agora and

agora and by CuriousContradiction
and we'd sputter-speed down empty freeways toward arizona or new york or iowa cornfields, and we'd pass by gasoline stations all sad and dark and oil refineries all sad and bright and motels all sad and lonely
Banner Credit: Anita

Annie Thinks: This story hurts. Bad. There are no big fights or heartbreaks, but it has this faint aura of melancholy weaved
throughout the narrative, strong enough to leave me feeling hollow. That being said, you should totally read it!

It's about an agoraphobic girl named Evie and the boy who's in love with her, Corey. Between the individual scenes, Evie's stream of consciousness reminds us that she's a real live person (in the story, at least). Her exterior is impermeable and almost cold, but her thoughts are frantic and rambling, revealing her dreams and wishes. Corey tries his best to help Evie, but there's a thick invisible wall separating the girl Corey loves and the girl she really is.

agora and has a simple, slow kind of sadness to it, the kind that you feel when it's 3 am and you're the only one awake. You can feel how desperately Evie wants to change, but it's almost impossible for her. I, personally, could relate to this, which is perhaps why I so strongly recommend this story. Otherwise, it may seem kind of bland and confusing. Corey is patient and understanding, but his frustration and humanness definitely get the better of him once in a while. He is a believable, likable character, who so clearly loves this girl who's at once terrified by and awed at the world.

I love quietly painful stories like this, but if you're having a really great, cheery day then you should steer clear. However, if you aren't afraid of or opposed to an introspective, almost bittersweet read then I definitely recommend agora and. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

I'm in Love with a KissWhore

I'm in Love with a KissWhore by Emdea
“Well at least I don’t hook up with every blonde bimbo who crosses my path,” I say venomously, which was so, so stupid. Allison James isn’t even blonde – I’m a blonde. I just called myself a bimbo! Aw, jeez. I really need to work on my comebacks.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: Emedea is quickly becoming one of my favorite one-shot authors on FictionPress. I tend to gravitate towards goofy female characters (hello, Sophie Kinsella) so her stories are right up my alley.

I'm in Love with a KissWhore is about Belle, who's visiting her father and stepmother in the town she grew up in with her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend Richard. Richard happens to be the cousin of Belle's ex-boyfriend, Will, who she broke up with a week before his eighteenth birthday and has avoided ever since she moved away for college. While in town, Belle comes into contact with him more often than she would have liked, even kissing him in one of their first encounters. She's happy denying her feelings and quitting while she's ahead, but he's determined to call her on her bluff and get her to open up.

Belle is a truly likable character. Silly and emotionally distant, she floats through life in a gleefully oblivious way. She emphatically denies ever having feelings for Will, but he's up front and even forceful from the start. The story has a cute, simple plot, though things do happen a bit fast. Belle's inner monologues are hilarious and adorable--the way her mind works made me laugh out loud.
I'm noticing a common theme in Emedea's one-shots--the female main character is the remarkable one, not her love interest, as it so usually is. The characters all balance one another and respond to their quirks in an easy, natural way.

This one-shot is almost 9,000 words long, but it's very readable and easy to get into. If you're craving a funny, fluffy read, then I wholeheartedly recommend I'm in Love with a KissWhore.

It's Lucky Charms Time!

It's Lucky Charms Time! by Emedea

I go into the kitchen and pour myself some Lucky Charms. I know, they’re not vegan. But I simply can’t resist them. They really are magically delicious.
Banner Credit: Marta

Annie Thinks: Every once in a while, a girl needs to read a lighthearted, cute romance story that doesn't rouse any existential quandaries. Sure, big, heart-wrenching novels are great, but little fluff pieces like "It's Lucky Charms Time!" by Emedea are what really keep us sane.
Mostly-vegan-animal-lover Charlie is neck-deep in a tragedy when the story begins: Her hamster, Mario, has died. She's frantic with concern for her furry friend, and no one will help her out--not her germaphobe roomie Phoebe nor her weirdly stressed out boyfriend Jason. Jason is trying to take Charlie on a date, but her grief for Mario and his lack of understanding cause the date to end in heartbreak. So, Charlie spends the next day lying in bed crying--because of Mario, of course. She's determined to deny her sadness over Jason, but he's not letting her go so easily.

Throughout the story, the narrator maintains a lighthearted voice. I laughed out loud several times because of Charlie's oblivious antics and inner musings. It's nice to read a female character who's not cynical and bitter all the time. I admit I'm not a completely objective reviewer; I may have a soft spot for her non-meat eating animal-loving ways. Jason's a great character, too. Though cliche at times, he perfectly embodies the role of a rational man in love with a madwoman.

So while this one-shot won't be breaking any barriers or changing lives, it's the perfect read if you're looking for a little pick-me-up or just have a few extra minutes.

From Beginning to End

From Beginning to End by HeadAboveTheWater

Spontaneous isn't a word easily associated with Crystal Moore...until she runs into Jacob Riley the summer before college. Suddenly "unplanned" seems to have become her middle name. When unexpected circumstances force them together Crystal discovers that the moments we don't plan for are the ones that teach us the most.
Banner Credit: Casey

Annie Thinks: Spontaneous isn't a word easily associated with Crystal Moore...until she runs into Jacob Riley the summer before college. Suddenly "unplanned" seems to have become her middle name. When unexpected circumstances force them together Crystal discovers that the moments we don't plan for are the ones that teach us the most.

If you're looking for a nice, light read that will melt your heart and put butterflies in your stomach... then keep looking. On the other hand, if you're looking for a deep, emotional story that will have you aww-ing one chapter and sobbing the next, then From Beginning To End is perfect for you.

It's about Crystal Moore, a girl who is fresh out of high school with no real direction in life. Her plans for the summer are to do as little as possible while her parents are away, but that changes when Jacob Riley comes to her rescue at a party one night. After that, they form a strong connection that spans a few years and turns into something much more permanent and much more life-changing than is evident at first glance.

In an effort to cut out spoilers, that's as ambiguous as I'll leave the summary. I started reading this story with no idea how it would turn out, and it ended up pretty much ruining my life for one night. It's very long (54 chapters and over 250,000 words), and does drag on in some places, but I think that is the only way a story like this could be told. Sometimes there were long blocks of text that didn't seem to say anything, but From Beginning To End still had me up until 1:30 am (on a school night!). There are so many twists and turns that you can't help but stay up and tell yourself, "One more chapter, just one more chapter!"

For all of its good parts (and there are many!), this story has some faults, too. As I said, there were big paragraphs of narrative that was pretty unnecessary. Sometimes it felt like the same thing was being stated over and over again. A lot of those unrealistic cliches were used too--the raging, alcohol-filled high school parties and the shady men who can't seem to restrain themselves among them. I felt that the character development was lacking as well. Crystal is sort of a boring protagonist; she's not particularly funny or interesting, and the only remarkable thing about her seems to be her relationship with Jake. Speaking of whom, Crystal is consistently saying what a good guy Jake is, but there isn't really any evidence of this; he pulls some jerk moves throughout the story.

Despite all this, I wholeheartedly recommend From Beginning To End. HeadAboveTheWater holds nothing back. She describes everything fully--the emotions are crystal clear and cut you to the core. She has no qualms about breaking her characters' (or readers') hearts, but she more than makes up for them with the lemons. They are pretty few and far between, but are so thorough and poignant that they can definitely tide you over until the next one! The characters (though lacking in personality) each have their own sets of faults and mistakes, without which this story would not exist. They both have their own redeeming qualities--Crystal with an amazing depth and selflessness, and Jake with a surprising humanness to him. Overall, From Beginning To End is a very powerful, heartbreaking story that I 100% recommend, as long as you are emotionally available and have no important plans for the next few days!

Intoxicated

Since the posting of this review, this story has been removed from FictionPress by the author.

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Singing the Last Song

Singing the Last Song by found.eventually
I liked you because you were stupid and that made me look smarter. You went for me so you could cheat during exams. We had sex and got caught, your hands on my boobs. We have two kids, one of which, apparently, developed HIV. At the age of two.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: Words cannot explain how deeply and truly I fell in love with this one-shot. I was unsure about it at first (I always am!) but I'm so thankful that I read on.

It chronicles the story of a boy and a girl, from the beginning of their friendship to the heartbreak it accompanies. The girl slowly but surely falls for the boy, even when he gets a new girlfriend, makes her fail a piano exam, and forgets to pick her up. Throughout the entire one-shot, she is tortured by her unrequited love for him, and, though he's a jerk, I found myself loving him a little bit too.

I think one of the reasons I loved this story so much is because I can relate to it. The guy is a total jerk, unworthy of her love, but she still finds herself in deep with him. He's a total charmer--he knows just what to say and what to do at just the right time. It's all too easy for her to fall for his charm.
Of course, there are many other reasons to love this story. The girl is just so sweet and so realistic that I found it hard notto like her. She was flawed, of course--she gave too much of herself to the guy, and gave up too much for him. This just made the heartbreak that much sadder. The guy was well-written as well. His actions made him seem like a jerk, but his words and affection towards her made it clear that he really, truly cared about her--just not in the way that she wanted him to.

If you've ever had your heart broken (or wanted to know what it felt like, for whatever reason) then read Singing the Last Song. It's so very honest and real; it may or may not have made me cry.

Pono

Pono by templeton21
A short epilogue from "After the End". She had such an intense level of faith in him. He would not fail either of them.

Banner Credit: Helen

Annie Thinks: Pono is, as the summary says, an epilogue for a full-length story by templeton21. I was very wary of this going in. I thought it would be hard to follow and confusing, considering I hadn't read the story it was for. I expected to be disappointed, but I was very far from it.

Pono is about Jason and Jules, a couple who sticks together after the end of the world. They roam from town to town, trying to find warmth and safety, which is becoming increasingly harder to find and even more important since Jules is four months pregnant with Jason's child. 

Although it isn't completely clear what caused the apocalypse, certain clues point to zombies, or, as they call them, Walkers. I'm a total zombie enthusiast, so the fact that they were called Walkers also made me wary because, in the amazing TV show "The Walking Dead," zombies are also referred to as Walkers. However, it was evident that Pono isn't fanfiction. Jason and Jules are original characters who have their own original stories, though they evoke the same fear and heartbreak as Rick Grimes' story. Jason and Jules have to find their own strength or at least fake it, especially since all they have is each other. The ending is very bittersweet--and, I'll be honest, I teared up a little bit. Their love for each other and for their unborn child is strong and fierce, even stronger and fiercer than their fear of losing one another. Pono is a truly beautiful, heartbreaking story that, in my opinion, captures the emotional aspect of being some of the last people on Earth perfectly.

The Benefits of Being Friends

Since the posting of this review, this story has been removed from FictionPress by the author.

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Old World Charm

Old World Charm by Quill-and-Blood
The first thing I noticed about her was that she looked like a tragic heroine of a black and white movie. She was so stunning that it astounded me that I was the only one who even gave her a look.

Banner Credit: marta

Annie Thinks: This one-shot is the essence of cliché. Obviously, that can be said for almost every story on ADoR, and it is by no means a bad thing, as demonstrated in Old World Charm.
Old World Charm is about a new guy at Wilson High, Terrence Rawlings. Terrence is instantly popular--and, complete with tattoos, piercings, a smoking habit, and man-whorish tendencies, it's no mystery as to why. Despite this, he finds himself exasperated with high school and everyone in it. That is, until he spots the beautiful, vulnerable, shy wallflower Stephanie. The "tragic heroine of a black and white movie," Terrence is instantly drawn to her, but she keeps herself just out of his--and everyone else's--reach, despite his best efforts.
If you're not a fan of clichés, then a. why are you on this site? and b. steer clear of this one-shot. If you can't get enough of them, then you will fall in love with this one-shot just as deeply as I did. I'll be honest, I was not a huge fan of the story when I first started it. It was cliché to the point of being annoying and Terrence seemed less like a mysterious guy who is angry at the world and more like a big baby. Wilson High was painted as this awful school full of idiots, but, let's face it, the same could be said for most public high schools. Old World Charm really started to grow on me towards the ending, which was sweet and honestly the best way to end the story. The characters really came to life at that point. Quill-and-Blood is a really beautiful writer, knitting an insightful, original narrative as well as well though-out, deep characters that grow on you. If you're a fan of clichés (and, really, even if you're not) then I wholeheartedly recommend Old World Charm.

Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect by candii-apple
How to win over the girl of your dreams: have her catch you wearing nothing but a pair of hot pink, Disney Princess patterned boxers, attempting to photocopy your ass. Humilating? You have no idea.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: This one-shot belongs in the history books as the first story in a male's POV that I've read on FictionPress. I know that there are more out there, but I tend to shy away from the unfamiliar; however, this one made me want to read more of them.
It's about Bryan, who, on a dare, is in a public library photocopying his rear end (butt-copying, he dubs it). His friend, James, is the one who dared him to do so and put the picture up at school for all to see come Monday morning. Of course, as fate would have it, Bryan's long-time crush (he calls her "The One") catches him in the act, thus ensuing humiliation, hilarity, and those scenes that make you go awww!

In the "Why You Like It" portion of the suggestion form (which, if you were wondering, the judges totally take into account), the suggestor said the voice sounds female-ish at times, which I guess I can understand, but I never personally got that idea while reading it. Although, I'm not a guy so I could be totally wrong about that. Masculine or not, the voice was funny, witty, realistic, and sweet. The plot was original but not unbelievable; the characters were likable and quirky; the dialogue was easy to imagine. I loved the ending because it was vague and completely open-ended, which is very hard to pull off in a satisfying way. Picture Perfect definitely sets itself apart from other one-shots and even full-length stories on FictionPress with its originality, silliness, and unique charm.

Forgive Me Mother, For I Have Sinned

Forgive Me Mother, For I Have Sinned by Mardy Bum

Even the damned deserve a happy ending.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: Two words came to mind after I finished reading this one-shot: Holy cow. It's so intense and powerful; I fell in love with it, even though I usually shy away from stories that depict prostitutes/strippers/what-have-you.


It's about a stripper named Melrose or Chloë or Rose--all three are used in the story. It chronicles three of her experiences with men, the three experiences that she (warning: language) gave any "fucks" about. Each are unique--the first is a man celebrating his bachelor party, the second is a man who is rough and easily the most sexual of the three, and the last is a "regular," though they talk as friends while she dances all over him.

Mardy Bum lays the scene for the reader perfectly; she depicts the setting as it is: harsh, real, and dark. I'd never given much thought to what a strip club would be like, but if I had, I think this description is pretty spot on. Melrose/Chloë/Rose has the perfect narrative voice. It's matter of fact; she does what she does and knows that it's maybe not what every little girl envisions growing up to be. It also fills you with a feeling of hopelessness. Throughout the story, the main character addresses her mom, which was an amazing tactic for Mardy to use. Although Melrose/Chloë/Rose was not an entirely innocent character, this detail really showed the reader her depth and that she was still a child, and she still yearned for that happy ending. Overall, the story was a beautiful, haunting read that definitely left me with way more thoughts in my head than I needed. It's not exactly a light, fluffy read, but I wholeheartedly recommend taking a few minutes of your time to read it.

Happy Endings

Happy Endings by jennycraig10
"It doesn't work that way. Sometimes you just don't get the happy ending," she said. He looked at her, then with a small smile, he said,"You always get the happy ending. It always comes eventually. You just have to have faith."
Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: There's not all that much I can say about this one-shot. It's amazing, but it's very straightforward as well and sort of the same all the way through. That doesn't make it bad; it's almost refreshing in a world of one-shots that are quirky and crazy and very alive. It was nice to read a normal story with a quiet, slow romance.

It's about Paige and Wyatt. The pair can't be any more opposite: Paige is stoic and cautious while Wyatt is adventurous and unfailingly happy. Paige finds him one night inside a phone booth, and, after the phone is stolen from both of them, she offers to give him a ride to his girlfriend's apartment. When that takes a turn for the much worse, he (platonically) spends the night at Paige's place, which eventually leads to him unofficially moving in... for five years. How it plays out is sort of obvious.

Happy Endings is over 17,000 words yet never seemed to drag on. There is a lot more narration than dialogue, but it didn't get boring or hard to understand. It was really beautifully written; some lines were surprisingly insightful.

It was very easy to understand how both Paige and Wyatt felt, as well as the other characters who were simply observing their relationship. Despite the wonderful descriptions of and reasoning behind their emotions, I found myself wanting to slap Paige very much for hurting Wyatt, but I also wanted to slap Wyatt for not understanding Paige. It was easy to relate to both the characters, though: to Paige for being afraid of love and losing her independence, and to Wyatt for his constant optimism and general happy-go-lucky attitude.

The ending was a little hard for me to read, but that was probably just because of my strong dislike for drama. There were some grammar mistakes, but definitely not enough to distract from the story, especially considering the fact that it's 17,000 words long! It seemed like you never really got to know the characters, which sort of made it hard to care about them or their budding romance.

In spite of that, I 100% recommend Happy Endings. The timing is a thing of beauty; the characters, while not wholly realistic, were easy to understand; the plot is original and well-executed. If you find yourself bored at home with nothing to do, then read this one-shot. Just make sure you have a lot of time and a lot of pillows/punching bags!

Seahorse Love

Seahorse Love by RentBoheme & Morine
Betty and Gerald were seahorses. They had their individual aquariums, their individual lives. But as soon as their paths crossed, everything changed.
Banner Credit: marta

Annie Thinks: An unconventional viewpoint on an unconventional romance. This story is amazingly, gently, beautifully written.

Betty and Gerald are seahorses. Their relationships with their owners, Mary Ann and Ian respectively, are at once possessive and caring. It is through their eyes, and their perspective from their tanks, that Mary Ann and Ian’s romance unfolds. The day that the two human lovers move in together, Betty and Gerald meet.

It’s an instant connection.

Honestly, I’m not used to seahorse lovin’. (Not sure if anybody is...) But the adorable descriptions make me want to hug these seahorses, dampness be damned. They are bashful and charming throughout their first meeting, their first kiss and their first child. Based on a singular idea, this one-shot is flawlessly written. I applaud the remarkable plot, faultless grammar and lovable characters. It’s just so...warm. I love it.

Skinny Dipping with Grove Murray

Skinny Dipping with Grove Murray by hi-tanner85
He hit me. Well, not so much hit me as fell into me and knocked me down. My ego was bruised. . . along with my head. Yes, it hurt. He kissed me! Well not so much kissed me as ran into my neck with his mouth. Oh great, now I'm stupid.
Banner Credit: Annie

Annie Thinks: Have you ever loved a story so much that it physically pains you to remember that it didn't actually happen and the characters don't actually exist? That's what this story does to me. I've read it more than a few times and I love it more each re-read.

It's about a girl named Ella who gets accidentally punched in the head by bad-ish boy Grove Murray, who was in a fight over his sister. She confronts him about it (which I love) and he starts to show an interest in her. It's a very simple plot; it basically follows the path of Ella and Grove's relationship, jam-packed with jealous ex-flings, a grudge-holding band member, and so much more beautiful stuff.

There is so much I love about this story--one review can't even begin to cover it all. The characters are amazing. Skinny Dipping with Grove Murray is seriously the best example of character development I can think of. Ella is kind and funny and so caring without being unrealistic or unlikable. She's one of the only female MCs I've experienced who doesn't annoy the crap out of me at one point or another. And Grove Murray--oh my goodness, don't even get me started on Grove Murray. I'm sort of in love with him. Never mind that he's fictional. He has that bad boy look to him, with his piercings and tattoos and messy black hair, but underneath all that, he's a big ol' teddy bear. He's scarily rough when Ella is hurt or in danger of being hurt, but when it's just the two of them, he's the sweetest thing in the world. I love that he has a past--a dark one, one that he's still dealing with everyday.

The supporting characters were beautiful, too. Grace is an amazing best friend who puts Ella before herself. Ella's dad is hilarious; he's like Grove--rough when he needs to be, but a giant softy when it comes to Ella. Grove's friends are the kind of friends you wish you have. They're so funny and realistic--they became real people to me. All of the characters did.

For all of the good things about this story, there are bad things too. The grammar is atrocious sometimes. There are constantly missing or wrong words, not-so-stellar spelling, and sometimes stiff narration. Obviously, the plot, though simple, was unrealistic. How often does a super hot bad boy begin liking an ordinary girl seemingly out of the blue?

Honestly, although those things got on my nerves sometimes, Skinny Dipping with Grove Murray is still perfect in my mind. It's such a simple story--all it's about is a boy and a girl, but it causes so much emotion. There are little moments or lines that are so good they surprise you. Hi-tanner85 is, in my opinion, the best character writer on FictionPress. If you've read Sebastian Bear, you'll know how good she is at making normal girls extraordinary, and bad boys well-rounded.

So go read it now. Even if you don't have time. Even if your house is on fire. Read it.

Slowly Sinking

Slowly Sinking by fellintothemoon
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring my guy best friend to the beach ever day. Especially when trying to seduce the hot new lifeguard.
Banner Credit: Casey

Annie Thinks: If it was legal to get married to an inanimate object, I'd marry this one-shot. It's everything you could want in a spouse--funny, sweet, cute, and so much more.

It's about a girl named Hailey who goes to the beach with her best friend, Greg. She's maybe a little obsessed with the super hot lifeguard, who is, in her eyes, perfect--Greek god status. And who's there to hear her go on about him but Greg, who she affectionately refers to as Porkchop. It sounds simple, and it was for the most part, but it definitely had some emotional stuff going on and a very good message at the end: Sometimes, your hero isn't the one in the shining armor.

Hailey and Greg are the cutest pair in the world. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but they are both very likable and realistic. Hailey is a determined, strong female protagonist, which FictionPress (and the world) could use more of. She knows what she wants and she does what she has to to get it. (She's also a redhead, which alone made fellow judge Helen love the story.) Greg is so adorable. He's that cliche guy best friend--sweet, caring, attractive. Despite the stereotype, the emotion he carries is very much real, and it was conveyed beautifully. The dialogue sounded like something people would actually say, and still funny and aww-worthy.

And a plus: Slowly Sinking was written by our very own Melissa, who is a wonderful writer and a great friend. Her charm and wit is evident in her story. Also, I feel compelled to add that she worked very hard on this one-shot, and it certainly showed. Honestly, though, even if she wasn't a fellow judge, I'd still add this story, no doubt about it. It's a light, easy read that you should definitely check out if you find yourself with a few extra minutes.

Save the Cheerleader

Save the Cheerleader by lillypad-hopper
Gavin hates her. Period. She's stupid and lame and should leave him alone, because he wants nothing to do with her. Unless she's in trouble. Then he might be persuaded to step in. If he feels like it. But it's not because he likes her or anything. Nope.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Annie Thinks: If you're a sucker for a total hate/love cliche, then look no further. I don't think it really gets more cliche than this one.

It's about Gavin, who is your typical bad boy, and his neighbor Katie, who is your typical good girl. Gavin thinks that Katie is too nice--she puts way too much faith in people then let them walk all over her. When they first met, she was way too cheerful and and happy and innocent. You could say it was hate at first sight. After Gavin made sure to belittle her and just generally act like a jerk, Katie stopped acting like an angel to him and returned his animosity full force. Now, three years later, nothing has changed. At least, not until Halloween.

Save the Cheerleader was a very cute read. It basically solidified the whole "opposites attract" theory. I don't know if I can say the characters were altogether realistic; lillypad-hopper seemed to have really leaned back on the stereotypical, cliche bad boy and good girl. Regardless, it was very well-written. There were a lot of run-on sentences, but instead of being distracting and off-putting, it added to the almost dramatic feel of the story. It also gave good insight into Gavin's head, considering it was in his point-of-view. It's a comparatively short read, so if you find yourself with ten minutes and nothing to do, I definitely recommend Save the Cheerleader.

Valentine Wars

Valentine Wars by firefly114

Abbey Walsh: absolutely, positively hates Valentine's Day. Noah Petersen: stuck delivering singing valentines. Olivia Lee: just trying to have a little fun. These three friends are in for quite a ride.
Banner Credit: Atramento

Annie Thinks: Reading this, it's pretty easy to see why this one-shot was a SKoW prompt winner. It was funny, cute, and well-written--a very rare combination.

It's about a girl named Abbey on Valentine's Day, a holiday she abhors. Her friend Olivia, however, is determined to make her day a great one. Abbey has a crush on Noah (who may or may not have a crush on Olivia), who is in the men's a capella group at school. For Valentine's Day, students can buy singing grams and this group will go from class to class all day delivering them to the unfortunate recipients. Olivia sends one to Abbey for Noah to perform, and the attached message (which he reads) hints at her crush on him. From the moment Abbey finds out she sent one to her, the war is on, and they spend the rest of the day sending Noah back and forth, singing to them in turn.

If it sounds embarrassing, that's because it is, and that's what makes it so funny. Abbey's reactions are believable--awkward but trying desperately not to be. Noah is pretty cute too. He doesn't seem to get too embarrassed by singing ridiculous love songs to boys and girls all day. The only thing I didn't really like about this one-shot was the whole I-hate-Valentine's Day-and-I-don't-believe-in-love thing. It's become a bit over done. However, that wasn't enough to detract from the cute-funny-sweetness of the story. Really, I was laughing and smiling throughout the whole one-shot. Even though there's a 99.73% chance (I did the math) that you won't be reading this on Valentine's Day, I definitely suggest taking a few minutes out of your day to read Valentine Wars. .

Dense is to You as Male is to Boy

Dense is to You as Male is to Boy by lulu.lemon

I had best friend Reece, semi-jackass Liam, sweet Landon, equally sweet Kara, and high on life Max. I'd be with Landon, who I'm not even sure I like. And help Reece get his girl, who he keeps anonymous. Not like best friends ever fall in love or anything.
Banner Credit: Casey

Annie Thinks: I'm not quite sure how to review this gem of a story without going into obsessive fangirl mode, so if I start randomly typing in all caps in the middle of it, just try and bear with me.

This story is definitely my favorite story on FictionPress. Of course, all the other stories I review are amazing as well, but this one is very dear to my heart. It's one of the first stories I read on FP, it introduced me to ADoR, and it ignited my love for the Girl & Best Friend cliche. If that clouds my judgment of the story, then I apologize!

It's about a girl named Carson who has been best friends with golden boy Reece since they were five, due to their parents being best friends as well. At the beginning of the story, Carson pretty much comes out and says nothing romantic has ever happened between the two of them. Obviously that'll change when their parents announce that she will be moving in with Reece and his parents while they're working in Africa for the duration of the school year. This only gives her more time to pester him about the mystery girl he's been in love with for years. He finally agrees to tell this girl about his feelings, as long as the soccer team (of which he is captain) wins their championship game. While this is going on, Reece's other best friend Liam is taking his punishment for being a bad English student by being a part of the school newspaper. He butts head with Madeline, the editor of the paper, but eventually those feelings change.

I could go on forever about how good this story is, but that would make this a very long and not very good review. I really, really loved the characters. Carson was strong and kind and smart and not totally annoying or dependent on Reece, like in many other Girl & BFF stories. Reece is such a good character as well; he's very well-rounded and genuinely likable. He was very sweet, despite being one of the most popular guys in school. He made mistakes and made up for them. He was always there for Carson, even if it broke his heart. Even Liam had his redeeming qualities. Although he was sort of a jerk, he definitely had a soft side. I loved how lulu.lemon made this story complex enough to be interesting yet simple enough for the reader to understand. All of the side characters and stories seemed very real as well. The dialogue never seemed pointless but was always realistic. The emotions the characters felt were conveyed remarkably well--lulu.lemon really seemed to have a grasp on the whole "show, don't tell" rule of creative writing. Alas, this gorgeous story is incomplete; however, there are updates every few months, which never disappoint. Obviously, there are some faults in Dense is to You, as Male is to Boy, but I guess you'll have to read it yourself to find them!

A Summer Solstice

A Summer Solstice by NehemiaH

All I wanted was one last peaceful summer before I finished college. Needless to say, I hadn't expected my brother's best friend to climb through my window every night...or that it'd be so hard to turn him away.
Banner Credit: marta

Annie Thinks: A Summer Solstice is easily in my top 5 Girl and Best Friend stories. It's one of my favorite cliches--girl and brother's best friend. Despite the cliche-ness, NehemiaH still manages to put an original spin on it.
It's about Lexi, a 21 year-old college student who comes home for the summer. Her older brother's best friend since childhood, Seth, suddenly begins to take a liking to her. From day one, he stops treating her like the little sister he's always thought her to be, and more like an actual woman. He starts to sneak into her room at night, and they try taking it slow, but they fail. Throughout their whole relationship they struggle to keep it away from Lexi's brother, Rich, even though their parents want Lexi and Seth to get married.

Overall, A Summer Solstice was a very cute, fluffy read, even though it's rated M--and for good reason. Some of the scenes border on smut, so if that's not your thing, you probably shouldn't read it. However, although it does get pretty graphic sometimes, NehemiaH still manages to capture the sweetness of the moments. It was well written, too; the author does a wonderful job at conveying Lexi's emotions in words. The dialogue was always natural and never distracting or stiff. The characters were very real--they both had faults which showed throughout the story. It's a pretty fast read, too, with eleven short chapters that I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning/night to read. I highly recommend A Summer Solstice, as long as you're not offended by lemon-esque scenes.

Say It With a Card

Say It With a Card by Laura Schiller

Taylor, who works at a greeting card store, wants nothing more than to be given a Valentine of her own. But what happens when she has to sell one to the boy she secretly likes?
Banner Credit: marta

Annie Thinks: Before you go thinking, "Ugh, another Valentine's Day story," stop. It's not. Well, it is, but it's a very good one. It's pretty cliche, but cliches are good, especially here on ADoR.

It's about Taylor, who works in a card store, surrounded by romantic cards and stuffed animals. Her crush, Martin, comes in, looking for a card he can give to the girl he likes. Taylor helps him out, though her heart is breaking as she does. Martin asks for suggestions and Taylor tells him that everything she would have chosen, she already owns, except for one card, which, of course, he buys for his girl.

Say It With a Card is a cute, thoughtful read that, though the idea is pretty cliche, is very original and good. The characters were very likable. Usually, in one-shots, the characters are odd and outlandish, which is sometimes the only good quality about the story. In this one, however, Taylor and Martin are both very realistic and just normal. You can tell that Taylor is romantic and quiet, and I think that's something many of us can relate to. Martin is the silent, broody type; you get the feeling that he doesn't like to show his emotions. The dialogue contained phrases people would actually say. It's only about 2,400 words which is the perfect length to tell the story. The author seemed to have put a lot of effort and thought into it, although she's posted 150 works on the site, which is just insane and wonderful to me. Even though it's definitely not Valentine's Day, you should certainly read Say It With a Card right now.