Here's my take on things: Hannah was already a huge fan of The Office TV show when scouring Youtube for inspirational videos about disability, then up comes Rain Wilson from The Office interviewing Shane on "Our Last Days". That celebrity connection in the Youtube video spearheaded Hannah into writing a complete stranger an email about her life in relation to Shane's and all of the things they have in common--despite NOT knowing him at all. Sociopaths/narcissists are very cunning and manipulative and create a mirror image and faked similarities in order to break down someone's defenses and accelerate a bond.
Hannah knew Shane didn't have money then, but saw "star potential" through his connections, just as Shane saw a marginally attractive at best tall, blonde and knew that he could have her eventually use her body to be the sexual linchpin/lure to their Youtube channel and generate the resulting fame. Hannah and her Mom like the finer things in life and made sure early on to convince him to go to Disney, Poland, London, Paris trips with pri-fixe dinner menus under the guise of Hannah's Mom helping them travel. I believe that Hannah and her Mom's codependency is real, but they're also using the resulting financial windfall of the Youtube channel to maximize their assets with a mansion that could be converted to an Air B and B once Shane passes away. It isn't a coincidence that Liz was a career multi-property Air B and B owner; this mansion is definitely another addition to her portfolio, which is precisely why she has dual ownership in it. Sure, Hannah spends a lot of time with Shane, and maybe she developed a strong comradery with him overtime, but I don't think that she loves him on a deep level. They're both using each other.
Hannah knew Shane didn't have money then, but saw "star potential" through his connections, just as Shane saw a marginally attractive at best tall, blonde and knew that he could have her eventually use her body to be the sexual linchpin/lure to their Youtube channel and generate the resulting fame. Hannah and her Mom like the finer things in life and made sure early on to convince him to go to Disney, Poland, London, Paris trips with pri-fixe dinner menus under the guise of Hannah's Mom helping them travel. I believe that Hannah and her Mom's codependency is real, but they're also using the resulting financial windfall of the Youtube channel to maximize their assets with a mansion that could be converted to an Air B and B once Shane passes away. It isn't a coincidence that Liz was a career multi-property Air B and B owner; this mansion is definitely another addition to her portfolio, which is precisely why she has dual ownership in it. Sure, Hannah spends a lot of time with Shane, and maybe she developed a strong comradery with him overtime, but I don't think that she loves him on a deep level. They're both using each other.