Aside from being a staple of the rom-com watchlist, Notting Hill also spills when it comes to those setbacks that aren’t really setbacks.
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We’ve all been there—running late, spilling coffee, dealing with a series of tiny, annoying inconveniences that make us question if the universe is out to get us. But what if those little misfortunes were actually pushing us toward something better? That’s the whole idea behind the Burnt Toast Theory: the belief that minor setbacks aren’t just random bad luck, but redirections toward where we’re meant to be.
Now, you might be wondering why Notting Hill, one of the most beloved rom-coms of the 90s and 2000s, has to do with this TikTok-viral theory. Well, Notting Hill might just be the best proof that love shows up when you least expect it. If William Thacker (Hugh Grant) hadn’t been clumsy enough to spill orange juice all over Hollywood A-lister Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), their love story wouldn’t have kicked off. It’s a classic rom-com setup, but the way it unfolds feels surprisingly real.
Because love? It doesn’t come in some perfect, curated package. Sometimes, it sneaks up on you when you’re just trying to survive your day—like when you’re scrolling through TikTok and find that one video that somehow turns your whole mood around. It’s random, but it works.
So, if you’re feeling stuck in singlehood or convinced your love life is a lost cause, maybe you just haven’t had your burnt toast moment yet.
Oops, My Bad—Here’s the Love of Your Life
In rom-coms, we’re always waiting for “The Moment”—you know, that cinematic spark, the grand confession, the life-changing realization that someone is “The One”. But Notting Hill flips that whole idea. William and Anna’s love story isn’t built on some big dramatic moment or fireworks in the sky. It starts with orange juice on a shirt, a quick “whoops, my bad,” and a spontaneous invitation for tea.
And if you think about it, real life works the same way. The people who matter most often enter your life in ways that feel entirely unplanned. Maybe your next great love isn’t someone you meet on a perfectly curated dating app but the person who holds the elevator for you when you’re running late. Maybe you miss a train, take a different route, and end up sitting next to someone who changes everything.
Think about that iconic scene where Anna Scott drops the line, “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” That’s the vibe. Sometimes, love isn’t some scripted thing. It’s about showing up as you are, making a small move, and letting the rest fall into place.
Blessing in Disguise
If you’re still waiting for your Notting Hill moment, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind. But if there’s one thing the Burnt Toast Theory tells us, it’s that everything—yes, everything—is happening in the right order, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Look at William. He wasn’t searching for love. He was just running a tiny travel bookshop, going about his regular, slightly awkward life. And yet, love found him anyway. If you’re single, it’s not because you’ve missed some imaginary deadline. It’s because your love story is still unfolding. And maybe—just maybe—those moments of frustration, waiting, or loneliness are actually leading you somewhere better than you ever planned.
If William had been overly logical, he would have assumed from the start that dating a world-famous actress was impossible. If Anna had overthought things, she might have convinced herself that a quiet bookseller in London couldn’t possibly fit into her chaotic life. But the magic of Notting Hill is that both of them took a chance on something that didn’t entirely make sense. And isn’t that what love is, at its core?
We spend so much time trying to “figure out” love—overanalyzing texts, creating the perfect dating profile, trying to predict the unpredictable. But love isn’t a science experiment; it’s a leap of faith. Sometimes, the right person doesn’t fit your “type” or your timeline. Sometimes, they show up when you least expect it, and in a way you never would have planned.
Just Like Magic
It’s easy to get bogged down by the little things—those burnt toasts, the missed opportunities, the endless questions of “what if.” But what Notting Hill teaches us is that sometimes those “mistakes” are the moments that set everything in motion. William’s awkwardness and Anna’s guardedness lead to this unexpected connection that ends up being far more meaningful than either of them could have imagined.
The Burnt Toast Theory reminds us that love doesn’t always follow the path we expect. Take The Devil Wears Prada (2006), for example. Andy’s rough ride at Runway magazine turns into a big lesson in self-discovery and even sparks a romantic connection with a fellow writer. Her “burnt toast” moment—dealing with Miranda Priestly’s constant demands—ends up helping her figure out what she really wants in life and love.
@byasthclby when it all starts in a bookstore 🩵 #nottinghill #juliaroberts #hughgrant #foryoupage #viral #fyp #xyzbca #zyxcba #romcoms #mecore #lanadelrey ♬ som original – ★
I want my life to be just like Notting Hill. I’m gonna buy a little bookstore so a famous idol can come out and I can drop my orange juice on him just to later fall in love. So, if you’re single and feeling like you’ve burned one too many metaphorical toasts, here’s the thing: nothing’s actually off track.
Of course, a theory is still a theory and not a text meant to be followed to the letter. But it also assumes how we live in a world that is not as cynical as some make it out to be, something we lowkey can get behind. The Burnt Toast Theory reminds us that nothing is actually going wrong—things are just shifting into place, with setbacks serving as little teachable moments that will lead you to where you need to be. A little too delulu? Possibly, but there’s a point to be made that those little mistakes and setbacks aren’t just the world trying to bring you down.
Maybe you’re one spilled drink away from a life-changing conversation. Maybe you’re about to take a wrong turn that leads you somewhere (or someone) exciting. And honestly, that’s just incredible.
Continue Reading: What Is The Taxi Cab Theory? AKA, Why We Mourn Wrong Timing In Relationships
