This is one of our favorite IRL love stories ever, y’all. EVER. We’re talking better than Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum.
Yeah.
Here’s what happened.
Lots of people read the Twitter feeds of companies and brands and wonder just how in the heck the people writing them got the job. But Victoria Carlin of London looked at her favorite bookstore’s social media presence and wondered if the guy behind it was single.
What came next is a love story for the Twitter storybooks.
Dear reader, I married him #noreally #yeahidunnohoweither pic.twitter.com/OKuosKzdJL
— Victoria OB (@VictoriaOB_) July 17, 2016
Ms. Carlin’s favorite bookstore is Waterstones, a London-based chain that’s like Barnes & Noble, but with a bar and more community events. It was the Twitter account of her local branch that caught her attention – and her heart – and even today you can see how personable their brand continues to be:
To the five miserably drenched people stood outside: We see you. There's books and coffee on the other side of the door. Save yourselves.
— WaterstonesTCR (@WaterstonesTCR) June 23, 2016
Today we learned: Conquered by Clippy erotica exists. #BooksShowOff @steve_x @ScienceShowoff pic.twitter.com/GvUXqxhgmz
— WaterstonesTCR (@WaterstonesTCR) May 24, 2016
How we imagine we sound when describing our Waterstones branch. pic.twitter.com/jQ3UbSW77p
— WaterstonesTCR (@WaterstonesTCR) June 6, 2016
The person behind the account was obviously WAY ahead of the curve – this Pokémon themed tweet was posted way back in 2012…and it caught Victoria’s eye.
#bookfacts While there are now millions of books, the first 150 were obviously the best. No, wait..that's Pokemon. #pokemonfacts
— WaterstonesTCR (@WaterstonesTCR) November 20, 2012
She had to say something!
@ameliesoleil Pff, he's not that dreamy in real life.
— WaterstonesTCR (@WaterstonesTCR) November 20, 2012
And he replied. *sigh*
@WstonesOxfordSt pffft. Book nerds > dreamboats. #girlfacts
— Victoria OB (@VictoriaOB_) November 20, 2012
And so their flirtation began.
— ♡ (@finelinegolden) July 17, 2016
Little did Carlin know, that book nerd she was flirting with was Jonathan O’Brien, her – spoiler alert – future husband. After some more exchanges on Twitter, they decided to meet in person. O’Brien told Mashable, “One day Victoria came into the shop with doughnuts, I ate them (giving away a very cavalier attitude to food from strangers).”
The two then went on a walk during his lunch break, and Jon gave her a copy of The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum because Victoria had mentioned it was her favorite movie. Fast forward four years, and he’s given her a ring, too. And presumably other gifts in the meantime.
They got married, but not before he caught a Jynx playing Pokémon Go at the ceremony. I mean, he’s obviously the most dashing book nerd in the history of book nerds.
Caught a Jynx while waiting for my wedding to start. pic.twitter.com/jjLz35ZvoL
— Jonathan but ghost (@JonathanOB_) July 15, 2016
Such a sweet story, you guys.
Dear reader, I married him #noreally #yeahidunnohoweither pic.twitter.com/OKuosKzdJL
— Victoria OB (@VictoriaOB_) July 17, 2016
So, if you ever find yourself up at night fantasizing about the genius promoting your local amusement park or the social media guru behind the Domino’s Pizza Twitter account, try reaching out and grabbing a slice of human contact.
They might just turn out to be the love of your life.
