#StrangersToLovers

[synity]

Hey!

I was wondering if I could request a Wonwoo x Reader — something with a strangers-to-lovers theme where the reader falls first, but Wonwoo falls harder. I'd love it to have an intense romantic vibe with some angst and emotional depth. Maybe some possessive (but respectful) kind of love, and eventually them building a family together.

I'm not sure if my request makes sense, but if it does, I’d really appreciate it if you could give it a try — even if it takes time! I'll be looking forward to it. 🩵🩷

BREATHE ME

(Jeon Wonwoo x FemReader)

*Romantic angst, strangers-to-lovers, emotional, slow-burn*

I never believed in fate not until the day I met Jeon Wonwoo.

It was a rainy afternoon, the kind that made people rush through the streets, duck under umbrellas, and curse the sky. I, however, welcomed the cold drizzle. It gave me an excuse to slow down, to breathe amidst a life that often felt too loud, too fast. I was on my way to the bookstore a tiny one, hidden in the corner of an old alley near campus. The kind of place no one really noticed unless they were looking for it.

I had just finished a long shift at the library where I worked part-time. The dust of centuries-old books clung to my skin, and the dull ache of standing for hours throbbed in my legs. Still, I walked. My tote bag was weighed down by textbooks and dreams I hadn’t quite given up on yet.

That’s when I saw him.

He was standing inside the bookstore, a book in one hand, his fingers lightly brushing over the edge of a page like it was a piece of art. He didn’t notice me, not then. But I noticed everything about him. The way his brows furrowed in concentration, the curve of his lips as he muttered something under his breath, the gentle shake of his head when he decided the book wasn’t what he was looking for. I remember thinking he looked like a painting still, quiet, timeless.

It’s strange, isn’t it? How someone you’ve never met can suddenly become a character in the story you tell yourself every night before sleep.

I didn’t talk to him that day.

But I went back.

Again. And again.

At first, it was coincidence. Then it became intention.

He’d come every Wednesday at the same time. Always alone. Always browsing the literature section. And I… I would pretend to be lost in books, stealing glances like a teenager with a hopeless crush.

He never noticed.

Until he did.

It was a Thursday. I almost didn’t go because of a deadline. But something in me tugged, told me to skip the library and head straight to the shop. He was already there, dressed in all black, a cap pulled low, fingers dancing along the spines of new arrivals. I made my way to the poetry shelf, pretending not to look.

Then I heard his voice.

“You always pick that one.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. I turned, stunned, blinking up at him. His voice was low and rich, like velvet over gravel. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes… they held something recognition, amusement, warmth.

“I-I like this author,” I replied, gripping the book in my hands a little too tightly.

He nodded. “You’ve read it five times. At least. I’ve been counting.”

My face burned. “You… noticed?”

He looked down for a second, then back at me. “Hard not to.”

That’s how it began.

From that moment, something changed.

I started going to the bookstore not for the books, not even for the poetry I claimed to love but for him.

Wonwoo.

That was his name. He told me the next time we bumped into each other, casually slipping it in like it wasn’t going to rearrange my entire world. He didn’t ask for mine right away. He just nodded when I introduced myself, then went back to the fiction shelf with that quiet smile that never quite reached his eyes but made something flutter in my chest anyway.

Our conversations were brief at first. Soft and hesitant. Like two people afraid to speak too loud, afraid to pop the bubble that somehow formed around us. He had a calm aura, but it wasn’t cold it was grounding. Like a forest. Like shade on a summer day. And he listened. God, he listened. Like every word I said mattered.

“I work in publishing,” he told me once, though I later learned he was far more than just an editor. He’d authored books, quietly helped build the careers of some bestselling writers, and was known in circles I only dreamed of stepping into. But he never boasted. If anything, he always downplayed himself.

That made me fall harder.

And I was falling. Hard.

The crush was no longer a secret I whispered into my pillow. I couldn’t help it. I looked for him in crowds, smiled when my phone lit up with his name, read into every soft touch of his fingers when he handed me a coffee.

But I didn’t tell him. I didn’t dare.

Because he was… Wonwoo.

And I was just me.

Still, he kept showing up. Not just at the bookstore, but at the art gallery I mentioned in passing. At the same café I worked at on weekends. Coincidences became too specific. One night, he even showed up with a scarf I’d mentioned loving weeks ago and said, “It looked like something you’d wear.”

That night, I cried into my pillow, unsure what the hell we were becoming but praying, hoping it was more.

And then came the day I realized he was falling too.

It was late autumn. The bookstore was about to close, and we had sat on the floor near the back wall, flipping through a novel we both loved, arguing over its ending like we hadn’t just spent hours doing this already.

I was laughing. Not a soft laugh but a real, throw-my-head-back one.

And he was staring.

I felt it. The weight of his gaze. When I looked at him, his eyes didn’t move away.

He was still.

Too still.

And then his hand reached forward, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I think I’m in trouble,” he whispered.

I blinked. “Why?”

“Because I didn’t mean to feel this much.”

He didn’t kiss me that day.

But his words did.

After that, everything changed. The air between us charged with something electric, something dangerous. I couldn’t sleep that night. Neither could he he texted me at 3AM: Can I see you tomorrow?

We started spending every evening together. In silence. In bookstores. In hidden cafés. In the park under fading lamplight. He was thoughtful. He never rushed me. Never pushed. He asked questions that mattered. Looked at me like I was a mystery worth solving. Held my hand like it was a vow.

But there was something in him I couldn’t reach.

A shadow behind his eyes.

He told me he’d been hurt. That he didn’t believe in “forever” because it always came with a deadline. That the last time he let someone in, he watched them leave anyway.

“I’m scared of ruining things,” he admitted one night, his voice raw.

“You won’t,” I whispered, resting my forehead against his. “I’m not asking for forever. Just... stay for now.”

That was the night he kissed me.

It wasn’t fireworks. It was something quieter. More intimate. Like a prayer.

But with every passing day, I saw it he was falling. Slowly. Deeply.

And the way he looked at me… like he was memorizing me. Like he had already imagined a life.

He fell quietly, but hard.

Harder than I ever expected.

It started small. The shift.

At first, I told myself I imagined it because I always do that when I’m scared of losing something good. The overthinking. The second-guessing. The flinch when something beautiful starts to tremble.

But Wonwoo was different.

He’d made me feel safe. Sure. Steady. Like he’d catch me even before I fell.

So when the silence between texts stretched longer, I pretended he was just busy.

When he stopped showing up at the café like he used to, I convinced myself he needed space.

But then, the first real silence happened.

He left me on read.

For an entire day.

No explanation. No excuse.

And it crushed me more than I’d like to admit.

I sat on the steps outside my apartment building, phone in hand, reading our past messages like some kind of love letter eulogy. I replayed his voice in my head, his laughter, that night under the stars where he told me, “I didn’t mean to feel this much.”

And now he was acting like he didn’t feel anything at all.

When I finally saw him again, it was by chance.

or fate.

I was walking home from the bookstore, arms full of paper and poetry, when I saw him across the street. Frozen. Like he didn’t expect to see me either.

Our eyes met.

And there it was that old look again.

The one that used to undo me.

He crossed the road in slow steps. Didn’t say anything at first. Just stared.

“I’m sorry,” he said finally, voice rough like he hadn’t used it in days.

I didn’t reply. I didn’t know how.

“I’ve been... off. I know.”

I waited.

“I started overthinking,” he admitted. “How serious this is. How much I want you. How scared I am to want this much and still not be enough.”

That was when I broke.

“You already were enough, Wonwoo,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “You were more than enough. I didn’t need perfection. I needed you to show up.”

“I know.” He took a breath like it hurt. “And I didn’t. I got so scared of falling deeper, I started pulling away. I thought if I stepped back first, I could soften the blow.”

“And you think hurting me like this softens anything?” I choked out, tears falling.

He looked wrecked. And I hated that I still wanted to pull him into my arms.

Then, in a moment of desperation—he did it.

He wrapped his arms around me, tight. Desperate. Like he was anchoring himself.

“I didn’t know I could feel this much,” he whispered against my hair. “You made me feel everything, and I panicked.”

I didn't move. But I felt the warmth of him seep into my bones.

I wanted to stay there. But I needed to protect myself too.

I gently pushed him back.

“I love you, Wonwoo,” I said, voice trembling. “But I can’t keep being the only one willing to stay when it gets hard.”

His eyes widened. Like that was the first time he realized what he was about to lose.

And he broke. Right there.

His knees hit the pavement. Mine followed. We didn’t care about the people passing by.

We clung to each other like lifelines. Both crying. Both shaking.

He pressed his forehead to mine. “Let me fix this. Please. I’ll do anything.”

After that night, things didn’t magically heal.

But he showed up.

Every day.

He made coffee for me before I woke up. Showed up at my class presentations with quiet pride in his eyes. Walked me home when it rained. Sat with me during my breakdowns and said nothing just held me like I was allowed to fall apart.

And when he asked me to move in with him months later, he didn’t make a speech. He just handed me a key and said, “Let’s start writing our story together, not just visiting chapters.”

We learned each other’s fears. Our triggers. Our love languages. Our silences. And we chose to love anyway.

Wonwoo became mine.

Not just in words but in the way he lived his days around me.

He was possessive, yes but in a way that always respected my space. Protective, not controlling. His love was quiet but all-consuming. He’d touch my lower back in crowded rooms. Glance at me a second longer if someone else made me laugh too loud.

And one night, years later, while sitting on the floor with photo albums and our newborn sleeping nearby, he whispered,

“Remember when I told you I didn’t believe in forever?”

I nodded.

He took my hand, pressing a kiss into my palm. “I was wrong. I just hadn’t met you yet.”

I noticed it before I admitted it.

The way Wonwoo’s hand tightened slightly whenever someone complimented me. How his arm slid around my waist like a quiet claim, even when the conversation was harmless. The way his gaze lingered on anyone who laughed a little too loud near me.

I knew he loved me. That was never the problem.

The problem was when it started to feel like he didn’t know how to let go.

It came to a head one evening after a long day of classes and studio time. I was exhausted. He had picked me up, like always, and we went back to his place. The silence in the car had been thick.

He glanced at me when we got inside.

“You’re quiet.”

I shrugged, kicking off my shoes. “Just tired.”

He followed me into the kitchen, leaning against the counter as I poured myself water. “Something happened?”

I took a slow sip. “No. Not exactly.”

He waited.

And that’s when I said it.

“Wonwoo, do you trust me?”

His brow furrowed. “Of course I do.”

“Then why does it sometimes feel like you don’t trust anyone else around me?”

There. I said it.

The air shifted.

He didn’t respond right away. Just stared at me, eyes searching mine like he wasn’t sure what I meant or maybe he did, and didn’t want to face it.

“I’m not accusing you,” I added quickly, softer this time. “It’s just… sometimes, it feels like you’re always on guard. Like you’re constantly trying to prove something.”

He looked away for a moment, jaw tightening.

“I’m just protecting what’s mine.”

“I’m not something you own, Wonwoo.”

That was the first time I’d ever raised my voice at him. It wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.

His shoulders tensed. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know you didn’t,” I said gently. “But I can’t always feel like I’m being watched, like I’m being hovered over. I love you. I come home to you. Isn’t that enough?”

He was quiet for a long time.

And then he said, “I’m scared.”

That cracked something open in me.

“I’ve never had someone like you before,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “And when I see people looking at you, laughing with you, getting close… I feel like I’m holding something I don’t deserve. And I’m terrified one day you’ll realize that.”

Tears pricked my eyes.

I stepped closer. “Wonwoo… you do deserve me. And I deserve you. But love doesn’t mean you have to hold on so tightly you forget I’m standing right beside you.”

He swallowed hard, eyes glassy.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” I whispered, voice cracking. “But if we don’t talk about these things… if we keep letting silence do the talking, we’re going to break something we can’t fix.”

He looked at me then really looked.

And when I opened my arms, he stepped into them like he was falling. We sank to our knees, holding each other like we were the last people on earth. My fingers in his hair. His arms wrapped tightly around me. My tears soaking into his hoodie.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured over and over. “I’m sorry I made you feel like that.”

“I know you didn’t mean to,” I whispered. “But you have to let yourself breathe too. Love doesn’t have to hurt to be real.”

And in the silence that followed, we held each other until the shaking stopped.

Until his grip softened.

Until we remembered that we were on the same side.?

[hlficlibrary]

HL Fic of the Month

✧ A p r i l ✧

The Things We Know To Be Wild 

by harryanthus_annuus / @harryanthus-annuus

Louis is a London zoologist sent by the University of Highlands and Islands to assess the safety of the island of Eroda as part of the Wonder Seekers Project for sustainable tourism. With his signature needed to write off the concerns raised by the investors - owing to dragons - he faces the true, unassuming local life, and finds himself blindsided by the forms it takes.

dragons | mature | 39k

[mindairy]

College of Love (1)

I hope you guys really enjoy this story. I have been having so much fun taking the imaginary worlds in my head and putting them on paper (well, computer in this case). Feedback and Comments are welcome. If you would like to be tagged in this or any of my future stories, please let me. know.

On the highest of seven hills sits the “College of Love and Charity.” This university boasts a 138-year history, having produced powerhouses in entertainment, business, journalism, and medicine. It is also the setting for this unlikely love story between two very different individuals, the classic trope of enemies-to-lovers or strangers-to-lovers. I guess you can be the judge.

S/O to the inspiring writers on this platform who have encouraged me to write just for me @spiicii, @whatdoeseverybodywant, @oddinary4bts @kithtaehyung @here2bbtstrash @charmed-dreamssss @zillasvilla @msbigredmachine @trippiexlove @wrestlingprincess80 and the many others

-Jey Uso X Afro-Latina Reader -Enemy-lover

On the highest of seven hills sits the “College of Love and Charity.” This university boasts a 138-year history, having produced powerhouses in entertainment, business, journalism, and medicine. It is also the setting for this unlikely love story between two very different individuals, the classic trope of enemies to lovers or strangers to lovers. I guess you can be the judge.

Jordyn Selen Martinz was a true child prodigy. The only child of an elementary school teacher and a mechanic, Jordyn was accustomed to working hard for everything she wanted. From weekends at the local corner store to catching the bus across town for extra shifts at the local pediatric clinic, Jordyn would be there to secure the bag if money could be made. Her hustle matched her intelligence, as expected from a child prodigy. It was no surprise when she received full academic scholarships to the top universities in the country. However, the surprise came when she chose to attend FAMU. The answer was never the same when asked why. “I want to be closer to home,” she would tell family. “It has the top pharmacy program in the country,” she would tell teachers. “I want the HBCU experience,” she would tell friends. In truth, Jordyn just wanted a change. She didn't want to be the token Afro-Latina who left everyone speechless because she was so bright. She wanted to attend a college she knew would be diverse, and she also knew that living in Tally would be more affordable. She had yet to regret her decision. At home, Jordyn was quiet and reserved, preferring to keep her head down and mind her own business. However, at FAMU, she not only excelled academically but also blossomed socially, gradually stepping away from the wall she once chose to hide behind.

Her transformation quickly attracted the attention of Adonis, one of the campus's most desirable men. The star quarterback and all-around heartthrob, with his smooth, silky chocolate skin, muscular physique, and a smile that could melt even the coldest heart, Adonis was more than just a football player; he was a campus celebrity, a figure whose every move was watched, admired, and envied. His presence commanded attention, and being by his side automatically placed Jordyn in the brightest of spotlights. At first, this only fueled Jordyn’s burgeoning confidence. She was thriving, she was desired, and she felt a thrill in being the woman on the arm of FAMU's golden boy. Yet, the constant public scrutiny that came with dating Adonis became a double-edged sword. Even with all the self-assurance she possessed, Jordyn still found herself wondering what truly made her stand out amidst the countless admirers who threw themselves at him. She saw the blatant stares she would get at the games or when she walked down “the set” with him, the bold flirting that would take place after games, at parties, or any place they deemed acceptable, often right in front of her. Forever outspoken, Jordyn always ensured that disrespect never went unchecked, confronting Adonis about the casual disregard. However, the fights wouldn’t last long, and after a couple of sweet words and a glimpse of his dimples and those pearly whites, she would find herself under him, completely forgetting what made her mad. But the intoxicating bliss of his charm never truly lasted, and little by little, the shine on his charisma started to slip. His popularity, once a source of pride, slowly chipped away at her, replaced by a gnawing sense of insecurity and weariness from constantly battling for his undivided attention. As the blinds started to come off, a different kind of challenge emerged for Jordyn: a looming crisis in her math class. Despite her prodigal intellect, this particular subject proved to be a stubborn adversary, threatening her pristine academic record and forcing her to seek an unexpected solution.

Joshua Samuel Fatu arrived at FAMU carrying a weight heavier than any football pads: the legacy of his family. As the second son and youngest twin of business tycoon Solofa Fatu, he constantly seemed to exist in the shadow of others. His older twin, a linguistic savant, effortlessly charmed and persuaded, was clearly destined to inherit the family empire. His younger brother, a powerhouse linebacker, dominated the field with a natural athleticism that made Joshua's own efforts seem merely adequate. Even his charismatic older cousin appeared to embody the family's success with an almost effortless grace. Back home, Joshua had been seen as "the rut," always striving to catch up, never quite finding his own distinct path. All he truly wanted was to find his place within his own family.

FAMU, a place where his family's name held considerable sway, offered both opportunity and a fresh wave of challenges. The popularity that came with the Fatu name and the football team was undeniable. Girls, drawn to their status and charm, had no qualms about throwing themselves at the Fatu brothers; that kind of attention came with ease for them. While doors opened easily for him, and attention was readily available, he was often seen simply as "a Fatu boy," not truly for who he was. He was observed watching his brothers navigating this world with a seemingly innate self-assurance, a confidence he clearly yearned for and outwardly projected, though it often felt like a performance he struggled to sustain within himself.

His solace, his quiet rebellion from the pressure and expectations, lay in his art. He possessed a gift for writing and an undeniable talent for drawing, skills that felt out of place in the cutthroat world of the family business and on the brutal physicality of the football field. When words seemingly failed him, when the weight of expectation became too much to bear, he retreated into his creative space. There, he poured his frustrations, his unexpressed emotions, onto paper and canvas. However, whenever he expressed himself outwardly, his family would simply dismiss it, often with the casual, cutting phrase: "Oh, that's just Crash Out Jey again." They failed to recognize that his art wasn't just a hobby; it was his language, his truest form of expression, a silent dialogue with a world that often seemed deaf to his true voice. Yet, to Joshua's discreet knowledge, his talents extended beyond the artistic; he was also a veritable wizard with numbers, possessing an almost uncanny ability to dissect complex mathematical equations, a skill he rarely showcased but which he mastered with the same quiet dedication he applied to his art.

"I hate math!" Jordyn yelled, the sound punctuated by the sharp crack of ceramic. Bianca and Trinity rushed into the room, panic etched on their faces as they saw the blood blooming on Jordyn's hands. The shattered coffee cup on the floor beside her was the clear culprit. "Girl... what happened?" Trinity asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Jordyn... your hand," Trinity said, her eyes wide. Bianca was already there with the first aid kit, her movements quick and practiced. Jordyn flinched as Bianca gently pressed a wet napkin onto her hand, careful not to push against any hidden shards. "I don't think you'll need stitches, I'll just bandage this up," Bianca reassured her, while Trinity efficiently swept up the broken pieces.

Jordyn, however, was still consumed by the raw rage and frustration bubbling within her. "I hate math to the very core of me." She couldn't comprehend how everything else in her life came to her so effortlessly, yet math, or anything related to numbers, remained the bane of her existence. "If I fail this class, I could lose everything!" The fear was sharper, more immediate than just the grade; it was a tangible threat to the carefully constructed future she envisioned, a future that lately felt increasingly precarious, especially after her last fight with Adonis.

The tightening in her chest began, familiar and terrifying. The space around her seemed to shrink, the room growing tighter, pressing in. Her vision blurred, and the warm wetness of tears traced paths down her cheeks. She felt the air abandoning her lungs, making it increasingly difficult to draw a new breath. Her friends, sensing the onset of an episode, quickly sprang into action.

"Name five things you can see," Trinity gently instructed, holding Jordyn's hands, trying to anchor her to reality.

"The lights... the door... Bianca's braid... the desk... the bed," Jordyn breathed out, her words choppy.

"Good... name four things you can feel," Trinity continued, while Bianca maintained a calming hold on Jordyn.

"Bianca's hands... the floor... the sheets... and the chair," Jordyn replied, finally able to fill her lungs with air. The tingling over her body slowly subsided, and the room gradually sharpened back into focus. These episodes were rare now; years of trial and error, coupled with the unwavering support of her friends, had helped her develop steps to calm herself. Trinity and Bianca had only witnessed a handful of them, always linked to school pressure and, more recently, anything involving Adonis. But this particular episode felt different. She had never been truly violent before, and seeing her this upset worried the girls. "Jordy... you good?" Trinity asked cautiously, watching Bianca slowly release her grasp from Jordyn. Both released a collective breath when they saw Jordyn slump onto the bed, clearly exhausted but present.

"Jordy," Bianca finally broke the heavy silence, her voice gentle but firm. "Maybe you should look into the tutoring the math department provides."

The suggestion hit a raw nerve. The idea of some random know-it-all judging her for not grasping a math problem made Jordyn recoil. "Ugh… I don't know, B," she breathed out, the frustration still thrumming beneath her skin. "I'm supposed to know these things. I’m top of our program. How does it look if people see me getting tutoring?"

"They'll say that you're human, that you need help like everyone else," Trinity retorted, a hint of attitude in her tone.

Bianca's eyes narrowed, suspicion glinting. "Nah… what else is the problem, Jordy? I get the perfectionist in you, but you wouldn't care if someone saw you getting help for a class."

For the past four years, Bianca and Trinity had been more than just friends; they were Jordyn's confidantes, her sisters, the unwavering foundation of her world. Trinity was the firecracker, ready to go to bat, no questions asked – the true definition of "looks like a cinnamon roll, but will kill you." She was comforting and caring when needed, but always prepared to throw down if the situation called for it. Bianca was the group's steady anchor, the mom friend, always nurturing and the clear voice of reason. They were the indispensable balance Jordyn hadn't realized she needed, the honest mirrors in which she couldn't lie to herself.

Jordyn was indeed struggling with math, this much was true, and she'd genuinely thought she was starting to get a handle on it. But that morning, while wrestling with a particularly stubborn problem, her phone had buzzed with a DM from a random girl. Of course, it had something to do with Adonis. Jordyn was well-acquainted with these messages—random girls claiming to have been with him, or that he was reaching out. This one, however, came with proof she could no longer ignore. Screenshots of messages between Adonis and the girl didn't bring too much concern; she could rationalize those. But then there was the picture: Adonis and this girl together, in his room, on his bed.

The image seared itself into her mind. She couldn't tell Bianca and Trinity what she'd just received, not yet. She needed time to think, to process what this meant for her, for them, and for her future. This was just a college romance, not a marriage, but a part of her had truly seen a future with Adonis. This damning photo, however, made it devastatingly clear that while she was invested in a relationship with him, he was invested in other things entirely.

"I just need to lock into this math," Jordyn responded, hoping to convince Bianca. Still suspicious, Bianca wisely dropped the subject, making a mental note of the escalating changes she had been witnessing in her friend.

"I really think you should head to the math department and get a tutor," Trinity interrupted, cutting through the pretense. "Fuck whatever anyone thinks, Jordy. You clearly feel overwhelmed with the math and whatever else is stressing you out."

Jordyn took a moment, her breath still a little shaky. Trinity was right. Her education had to be the priority again, and while she hated the idea, she knew that getting help from someone was undeniably the best decision. The Adonis situation, she decided, could wait. "Fine," she conceded, "I will go to the math lab tomorrow." Bianca and Trinity enveloped her in a tight hug before leaving her for the night, granting her the quiet solitude she needed to process the day's events and her uncertain next steps.

Jordyn and Joshua knew of each other, of course. Adonis, Jordyn's boyfriend, was Joshua's teammate, and their lives intersected on the periphery of campus life and the football scene. Joshua, like many others, had heard whispers, seen the subtle cues that all was not well in Jordyn's relationship with Adonis. He had always admired her fierce independence and sharp mind, qualities that made her stand out even more amidst the superficiality he often encountered. He had also, discreetly, felt a pull towards her, a quiet interest he had kept carefully hidden out of respect for her relationship with his teammate. But Adonis's reputation for being less than faithful was well-known, and Joshua had seen enough to suspect Jordyn was on the receiving end of it.

After attending her morning science classes, Jordyn reluctantly made her way to the math department on the other side of campus. She had sent an email to the tutoring coordinator who'd found a tutor available at her requested time. She wasn't sure who it would be, but all she knew was that she desperately needed help to pass this class, and at this point, she was open to any assistance. She was therefore genuinely surprised when she found Joshua Fatu, Adonis’s teammate and campus playboy, sitting at the designated table, a math book open in front of him. He couldn't possibly be waiting for her… could he?

She walked over to the table, trying to mask her immediate frustration. "You're late!" he stated, his voice flat, as she got closer. Jordyn had had a few encounters with Joshua before, none of them particularly pleasant. He always seemed like a tool, a playboy who never took anything seriously. "Are you waiting for me?" she asked, her voice laced with an irritation she couldn't quite contain.

He looked up, deep brown eyes staring back at her, devoid of humor. "I could go and you could figure out your own shit, Martinez. I'm not Adonis. I don't have to put up with your shit." There was no sense of a joke in his words. Without responding, she sat down, making sure to slam her books onto the table with a frustrated thud.

"So, I am told you're struggling with physics," he responded, his demeanor shifting with surprising speed to a professional tone. "I’ll be here every Tuesday and Wednesday to provide you with help from 12:00 to 2:00. Please make sure you're on time. I have other things outside of this to attend to. If you can’t be here on time, please let me know." He slid a sticky note with his number across the table. Jordyn stared back, confused. "Not hitting on you, Mama, just making sure you have a way to contact me." Joshua continued to lay out his expectations for the tutoring session, his voice clear and no-nonsense. Finally, breaking out of her disbelief, Jordyn took out her notebook and began to take notes, and after a couple more minutes, they started their session.

Jordyn was truly surprised by how knowledgeable Joshua really was. She quickly noticed his ability to address her specific needs, providing explicit instruction that helped her better understand the complex equations and numbers. He'd guide her through a concept, explain it clearly, and then release her to work on problems. It was during one of these work periods that her phone began to ring, relentlessly: Adonis. She chose to send him to voicemail, unwilling to interrupt the flow of the tutoring session. He called back again, and then again. Joshua, though pretending not to notice, tracked the calls, and found it intriguing that she chose not to answer the incessant ringing. He did, however, notice a subtle shift in her attitude when she finally sent him a text. She could feel Joshua’s eyes subtly tracking her, and for some reason, this made her uncomfortable. She ignored it and forced herself back to her work.

Her concentration shattered when a reply from Adonis flashed on her screen: "She is lying, I don't know her." At the sight of those words, her vision instantly turned red. The raw frustration from yesterday, now compounded by this crushing betrayal, bubbled over. She started trying to control her breathing, but the rage only intensified with the next text: "You're being crazy. I would never do that to you. You keep letting people affect us."

The chair flew out from behind her as she shot to her feet, hand already raised, ready to hurl her phone across the room. That is, until a pair of strong hands held her down, and a voice, surprisingly calm and deep, cut through the red haze. "Breathe, Mama… take a deep breath in." His arms were still firmly around hers. "Just breathe… don't think it would be a good look if you destroyed the math lab." His voice was a lifeline, pulling her back down, calming her breathing, and slowly clearing her vision.

She looked down to see two strong arms wrapped around hers and instantly pulled away, embarrassment creeping up her ears. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze.

"You good," he said, already packing up his bags. "I think we are good for today. We can meet next week and continue working." He looked at her, waiting for her to gather her things. He waited for her to stand, then walked her out the door. Side by side, they walked in silence until they reached the outside. Jordyn quickly turned, muttering a barely audible "thanks."

Joshua looked at her, a knowing glint in his deep brown eyes, and then it dawned on him. "Don't mention it," he replied. He paused, his gaze softening almost imperceptibly as he weighed his words, seeing this moment as a small, unexpected window. "I know what it's like," he continued, his voice a low rumble. "You might not be looking for my advice, but I would say you should leave him. He isn't as great as he seems, and you definitely deserve better." He offered a small, almost imperceptible smile, the kind that held a hint of personal experience, before walking away, leaving Jordyn standing at the top of the stairs, alone with her swirling thoughts and a newly awakened perspective.

Comments, Subscriptions, and Feedback are always welcome. Let me know if this is something you guys want me to continue.

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Strangers To Friends/Lovers (7) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six

A Different Man (ao3) - RhenNuggs

Summary: Dan is struggling to find love, but it is easier said than done when all he has is a long list of horrible exes. He doesn’t know if he will ever find love. That is, until he gets invited to an unexpected party that may forever change the course of his life.

A million little suns (ao3) - jestbee

Summary: Dan is just trying to get as far away from his home town as possible at Christmas when he gets stuck in a snow storm. He's rescued by an enigmatic stranger who take him back to his cabin in the mountains. What Dan doesn't know is that his rescuer is prolific, best-selling writer of erotica, Ricky Blitz. Will Dan end up with a porn-worthy situation all of his own? (hint: yes)

Porn with feels and some Christmas magic.

Barbie Horse Adventures (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Sometimes friends force you to get over your worst fears, sometimes you meet your soulmate in the process.

Beautiful Liar (ao3) - toadsappho

Summary: A devastating revelation from a cute stranger sitting in the bar where Dan is supposed to be meeting his boyfriend rocks Dan's world- but it turns out that might not be such a bad thing

Burned Into My Soul (ao3) - Nefertiti1052 (Succubusphan)

Summary: "Sometimes you have to run into this head first," Dan always said. Ironically, that's exactly what he did.

Carpets, Pokemon and hugs (These are a few of my favorite things) (ao3) - DownDownFangirl

Summary: "Is everything ok?" The tall guy stops. The elevator starts to close. The guy reaches for the door and it opens again. He looks into Phil's eyes and it’s strong and focused and confusing.

-

Phil works at a motel and Dan is a guest who comes and goes. There are many thoughts to think and many delicate conversations to have... And it can get confusing, especially when you live hundreds of kilometers away from each other.

Charmed (ao3) - hygge

Summary: Dan doesn’t understand Valentine’s Day. That is until he’s given an anonymous card with someone’s phone number in it. It takes months of talking with this anonymous person to learn who they are, and it ends up being the person that Dan least expects.

Deeper (ao3) - Scuddleduck

Summary: Inspired by the idea of "Pass Around Party Bottom Dan."

do you feel it too? (ao3) - heartsopenminds

Summary: A bad break-up has left Phil scared of getting his heart broken again. He’s not ready to date, but he’s missing the easy affection of a long-term relationship.

Cuddle therapy might be the perfect way to get what he needs, with no strings attached. But what happens when that’s no longer enough?

Electronics and the Phil’s that break them (ao3) - Fictropes

Summary: The first time’s an accident, a proper accident— a Phil forgot how to hold his cup and now he’s watching his coffee seep into his keyboard type accident.

florist (ao3) - dnovep

Summary: Phil's a florist - he hates it.

Golden Boy (ao3) - hygge

Summary: Phil takes a drawing class in university and needs a subject for his drawing final.

home renovations (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: Phil is a new homeowner with a knack for getting himself into awkward situations around cute guys. Dan is a builder who's always working on renovations around Phil's house. What could go wrong?

(An alternate meeting YouTuber Phil/builder Dan AU.)

i will never know a sunday (how slow the moments go) (ao3) - beaniebopbaby

Summary: Phil was mesmerized. He had no idea how anyone in the room was talking. How could they not listen to this beautiful piece?

The man hunched over the piano, and Phil felt like he couldn’t breath. He looked around the room, to see if anyone else noticed this shift, when he finally realized they were alone. The notes grew slower and slower as Phil stood, drifting closer to the man playing the piano. The pianist looked as mesmerized as Phil, absorbed in his playing.

Kick Me While I'm Down (ao3) - jerseker

Summary: Dan and Phil meet in an adult kickball league. Phil is just there to make friends. Dan is - not.

lady stardust (ao3) - Anonymous

Summary: Dan is in his first year of studying to become a lawyer (or something like that). One night, as he tries to have somewhat of a regular university life, he goes out with his new flatmates to a pub. There, he sees a Bowie-obsessed musician, who he immediately becomes obsessed with; Phil Lester.

Do you see where this is going? He was a boy, he was also a boy, this is an AU, could I make it any more obvious?

Neighbourly Nook (ao3) - wednesday_ukiru

Summary: The stranger had a dimple on his cheek that appeared when he laughed.

“I’m Dan,” he said, extending his hand. Phil reached for it with extreme eagerness, their knuckles knocking together in a particularly painful way, and they both winced, but Dan immediately broke into a smile. “I don’t know why I offered you a handshake, I never know how to do them.”

often and frequently (ao3) - dickiegreenleaf

Summary: It's ironic, really. Phil's just spent all this money on a new home when the only place he wants to spend his time is at his hot neighbour's place.

Stranger Danger (ao3) - intoapuddle

Summary: Dan thinks he's the most awkward guy on the tube until he spots a guy that seems to be in an even worse condition than himself.

Sweet Juliet (ao3) - Nefertiti1052 (Succubusphan)

Summary: Dan is a baker in his thirties, feeling the weight of the passage of time on his shoulders, living a content yet uneventful life until a mysterious man takes it upon himself to whisk him away.

the etiquette of a farmer's market (ao3) - Fictropes

Summary: It starts with Phil destroying a supermarket shelf, it ends with the hot guy running the cheese stall.

the man of my dreams (ao3) - mel_m_a_o

Summary: He first dreamed about this man maybe two months ago. The dream wasn’t really something out of the ordinary and Dan didn’t really remember what it was about, but it stuck out to him, because he wasn’t usually someone who remembered his dreams. He often thought he just doesn’t dream at all, but that certainly changed. He keeps dreaming about the same pale, black haired man and his bright eyes that make Dan wake up in a sweat. He starts to see the face everywhere all the time until he actually does.

[andromeda-ab]

The Hand That Needs You - Chapter Seven (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1513926064-the-hand-that-needs-you-chapter-seven?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=andromeda24602 

“Really, this forest was just another kind of star destroyer, a different kind of mechanism. And Rey knew machines. Knew them literally inside and out. She could learn this new system as she learned every other: take it apart, and put it back together.“

[skz-fanfic-recs]

baseball is stupid by amidsthechaos

maybe this was exactly what was meant to happen. maybe the camera people knew someone like jisung would more likely than not end up humiliated, rejected by the hot girl, and that was the whole idea. everyone would begin laughing in a second and he would be forever remembered for this. “i’ll kiss you.” - jisung is the next victim of the baseball's game kiss cam and his girlfriend can't be bothered to even turn around. lucky for him, someone else is willing to kiss him.

15.8k words

jisung x felix

strangers to lovers kiss cam au!!

[jasmynmorning]

The first installment of "The Shadowbearer Trilogy" invites readers into a world of self-discovery, deception, and the unyielding shadows that torment our souls.

(Coming September 2024) www.jasmynmorning.com

strangers to lovers + shadow daddy + touch him and 💀 + morally grey + secrets + lovers to enemies + second chance + MORE!

(character design: REZNAA ART)

[kailinbobailin]

The Long Way Home - Coney Island (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1551286967-the-long-way-home-coney-island?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=GirlWalkingBackwards Bucky Barnes finds himself lost in thought as he reflects on the life he once lived before the war, a life that feels like a distant memory. He takes us on a captivating journey back to 1942 as he recalls the deep connection he left behind, a relationship that shaped him in ways he still grapples with today.

[wattpadconnoisseur]

Catch me if you can - Missing (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1539178232-catch-me-if-you-can-missing?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=chucksanders5 When Finn Buchanan leaves his old high school to become a runaway, the whole entire town searches for him. Even Ada, a girl who would much rather study for school. But one day, Ada finds him way earlier than she'd like, and now it's her responsibility to keep him missing.

[hlficlibrary]

HL Fic of the Month ✧ M a y ✧

Birthday Boyfriend 

by @emmli28

It’s Harry’s birthday, and he has had a rather shitty day, to be honest. That changes the moment a complete stranger sits down across from him at a bar and decides to make it the best birthday ever.

fake relationship | mature | 6k

[joyffree]

Need some strangers to lovers in your life?

Then snag Property of Fox: Mayhem Makers by Avelyn Paige today!

Torn between duty, desire, and danger, Fox is playing a game where the stakes are deadly, and the price of love might be too high.

Hosted by Chaotic Creatives

[moohnshinescorner]

Shamrock Kisses by Serena Pier

NEW RELEASE!!

Shamrock Kisses by Serena Pier is now live!

Am I going to get lucky? Maybe if the hunky nerd I met yesterday takes me up on my invite to attend High Five's St. Paddy's Day party ...

Rachel Wagner, who's sworn off dating apps, is the last single one in her friend group. Focused on running her thriving cleaning business in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the thirty-one-year-old is caught off guard when she stumbles upon a bearded nerd while cleaning her biggest client's lake house.

Patrick Nowak, a reclusive cat-loving hacker, prefers code to conversation and planned to spend the St. Patrick's Day weekend out of Chicago enjoying a digital detox at his friend's lake house. But when Rachel, a confident brunette who seems way out of his league, invites him to a local bar's St. Paddy's party, his anxiety just might prevent him from taking her up on the offer.

In a game of attraction and vulnerability, neither of them is prepared for just how much their lives can change in a day.

(This is Book #3 in an interconnected series. It is encouraged, but not essential, to read Santa's Coming and Cupid's Shot before reading Shamrock Kisses.) Romance Tropes: Instant Connection, Strangers to Lovers, Small Town, Holiday Romance, Younger Man, Nerdy MMC

@serenapierwrites

@greyspromo

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4d7gzT5

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/#instalove

MY REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a quick and fun read!! Shamrock Kisses is the 3rd in the High Five Novella Series. It is a series of quick reads full of quirky fun and centered around a bar called High Five. Each holiday a new love is found and each meet cute is fun and entertaining.

This particular book centers around Saint Patrick's Day. What better meet cute than one with a man named Patrick. Racheal's character is very straight forward. She is not afraid to make the first move and her confidence is outstanding. Patrick is the strong, nerdy, shy type and I absolutely love him.

This book as with it's predecessors is an absolute joy to read. It has all the feel goods with all the naughty heat. It is fun and quirky and will provide a couple hours of entertainment. I highly suggest this read to all you readers looking for a quick fix.

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Strangers To Lovers (2) Masterlist

part one

And Action - @daydadahlias (cornflowerblue (daydadahlias)) luke/calum, past michael/luke, michael/ashton E, 24k

Summary: Calum won’t lie about it. His Best Friend’s Boyfriend’s Ex-Boyfriend is super cute.

a new sensation (ao3) - strxngersagain luke/calum G, 16k

Summary: Calum needs a date for his sister's wedding, and Luke has never been to Scotland.

cake topics (ao3) - galacticsugar luke/calum E, 39k

Summary: Every morning that week, Calum goes back to the bakery, collects his lemon bar, and sets up on the terrace with his laptop.

And every morning that week, he sees the tall guy with off duty model vibes, right around the same time, always carrying his iced coffee, always wearing a leather jacket. Since he’s all the way across the street, Calum doesn’t really get a good look at him beyond basic shapes, so the off duty model thing is based entirely on his build and the fact that he looks sort of effortlessly put together with his leather jacket and casual sneakers.

That’s probably why Calum waves like a maniac and blurts, “Hey buddy!” when he comes face to face with the guy when he’s in line for his lemon bar the following Monday morning.

cream, no sugar (ao3) - strxngersagain luke/calum T, 15k

Summary: Calum loves his job.

Travelling so often is just a side effect of his job, and of the promotion he’d been given almost six months ago. One perk of all the back-and-forth he does in order to keep his fancy new title of Senior Project Manager of Copyright & Publishing is: Luke.

Luke is a flight attendant who works for United Airlines. When Calum’s lucky, he’s a flight attendant on the flight Calum is on, to wherever his next hotel room turned conference room is located. He’s been lucky more often than not lately, because Luke has been on every flight that Calum has been on for the past eight weeks.

food porn (ao3) - kaleidoscopeminds luke/calum E, 24k

Summary: Hi Cal,

Is Cal too forward? It feels it but I don’t know if that’s your full name or not so I’m going to stick to it.

I feel like I need to actually craft a proper thank you and I’m sorry if this is oddly personal, I’ve literally never written a thank you email to a blog before, is this how you’re meant to frame it?

I literally can’t cook for shit, I’ve never learnt how. My mum keeps saying that I’ll never amount to anything if I don’t learn (I have a job), so I’m trying but I’m still well, pretty shitty. I feel like I need to thank you for all your service so far in making me a more adjusted man, you have no idea what presence you’ve had in my life over the past six months. I’ve made so many of your recipes I’m basically your biggest fan.

go for miles (ao3) - strxngersagain luke/calum, michael/ashton G, 11k

Summary: When Calum had bought tickets to Glastonbury Festival with his ex nearly a full year ago, he never imagined he would have ended up going alone. The very messy breakup of a nearly-three-year relationship pushed any and all thoughts of future-plans to the back of his mind. He had almost entirely forgotten about the tickets tucked into an envelope, if he was being honest with himself. It wasn’t until an email dropped into his inbox with the subject: ‘We can’t wait to see you!’, reminding him that oh shit, they had bought tickets together and oh shit, that’s in like two weeks.

He spent the better part of the afternoon sitting on the living room floor trying to figure out what to do with his ticket. It was too late for him to transfer it to someone else, he couldn’t sell it because it had his name printed on it, and he didn’t really want to lose out on the £300 he spent on the damn thing by just not going. So, he decided then and there that he would go alone. Ex-boyfriend be damned, he’d have a great time even if he was by himself.

i let my guard down for a moment (wherever you go, i'll be going too) (ao3) - burstintocolor (anchormate) luke/calum, michael/ashton M, 14k

Summary: or; luke has a career crisis and gets a job at a bakery. calum is a beautiful baker. you know how it goes from there.

just dance (gonna be okay) (ao3) - kingscrossinseptember michael/luke T, 1k

Summary: Michael doesn’t have the fear of elevators falling that so many of his fellow college students have. He understands why the fear comes from; elevators are small and there is the possibility of getting trapped in one, even though it would most likely be for a very short amount of time. But Michael’s done his research and knows that it’s practically impossible for modern elevators to go into free-fall, and he’s pretty sure that considering how many people an elevator is designed to hold, it’d be very hard for anything he does while alone to have an effect. So, whenever he finds himself alone in an elevator while listening to music, he’s more than happy to use the opportunity to have a mini dance party.

low light, no risk (ao3) - bellawritess luke/ashton T, 2k

Summary: “Drinking to new friends and, uh, hot guys,” Luke says ineloquently, eyes skipping over Ashton’s face. His cheeks are so flushed, hair just starting to grow mussed up from the humidity of all the people. The image of Ashton running his fingers through it flashes in Ashton’s mind, and he tries to banish it as quickly as possible. That’s just — that’s unproductive, is what that is.

“Sure,” Ashton repeats, smiling. “New friends and hot guys.”

My tongue gets tied (ao3) - heart_is_gonna_flatline calum/ashton, michael/ofc N/R, 8k

Summary: Calum has always had a speech impediment that makes him stutter, and he hates it. When he meets Luke who immediately assumes he's mute, Calum just decides to go along with the lie.

But you can't lie forever, can you?

not like the others (ao3) - galacticsugar luke/calum T, 6k

Summary: “Luke?” Something about saying it feels nice, the press of Calum’s tongue against his teeth on the L, the way his lips purse slightly around the U, the satisfying sharpness of the K at the end. Refreshing.

Michael nods, lifting onto his toes to scan the crowd, then pointing towards the fence between Calum’s and Jack’s yards. “Over there. Can’t miss him. Huge, looks like Jack.”

Calum scans the cluster of people by the fence until he zeros in on the one unfamiliar face. He makes a strangled noise and murmurs “holy fuck” under his breath.

off track (ao3) - galacticsugar, kaleidoscopeminds luke/calum E, 113k

Summary: Calum’s bumped into exes before, of course, but not all his exes are Luke Hemmings, who’s the sort of person that Calum had gotten used to the idea of never seeing again. And Calum had long since reasoned that it’s probably for the best that he doesn’t see him in the flesh ever, because Luke Hemmings is an itch in the back of his brain that never quite goes away, that he’s never been able to scratch, the someone that features in his dreams when he lets his subconscious take the reins.

He’s Calum’s the one that got away.

see ya later (ao3) - onewayride luke/calum T, 5k

Summary: Calum and Luke meet at a laundromat with hopes to see each other again, and the universe doesn't disappoint them.

silver lining (ao3) - toddamyanderson luke/calum M, 15k

Summary: “Hey, man. You alright?”

Luke jumps at the deep voice sounding from behind him. He spins around to face it, one hand clutching his camera in case he’s about to get kicked out for being in the wrong section when he is, in fact, meant to be here, as a registered photographer.

But when Luke turns around, there’s just one guy there, lounging on a small stack of boxes with one leg hitched up for him to sling an arm over, exuding calm confidence.

He’s clearly a model.

SOS Hungry night (ao3) - heart_is_gonna_flatline luke/calum, michael/crystal M, 18k

Summary: Or, Calum and Duke meet Luke and his food truck one night, and Luke can't seem to leave Calum's life after that. Not that Calum complains.

trusting you (ao3) - lifewasradical luke/ashton, background michael/calum E, 38k

Summary: He clutches a sparkly acoustic guitar in one hand, baby blue painted nails biting into the strings as he waves at the crowd and settles onto his stool. “Hello,” he says, voice swaying from a deep register to a higher head voice with one single word, elongated through a crooked smile. “I’m Levi Halloway, and I’m here to play a few songs for you tonight,” he says, plucking a chord as he straightens his shoulders. His shirt strains over the length of his wingspan.

Ashton would be lying if he said he wasn’t intrigued already, drawn in after only a handful of words. He’s seen more random performers than he can count, mostly no name aspiring artists who just want someone to listen to them. Half the time they’re good enough to get a rousing applause at the end, while the other half of the time everyone has left the sitting area before they finish their set.

Other than Ashton of course. He always stays until the end.

voice of reason (ao3) - kaleidoscopeminds luke/calum T, 5k

Summary: Luke’s definitely, absolutely, 100% sure he’s not addicted to the voice of the guy on his sleep podcast. 

when the party ends (ao3) - galacticsugar luke/calum E, 30k

Summary: Sadly, Calum is going to have to buy this bottle of wine. Is he torturing himself unnecessarily? Definitely. He can’t even really make himself feel pathetic about it, though. He’s fully aware of what he’s doing. Of why he misses Luke so much. Of why drinking this wine alone in his apartment is a bad idea. Even without Luke actually being present, Calum is using him.

a heaven, iowa songfic.

will we talk? (ao3) - strxngersagain michael/luke E, 4k

Summary: Michael tries not to make a habit out of having one night stands.

Sure, he’s had his share of a few no-strings-attached hookups in his otherwise relatively uneventful dating history. But he’s found over the years that it usually just tends to make him feel worse, waking up in the morning to an empty bed at worst, or an awkward conversation and a hasty exit at best. So, Michael has set his sights on not sleeping with anyone until he’s known them for at least 48 hours, at minimum.

So far, it’s gone pretty well.

Until he meets Luke, that is. 

You Know J'adore La Mer (ao3) - heart_is_gonna_flatline luke/calum N/R, 9k

Summary: Luke lived in France for the six first years of his life before moving to London. At seventeen, he moves back to France with his parents, leaving his country and the swing he loves so much. He meets his childhood best friends, and some things might have changed.

[andromeda-ab]

The Hand That Needs You - Chapter Six (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1512160927-the-hand-that-needs-you-chapter-six?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=andromeda24602 

This is my on-going Reylo fic, posted both on Wattpad and on AO3. It’s got survival, bickering, and lots of mood. 

[romcombc]

Book Review for The Write Way for Love

To say I love this book would be far too easy. To say I am head over hills for Sam and Anita would feel repetitive. Instead, I will say I have never read a book where I feel like I could step into the pages. The Write Way For Love engulfs you, pulling you into the small town of Moonshine, Australia. From the hijinks of the townspeople, to the bromance of Reece and Sam, to the magic that is Anita and the circus, you will grow to know, love, and figuratively stand beside them, experiencing all the feels that only an exceptional writer can provide.

In a literary world dominated by female authors, a crafty pseudonym has allowed Samuel Harthrup to make his way in and disturb the status quo. Posing as Sammie Hart (and doing everything in his power to keep his true identity a secret), Samuel couldn’t ask for anything more. With a bestselling, record-breaking romance and a growing fan base demanding a sequel, Samuel’s editorial team is beside itself waiting to get a glimpse at his latest manuscript. Sounds wonderful except the next “epic romance” is turning into an epic fail. Taking advice from his doctor and best friend Reece, Samuel decides to denounce his hermit lifestyle for a night, rejoining the living by heading out to the circus that has come into town. Looking for motivation in the form of liquid courage, Sam suddenly finds himself falling, quite literally, for a gorgeous curvy palm reader. Pulling him from the game bin that he just fell into, Anita Fortuna finds herself drawn to Sam. A kindred spirit in the arts, Anita asks to read Sam’s palms and gets more than she bargains for when he passes out of her (what is with this guy and gravity?!) Enjoying the nuisances of small town hospitality (and hoping for a decent meal for once), Anita ends up playing babysitter in Sam’s apartment. While waiting for Sam to regain consciousness, she discovers a manuscript that must be a comedy because it is either that hilarious or that awful! Not one to bite her tongue, she quickly shares with hungover Sam all the ways he has gone wrong with his romance – creating the missing spark Sam needs to get back on track. Together, can these two pull off the impossible and create the sequel the fans demand without writing a love story of their own?

I have had the pleasure of reading a lot of Indie authors and Brooklyn is definitely one to watch. I don’t know if she did it intentionally but she has set this book up perfectly for at least two more in the series (hint…hint). I would love to read Reece’s entire story and Adam’s. The town of Moonshine has stolen my heart and I can’t wait to see what other magic it has up its sleeve.

Check out the spoiler free review in the Facebook Group - The Romantic Comedy Book Club or read the entire review on the main website: https://romcombc.com/book/the-write-way-for-love

Thank you Brooklyn Dean - Author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.