My favourite fics of 2023
My history with fics is fairly recent, as I've only been reading them since autumn 2020. Before, as a snob and an idiot, I thought they weren't for me... 😄 And it's actually quite funny because now I only read them and, in the end, fics are for me the real gems of all fandoms, and authors are their goldsmiths…
This year, or at least in the last few weeks, I've made forays into other fandoms…
So I've read several Tarlos fics (from 911 ls, a show I didn't know about) and rwrb fics and another window opened.
When it's beautiful, it's beautiful, and when it's well written, it's well written.
I'll continue to vary in 2024: Drarry, rwrb, Tarlos...
I've read 70 fics, all in English, even though it's not my everyday language.
Here are my 2023 favourites
Certainly one of my favourites of all the years:
Danger I can’t hide, by CelticSky
(E, 227k words, completed 2023-05-21)
Strangers to lovers, historical, ww2 AU
It's World War II, in the British Army. Louis is a mechanic, Harry a pilot. They meet. Comfort. Companionship. Understanding.
This is one of those fics that should be a movie, one of those fics whose reading changes, a before and an after. The script is monumental, the characters are masterful. There's so much emotion, so much strength, it's incredible (or is it wonderful?) that such things remain hidden from the world somewhere on ao3 within the borders of a fandom. And to top it all off, there's a dedicated playlist to match: intelligent and subtle.
The dearest to my heart :
14/09/2019, by @mediawhorefics
(GA, 4k words, completed 2023.02.03)
In mid-September, Harry comes home.
Tired tired sea is the first fic I've read.
It's so special to me, the lighthouse, the island, the story... And when suddenly this coda came out, just perfect... Reading it is like being at home.
The softest, a little sepia-toned and so beautiful :
A cycle of recycled revenge, by @broken-beaks
(E, 103k words, completed 2023-09-17)
Ennemies to lovers, Historical, 1980s
Harry is blind, and Louis is hired to take care of him.
The way in which the love between the two characters is woven is very beautiful and skilfully handled. And it's one of those reads that makes you feel like you're there with them, living with them. I was captivated, my whole heart with their story.
The most unusual setting for a fic, the Florentine renaissance, the colors of summer and Tuscany
De amore ex tempore, by @persephoneflouwers
(M, 101k words, completed 2023-07-17)
Strangers to lovers, Middle Ages, Time travel, Italy
Louis is thrown back in time to the Florentine era and meets Harry.
Tuscany, the Florentine renaissance, summer... Saying that is enough to make you love a story. And the fact that this one is well told, poetic and beautiful, only confirms it. There's also a wonderful playlist to accompany every moment of the story.
The one that makes a place in the world a home:
(E, 128k words, completed 2022.04.22)
Strangers to lovers, famous/non famous, farming.
Harry is a pop star on a world tour. But instead of continuing from Auckland to Sydney, he decides to take refuge on a macadamia farm, Louis' farm.
I've already adored Stranger Stars by the same author, to the point of dreaming of doing the same African road trip. With Golden, she takes the reader to New Zealand, and once again, it works. You're there... A joy to read.
The most irreverent (and I love it that way)
Unholy, by Wickedarcher_08
(E, 11k words, completed 2023.01.17)
Religious kink, priest Louis, demon Harry
Father Louis is called in to exorcise Harry.
Because Take me to the church, by the same author, is one of my all-time favourites, because I am weak for priest Louis, die-hard atheist that I am.
The one who reminded me that I love sports Au
(E, 140k words, completed 2013.09.29)
Football AU, Fake/Pretend relationship
Louis is a famous footballer. Having a longterm relationship is a plus for his coming-out. Too bad if it's a fake relationship.
I know I'm late to the party for this fic, which I'm sure everyone who reads me has already read. What do you want, it's already been established that I got a late start... ☺️
And so: it's Zarah5, there’s pining, there's emotion... It's perfect.
The fic is no longer on ao3 as it exists in "real" book form. If needed, I can dm the original file.
The one that reminds me of parts of my real life :
You’re my favorite bird, by supernope
(E, 33k words, completed 2013-11-02)
Strangers to lovers, birds, fluff
Harry is an ornithologist and Louis owns the camera repair shop where Harry gets his photos printed.
I'm a birder in everyday life, alongside my work. As in the fic, I do bird-banding sessions. So I loved reading this story, which is also beautiful and moving.
Because how can you not love a historical AU set in the 1930s?
Chasing empty spaces, by @domestic-harry
(E, 79k words, completed 2017-08-04)
Historical, 1930s, inherit Harry, mechanic Louis
Harry's destiny seems to be all mapped out. He'll marry a woman of his standing and carry on the family legacy. But then Harry meets Louis, an auto mechanic.
The '30s, rural America, a love that can't be shown. A recipe for a great read.
happiness of youthful summers
Like an endless summer, by objectlesson
(E, 87290 words, completed 2017-07-01)
Summer camp AU, friends to lovers
Harry and Louis have been summer camp counselors at the same camp for years.
Pining, summer, my own memories as a camp counselor, perfect ot5...
It's a deleted. If needed I can dm the file. It's really worth reading.
Another one set in the rural South of the US, just after the war
An Invincible Summer, by Brooklyn_Babylon @twopoppies
(E, 44k words, completed 2020.07.14)
Historical, Farmer Harry, Writer Louis, American South, 1940s
Louis goes where his steps take him, with no strings attached. All the way to this farm in Georgia...
I've already said that rural America is my literary hobby. This is as true in fiction as it is in 'traditional' books. And it's even truer when the atmosphere is perfectly conveyed, almost tangible, when you feel with the characters, when you live with them.
Those of @greenfeelings, always @greenfeelings…
To the point that there is no point in me making different categories…
(E, 134k words, completed 2014/07-10)
Exes to lovers, famous Louis, pining
I know I'm late with this one too, but there you go... So... I think Green_feelings can make me love anything. So well telling… And here again it works... With pining (my pet peeve), emotion... Perfect...
The series Light, Spark and Fire
(E, 4 works, 239k words, begun 2019-10-11, updated 2023-01-06)
Abo, alpha Louis, omega Harry, music industry, pining
Louis is a music mogul. Harry is an aspiring musician.
Abo isn't necessarily the trope I go to spontaneously. I loved Symphony Hall but I'd pretty much left it at that. I was wrong, once again, and Green_feelings showed me. I loved every line of his story and can't wait to read more Abo.
Impossible to resist Louis in scuba gear
(E, 117218 words, completed 2014-01-17)
Friends with benefits, pining, scuba diving
Louis is a scuba instructor and met Harry.
There's pining, miscommunication, Harry and Louis are adorably stupid, and it's Zarah5, everything she writes is a blessing.
A small cottage on a Cornish cliff, the desire to take refuge from the world :
Deep Blue, by Myheartalive
(E, 76030 words, completed 2023-09-13)
Friends with benefits, friends to lovers, pining, cliffs
Henry decides to leave everything behind and take refuge in a small cottage in Cornwall. There he meets Alex...
A cottage, cliffs, a refuge, I just love it, and when it's well written, when the characters are beautiful and moving, it's one of the best reads of the year. I really recommend it.
As I said at the beginning of this post (which is getting very long, I know...), I read Magnetic North without knowing 911 lonestar, the show support of the two characters, Carlos and Tk. I saw a recommendation on Tumblr, randomly from the algorithm, did a bit of Googling and took the plunge. And, honestly, what a great idea! There isn't a fic in this fandom that I haven't loved. Unbelievable!
Magnetic North, by @paperstorm
(E, 145796 words, completed 2022-12-22)
Hockey Au (yes I love sports Au..), enemies to friends to lovers
Tk joins Carlos' field hockey team, bringing with him a complicated reputation...
I loved everything: the characters, the story, the atmosphere... Just perfection!
The Firehouse, by @paperstorm again
(E, 100107 words, completed 2023-09-27)
Childhood friends, enemies to friends to lovers, undercover cop Carlos, drug dealer Tk
Carlos is an undercover cop, and TK is a member of the group he's infiltrating. They are childhood friends...
I loved the atmosphere, the stress of their respective situations, the flashbacks to their shared childhood, I was captivated. Wonderful.
Love Game, by Lolaland (Lola_di_Penates)
(E, 142952 words, completed 2022-10-09)
Tennis Au, rivals to lovers, friends to lovers
Carlos and TK are tennis players, forced to play doubles together
The tennis atmosphere is beautifully conveyed, Carlos is a wonderful character and TK the raw skinned one who we love to see repaired and love his doubles partner. I really recommend this read.
To live for the hope of it all, by @strandnreyes
(E, 54102 words, completed 2022-06-07)
Desert Island, Isolation, stranger to lovers
Tk is an actor, Carlos an airplane copilot. They crash on a desert island and are the only survivors.
The two heroes alone on an island, forced to survive, are obviously led to discover each other. I don't think we have enough stories like that, do we? I loved this one ! I devoured it!
Swing For The Fences, Run To The Line, by IBoatedHere
(E, 52407 words, completed 2022-06-29)
Baseball AU, teammates to lovers, loneliness, recovery
Carlos is on the baseball team where TK is suddenly hired.
Yes, another AU sport, another story of repair, resilience, learning to trust. A balm for the heart.
I really thank all these authors who offer their talent to us readers, I love you all.
