sibling romance trope is not my thing.

In fact, it's one I generally avoid. Had I known that premise before picking up Mercedes Ron's Culpables trilogy a few years ago, I probably would have passed on it altogether. What kept me reading wasn't the trope itself but Mercedes Ron's writing. She created compelling characters, believable emotional tension, and a relationship that felt about far more than shock value. By the time I finished the series, I was invested in Noah and Nick despite the premise not being something I would normally gravitate toward.

So when both the Spanish and London adaptations were released, I went into them with an open mind.

After watching both, I found myself coming back to the Spanish version over and over again.

Not because the London adaptation is bad. It isn't.

It simply tells a different emotional story.

The Spanish Version Feels More Intense

If I had to describe the biggest difference between the two adaptations in one word, it would be intensity.

The Spanish films never let you forget that Noah and Nick are two deeply damaged people trying to navigate complicated family dynamics, unresolved trauma, and feelings neither of them expected to develop. Even in quieter moments, there was an underlying tension that made every interaction feel significant.

The London adaptation approaches those same moments differently.

It's lighter.

The dialogue is softer, the pacing is gentler, and much of the emotional weight feels less immediate. Rather than feeling like two people constantly fighting against circumstances beyond their control, Noah and Nick often come across as two teenagers experiencing first love.

There's absolutely an audience for that version.

Personally, I found myself missing the emotional urgency that made the Spanish adaptation so addictive.

Nick and Noah Simply Worked Better for Me

Casting is always subjective, but for me, the Spanish versions of Nick and Noah felt closer to the characters I imagined while reading.

Nick carried the confidence, emotional restraint, and underlying vulnerability that made him such an interesting character. His quieter moments often revealed more than his dialogue did, and that complexity made it easier to understand why Noah was drawn to him despite every reason she shouldn't have been.

The same was true for Noah.

She was independent without feeling unnecessarily stubborn, emotionally guarded without becoming cold, and vulnerable without losing her strength. Watching her relationship with Nick develop felt natural because both characters seemed to challenge one another in equal measure.

The London adaptation certainly had chemistry, but I never felt quite the same emotional pull.

Sophia Was Another Standout

One character I consistently preferred in the Spanish adaptation was Sophia.

Without giving too much away, I felt her presence added emotional depth to several key moments. She felt more fully realized and contributed to the overall atmosphere of the story rather than simply moving the plot forward.

It's often the supporting characters that determine whether a fictional world feels believable, and for me, the Spanish films generally did a better job of making those relationships feel lived-in.

Where the Spanish Films Fell Short

As much as I preferred the Spanish adaptation overall, I don't think it ended as strongly as it began.

One of my biggest disappointments was how quickly the final film wrapped everything up.

Readers of Mercedes Ron's trilogy know that the emotional heart of the final book isn't simply reaching the ending. It's watching the characters earn it. Much of what makes the conclusion satisfying comes from seeing Noah and Nick work through everything that has happened, individually and together.

The movie seemed far more interested in arriving at the destination than exploring the journey.

Major emotional moments came and went quickly, and several storylines that deserved room to breathe were resolved in what felt like a matter of minutes.

It wasn't necessarily the ending itself that disappointed me.

It was how little time the film spent allowing the ending to matter.

With that said, I can't wait to see how the London version will handle this.

Which Version Should You Watch?

If you've never read the books, I actually think both adaptations are worth watching because they each bring something different to the story.

The London version leans into the excitement of first love. It's polished, accessible, and slightly more restrained.

The Spanish version embraces emotional intensity. It feels more mature, more passionate, and more willing to sit with complicated emotions. That's ultimately why it resonated with me.

Neither adaptation is a perfect recreation of the books, but I found the Spanish films captured the emotional atmosphere I experienced while reading in a way the London version never quite did.

Final Thoughts

It's interesting that two adaptations based on the same source material can leave such different impressions.

On paper, they're telling the same story.

In practice, they feel like entirely different romances.

For me, the Spanish adaptation understood that the appeal of My Fault was never just the romance itself. It was the emotional tension surrounding it, the complicated family dynamics, and two characters who constantly challenged each other to confront the parts of themselves they'd rather ignore.

The London adaptation is enjoyable in its own right, but it never fully captured that same emotional intensity.

If I had to choose just one version to recommend, I'd still pick Spain.

My Fault Spain vs. London: Why the Spanish Adaptation Still Has My Heart