The EllieFin in the Cupboard

The EllieFin in the Cupboard by star123
'I grinned, liking this stranger with his warm brown eyes and cup that announced he was a 12 year old girl.' Turns out cupboards under the stairs aren't just for wizards.
Banner Credit: Ali

Ari Thinks: Loaded with hilarious awkwardness and unbelievable cuteness, "The EllieFin in the Cupboard" is one of those stories that force a giant, cheesy grin on your face. From start to finish, star123's oneshot was funny and engaging. Ellie's inner voice had me laughing at many points throughout the story, and she is incredibly easy to relate to. Although star123 loaded her story with cliches, she put her own spin on each cliche and didn't let them overpower her unique tale. Short, sweet, and fluffy, "The EllieFin in the Cupboard" is one of those stories you want to read over and over again when you're having a bad day because it will undoubtedly make you laugh.

After

After by Koki Enwai

The rope sways back and forth, heavy with the weight of a body. Once you lose something, you can't get it back. 
Banner Credit: Marta

Ariana Thinks: "After" is one of those stories that sticks in your mind for weeks after reading it. The haunting, creepy feel of "After" was enhanced by Koki Enwai's brilliant writing style, which I fell in love with from the very first sentence. Giving just enough information to connect with the characters, but not enough information to satisfy the curiosity of readers, "After" definitely strikes a perfect balance, which is necessary for a true horror story. The dialogue was flawlessly crafted, drawing me into the story and giving me a feel of each character's personality. The ending, which left me desperate to know more, was like a punch to my gut and made me want to go back and read it over again. Upon reading "After," you will definitely be tingling with fear and desperate for more information. "After" is unquestionably a story you don't want to miss out on.

Hab Dich Lieb

Hab Dich Lieb by dear-llama

When you leave town at the age of eighteen, there is usually a reason. Returning five years later is generally not seen as a good idea, especially when the townspeople subscribe to small-town racism and you’re engaged to the enemy.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Ariana Thinks: Hab Dich Lieb is the kind of story that draws you into its plot and characters and makes you fall in love. In Hab Dich Lieb, dear-llama portrays the pure, unchanging love of Lila and Mike both beautifully and realistically. Lila and Mike's deep love for each other is never questionable, despite the arguments and obstacles they face. By the end of the story, I felt physically connected to Lila and Mike, and rather than reading her story as a fictional experience, I found myself treating it like a window into the life of someone else. Not once did I think that dear-llama's characters behaved in an unexpected or unrealistic manner, and the added element of racism only serves to make the story more meaningful by conveying a seriousness that demonstrates what real love is all about. Hab Dich Lieb does more than just present you with a story- it lets you experience the life and love of another person and understand what love is all about.

Fence

Fence by Comodin
The spirits of Halloween Past, Present, and Future might just be able to help Tory get his life back on track... if he can survive the process, that is.

Banner Credit: Helen

Ariana Thinks: I'm not a huge fan of the Ghost of the Christmas Past or the Wizard of Oz, so I have to admit that I was a little wary of the story when I first started reading. However, "Fence" quickly drew me in with its mysterious characters and magical plot. Even though it is only 4 chapters long, "Fence" demonstrates the character growth of its protagonist Tory and allows the readers to glimpse into his strange world filled with ghosts and secrets. Jarek, Rien, and Amos are both creepy and alluring at the same time, serving to add to the overall suspense and mystery of the story. Filled with plot twists and strange occurrences, "Fence" will make you shy away from the screen and eagerly devour more words at the same time. "Fence" isn't filled with flowery prose and it most definitely isn't a typically cliche love story, but it is undoubtedly striking and captivating in its own way. In four short chapters, "Fence" will leave you full of questions that will make you want to read it over and over again. So go ahead- enter the world of "Fence" and prepare to be sufficiently unnerved. It is an experience you definitely don't want to miss out on.

Dare: Stay Sane While I Strip

Dare: Stay Sane While I Strip by MaeMaes
The idea was to catch Pierce's attention. I was nearly naked beneath my coat and ready to flash him. Oh, God, was I crazy?

Banner Credit: Ali

Ariana Thinks:  With a title of "Dare: Stay Sane While I Strip," I expected MaeMaes' story to be quirky and cute at the same time, and she definitely did not disappoint. The droolworthy description of Pierce and the remarkably creative plot based off the "girl and best friend" cliche would have been more than enough to keep my interest, but "Dare: Stay Sane While I Strip" went further than that. The voice of Kens, the protagonist and narrator, was refreshingly unorthodox, and the ramblings of her inner mind were absolutely hilarious. I was never disappointed with her reactions to events; moreover, the relationship between Kens and Pierce was both adorable and well-portrayed. Their conversations and interactions made me squeal with excitement.

Although "Dare: Stay Sane While I Strip" may not have the most realistic plot-line, it is definitely a charming, engaging story that you will find yourself heavily invested in. The only real shortcoming it has is the fact that it is only 2 chapters long, and once you start reading, you will undoubtedly yearn for more.

The Art of Faith

The Art of Faith by NightWhisper25
I was exactly the kind of girl this shouldn't happen to: devoutly Catholic, learned in my faith, and confident in my beliefs. At least, that was the case until God's worst weather blew Meg into my life, making me question everything I believed about love, faith, right, and wrong

Banner Credit: Ali

Ariana Thinks: Someone once told me that there are two types of stories: one in which ordinary people have extraordinary experiences, and another in which extraordinary people have ordinary experiences. "Art of Faith" fits into neither of those categories. Rather, NightWhisper25 portrays the beautiful simplicity of two very ordinary people going through very ordinary events. What makes "Art of Faith" so interesting is the extraordinary relationship between these two people. Meg and Naomi, the protagonists, meet by pure coincidence; yet their friendship grows until it transcends both religion and sexual preference. In many stories, the characters jump straight into relationships. This is definitely not the case with Naomi and Meg- NightWhisper25 takes time in fleshing out the emotions involved in building a friendship as well as the events that help lead to it. It is easy to understand why Naomi and Meg become friends. It is even easier to grow invested in Meg and Naomi's relationship.

On top of portraying a stunningly realistic friendship, "Art of Faith" also elaborates on the minor details of its character's lives: the relationship between Naomi and her mother, Meg's cultural identity, and Naomi's interest in art, all serve to add to the overall beauty of the story. NightWhisper25 strikes a perfect balance between her dialogue and narrative, as well. I never felt bored by her narrative- every piece was so wonderfully written that I found myself entranced with NightWhisper25's writing style. The dialogue was, as aforementioned, incredibly realistic, and never once did I find myself cringing at corny lines or overused cliches. Moreover, the POV switches in "Art of Faith" weren't confusing and repetitive like they often are in many other stories.

NightWhisper25 is definitely an author to look out for, and her story "Art of Faith" is one of the best I have read. Truly a masterpiece, "Art of Faith" will leave you both incredibly satisfied and desperate for another chapter. Give "Art of Faith" a chance- I promise, you will be just as blown away as I am.

My Entity

My Entity by Jennifer Leigh
My name is Ashley Burcham, and I am a typical sixteen-year-old girl. At least I was. Before the entity invaded my brain.

Banner Credit: Casey

Ariana Thinks: Told in the first person, the narrator of "My Entity," Ashley, has a voice that draws you in right away. Her cynical view on life and self-imposed seclusion from society make her a unique character, but despite her rants about the evils of conformity, Ashley remains a loveable character. Throughout the story, Ashley grows as a person, maturing in part due to the presence of an entity inside her brain that helps her overcome her insecurities. Her witty, sometimes dark brand of humor make her thoughts a pleasure to read, and her seemingly random tangents just flesh her character out further. Her interactions with her friends, a "Hot Guy" from her school, people at the coffee shop she frequents, and the voice inside her head vary between hilarious and heartbreaking, but are also always realistic.

The plot of "My Entity" is amazingly creative and gripping, too. Throughout the story, an air of mystery surrounds the origins of the voice inside Ashley's head and how he fits into her world. Gav, the voice in Ashley's head, has an interesting past that catches up to him in a big way, resulting in action-packed twists and turns in the plot. You will undoubtedly find yourself holding your breath as you hope that Ashley and Gav can have a happy ending. "My Entity" not only grabs your attention but retains it as well. As aforementioned, its unique tone of narration, mysterious plot, and realistic characters make it a must-read.

Crash and Burn

Crash and Burn by rosieroo
He’s the sexy singing superstar. She’s his old high school sweetheart. After four years, fate throws them together again. She may still be in love with him, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to convince her that they’re meant to be

Banner Credit: Melissa

Ariana Thinks: When I first started reading "Crash and Burn," I worried that my high expectations (which were formed from reading its amazing prequel "Not So Crash Hot") would not be met. From the first chapter though, I could see that this would not be the case. "Crash and Burn" was both humorous and interesting, and I found myself flipping through every chapter with rapid speed, unable to tear my eyes away from the computer screen.
On top of having an amazing plot filled with witty repertoire and hilarious dialogue, "Crash and Burn" has well-developed, realistic characters that I found myself heavily invested in. Even though I haven't gone through the same situations as the protagonist Reagan has, her emotions and feelings are portrayed so realistically that it wasn't difficult for me to enter her world. It doesn't hurt that Reagan has a vivacious personality that is conveyed through her hilarious narrative voice.

In many stories, the female protagonist loses her personality and wit in the presence of her crush and turns into a mindless zombie. I can assure you that this is not the case in "Crash and Burn," however. If anything, Reagan becomes more quirky and intelligence in Logan's presence. Four years after the end of "Not so Crash Hot," Reagan and Logan have grown and changed as characters. However, the one thing that has remained steadfastly the same is their amazing chemistry together. Logan and Reagan's relationship may have tons of ups and downs, but their connection with each other is undeniable.

The only real drawback to "Crash and Burn" is that it can be hard to follow without any background knowledge. I would recommend reading or skimming "Not So Crash Hot" before reading "Crash and Burn," but trust me, it is well worth it! All in all, "Crash and Burn's" original plot, realistic characters, and hilarious repertoire, will leave you desperate for more chapters. You definitely won't regret reading it!