#feel free to drop me book recs if you have them!

[theresthesnitch]

Snitch's 2024 Reads

I'm not doing any reading goals this year, but I wanted to track what I've read. Feel free to ask me questions about any of these!

January Books

The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert

The Place Between by Kit Oliver

All That's Left In The World by Erik J. Brown

Lose You to Find Me by Erik J. Brown

January Fics

Wild and Precious Life by @r33sespieces (with art by @lunarlivs!)

Crazy Ex-Boyfriend by @amethystheart2421 (with art by @sorenphelps!)

Idita-Ruff by @r33sespieces

Unbound by You by @tracingpatternswrites (with art by @tricksterdraws!)

To Trust a Wolf by @puuvillaa (with art by @pjxckson!)

And WIPs I've read a bit of this month:

A Bit of a Complex by @asterin-kelles

Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby by @demonbanisher (which is finished, but I'm not!)

Stay with Me by @charmstwit and PigeononaCloud (which will be on my list forever because it's long and I love it)

And then about 1.2 million unpublished words that I wrote (this number is an exageration, lol)

[nellasbookplanet]

Book recs: black science fiction

As february and black history month nears its end, if you're a reader let's not forget to read and appreciate books by black authors the rest of the year as well! If you're a sci-fi fan like me, perhaps this list can help find some good books to sink your teeth into.

Bleak dystopias, high tech space adventures, alien monsters, alternate dimensions, mash-ups of sci-fi and fantasy - this list features a little bit of everything for genre fiction fans!

For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!

If you want more book recs, check out my masterpost of rec lists!

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

Something massive and alien crashes into the ocean off the coast of Nigeria. Three people, a marine biologist, a rapper, and a soldier, find themselves at the center of this presence, attempting to shepherd an alien ambassador as chaos spreads in the city. A strange novel that mixes the supernatural with the alien, shifts between many different POVs, and gives a one of a kind look at a possible first contact.

Nubia: The Awakening (Nubia series) by Omar Epps & Clarence A. Hayes

Young adult. Three teens living in the slums of an enviromentally ravaged New York find that something powerful is awakening within them. They’re all children of refugees of Nubia, a utopian African island nation that sank as the climate worsened, and realize now that their parents have been hiding aspects of their heritage from them. But as they come into their own, someone seeks to use their abilities to his own ends, against their own people.

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

Novella. After having failed at establishing a new colony, starship Calypso fights to make it back to Earth. Acting captain Jacklyn Albright is already struggling against the threats of interstellar space and impending starvation when the ship throws her a new danger: something is hiding on the ship, picking off her crew one by one in bloody, gruesome ways. A quick, excellent read if you want some good Alien vibes.

Dawn (Xenogenesis trilogy) by Octavia E. Butler*

After a devestating war leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, survivor Lilith finds herself waking up naked and alone in a strange room. She’s been rescued by the Oankali, who have arrived just in time to save the human race. But there’s a price to survival, and it might be humanity itself. Absolutely fucked up I love it I once had to drop the book mid read to stare at the ceiling and exclaim in horror at what was going on. Includes darker examinations of agency and consent, so enter with caution.

Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson*

Utterly unique in world-building, story, and prose, Midnight Robber follows young Tan-Tan and her father, inhabitants of the Carribean-colonized planet of Toussaint. When her father commits a terrible crime, he’s exiled to a parallel version of the same planet, home to strange aliens and other human exiles. Tan-Tan, not wanting to lose her father, follows with him. Trapped on this new planet, he becomes her worst nightmare. Enter this book with caution, as it contains graphic child sexual abuse.

Rosewater (The Wormwood trilogy) by Tade Thompson

In Nigeria lies Rosewater, a city bordering on a strange, alien biodome. Its motives are unknown, but it’s having an undeniable effect on the surrounding life. Kaaro, former criminal and current psychic agent for the government, is one of the people changed by it. When other psychics like him begin getting killed, Kaaro must take it upon himself to find out the truth about the biodome and its intentions.

Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh

Young adult. A century ago, an astronomer discovered a possibly Earth-like planet. Now, a team of veteran astronauts and carefully chosen teenagers are preparing to embark on a twenty-three year trip to get there. But space is dangerous, and the team has no one to rely on but each other if - or when - something goes wrong. An introspective slowburn of a story, this focuses more on character work than action.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

After the planet Sadira is left uninhabitable, its few survivors are forced to move to a new world. On Cygnus Beta, they work to rebuild their society alongside their distant relatives of the planet, while trying to preserve what remains of their culture. Focused less on hard science or action, The Best of All Possible Worlds is more about culture, romance and the ethics and practicalities of telepathy.

Mirage (Mirage duology) by Somaiya Daud

Young adult. Eighteen-year-old Amani lives on an isolated moon under the oppressive occupation of the Valthek empire. When Amani is abducted, she finds herself someplace wholly unexpected: the royal palace. As it turns out, she's nearly identical to the half-Valthek, and widely hated, princess Maram, who is in need of a body double. If Amani ever wants to make it back home or see her people freed from oppression, she will have to play her role as princess perfectly. While sci-fi, this one more has the vibe of a fantasy.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Life on the lower decks of the generation ship HSS Matilda is hard for Aster, an outcast even among outcasts, trying to survive in a system not dissimilar to the old antebellum South. The ship’s leaders have imposed harsh restrictions on their darker skinned people, using them as an oppressed work force as they travel toward their supposed Promised Land. But as Aster finds a link between the death of the ship’s sovereign and the suicide of her own mother, she realizes there may be a way off the ship.

Where It Rains in Color by Denise Crittendon

The planet Swazembi is a utopia of color and beauty, the most beautiful of all its citizens being the Rare Indigo. Lileala was just named Rare Indigo, but her strict yet pampered life gets upended when her beautiful skin is struck by a mysterious sickness, leaving it covered in scars and scabs. Meanwhile, voices start to whisper in Lileala's mind, bringing to the surface a past long forgotten involving her entire society.

Eacaping Exodus (Escaping Exodus duology) by Nicky Drayden

Seske is the heir to the leader of a clan living inside a gigantic, spacefaring beast, of which they frequently need to catch a new one to reside in as their presence slowly kills the beast from the inside. While I found the ending rushed with regards to plot and character, the worldbuilding is very fresh and the overall plot of survival and class struggle an interesting one. It’s also sapphic!

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah*

In a near future America, inmates on death row or with life sentences in private prisons can choose to participate in death matches for entertainment. If they survive long enough - a rare case indeed - they regain their freedom. Among these prisoners are Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker, partners behind the scenes and close to the deadline of a possible release - if only they can survive for long enough. As the game continues to be stacked against them and protests mount outside, two women fight for love, freedom, and their own humanity. Chain-Gang All-Stars is bleak and unflinching as well as genuinely hopeful in its portrayal of a dark but all to real possible future.

Parable of the Sower (Earthseed duology) by Octavia E. Butler*

In a bleak future, Lauren Olamina lives with her family in a gated community, one of few still safe places in a time of chaos. When her community falls, Lauren is forced on the run. As she makes her way toward possible safety, she picks up a following of other refugees, and sows the seeds of a new ideology which may one day be the saviour of mankind. Very bleak and scarily realistic, Parable of the Sower will make you both fear for mankind and regain your hope for humanity.

Binti (Binti trilogy) by Nnedi Okorafor

Young adult novella. Binti is the first of the Himba people to be accepted into the prestigious Oomza University, the finest place of higher learning in all the galaxy. But as she embarks on her interstellar journey, the unthinkable happens: her ship is attacked by the terrifying Meduse, an alien race at war with Oomza University.

War Girls (War Girls duology) by Tochi Onyebuchi

In an enviromentally fraught future, the Nigerian civil war has flared back up, utilizing cybernetics and mechs to enhance its soldiers. Two sisters, by bond if not by blood, are separated and end up on differing sides of the struggle. Brutal and dark, with themes of dehumanization of soldiers through cybernetics that turn them into weapons, and the effect and trauma this has on them.

The Space Between Worlds (The Space Between Worlds duology) by Micaiah Johnson

Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s a catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying. As such she has a very special job in traveling to these worlds, hoping to keep her position long enough to gain citizenship in the walled-off Wiley City, away from the wastes where she grew up. But her job is dangerous, especially when she gets on the tracks of a secret that threatens the entire multiverse. Really cool worldbuilding and characters, also featuring a sapphic lead!

The Fifth Season (The Broken Eart trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin*

In a world regularly torn apart by natural disasters, a big one finally strikes and society as we know it falls, leaving people floundering to survive in a post apocalyptic world, its secrets and past to be slowly revealed. We get to follow a mother as she races through this world to find and save her missing daughter. While mostly fantasy in genre, this series does have some sci-fi flavor, and is genuinely some of the best books I've ever read, please read them.

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings*

In an alternate version of our present, the witch hunt never ended. Women are constantly watched and expected to marry young so their husbands can keep an eye on them. When she was fourteen, Josephine's mother disappeared, leveling suspicions at both mother and daughter of possible witchcraft. Now, nearly a decade and a half later, Jo, in trying to finally accept her missing mother as dead, decides to follow up on a set of seemingly nonsensical instructions left in her will. Features a bisexual lead!

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

South African-set scifi featuring gods ancient and new, robots finding sentience, dik-diks, and a gay teen with mind control abilities. An ancient goddess seeks to return to her true power no matter how many humans she has to sacrifice to get there. A little bit all over the place but very creative and fresh.

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson*

Young adult. Young artist June Costa lives in Palmares Tres, a beautiful, matriarchal city relying heavily on tradition, one of which is the Summer King. The most recent Summer King is Enki, a bold boy and fellow artist. With him at her side, June seeks to finally find fame and recognition through her art, breaking through the generational divide of her home. But growing close to Enki is dangerous, because he, like all Summer Kings, is destined to die.

The Blood Trials (The Blood Gifted duology) by N.E. Davenport

After Ikenna's grandfather is assasinated, she is convinced that only a member of the Praetorian guard, elite soldiers, could’ve killed him. Seeking to uncover his killer, Ikenna enrolls in a dangerous trial to join the Praetorians which only a quarter of applicants survive. For Ikenna, the stakes are even higher, as she's hiding forbidden blood magic which could cost her her life. Mix of fantasy and sci-fi. While I didn’t super vibe with this one, I suspect fans of action packed romantasy will enjoy it.

Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany

1960s classic. Rydra Wong is a space captain, linguist and poet who is set on learning to understand Babel-17, a language which is humanity's only clue at the enemy in an interstaller war. But Babel-17 is more than just a language, and studying it may change Rydra forever.

Pet (Pet duology) by Akwaeke Emezi

Young adult novella. Jam lives in a utopian future that has been freed of monsters and the systems which created and upheld them. But then she meets Pet, a dangerous creature claiming to be hunting a monster still among them, prepared to stop at nothing to find them. While I personally found the word-building in Pet lacking, it deftly handles dark subjects of what makes a human a monster.

Bonus AKA I haven’t read these yet but they seem really cool

Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes

Alternate history in which Africans colonized South America while vikings colonized the North. The vikings sell abducted Celts and Franks as slaves to the South, one of which is eleven-years-old Irish boy Aidan O'Dere, who was just bought by a Southern plantation owner.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Young adult dystopia. Ellie lives in a future where humanity is under the control of the alien Ilori. All art is forbidden, but Ellie keeps a secret library; when one of her books disappears, she fears discovery and execution. M0Rr1S, born in a lab and raised to be emotionless, finds her library, and though he should deliver her for execution, he finds himself obsessed with human music. Together the two embark on a roadtrip which may save humanity.

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

Lelah lives in future Botswana, but despite money and fame she finds herself in an unhappy marriage, her body controlled via microchip by her husband. After burying the body of an accidental hit and run, Lelah's life gets worse when the ghost of her victim returns to enact bloody vengeance.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith

Young adult. Fen de la Guerre, living in a quarantined Gulf Coast left devestated by storms and sickness, is forced on the run with a newborn after her tribe is attacked. Hoping to get the child to safety, Fen seeks to get to the other side of the wall, she teams up with a scientist from the outside the quarantine zone.

Everfair by Nisi Shawl

A neo-victorian alternate history, in which a part of Congo was kept safe from colonisation, becoming Everfair, a safe haven for both the people of Congo and former slaves returning from America. Here they must struggle to keep this home safe for them all.

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Space opera. Enitan just wants to live a quiet life in the aftermath of a failed war of conquest, but when her lover is killed and her sister kidnapped, she's forced to leave her plans behind to save her sister.

Honorary mentions AKA these didn't really work for me but maybe you guys will like them: The City We Became (Great Cities duology) by N.K. Jemisin, The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull, The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole

[yeontaescumslut]

𖨆♡𖨆♥︎ ❀᭢᜴꤬⠀ care package

Pairing: Jungwon x Reader

Genre: Idol au, Smut, one shot

Synopsis: You and Jungwon are in a long distance relationship, it’s Valentine’s Day and you send Jungwon a care package with a little something extra for him…

Warnings: Phone sex, masturbation, praise, if you don’t like Jungwon smut pls just don’t read!

Word count: 1,952

Authors note: Hello lovelies! Just a short little one shot for you guys. I’ve been meaning to do some enhypen so here we go! If you guys have any suggestions or recs feel free to leave them!! They’re very much appreciated ❤️

You and Jungwon have been dating for quite some time now, maybe 8 months, you had met at a college party in July last year and started dating later that month. It is now February, and this will be your first Valentines Day together, except you and Jungwon are long distance right now, he’s back in Korea and your back studying in your hometown as your exchange trip has ended. You and Jungwon still talked everyday and were as happy as ever, so you were trying to come up with a gift for Jungwon for valentines day. Alot of things has crossed your mind, plushies, clothes, jewlery, candy, but none of these sounded good enough. After days of thinking and searching you finally come up with the best idea…a care package, with ALL of his favorite things, but you were going to put a twist on it…..

Days go by as you collect many of Jungwons favorite things, finding a box that would fit everything perfectly. You wrap them individually taking your time and pouring love into each gift. Writing a small note on each one telling him a reason you love him on them. You decorate the box to his liking with his favorite colors. On the top you place one of your plushies you sprayed your perfume on. Carefully closing up the box, taping it securely. The next day you take the box to the post office dropping it off to get sent to Jungwon. That same day when you get home from your errands you call Jungwon.

You: Jungwonnieee!!! I missed you sooo much

Jungwon: My Aegi, I missed you more, how was your day?

You: It was great, I dropped your Valentines Day gift off at the post office!

Jungwon: Really?! I’m so excited to receive it. Yours is also on the way.

You both talk for the rest of your night as he was getting ready for his day. You can’t help but to wonder what his reaction will be when he opens your gift,and the little surprise you threw in…a few days go by, you get a message from Jungwon..

Jungwon: IT ARRIVED!!!!!

Switch to Jungwon POV

He’s giddy carrying the package from the package room back to his dorm room, once he gets in and sets the package down, he begins to open it, grabbing a box cutter from his desk drawer a smile painting across his face as he smells your signature perfume emitting from the box as he cuts it open. He sets the box cutter down on his desk peeling the cardboard back, grinning from ear to ear as he spots the bear blush you had bought together when he last visited you.He carefully goes through the contents of the box, taking his time examining each item and reading each note attached, his heart flutters more and more the deeper he gets into the box, he reaches the bottom and sees a white piece of paper reading “open these last, they’re special ;)” he gets excited as he places the paper to the side, he sees a photobook and a little box next to it, the photobook topped with a sticky note that said “open me first” he takes the sticky note off revealing a photo underneath, a photo of you, in a little black dress, his favorite little black dress. This gets him excited, without hesitation he flips the book open, only to be stopped in his tracks as what he saw made him choke, because what he laid his eyes upon took his breath away. With a stunned look on his face he continues flipping through the pictures. These were naked pictures of you, that you had professionally gotten taken, pictures of you in his favorite positions, pictures showing him your everything. Pictures that only HE would ever see. As he flips through page after page he grew harder and harder, feeling himself grow with each photo, as he reached the last page of the book he saw the words “ Call me” and he never reacted so fast. Grabbing his phone he called you immediately.

You pick up, before you’re even able to get any words out you hear Jungwons voice come through the phone. “Open your gift right now.” As son as you hear the words leave his lips you knew he had seen the gift. Jungwon had told you to wait to open your gift as well, so you grab the box sitting next to you on your bed along with a box cutter. “Why all the sudden Jungwon?” You ask out of genuine curiosity. “Dont ask questions and open it fast”

What you don’t know is jungwon is on the other side of the phone, sitting in his desk chair hand on his throbbing cock that’s poking through the hole of his sweats. He gently palms himself waiting on you to get to your gift, your photos in his hand as he does so, biting down on his lip.

You finally get the box open and you pull out another box…you turn it around and your eyes widen as you see what this is “Jungwon” you say with a seductive tone “Use it rn. It already has batteries in it, I wanna hear and see” he says this in a very stern and demanding tone, the one that really turned you on. You don’t hesitate to do what he says, switching the call over to face time you set your phone up right in front of your bed so he can see everything. You open the toy, baby pink silicone vibrator with a sucking attachment, you bite your lip at the sight knowing this is the exact one you asked for. You slip your shirt off revealing your bare tits to him shaking them in the camera to taunt him. You see him lean back a bit more, his top teeth digging into his bottom lip “God you’re so fucking sexy” the words slip from his lips as you’re now turned around shimmying off your juicy sweats, revealing your baby pink and black thong with a bow on the top, his favorites. He lets out a deep groan stroking himself faster. “Lay down, push your panties to the side ass up. Let me see” you do as he says laying on your stomach pushing your ass into the air, slipping your pointer finger to your core to push your panties to the side revealing your lips to him. “Finger yourself for me” he grunts out breathy. With no hesitation you push your pointer and middle into your core moving your fingers in and out pushing your ass in the air more from the pleasure. You hear wet slopping stroking from your phone, slow and steady as you hear Jungwon panting, “Lay on your back, spread your legs and use your toy. Now.” His breath shaky yet stern, as told you lay on your back placing pillows underneath your head so you can see Jungwon, you bring the toy to your heat testing the settings finding one you liked. You insert the toy moaning in pleasure as it vibrates against your walls, the other part sucking on your clit rips a cry from your throat “FUCK” your eyes shut tight as you’re not used to the feeling. “Good girl, now imagine that’s me rubbing on your clit as my cock is buried in you” You can hear his strokes becoming faster and sloppier, the wet sounds sending shivers down your spine imagining his cock buried deep inside you.

Jungwons pov:

Seeing you in this position is sending him spiraling, he’s panting thinking about your walls enveloping his cock, his tongue hanging out of his mouth like a dog in heat. His vision of your legs spread using the toy he bought you puts a burning pit in his stomach, one he tried to ignore. “Jagiyah flip over let me see it from another angel arasso?” He watched you through the camera as you agree with “Yes sir” flipping onto your stomach pushing your ass up in the air once again, inserting it from that position. This sends Jungwon over the edge, he wanted so bad to be the one pounding your pussy from that angle, wanting to take handfuls of your ass. “Fuck baby, I love seeing you like this, I wish my dick was in your pussy right now, pounding the shit out of your ass, making you cry into the sheets” his head being thrown back as his strokes get faster but still keeping his eyes on the camera not removing them for a second.

Your pov:

This position sending you over the edge as well, the toy hitting you in just the right spot, that’s not even what’s sending you spiraling, it’s jungwons voice, his voice makes your head spin, his words painting across your brain, you really are imagining him pounding you and making you feel this good. Tears painting your pretty face coating your satin sheets that your head is buried into. Your basically slamming your hips into your toy trying to feel every vibration. The sounds coming from the other side of the phone making your stomach twitch. “Jungwonah can I cum” you ask politely nearing your high. “Beg for it princess” and you do just that. “Daddy please, let me cum for you, I’ll cum on your pretty cock” this sends Jungwon spinning, whimpers leaving his throat as he tries to form sentences. “That’s a good girl, yes cum on my cock pretty girl” his hips bucking into his hand your moans and screams ripping from your throat his name on your tongue as your reach your high, so overstimulating yet so satisfying, tears falling from the corners of your eyes, Hearing Jungwons cries from the phone, his eyes shut stars painted across his vision as he bucks his hips one last time shooting his seed up onto his stomach, his head thrown back, onto the back of the chair. Bucking his hips into his hands once again getting out every last drop cries ripping from his throat your name also painted on his tongue. You would’ve never known you were 7,000 miles away.

Breathing heavy, chests rising and falling as you both come down from your highs, your eyes open up again looking at Jungwon on your phone screen, sitting in his chair. His sweaty hair falling onto his forehead, pieces sticking in just the right places. Your eyes sparkle seeing him falling in love all over again. You’re now laid flat on the bed not moving an inch the words manage to slip from your lips “Jungwon, I love you so much” he hears this, opening his eyes tilting his head to look at you through his camera, a smile painted on his face, kitten teeth on display “I love you more princess” “You’re so fucking gorgeous” he says through heavy breaths.

He finally sits up, after cleaning himself off adjusting his sweats back into position. He sits and watches you clean yourself up too. You get yourself situated as well placing your clothes back on and sitting yourself at the end of your bed your phone now in your hand. “Well that toy really works holy shit” you say to him kind of giggling inbetween. “I knew it would, next time it’ll be my cock, but let me use it on you next time I see you” he says biting his lip at you and toying with his hair. “Speaking of when are you coming to see me” you pout at him giving him puppy dog eyes. “Well actually….My flight leaves tomorrow, Happy Valentine’s Day!!”

Notice: REBLOGS LIKES AND COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY STUFF!!

[0nlythrowharrybeaux]

anything with enemies to lovers trope!! i'm always up

Ooh! I actually had an idea with this trope earlier this week and it’s in my drafts!

But if you haven’t read these already, these are some of my own enemies to lovers fics and then also some from other authors I like…

A Perfect Christmas & A Perfect Start (linked within) (mine)

Young American - basically a book lol (mine)

Roxy’s Record Store - series (mine)

Harry is Y/N's producer & she doesn't like him (mine)

Y/N & Harry kind of hate each other but have to walk together in their friends' wedding party (mine)

Y/N and Harry got off on the wrong foot but end up being fuck buddies (mine)

Harry and Y/N get in a fight and it leads to a rough fuck (mine)

Others I can think of at the top of my head...

The Long Weekend (@gurugirl)

Tell Me You Hate Me - Male!Reader (@gurugirl)

Carolina (@harrysonlylover) - I classify as enemies to lovers because the MC doesn't like him at first:)

Teenage Dirtbag - Frat!Harry (@jarofstyles) - more banter/sass between them than like full-fledged hatred, but it makes it spicy heehee.

ABallerina Y/N & Ballerina Harry by @jawllines - this is such a satisfying one! The character development is perfect! The link is for the 4th part since it has all the prev. parts linked, so make sure to start with part 1!

Feel free to drop other recs in the comments:)

[linorachas]

Hello!^^ I have an sudden idea for request, but if it's too specific, you're completely free to reject it.%) Reader is introduced to Stray Kids (ot8), they are talking (basically, "Give me your TMI" irl), and reader is "ticking checkboxes" unknowingly in Bin's head about ideal type. Like, they have a tattoo, they are gym lover, they are passionate, and so on. And, when reader says "I love food, both cooking and eating", Bin suddenly blurts out "Marry me". The rest is up to you.💕*wink*

it's hereeeee weeeeee i hope you like it!!!!!

"Guys, this is Y/N."

Changbin looks up from where he was mindlessly scrolling on his phone just to have his breath hitch. You walk in with Chan, shyly waving your hand, but your eyes were bright with excitement, endearing Changbin to no end. Didn't help that you were drop dead gorgeous too.

Chan introduces you to the rest of the boys one by one, and by the time he gets to Changbin, Changbin's a little dazed when you meet his eyes and smile at him.

"Hi, Changbin." You say in a soft voice, and Changbin's heart rabbits in his chest.

Oh. He really likes the way you say his name. He thinks he'd like to hear you say it again.

And as if that wasn't enough, you fit into their group seamlessly. You crack jokes with Jisung, get along well with Seungmin, and at one point even managed to fluster Minho, which practically made you a god in Changbin's books.

Then at one point in the night you get a bit hot, so you take off your jacket. And when Changbin spots the tattoos on your skin, he chokes on his drink. Literally.

"Are you okay?" You ask, worried and startled at how Changbin was hacking and coughing for his life.

When he finally gets to breathe, Changbin frantically nods his head. His eyes were teary as he reassures you, "I'm fine, I'm fine, It just- went down the wrong pipe. You, uh- you have nice tattoos."

"Oh!" You exclaim, looking so much like an excited puppy that Changbin feels himself grin. "Thank you so much! I'm really proud of them."

And Changbin opens his mouth, about to ask the story of each tattoo and how you came to decide to get them so you just talk and talk and talk to him, but then Hyunjin is grabbing your attention and calling you over before he can say a word. Changbin tries not to huff.

You send Changbin another soft smile before you go though, and it eases him a little. Just a little.

For the rest of the night, Changbin watches as you coo at Felix and play games with Jeongin, fitting in with the group like you've been there for years already. And when it was time to eat, you weren't shy, constantly gushing about how good the food was. But even as you stuffed your mouth, you never forgot to take care of the younger kids and made sure they were full.

Changbin was slowly but surely falling in love.

Something about you just made Changbin want to know more and more about you. He wanted to know what made you happy, sad, annoyed. What you liked to do before bed and if you had any weird rituals. He wanted to talk with you all night, under the covers, in the quiet night of a room.

He just wanted to know you.

The final nail in the coffin happens immediately right after dinner. You're all full, right on the verge of a food coma, bodies scattered all over the floor. Content sighs can be hear everywhere.

You stretch like a cat as you sit, pat your tummy, then say, "I'm going to have to work twice as hard in the gym tomorrow."

Changbin freezes. Chan notices his wide eyed look and snorts.

Changbin slowly turns to you, lips parting in disbelief. You catch his eye and innocently tilt your head in question, as if you didn't just say the one thing that sealed the deal for him.

Just as you were about to ask Changbin if something was wrong, Changbin sputters out, "Marry me."

This time, it's your turn to freeze.

Minho and Jisung almost fall off the couch laughing. Chan is chuckling beside them. Felix and Jeongin have that wide eyed, startled look on their faces, while Hyunjin was pulled out his phone to record. Seungmin is making cheering noises. Changbin is as red as a fucking tomato.

That wasn't what he wanted to say!

Well- kind of. He did want to marry you, just not... now. When you haven't even started dating yet. When he hasn't even told you he likes you and would want to get to know you more! When he- it's-

It's hopeless. He's hopeless. He's thinking off all the things he wants to say but not a single word comes out of his mouth, stunned to silence as you and him stare at each other.

And then, just when Changbin starts to think he just fucked up whatever chance he had with you, you start to blush.

A pretty pink blush that starts at your ears and goes to your cheeks then all the way down to your neck.

Oh. Now you were red all over, and Changbin's heart jumpstarts with hope again.

You squirm in your seat, shyly meeting Changbin's eyes and stuttering as you say, "A-at least take me out on a date first?"

That's... not a rejection.

The rest of the kids make loud, teasing cheers, and somebody shoves Changbin, but he can't take his eyes off you. You were brushing so prettily and yet you never broke eye contact with Changbin, still facing him head on. It gives him the courage to get his act together.

So Changbin snaps out of his daze. He clears his throat and fixes his posture. He's been trailing after you like a lost puppy the entire night, eyes full of heart but never making a move.

Now that he knows he's got your attention, he's doing everything on earth to keep it.

He grins handsomely. "Lunch after gym tomorrow?"

[dont-leafmealone]

Jetko fic rec list

Feel free to add your own recs, and if you do read any of these and like them, comment something nice on it! If I find anyone hassling authors for updates I will drop ferrets down your chimney!

Modern AU

the things we leave behind - Mai and Ty Lee start a ghost hunting channel; their roommate, Zuko, cannot stand their new cameraman, Jet. Meanwhile, Zuko's sister just moved into their shared house, and forms a reluctant bond with Zuko's friend, Katara. Multiship, rated M, 200k, complete, HIGHLY recommend (also check out the rest of the author's works! She's amazing!)

never believed in meant to be - Zuko gets in-school suspension and meets Jet, who's cool enough they spend the day together. It's their first and last meeting. Rated T, 5k, complete. (Check out the rest of this author's stuff too!)

you're built to fall (beautiful) - in between the struggles of figuring out life as sixteen-year-old caretaker of kids, Jet finds himself falling in love with a handsome merman. rated T, 8k, complete. Amazingly written <3

paint it red, they'll cover it up anyway - Jet and Zuko are both kindergarten teachers, and both dealing with a lot of complications in their life. and in love. Rated T, 34k, in-progress

Ba Sing Se

up in the city (until the stars lost the war) - canon divergent AU where Jet doesn't see Iroh heat the tea, and Zuko's a little more receptive to city life. Absolutely gorgeous series. Rated T, 50k, in-progress

(Dont) Lose yourself into me - another canon divergent AU! Featuring rebel shenanigans, betrayal and angst all laid out beautifully. Check out the author's other works too, there's some really good ones! Rated T, 80k, in-progress

clay kids - after a misunderstanding about Zuko's - or rather, Lee's - parentage, he and Jet form a relationship built on lies of omission. Rated T, 35k, in-progress

a lesson in new beginnings - the author's summary probably says it best: 'zuko has bad coping skills, jet has a hella crush, and war is hell. welcome to ba sing se.' Very sweet with plenty of angst, drama, and misunderstanding. Rated T, 6k, in-progress

Post-canon

Like The Fire In Your Heart - Zuko's carriage is ambushed by thieves, and he finds that his old friend Jet isn't as dead as certain playwrights would have him believe. Rated M, 9k, in-progress

Miscellaneous

learning how to use a weapon (& other such tragedies) - flood-based apocalypse au! Beautifully written, possibly one of the first jetko fics I read when I was first starting to like Jet as a character. Rated G, 11k, complete

heat and sand - by the same author as above, au where a race of winged beings live among humans, and wouldn't you know it, they're not exactly welcomed by the likes of Ozai. Zuko finds himself taken in by Jet and his freedom fighters. Rated G, 16k, two completed fics. Honestly check out the rest of the author's catalogue it's all A+

Hearthfire- Jet is taken prisoner by the Fire Nation after his village burns. Rather than be put to work or executed, he becomes the young Prince Zuko's ward and they form an unlikely relationship. rated T, in-progress, 41k, covers canon books 1-3.

Perpetual - Jet, not quite mid-redemption arc, kills a firebender. Zuko can't actually die. Jet decides to make this his own problem. Rated M, 180k, in-progress <3

Sthe song in the secret room - haha second lesbeanlatte work on here 😈 a modern/time travel au based off of the Disney channel show Secrets of Sulphur Springs, if it were PG-13 and involved gator-related manslaughter. Hilarious and heart-wrenching 💚 Rated M, 280k, complete

Some further additions found in this reblog

This list will probably get updated if I remember any more or read anything new. And not to shamelessly self-promote but I have a variety of jetko works of my own, linked here if you're interested at all. :)

[bi-focal12]

here's a list of books I've read and would recommend as well as books from my to-read list for Pride Month!

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: a solarpunk novella that discusses existential purpose from the perspective of a nonbinary narrator who meets a sentient robot years after robots decided to stop working and disappear into the wilderness. A great read that I found very soothing!

We Are The Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson: a YA sci-fi novel that follows a grieving high-schooler who gets routinely abducted by aliens. I read this one in the eight grade and as a kid who was unknowingly struggling with depression and had just learned that the word 'bisexual' existed, this was a pretty important read for me so even though I haven't read it in years it deserves an honorary place. CW: past suicide of the narrator's bf

Burning Roses by S.L Huang: a novella that combines European fairytales and Chinese mythology. It follows two middle-aged queer women as they reflect on their lives and chase down a deadly threat together. Told largely in flashback, I found this story very hopeful.

Blue Period (manga & anime) by Tsubasa Yamaguchi: had to toss this one in here as I adore BP. While not a romantic story, BP is about the discovery of artistic passion and the highs and lows of pursuing what makes you feel alive (and I find it to be relatable, refreshing, and inspiring tbh). In volumes 1-6 (and the anime), a secondary, genderqueer character has a fairly prominent storyline, told largely via the main character's changing perceptions of them. If you do give it a watch, I personally feel that the sub version hits harder.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune: I'm very excited to read this one (i love me some sentient robots lol) and have high hopes for the emotional depth. Here's the first bit of the synopsis. "Deep in the heart of a peculiar forest, in a strange little home built into the branches of trees, is a family assembled from spare parts: three robots- fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, a small vacuum desperate for love and attention- and a human, Victor Lawson."

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska: Google says it's a gripping, dark sapphic YA fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island home. I love to see sapphic rep and truly hope this book delivers!

Feel free to drop more recs in the comments or share your thoughts about the books on this list!

[kimodraw]

do you have any recs for other peter pan media? i love your art and just read peter darling and i feel crazy

thank you so much! sadly i don't have many because i think a lot of peter pan media is. bad and misses the point.

If you haven't read the original book, i can't recommend it enough! I find sooo charming and well written. Other than that my favorite adaptation ever is the 2003 movie it drives me up the walls how good this movie is. The disney movie is fine and very well animated but you dont need me to tell you abt the disney movie.

As a kid i LOVED Peter pan in scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean!! Wendy and the lost boys go back to neverland as adults and find it has gone to shit, peter wearing hook's coat and becoming more and more irritable. I actually just learned its the 'official' sequel, authorised by the Great Ormond Street Hospital, so that's neat

Huhh I saw a peter pan musical 2 years ago lol? its french and definitly wasn't recorded, i was the only adult without kids and i had a great time, smee was a woman (double win for feminism AND homophobia ) and they didn't take advantage of the room filled with 6 years old to ask them to all scream they believe in fairies. boo, don't know why i told you abt this. movin on

I haven't read the loisel peter pan series yet so i can't exactly recommend them but i love the art

it seems very edgy and also probably misses the point, and i bet its filled to the brim with early 2000s sexism but. loisel art. yummy. need to check out my local library rn actually

I also liked peter darling quite a bit! heard the audiobook version and had to listen to gay erotic scenes narrated by an old british man on the subway. great experience

i hated lost boy by christinia henry with a PASSION: bad writting, made hook straight, doesnt get peter by making him litteraly evil (hes meant to be a child!! the most child ever!! when he does bad things its because he's selfish or doesn't get it or is angry he's a child!!!) anyway i hate how much this book gets recommended to me whenever my peter pan posts get some traction stop talking to me abt lost boy you guys tricked me into reading it already!! only good thing it does is replacing the native americans by. giant spiders. so i guess less racism than most peter pan works. great

idk ive heard of hooked recently. you guys know abt hooked? from booktok? seems bad

i have a short and mediocre playlist abt my peter pan,, thing too (title translates to 'im mad because 'lost boy' really is the perfect title for this' lol)

thanks for allowing me to ramble abt peter pan!! sorry for not having a lot of positive answers, have a peter i havent posted here yet

if anyone has recs THAT ARENT LOST BOY BY CHRISTINNIA HENRY!!!! feel free to drop them, both me and anon would love that im sure

[seaweedbraens]

oh my god okay so i came across we could walk through hell when like. around when the hazel and frank appeared?? (i dont remmeber which chapter) and ive been saving it up for a looong while and then i finished the whole 10 chapters in a day. i have no words to describe how much i adore this fic. its not a fic anymore—its a whole world. yknow when they say books can take you anywhere or something along those lines? yeah. this was it.

anyway im not here to rant about how good and how lifechanging the fic was. since aug 18 is stilk quite a while away and im very very bad at staying Normal after reading such masterpieces, do you have any fics that partially inspired wcwth/any fics that you just like to recommend? i finished wcwth and read all of the rest of your fics immediately after, so do you have any fic recs?

thank you, anon!!! that means the world to me :)

so what inspired me was actual canon not inspiring me, so i might not be too much help with recs. unfortunately, i haven't read too much pjo fic that's very plotty, but i've heard nothing but good things about son of the sea foam by caffeinatedflumadiddle and works by combattombat. greenconverses is also an absolute legend. my friend @glove23 also recently wrote a royalty au that's got plot and it's soooooooooooooooo good.

the most plot-heavy fics i've read are from miraculous - you can check my bookmarks on ao3 if you wanna find them, but if you're into the show at all i'd 100% recommend reading because they're SO good.

i dont read too much pjo, so if anyone else sees this feel free to drop some recs for anon (and me) in the replies!

[ilovedthestars]

Hello!

Hi! I'm Stars, or lovedthestars, or variations thereof. My pronouns are she/her/hers. If you think you recognize me from the Murderbot discord server, yep, that's me! If not, hello!

As my username suggests, I love the stars (but also, it's from a poem: The Old Astronomer by Sarah Williams). I make lots of art, but I only share the occasional fandom piece on here. I also write, mostly Murderbot fanfic at the moment. My ao3 is i_have_loved_the_stars_too_fondly if you’d like to go see what I’ve written! I have so many unfinished wips it’s not even funny, and I ramble about them sometimes. If you ever want to ask me about something I wrote/am writing, please do, I will be very excited to talk about it! I’m happy to get asks in general, and I love ask games & tag games. Please feel free to drop into my inbox and say hi.

Things I reblog fairly consistently: Murderbot fanworks, space photos, cool art, poetry, reference materials and tips for art & writing, queer stuff (especially aro & ace-spec focused)

Things I reblog on occasion: Fun polls, other people’s short fiction, book recs, posts that make me feel good about humanity, and assorted other fandoms (A smattering of examples: Discworld, Rolling with Difficulty, Witch King, ATLA, Temeraire)

I don’t make a lot of original posts but here’s a list of tags you can use to find my art, fic & other stuff I talk about:

stars rambles (casual/stream of consciousness)

stars has thoughts (more coherent thoughts/opinions)

stars art

stars fic

stars wips

stars OCs

stars answers / ask game answers

[nellasbookplanet]

Book recs: alien intelligences

Intelligent spiders, octupi, plants, bacteria, and even entire oceans, intelligence without sentience, extra terrestrials and strange intelligences evolved right here on Earth - alien minds can take many forms. Allow me to share with you some books featuring the most alien and fascinating ones.

Previous book rec posts:

Really cool fantasy worldbuilding, really cool sci-fi worldbuilding, dark sapphic romances, mermaid books, vampire books, many worlds: portal fantasies, many worlds: alternate timelines, robots and artificial intelligences, post- and transhumanism

For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!

The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky*

The Doors of Eden is something of an experiment in speculative biology, featuring versions of Earth in which various different species were the one to rise to sentience, from dinosaurs to neanderthals. Now, something is threatening the existence of all timelines, dragging multiple different people and species into the struggle, among those a pair of cryptid hunting girlfriends and a transgender scientist.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky*

Millenia and generation spanning scifi. After the collapse of an empire, a planet once part of a project to uplift other species to sentience is left to develop on its own, resulting not in the intelligent monkeys once intended but in sentient giant spiders. Millenia later, what remains of humanity arrives looking for a new home, only to be met by the artificial remains of the ancient woman who once led the uplift project - and she is not willing to let them on her planet.

Semiosis (Semiosis duology) by Sue Burke

A generational story following a group of humans trying to survive on a new planet, where a strange and unkowable intelligence is finding ways to use them to its whims. As the humans come across an abandoned city wrapped in the roots of a strange plant, they slowly come to the realization that mutual communication is the only path to peace and survival.

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

While I felt the characters could’ve been better developed, this is undeniably a well-written novel featuring an alien race and culture developed on a planet vastly different from ours. Firmly in the realm of hard scifi, this is a realistic, fascinating and slightly terrifying look at how first contact may look.

Brain Plague (The Elysium Cycle) by Joan Sloncewski*

Chrys, a struggling artist, agrees to become a carrier for a sentient strain of microbes. With their help, Chrys breathes new life into her career. But every microbe society is different - some function as friends and brain enhancers to their carrier, while others become a literal brain plague, a living addiction taking over the life of their carrier. And like every society, the microbe community is in constant flux - inluding the one inside Chrys's head.

Rosewater (The Wormwood trilogy) by Tade Thompson

In Nigeria lies Rosewater, a city bordering on a strange, alien biodome. Its motives are unknown, but it’s having an undeniable effect on the surrounding life. Kaaro, former criminal and current psychic agent for the government, is one of the people changed by it. When other psychics like him begin getting killed, Kaaro must take it upon himself to find out the truth about the biodome and its intentions.

Dawn (Xenogenesis trilogy) by Octavia E. Butler*

After a devestating war leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, survivor Lilith finds herself waking up naked and alone in a strange room. She’s been rescued by the Oankali, who have arrived just in time to save the human race. But there’s a price to survival, and it might be humanity itself. Absolutely fucked up I love it I once had to drop the book mid read to stare at the ceiling and exclaim in horror at what was going on.

Blindsight by Peter Watts*

Vampires and aliens and questions of the nature of consciousnesses, oh my. A ship is sent to investigate the sudden appearance of an alien vessel at the edge of the solar system, but the crew, a group of various level of transhumanism, isn’t prepared for the horrors awaiting them. No, seriously, this book will fuck you up, highly recommend if you’re okay with a lot of techno babble and existential horror.

Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson*

Utterly unique in world-building, story, and prose, Midnight Robber follows young Tan-Tan and her father, inhabitants of the Carribean-colonized planet of Toussaint. When her father commits a terrible crime, he’s exiled to a parallel version of the same planet, home to strange aliens and other human exiles. Tan-Tan, not wanting to lose her father, follows with him. Trapped on this new planet, he becomes her worst nightmare. Enter this book with caution, as it contains graphic child sexual abuse.

Fragment (Fragment duology) by Warren Fahy*

The reality TV show Sealife is having a rough time - as it turns out, a ship full of scientist doesn’t make for the kind of drama they hoped for. Hoping for some excitement, they reach Hender's Island, a fragment of a lost continent that may contain an interesting new ecosystem. But as they step foot on the island, they quickly come to realize the ecosystem isn’t just new, it’s highly dangerous and very hungry. Among all this life is one single species that may be more dangerous than any other, but which may also be the salvation of the scientists on the island. A bit wonky, but genuinely one of the most fun books I have read, I love it so much.

Axiom's End (Noumena trilogy) by Lindsay Ellis

It’s 2007, and a leak has just confirmed that the US has reached alien contact. Cora wants nothing to do with it, but as her absent father is the whistleblower who dropped the news the media won’t leave her alone. Even worse, she soon finds herself meeting and being pursued by the alien presence itself as it tries to remain in hiding - and discovering that there is a much larger threat on the horizon.

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis*

Francie has just traveled to Roswell to attend her college friend's wedding to a UFO conspirasist. Not a believer herself, Francie is shocked when she finds herself abducted by an alien. Her abductor is not much what popular media would have you believe, looking more like a tumbleweed than a grey alien, and is clearly on some kind of mission it isn’t willing to put on hold for the sake of Francie attending to her duties as a bridesmaid. As more people get roped along - among those a conman, an old lady, a ufo conspirasist, and a retiree with an RV - Francie finds herself getting closer to the alien and wanting to help it succeed.

Bonus rec: if you like this book, you may also enjoy the movie Paul, which has a similarly humorous tone and similar plot.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir*

Ryland Grace just woke up up from a coma, unable to remember anything. He finds himself alone on a space ship, and as his memories slowly trickle back, he realizes he's been sent on a mission: to find a solution to the impending doom of the earth. Still struggling with holes in his memories, Ryland tries to fulfill his mission, but as he gets closer to his goal, he discovers someone else got there first. And they aren't anything close to human. Funny, heartfelt, and heavy on the science.

Survival by Julie E. Czerneda

Mac, a biologist studying salmon on Earth, has little interest in life beyond her own planet. Despite this, she’s sought out by Brymn, an alien archaeologist hoping her expertise as a biologist can help him solve the secret behind the Chasm, a region of space completely devoid of life. Trying as she might not to get incolved, Mac has little choice as she and her colleagues come under attack by the mysterious Ro, the species Brymn's people suspect to be the cause of the Chasm.

Translation State by Ann Leckie*

An exploration of the alien as filtered through the human. At what point does the human become something else? When does something else become human? Is it a question of biology or culture, nature or nurture? Can we choose it? Can it be forced upon us? Set in the Imperial Radch universe, Translation State follows three different characters embroiled in the question of what makes a human. The alien Presger can only communicate with humans using their translators - people they’ve created that are not quite human and not quite alien. But as news of a translator fugitive arises, conflict brews regarding what right they have to choose their own identity and home.

Exo (Exo duology) by Fonda Lee*

Young adult. Earth has long since been under the control of an alien presence. Donovan Reyes is an exo, a human enhanced with alien technology, working to keep the colony and its people safe. The biggest enemy is Sapience, a terrorist organisation opposing alien rule by any means necessary. When a mission goes awry, Donovan finds himself abducted by Sapiance, something that risks a war. While it took until the second book for me to be fully sold on this series, it features a genuinely nuanced take on oppression and resistance rarely seen in YA genre.

Needle by Hal Clement

1950s classic. A small island in the pacific ocean and a fourteen-year-old boy have just become the center of an interstellar chase between an alien Hunter and the criminal he's pursuing. Robert is a regular boy, but he has a very special passenger: an alien symbiont hiding inside his body. The alien became stranded on Earth as he pursued a criminal of his own species, and now they are both trapped on the same island, playing a game of cat and mouse as Robert and the Hunter struggle to find their prey before it finds them.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers series) by Becky Chambers

Rosemary Harper just got a job on the motley crew of the Wayfarer, a spaceship that works with tunneling new wormholes through space. With a past she wants to leave behind, Rosemary is happy to travel the far reaches of the universe with the chaotic crew, but when they land the job of a life time, things suddenly get a lot more dangerous. A bit of a tumblr classic in its day, this is a cozy space opera with an episodic feel and vividly realized characters and cultures.

Under the Skin by Michel Faber

A dark allegory of alienation and dehumanization, Under the Skin follows Isserley, a woman traveling along the roads of England and picking up hitchhikers. Little does her passengers know, she’s an alien hiding her true self, and they are her prey and a delicacy for her species.

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem

1960s Polish classic. Arriving on a station orbiting the planet Solaris, Kris Kelvin is meant to study the strange, possibly sentient ocean that covers its entire surface. But the effects of the ocean are far reaching - Kelvin finds the crew of the station secretive and unstable, and is shocked to wake one day to the embodiement of a long dead lover. Was it created by the brain-like ocean, and if so, why?

West of Eden (West of Eden trilogy) by Harry Harrison

65 million years ago, the meteor that killed the dinosaurs never arrived. Without it, the dinosaurs lived and thrived, allowing a the complex society of the matriarchal Yilanè to arise. Meanwhile, in the new world, humans still evolve, and when an impending ice age forces the Yilanè across the ocean in search for a new home, the two are destined to clash. A bleak story of the cycle of violence and hate leading to war, West of Eden is a marvel of world-building.

Bonus AKA I haven't read these yet but they seem really cool

Triptych by J.M. Frey

Kalp is a widower and alien refugee newly arrived on Earth; Gwen is a language expert secretly recruited by the United Nations to help integrate a ship of alien refugees; Basil is an engineer who loves them both. Together they must defend their relationship against a violently intolerant world.

The Sparrow (The Sparrow duology) by Mary Doria Russell

When proof of alien life is found, the United Nations are too slow in their plans for a first contact mission. Instead, the Society of Jesus overtake them and send their own ship, but the crew could never have been prepared for what they will find.

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

Something massive and alien crashes into the ocean off the coast of Nigeria. Three people, a marine biologist, a rapper, and a soldier, find themselves encountering this presence, and have to race to save humanity before it's too late.

Honorary mentions AKA these didn't really work for me but maybe you guys will like them: Salvaged by Madeleine Roux, Exodus by Nicky Drayden, The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull, Embassytown by China Miéville

[grumfield]

would you be willing to share any obikin fic recs? 👀 was trying to find anything resembling your vision of them (since it seems we have a similar one) but man is it hard. I was mostly looking for something where obi-wan is not portrayed as a blushing maid but more of a, well, as you said, gay monk experiencing some Ultra Guilt™ after realizing some stuff about himself. love your blog and your art, you're pretty cool (but also feel free to ignore this ask if it's too much to ask).

omg hello yes beloved I’m always happy to share!! And thank you for your kind words!! Guilty-Wan is also my favorite flavor of Obi-Wan…in all honesty I’m pretty new to reading fic and haven’t found many since I mostly spend my reading time reading the official books (lowkey because I feel like I get That obi wan in those more than anywhere else lol), so if anyone has other recs feel free to drop them for this anon (and for me!)

(Tbh IMO the best fanfiction you can read for this is the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matt Stover, where obi-wan is basically 1 bad day away from self flagellating even before Anakin falls, and then chase it down with the Kenobi show where he’s almost definitely already castrated himself in penance…)

That aside, of the few I’ve found I really enjoy haunt me then which is like self-imposed attic wife exile Obi-Wan who’s resigned himself to taking care of the husk of the man he loved, and on a more optimistic/less angsty note, Amarilli by graciously is also a lot of fun and features Obi-Wan realizing his feelings and getting so messed up about them he plans to leave the Order.

Both are a lot of fun and scratch that itch, but if anyone has other recs for either of us feel free to drop them in the comments lol

[storiesofsvu]

Omg thank god im not the only one who hated ‘mistakes were made’ by meryl wilsner 😭 it was so hard to get through..

two stars for ‘something to talk about’ should be illegal tho .. (i rlly enjoy grumpy mc’s tho)

I’ve read over 200 lesbian books, so i can give so many good recs depending on what you like reading! 🩷

omg okay, mistakes were made was sent to me by a friend and i did read it like, 2 years ago. I might reread it since i own it lol. reading the first chapter was almost like pulling teeth, i was constantly nitpicking ways to make it better like i was editing it in my brain as i was reading. It wasn't that hard to get through once i got past the first chapter or so, but it still wasn't good. and the entire time i was sitting there going "i could write shit better than this. I *have* written shit better than this" and that was when i realized that getting published probably wasn't some far fetched dream LOL. overall it had a milf, age gap, and secret relationship so i didn't mind it. I DID hate the ending, i thought the daughter finding out and being totally chill with it didn't....feel real enough?? i dunno how to describe it and i just woke up so my brain probably isn't on yet LOL. but it didn't flow that much for me.

Bruh, Something to Talk About was WORSE (not so much surprising when i found out it was their debut novel). it almost got 1 star from me! lol. the slow burn was WAY too slow, having most of the action start in the last 1/3 of the book was so boring, they strung us out for so long just listening to them work. there were some good ideas there, and i get what the author was trying to do, but there was TOO much going on and then all the little subplots ended up getting dropped out of nowhere. it felt completely one sided emotion wise, then late in the book it's revealed that Jo's been thinking it since the dress fitting. if we'd gotten some kind of internal monologue at that point i wouldve been more invested. I hated the conflict being the whole soccer games/being friends with the sister, it came off incredibly immature how hurt she was by it, didn't make sense to me.

there's probably a billion other little things that annoyed the hell out of me. The intent to write a good book was there, it just wasn't executed great. (in my opinion!)

i've got the third book by the author on hold rn, here's hoping i like it better LOL.

omg, please feel free to send them my way! i've got like, 80 or something on my "tbr" shelf on my library website but i've just been slowly trucking through them. (slowly is not correct i've been doing 2-3 a week lol) but i seem to be in a straight romance binge rn. lol

[stunie]

hello zevie! if it’s too late for matchups, feel free to ignore! no pressure 🥺 i’d like winbre if you’re still taking them!

i’m an avid reader and i love books—def guilty of buying more (or rereading favorites) when i have so many i haven’t gotten to yet. the genre i like best are mysteries! when i meet up with friends, i enjoy lowkey hangouts best. get some food (or explore new food places if we’re going out) and tuck in with a movie, things like that. crowded places stress me out too much. i’m also all for running errands the whole day as long as we get to hang out. whenever something reminds me of a friend, like a meme or trinket, i like passing them along or buying it to show i’m thinking of them! i’m v low maintenance as well. i don’t need to constantly hang out or text/talk every day. happy to hear from you when i can ofc but i like my space when my social battery is low or i’m feeling anxious (which is often lmao)

helllooo my precious nonnie !! hope ur doing awesome ^ ^ MYSTERIES ?!?! feel free to drop recs in my inbox no pressure tho hehe. ANYWAYS. thinking about . ..

HAYATO SUO. when you buy more books, he’s patting your back with a “your to-read list is getting pretty long, isn’t it?” AND THE FACES. middle & right photos below for the reference mhm mhm !! but he buys you books too … and he doesn’t tell you how he knows what books you want next either. he just does. somehow! but don’t worry about that. also, he thinks you enjoying running errands all day if u have company is adorable (left photo below lol) AAAAA . this dynamic is precious to me …. &. he thinks the things that remind you of him are cute n silly too. he’s starting looking forward to hearing things like that from you ^ ^ makes his day

[delfeur]

what was your list of captive prince dupes? i'm curious about what you thought (obviously nothing lives up to that first capri read.... cruel prince get out of my recs)

I have no read that cruel prince one because i do not like faes and i'm focusing on M/m hahha. I have read a bunch from of books listed on this video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXh9V0AQoS0 but the ones that would come closer, story wise, are the following two:

A Knife and a Blade (and the sequel) - Adelaide Blaike

King of the Dark (and the sequel) - Ariana Nash

HOWEVER i did not like either of them. The tone of 'a knife and a blade' is off and for king of the dark the romance did not click and the plot also made no sense to me sadgf. But keep in mind i'm very hard to please, i know a few people who did like theses two.

another one that is usually on theses lists is the scottish boy by alex the campi, which is very good and enjoyable but i'd not say it's a capri dupe

Anyway, feel free to drop in my dms if you want to talk about these

[hunxi-after-hours]

小镇 anon here! I did read some of 高能二维码 though I dropped it at the time because the relationship dynamic was not really for me. I have been meaning to try it one more time but I have been putting it off haha. So, this might be quite an uncomplete comparison.

Keeping that in mind, I would say that both of them feature more of an ensemble cast (especially compared to something like, say, 地球在线）and both are heavy-handed with their themes, though I personally found the themes of 我的理想小镇 more compelling. 高能二维码 has a much more traditional "无限流 game" setting. While you could say 我的理想小镇 also takes place in a "game" framework, the actual setting makes it so that the inherent theme of "rebelling against the system" present in most 无限流 novels (including 高能二维码) is not actually a major part of its premise, at least not quite in the same way. I would say that the romance aspect is not really a focal point in both novels, but the male lead of 高能二维码 is much more present as a character than the male lead of 我的理想小镇, whose presence is felt very heavily through the narrative but does not make a lot of in-character appearances himself relative to what you would expect of a typical love interest. Also, when it comes to 人外, 我的理想小镇 is pretty much one of the best you could find to explore how you feel about it. On the other hand, although the male lead of 高能二维码 being turned into a mirror is a major thing that is spoiled in the 文案, I do not remember it being explored more than very-surface level things, but as I said, I did not finish it so anyone who did should feel free to correct me. Finally, the 美貌 descriptions？ Yeah, about that... 高能二维码 might be a bit challenging in some parts with that.

In conclusion, despite how hard I am trying to sell 我的理想小镇, 高能二维码 is a very good story with a tight pacing and good characterisation, I only dropped it due to not liking that particular dynamic personally so I would recommend them both, just one of them a bit more 呵呵. Thank you for coming to my TED talk. As a bonus, take a shot every time I say theme. (It's a lot of times I know.)

小镇ANON thank you immensely for this essay!!! suffice to say that you've very much sold me on 《我的理想小镇》 over 《高能二维码》 (I'm set on gamified/data unlimited flow atm so 二维码 was pretty low on the list to begin with, but the, ah, overgenerous 美貌 descriptions sealed the coffin hhh). I'll need to track down a copy somewhere sometime! it'll probably take a hot second for me to get to it since I've got other books that I'm, um, supposed to read for like, work or edification or whatever

definitely send along any other 无限流 recs you have!! I'm specifically on the search for non-数据无限流/无限流 that doesn't specifically lean on video game mechanics, which seem to be much rarer these days? and I wouldn't say no to other 人外 recs hahaha 我正在大开眼界的过程中