Glances into the Minds of the Unfortunate

Glances into the Minds of the Unfortunate by DevonnyAuriel
I suddenly developed the ability of telepathy with men. But not charming men. No, I can only communication with nerds. And if that wasn't bad enough they've now deemed me their matchmaker. God, just smite me now.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Before it's devastatingly long hiatus, Glances Into
the Minds of the Unfortunate was one of my favorite ongoing stories. Now that it's back and better than ever, I'm excited to say I can now throw this recommendation at you without feeling guilty.

Kaylehn Davies is, as she puts it, a bitch. She really only has a few friends, all of which barely can seem to put up with her most of the time, and her reputation with men seems to precedes her. After she passes out from getting her ears pierced, Kaylehn discovers she can hear people's thoughts. Of course, it's not as grand as it seems; she can only hear the thoughts of seemingly nerdy men. Why? She doesn't know. But she'll use her new found gift to help out a potential love interest and maybe fall in love along the way.

I know some people who find this story off-putting simply for the fact that they hate the main character - for me this was not true. I think Kaylehn, although annoying and rude at times, is constantly learning as a character. Through her relationship with Ray and his friends, her preformed "nerd" generalizations are dissolving. While she still isn't exactly a basket of roses, she's a funny character who deep deep deep down has a good heart.

Although, I'm notorious amongst my friends for loathing love triangles, this might be the first instance in which I truly had no preference as to which guy the main character ended up with. Both Ray and Ren compliment Kaylehn's personality in different ways and each interaction with the two brothers constantly challenge Kaylehn to be different.

Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date

Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date by DevonnyAuriel
I give every guy a chance but I knew in the first five minutes that I would never date Owen. I was set to make a clean get-away, he didn't even have my number. Of course, things change when you rear-end his car.
Banner Credit: Marta

Melissa Thinks: Marina takes a chance and agrees to go out with a guy she waited on only to find out that he seems to either have the worst luck ever or he's the biggest asshole she's ever met because, as the title suggests, it's the worst date she's ever been on. And if that isn't enough to put her in a bad mood, as she's making her get-away, she crashes into his car.

I liked this one shot for it's slightly longer length, it's comedic tones, and the cute characters. When the story begins, Marina doesn't feel like Owen and her have any chance of connecting. In fact, I would go as far as to say she finds him annoying. As the story progresses and the two characters are forced to interact more, the chemistry grows and it becomes even more apparent that Marina and Owen are meant to give it another go.

"Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date" was different, but at the same time pretty realistic as far as dialogue and plot. This one shot is a charming version of the "date gone bad" cliche.

Homewrecker for the Hospitalized

Homewrecker for the Hospitalized by FizzyLizzy
It would have been the most perfect, heart-to-goo-inducing couple had I not butted my sorry ass into it.
Banner Credit: Anita

Melissa Thinks: This quirky story has actually been one of my
favorites for a long time. "Homewrecker for the Hospitalised" is a unique one shot about a girl who volunteers at a hospital and through her work there she meets a rather annoying, but attractive, patient. The story is narrated the main character, Delia, who is honestly one of the strangest characters I've ever encountered (in a good way). All the dialogue is brilliantly funny without being over the top, as is the narration. The plot of the story, while a tiny bit unrealistic, is meant to be lighthearted and comedic - so this won't be something you'll have to become too invested in to enjoy.

Half Your Age Plus Seven

Half Your Age Plus Seven by Measuremylifeincoffeespoons

What was that rule again? Half your age plus seven? You can’t go below that. If I’m 18, half is 9. Crap, where's my calculator? Okay, 9 plus 7 is 16…and he is 15. 15.5! I mean, should I round up? Or not? What’s six months? That should be fine..ah, hell.
Banner Credit: Helen

Melissa Thinks: “Half Your Age Plus Seven” was probably one of the first Fictionpress stories that I ever fell in love with. There’s not very much that I can say about it except that you all need to read it now. It’s brimming with so much charm and humor that the little mistakes don’t even matter to me. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite clichéd stories.

It’s only been six days since Gracie realized that she’s hopelessly attracted to her best friend’s little brother, and already she feels as if she’s ready to explode. So, does she act on her feelings and forever feel like a pedophile, or does she forget that he’s three years younger - that he’s her best friends brother - that she’s already had enough heartbreak, and make her move?

Alessandra, Protector of Man

Alessandra, Protector of Man by star123
What's the point of being mildly magical if no-one, not even your deliciously handsome best friend, appreciates it? Especially when said best friend has invited you to meet his new girlfriend under the strict instructions that you're not to be weird...
Banner Credit: Atramento

Rosie Thinks: This summary really caught my attention - how many times have I been told not to be weird when meeting new people? I can sympathise. But I'm not weird like our protagonist Aly is. When the summary says she's 'mildly magical', it's very much literal. Aly can sense when someone is about to get very mildly injured, which is one of the strangest powers I've ever heard of!

'Alessandra, Protector of Man' starts off with Aly being brought along to meet her best friend's new girlfriend. Unfortunately, Aly is in love with her best friend WIll and has been for many years, so this is definitely somewhat painful for her. Some girl/best friend stories can get so repetitive that I know the general storyline, but not in this story's case. This one has a totally sweet ending and the added element of strange superpowers just added on to this story's uniqueness.

This story isn't complicated or angsty or dark at all - it's short and so very sweet, and I think star123 tied the whole thing together so neatly. It all happens in pretty much one scene but if you want a one-shot to make you feel like rainbows and bubbles, this is where you'll find it. And, of course, star123 writes brilliantly and I can't fault one thing in her writing.

Pretty Shade of Grey

Pretty Shade of Grey by Alyn Drasil
Two unusual people result in an equally unusual relationship. rated for language.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Alyn Drasil (the author of several other well known slash stories, including In Manitou) tells the heartwarming story of Vaan and Saul, two college kids who end up finding solace in one another after realizing that their strangely unusual relationship could be worth more to each other than anything else.

Right off the bat the author hits you with their strong voice and unforgettable character development. The chapters are pretty compact, about ten thousand words each, but there's only thirteen in total and so it's quite easy to get lost in the bulk of the story. This does, however, seem to be one of those ones that you can gobble up in one day without even realizing how much time has passed.

Literal slash perfection in under 130,000 words, Pretty Shades of Grey can warm even your coldest days with its bright humor, compelling characters, and stellar (b)romance. I can't even begin to explain how much I love this story - I encourage everyone to read it!

Boys and Other Useless Things

Boys and Other Useless Things by The Smile Machine
Meet Gabriel, the sexy nymphomaniac. Will, the cunning genius. And Max, the charming fool. This is the story of the three frat boys who thought they knew everything about the female sex...until they met the women who could tame them.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Marta Thinks: Cute and funny, "Boys and Other Useless Things" easily makes you smile. The premise is fairly simple and explained well in the summary. But let me just summarize very quickly what you will find: three charming males, three women who are perfect for them, and three amazing tales. The third one has yet to come out, but it doesn't take a fortune-teller to figure out that it will be a good one.

The best thing about The Smile Machine’s piece it is that it can do two things – satisfy your inner cliché lover and also offer you plots that are never exactly the same. And that's a very, very good thing.

How High

How High by Euphoralie
Add: One slightly psychotic, self proclaimed huntress, one snarky and attractive new partner, and a mess of trouble with far too many firearms. Throw in a dash of mysterious stalker and annoying sibling. Blend. Bake with an oven full of mythical creatures.
Banner Credit: Amy

Marta Thinks: Euphorialie's “How High” is original and entertaining, with engaging dialogue and a refreshing plot. The story was made of the very best sort of fabric - largely thanks to its extremely well written and well thought of characters, who almost seemed more real than actual people. The ending, in my opinion, was the cherry on the cake. It was true to the characters, and who they were; it didn't rush anything, and this allowed it to be realistic (as realistic as a supernatural story can be). That is the greatest sort of ending, and that was present here.

I suppose the best thing I can say about “How High”, however, is that I truly and honestly had fun reading it. It may sound like a very banal comment, but I assure you that you can enjoy and admire a story – and not have fun reading it. This doesn’t happen in “How High”. Trust me.

Turbulence

Turbulence by sunshinedoll

Note to self: If you hate flying, don’t sit next to a ridiculous cute boy with a hitched smile, a freckled face, and an obnoxious laugh… especially if it’s a boy you dropped a suitcase on.

Banner Credit: Marta

Brittany Thinks: I've been fortunate enough to travel rather frequently and Turbulence is the fantasy I have every time that I'm bored in an airport. The story takes place entirely on a plane from Denver to Los Angeles. The protagonist is an unnamed speaker who has to be the clumsiest, most anxious person to ever exist. However, I found the predicaments resulting from how accident prone she is to be very endearing. I laughed each time she did something to dig herself an even deeper hole. The unnamed boy seated next to her on the plane is the unfortunate bearer of all of her mistakes and a huge source of comic relief.

There isn't much dialogue in this story, which I sometimes find daunting, but sunshinedoll does an impeccable job of establishing character connections through actions. The story is easy to relate to as sunshinedoll creates a narrative that is very human. Everyone has made a mistake before and become so frazzled by it that chaos erupts around them. The humor that is the end result of the speaker's tumultuous day makes the story, in my opinion. I still have a smile on my face. If you're interested in a cute, funny, one shot before school or work, give turbulence a try. May we all be so lucky the next time we're on a plane.

Scrapyard Sally

Scrapyard Sally by Findus

Pinstriped yuppie scumbag Felix Hern is scheming to get his greedy lily-whites on Sally's debt-ridden scrapyard. But Sally Sullivan eats snooty city-boys for breakfast. Or she would, if he weren't already all over her bacon. 

Banner Credit: MajordlyFantastic

Rosie Thinks: From reading just the summary, I could tell that this story was going to have personality - and I was right. Sally is such a well characterised MC, utterly hilarious and so unique. The story opens with Sally and her Sun Tzu-spouting friend Dino playing 'fat-boy smackdown', and that definitely set the tone for this truly one-of-a-kind story. Sal Sullivan (ie, Sally) is the proud owner of a scrapyard inherited from her late father. Unfortunately, thanks to her dad's debts, it's about to go into forclosure - and this is where Felix Hearn comes in, with his city slicker ways. Sally, very concisely, describes him as a 'blood-sucking corporate sleazebag'. Their interactions are amazing, superbly written, and I just love how Felix deals with Sally.

Every character in this story stands out to me. Honestly, Findus is brilliant at characterisation and manages to create unique personalities for even the minor characters. Sally's character is out-of-this-world-amazing, and so Findus without a doubt deserves the SKoW award won for Best MC Portrayal (Judge's Pick).

I love how this story avoids so many overused cliches. Example one: hot girl dresses MC up for a date, MC astounds everyone with hidden beauty. This cliche starts off, but definitely does not end in the usual way. The only problem I found was that for some strange reason, chapter 5 was posted again as chapter 8. Everything else - the writing, grammar, punctuation - was pretty much spot on. The writing is super quirky but it certainly draws you in and makes sure you may attention to the smallest details. This story is hilarious, eccentric, and so distinctive - I'll definitely be following it from now on!

Kissing Booth Princess

Kissing Booth Princess by hotcheri

"Pucker up, princess," he murmured, grazing his lips temptingly over Nala's as he spoke. Manning a kissing booth during summer led to stolen phones, mall encounters, phone smushing and more. Manning a kissing booth led Nala to Chase. 
Banner Credit: Melissa

Ali Thinks: Nala; our heroine and the princess mentioned in the title; has been forced to co-man a kissing booth at the local fair by her Mother as a method of getting over the fact that her almost boyfriend had chosen her best friend over her. Honestly, she would be anywhere else than kissing strangers so she leaves the kissing up to the original kissing princess, Deanna. This plan works great until Deanna decides to take a break. So what is she to do when a cute guy comes up demanding a kiss, because her tee shirt does say ‘kiss me’ even if she’s refusing to do it, and Deanna is nowhere to be seen?

The best thing about this story is that despite how far-fetched some of the plot line comes across, Hotcheri makes you believe that this could genuinely happen in someone’s life one day. Why would a hot guy not come up to a person on a kissing booth, share hilarious banter with them before accidentally leaving his phone on the table after sharing a very hot kiss that he has paid for?

One of my main highlights to this story is that the characters are a hundred per cent three dimensional and completely relatable. This is thanks to Hotcheri’s fantastic writing that manages to portray every single emotion perfectly. The reader can feel the torment that Nala is in when she’s trying to be civil to her best friend that stole her almost boyfriend, the reader can feel the rush of emotions; usually giddiness with me; when the two leads start flirting outrageously over the stolen mobiles.

With only ten chapters, characters that make you fall in love and a plot that stands by itself, ‘Kissing Booth Princess’ is a story that you will not only be addicted to from the very first chapter but one you will want to read again and again.

Tabby Cat

Tabby Cat by Danielle Night

It is not acceptable for a proper young miss to A) enter a tavern, B) not wear mourning colours when in mourning and C) kiss a man she's not related to. But then, fate usually has the upper hand over propriety.
Banner Credit: Marta

Marta Thinks: This was an extremely refreshing read. The story was short and snappy, but not lacking in action. It had tension and
kept my attention throughout the whole plot. There was a meaning for every word and each character was extremely well developed. Everything was necessary and nothing was unnecessary.

Moreover, Tabitha and Melvin were the sort of couple you couldn’t help but root for. Their relationship was unique. They didn’t have the common formula of being an arrogant hero and a bickering heroine, but managed to make me fall in love with them with their sweet ways. But don’t let me waste your time explaining why I liked it. Go read it. You’ll be left like me, astonished and amazed…completely and utterly blown away.

Boys Suck and Other Crackpot Theories

Boys Suck and Other Crackpot Theories by The 2nd Mrs de Winter

“See, Kyle likes Kim, Kim likes Mike and Mike likes me.” “Who do you like?” “I like meaningless impersonal sex. But I’m on the wagon right now. I’ve taken a vow of celibacy.”
Banner Credit: Alyssa

Ali Thinks:  Boys Suck and Other Crackpot Theories was one of those stories that I had seen around in my days on Fictionpress, but never really took a gander at. Let me tell you something, I'm glad I finally turned that blue link purple.

First of all, every section starts off with a different one of Nina's "crackpot" theories, based on whatever would happen in its chapter. Some of them actually made tears come out of my eyes because I was laughing so hard.

Nina had a very strong voice, and her personality and philosophies stayed constant throughout the story, even with all of the changes she was unknowingly going through in her relationships. The way she reacted to the obstacles she had to face was in character, and even if I didn't agree with the way she handled something, I highly appreciated the fact that she stayed in character.

Despite all of its good points, I did have a major problem with this story. Quite frankly, the grammar drove me bonkers. Some of it was just punctuation abuse, which may just be a pet peeve of mine and not an actual problem, but there were also a lot of spelling mistakes that could have been remedied with a quick edit.

All in all, Boys Suck and Other Crackpot Theories was an entertaining read, and regardless of its faults, its merits do outweigh them; I would highly encourage this story to anyone who was looking for a good laugh.

Quest for Quiche

Quest for Quiche by invisible.writer
We've all read it, heard it, been there, done that but I am still looking for my cliche, and I will leave no rock unturned, no tree uprooted until I find mine.

Banner Credit: Casey

Belinda Thinks: As much as we love a good cliché here at ADoR, I’m willing to bet that Erin, our protagonist here, loves them more. Her obsession with potential clichéd romance is extensive and engrossing, dominating her opinions about classes, friends and potential after-school activities. Erin is a well-drawn caricature of the female attraction to the formulaic romance in her desire to be “ravished” so that her fairytale can begin.

She’s looking for a nice jock, or a sexy nerd, or really any of the myriad high school stereotypes available, completely ignoring the one guy who is constant in her life, Thaddeus. His refuses to be contained in a box frustrates her - he isn’t a genius, he isn’t dumb, he isn't a jock, or a musician, and he has friends in all the main social groups at school. How is someone so "normal" supposed to make a girl swoon?

Although Erin can be a little grating with her single-mindedness, and we can see where her romantic nature is going to lead, the story is an enjoyable read and technically flawless. The author gently makes fun of the clichés rampant in romantic fiction, taking it to extremes to make this very valid point: there’s nothing wrong with loving a normal guy.

Epics of the RubberDucky Boxers

Epics of the RubberDucky Boxers by EruptingFender9

When this boy had found me shackled to his tree in his underwear, my head pointed upwards as I yelled profanities at the top of my lungs, he had kindly untied me, and, after a brief explanation as to who I was, led me inside.
Banner Credit: Amy

Rosie Thinks: With a name like 'Epics of the RubberDucky Boxers', I couldn't help but like this story. This story is like a breath of fresh air, what with a completely original premise. Megan is a scout for a travel club, checking out a house when she loses a dare and ends up chained to a tree in some random boxers, thanks to her best friend Logan.

This story is only short, with three chapters and less than 15k words, but it is definitely worth a read. It made for a very cute and sweet read, with lots of hilarious moments. The three main characters - Meg, Logan and Cody - were all loveable and made the story memorable (along with the plot, of course). My only problem is that I didn't really feel the chemistry between Cody and Meg until the very end.

EruptingFender9's writing flows and has a good balance between dialogue and description. I couldn't find any errors, so there's nothing stopping you from being glued to your computer until the end. Overall, it's a great story that is developed well, even though there are only three chapters.

It Can Always Get Worse

It Can Always Get Worse by Ollie May
Spies, roommates, scars, MCATS, kisses, mafiosos. Trust me, it can ALWAYS get worse.

Banner Credit: Melissa

Brittany Thinks: I love a story that's funny without really trying to be and that's what I found in It Can Always Get Worse by Ollie May. The plot is unique in that the heroine, Lana, opens up the story having already been kidnapped by a Russian Mob boss. He then forces Lana to tell the story of how she met and became close to her best friend Antony, though the Boss' interest in her life is not fully explained. Antony was characterized brilliantly and I found myself as desperate to know more about him as Lana was. I expected this story to carry a darker tone because of Lana's situation, but the story is split perfectly between her present predicament and flashbacks of her life and friendship with Antony. Plus, she's hilarious and snarky without being overly so. Ollie May invented wonderful characters that readers can easily fall in love with and wove a story of secrets, questions, and uncertainty that will have you guessing with every chapter. I was so enthralled that I couldn't stop reading!

Fair warning: This story is incomplete and hasn't been updated since 2010. I think it's still well worth the read because, at 26 chapters and 70,000+ words, we learn a lot about the characters and their experiences. However, it does end on a cliffhanger. I certainly don't regret reading it because what she has posted thus far is amazing. Lana and Antony have a great dynamic and the supporting characters are well developed with their own sub plots to flesh out a complete universe. There's enough foreshadowing to provide an idea of where the story would have gone had Ollie May continued posting. I have hope, honestly, that it may be updated some day because a few chapters were posted with at least a two year break in between. My opinion: it's worth the risk! If you're looking for a great read, a few laughs, and an escape to a world completely different from your own, this is a story for you.

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.

Caller Unknown

Caller Unknown by She Had Somewhere to Go

So you find a phone, and you take it, because… it's a free phone, why wouldn't you? And it's pretty sweet until the angry owner starts calling you every chance he gets.
Banner Credit: Ali

Amy Thinks: I cannot tell you how many cell phones are brought to me at work that I end up putting into the lost and found pile. I have not, however, taken one and seen if the owner would call.

While having a coffee date with her best friend Carrie, Alana goes digging in couch cushions for some spare change when Carrie falls short. After finding some odd cents here and there, she comes across something that definitely isn't coin, but a cell phone. A nice, expensive phone at that. Like any normal person that goes by the concrete rule of 'finders keepers, losers weepers', she keeps the phone for her to use....at least until the owner cuts off the service. Instead, the mysterious owner calls and argues with Alana multiple times, to the point where she looks forward to the times the phone rings.

Caller Unknown is a feel good read. She Had Somewhere To Go made even the secondary characters feel like someone you either know now, or have known. The phone calls between Alana and the mystery owner are laugh out loud funny and have you excited for that next call along with the main character. After reading Opposite Ends of the Spectrum by the same author, I have no doubt in my mind of the writing ability she has. She can do drama, humor, and fluff like it's second nature.

And after this one shot, I'd bet anything that readers will go on a hunt for lost phones in hopes to find their own unknown mystery caller.

So I was Hit by a Car the Other Day

So I was Hit by a Car the Other Day by Lainiee

Lucky had resigned himself to the life of an observer. The little brother. The best friend. The sidekick. But then life decided to kick him in the balls, and dumped his twitching body into his own crappy soap opera. And a sucky one at that.
Banner Credit: Casey

Ciara Thinks: At 61 chapters long and with over 300,000 words, So I was Hit by a Car the Other Day is certainly not a story that can be read quickly, but don’t let the length put you off. For starters, Lucky’s rollercoaster life makes for an addictive and entertaining read. Lainee’s writing is really expresses Lucky’s thoughts well, with very few distracting grammar mistakes. We’re also given a range of amusing chapter title.

This story is character based and Lainee certainly treats us to a wide variety of vibrant and amusing characters. The main character Lucky (incredibly ironic name) is incredibly refreshing – he has a hilarious, sarcastic inner monologue and a unique outlook on life that comes from his difficult background. His bitterness and lack of drive to do much with his life is relatable and endears him to the reader more as, deep down, he shows that he really is a nice guy (especially in the case of the titular car accident).

We've Got A Big Mess on our Hands

We've Got A Big Mess on our Hands by pixiepoptartz

Miss Shy just wanted to get through detention. Mr. Musician just happened to notice her choking. Mr. Gorgeous New Kid just got transferred. So where does Mr. Chess Club come in? And what's with all the secrets and screw-ups?
Banner Credit: Casey

Rosie Thinks: 'We've Got a Big Mess on our Hands' starts with Lorraine getting sent to the detention from hell for speaking Spanish in her Italian class (big no-no, apparently), and it's there that she runs into Mr Musician, aka Jayden. The story then progresses into a bit of everything, with a bit of hate/love going on between Lorraine and Jayden, and even a love triangle with Cody, the new kid.

From the first few paragraphs, Lorraine's voice is extremely strong and individual. Her sarcasm made me laugh more than a few times. Her voice was a bit eccentric and flighty at times, but it was well-written enough to keep it grounded in reality. pixiepoptartz kept the plot moving at a good pace with bucket-loads of humour thrown in, to make it even more entertaining. If you don't laugh at least once a chapter, there could be something wrong with you.

I only had two (not overly distracting) problems with this story. Having to read the same interaction twice in differing perspectives grew a bit tedious and dull, but this only happened a few times. Most of the times, both Jayden and Lorraine's POV showcased their personalities well. The plot isn't overly realistic (with the most popular guy in school and gorgeous new kid coincidentally liking her at the same time) but it still makes for a cute, funny and light read. So if you're looking for something with angst, this story probably isn't for you - but if you're looking for a story to put you in a good mood, this is it!