aka that time I fell down the Google + ChatGPT + Pinterest rabbit hole… and loved every second of it!
Ever read a book and thought, “Okay but what would they actually look like if they were real?”
Yeah, me too. A lot.
So, here’s the story of how I somehow turned that thought into a full-blown mini project that might just become one of my favourite blog features yet. 🖼️📚💫
🧠 The Brainstorm That Got a Little Out of Hand
It all started with me scrolling through one of my ebooks and pausing mid-chapter like,
“Wait… how exactly would he look in that suit?”
So, cue my overactive imagination (and possibly my eldest’s ADHD genes shining through 😆), and I decided to find out.
I started using Google AI and the physical/ebooks I’ve read to gather every scrap of info possible about each character’s appearance, personality, and little quirks—because sometimes, personality totally affects how someone looks!
(You can tell a broody morally grey anti-hero from a sunshine boy a mile off, right?)
When descriptions were vague or nonexistent, I turned to Pinterest fan art for inspiration and filled in the blanks.
Then came my secret weapon… ChatGPT (hi bestie 👋) — who, after helping me out with work stuff (like the “Countries of the Month” projects), jumped in to help me bring these fictional favourites to AI life in the signature Polaroid style 📸💖
💬 The Goal: Just for Fun, Not for Perfection
Now, before anyone breaks out the magnifying glass, let’s be clear — these AI images aren’t meant to be perfect replicas of how every reader imagines them.
They’re just a bit of fun!
It’s more about the vibe — what the character could look like if they stepped off the page and into real life.
(And honestly, seeing some of them “in person”? Yeah… my fictional crush list just got longer. Again. 😅)
👗 Formal or Casual? Why I Chose the Dressed-Up Route
At first, I couldn’t decide whether to create casual looks (everyday, cozy vibes) or formal ones (think ball gowns, suits, or that smirk over a whiskey glass).
But then I realised:
1️⃣ Authors tend to describe formal outfits in more delicious detail.
2️⃣ Let’s be real — seeing our favourite book boyfriends all suited up? Chef’s kiss.
(Yes, I’m looking directly at you, Daddy Cade 👀🔥)
When there wasn’t a clear outfit mentioned, I played fashion detective — combining AI’s style sense with Pinterest inspo to create something that fits their personality and aura.
💭 What’s Next?
This little experiment has been such a fun creative escape that I might start including these AI Polaroids in the “Fun Aesthetic” section of my reviews.
It adds a whole extra layer of imagination — like flipping through a photo album of my fictional faves. And honestly? Seeing them visualised like this makes me fall in love with the stories all over again.
🖼️ The Character Gallery
(Okay, confession — I have way more characters than I realised. Apparently I’ve been very busy AI-daydreaming 😂)
Here’s just a few of the ever-growing collection so far — scroll down for each Polaroid moment!
🧚 ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas
🐺 Bride by Ali Hazelwood
🧚♀️ Seraphim Academy by Elizabeth Briggs
🖤 Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
🪞 Give Me More by Sara Cate
💃 Nanny for the Neighbours by Lily Gold
🌌 Bonus Mentions
- Carter & Aria (All He’ll Ever Be)
- Carl, Katie & Rick (Sugar Daddies)
Each of these Polaroid-style portraits was built with a mix of book details, AI imagination, and a lot of “hmm, that’s not quite right—let’s tweak that” trial and error.
But seeing them come together? Totally worth it. 💕
📚✨ Final Thought
Who knows — maybe one day we’ll get full AI movie trailers for our favourite books, but for now, I’m loving this playful mix of literature and technology.
Because sometimes, the best kind of reading magic happens when creativity runs a little wild.
The Reading Nook 