#Appa's recs

[plaguedstranger049]

War Games chapter 41 fanart

I DREW KAZUMA 🗣🗣💪💪 AND APPA 🗣🗣apple is the universal sign of peace

New @lovelyelbowleech war games chapter had me going crazy, had to show some love for my boy Kazuma, I already KNOW he's going to come in clutch, love him to pieces good luck shen and also hakoda and also dumpling and also appa and also sokka and

[apparentlynotreallyfinnish]

My Reading Year 2023

Yes, this is very late, but last year was the first year I kept a spreadsheet tracking my reading and it was always my plan to do a little post about my stats. So, better late than never, right?

(yes, I know this is only interesting to me and possibly one of my friends here)

[midnightpink]

That Midnight Sky

read it here on ao3

In Zuko’s strict family, needing a tutor is just about the worst thing you could do. Failing a class, however, is even worse. The only rational solution? Take up Aang on his offer to find him a physics tutor and have Sokka—beautiful, smart, handsome Sokka—tutor him in secret.

When Azula’s arrival threatens to reveal Zuko’s secret, it’s up to Sokka to convince her this definitely isn’t what it looks like. See, he’s actually… Zuko’s… boyfriend?

Hmm. There’s no way this could get complicated, right?

by: zukkababey

Words: 103,015, Chapters: 16/16, Language: English 

Series: Part 1 of now i've got you in my space (i won't let go of you) 

Collections: ATLA Big Bang 2020

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Azula (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Teo (Avatar), Haru (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar), Momo (Avatar), Appa (Avatar)

Relationship: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s), Toph Beifong & Sokka, Aang & Zuko (Avatar)

Additional Tags: Minor Aang/Katara, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - College/University, Tutoring, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Strangers to Lovers, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Bisexual Sokka (Avatar), Gay Zuko (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar) Being a Terrible Parent, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Canonical Child Abuse, Mentions of Cancer, Azula (Avatar) Redemption, Fluff, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, oblivious idiots, Hurt/Comfort

[mishy-mashy]

With—

some comments/thoughts that I'll try to keep big-spoiler-free,

the status of completion with the # of chapters at the time of writing this,

and a snippet of each's writing (my standard for rezero insert fics is set low so you can get a preview and judge for yourself);

List of RZ fics that've been recommended, in order of chronological rec

===============

- Re:Reader by Kaip0 on fanfiction.net (Rem X Male! Reader that Returns by Death with Subaru)

Comments:

I'm thinking it was written to go against "I love Emilia"

Reader can speak about Return By Death

Ends at the end of arc 3. Author has no more stories, nor anything that continues it

STATUS: Completed (109/109)

- A Matter of the Heart by Shimosu on AO3 (Julius X magician OC that's forced into knighthood)

Comments:

Includes, and starts with, original events and EX Novel 4

OC is OP but also... not. I guess it's more of her potential that makes her OP?

Probably written with Gluttony in mind (losing existence, what's left of the victims, JULIUS, etc.)

STATUS: Ongoing (13/?)

- Glass of Appa Juice, Sir? by RadiantVoid on Fanfiction.net and AO3, under the same handle (OC with a Divine Protection can see death counts)

Comments:

Sentences following dialogue get confusing because it's not always the actual speaker, but someone else. It's hard to explain, so as an example;

"I hope you trip on your way in." Otto winced.

"Please don't say such things!" Ram snorted.

OC is similar to Otto, in that he's just some guy trying to survive the shenanigans that come with the Emilia Camp's mere existence

Ends between arc 4 and 5. It's recent, which is nice (published in May 2023, finished September 20 2023 [writing this as of Sept. 28, 2023])

STATUS: Completed (17/17)

Made this a long time ago and I forgot to post it

Does anyone have Re:Zero fic recs? Not the ones with rewriting Subaru or exploring an AU but like- one with a reader or an OC or even a good crossover?

[tusswrites]

Associated Networks :

@thediamondlifenetwork

@k-fic-collection

@kvanity-main

@svthub

Seventeen Masterlist

💙 -> Personal Favorite

👻 -> Fic Recs

👀 -> Ao3

Latest Fic(s)

........

Upcoming Fics 👻

😇 Love Amidst A Massacre (Teaser) (A, F) Yoon Jeonghan

General Heejin's imperial edict has rolled out calling for the ruthless annihilation of the North nations to purge out foreign blood. Determined to escape the hellish dream, Jeonghan has formulated a plan to let his family flee. Except, your deviousness surpasses him. Hell’s fury will pale in comparison to tihe storm that will be unleashed when Jeonghan uncovers you were masquerading as a man all this while. You watch with anguished eyes as the man you had sworn eternity to, slowly uncovers himself in ways you had never imagined him to be.

🐈‍⬛ Mr. Steal Your Girl Man (Jeon Wonwoo ft Jeon Jungkook)

After having shared some of the best moments in life with your best friend, you'd think your husband would be a little jealous. Apparently Jungkook eradicates any rationality where he is involved. Turns out you are the third wheel in the relationship.

Domestic Series Masterlist

A compilation of already written works and future WIPS consisting of Seventeen as fathers, husbands, and uncles!

Fallen From Grace - (F, A) (Slice of Life Series , Dad Cheol)

Disgraced prodigal son, fallen from grace in a nationwide scandal, husband to a widowed mother, father to three young ones. Chaos ensues.

🍒 Into Your Arms - F 🍒 The Scarlet Dress Debacle - A, F (💙) 🍒 The Appa, The Piglet and The Tanghulu

😇 Crumpled Confessions and Then Some More (A)

😇 More Angst (pt 2) (A)

😇 A Walk Down Memory Mane (F)

😇 Love Amidst A Massacre (Teaser) (A, F)

General Heejin's imperial edict has rolled out calling for the ruthless annihilation of the North nations to purge out foreign blood. Determined to escape the hellish dream, Jeonghan has formulated a plan to let his family flee. Except, your deviousness surpasses him. Hell’s fury will pale in comparison to the storm that will be unleashed when Jeonghan uncovers you were masquerading as a man all this while. You watch with anguished eyes as the man you had sworn eternity to, slowly uncovers himself in ways you had never imagined him to be.

🦌 Like A Red, Red Rose (ft Baby Seungkwan)💙 (Angst with a capital A)

Joshua watches as the last of the petals ebb away and concludes its time to move on, following the video tape he's stumbled upon.

🦌 Some Nights - (F)

When laundry day takes a turn for the worse—fast

Look at the empty!

welp.. I promise I love him.. I will get working.. soon!

Bun In The Oven - F (3k)

How to not tell your idiot husband how your idiot self got pregnant because of him.

🐈‍⬛Part 1

🐈‍⬛Part 2

🐈‍⬛ Premium Period Pants - F

Wonwoo wants to twin for the wrong reasons.

🐈‍⬛ Sold For A Soul (i) - A, F (💙) (14k)

Making bargains with the Devil in exchange for a chance to glory.

🐈‍⬛ Taming the Tempest (���)A, F (3.7k)

When the angriest girl from high school settles for the quietest boy from uni

umm.. sorry about the emptiness

⚔️ Echoes Within The Heart's Battlefield (A,F) (💙)

Seokmin is taken away the first time he sees you play dress up as the mystery lady from 'Aurora Nights' and astounded the next time he sees you gnaw on his leftover remnants by the trash bin. His meddlesome persona begins to play and under the web of lies he's woven , he finds out he's falling in love with you, inevitably breaking his promises one by one. Faced with the truth do you run away like it's been ingrained into you or do you stay?

🐶 In Every Lifetime, We'll Be Together (A,F)

Peak of his career, looking down he sees everything everywhere all at once. Except you. You have slipped between the cracks. Sophie's choice except it's Mingyu's this time.

🐶 Part 1

🐶 Part 2

🐶 Head Empty (drabble)

Ponder at the void!

🍊 A Bootiful, Bountiful Christmas (F)

🐼 Bra Snapper (drabble)

🦦 Rise From The Shadows (Teaser)

Tag yourself in the comments if you want to be added to the taglist!

If I see a blank or ageless blog, I will block you.

[thegaangneedstherapy]

ZUKKA FANFIC REC

air nomad pet-sitting for beginners

“Okay,” Sokka says when it’s clear Zuko isn’t going to attempt to salvage the situation. “I guess we’ll just babysit Appa and Momo together, then.”

He isn’t quite sure why the thought of spending the week alone with Zuko fills him with such panic, but it’s certainly a question he’ll return to…some other time.

or: Sokka and Zuko are enlisted to watch Appa and Momo at the Western Air Temple. What could possibly go wrong?

[leafy-m]

Hi Jade, I hope you don't mind if I throw some book recommendations in your ask here, but I do book recommendations all day at work and I saw the tags on the visible mending post and I was like oh man. I know what I must do.

Simply Sashiko - 9784805316245 (by a Japanese author and even comes with templates!)

Visible Mending - 9781837830732 (goes over multiple techniques with different types of fabric)

Sashiko + Color - 9781644031070 (a translation from a Japanese crafting publication, and gives ideas for fun accessories to make and new twists on common stitches, but probably a good source to have for inspiration!)

🤩🤩🤩 Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for these! 💖💖 These book recs are just what I need. When it comes to hand-crafts I've always been more into crochet, so mending clothes and sewing/embroidering (that isn't like. Chain stitching Appa's arrow lmao) is outside my wheel of knowledge.

I can't wait to look these up 💖 Thank you again!!

[purplesimmer455]

Biyu leaves, and Megan checks in on Iseul. "Are you okay?" She asks gently as she sees Iseul standing just outside the rec center and looking forlorn. "No," Iseul admits, rubbing the back of her head as Megan bites her lip. "It's hitting me that my umma and appa won't be at my wedding. It's stupid because I know they’ve been gone for two decades but I really wish they could be here." She says, Megan gently puts her hands on Iseul's arms. "Oh, Issy, it's not stupid. You miss them and it's okay to have wanted them at your wedding and feeling sad that they can’t be." She says, and Iseul nods and hugs Megan tightly. Megan hugs her back, rubbing Iseul’s back gently, and Iseul sighs. "A part of me keeps thinking maybe I should’ve married earlier so they could’ve been there, and I would’ve had that memory with them.” She says, and Megan shakes her head. “I know, but it wouldn’t have been right if it was with someone you didn’t love like you love Gracie’.” Megan says.

Iseul bites her lip as she and Megan pull apart and she looks into Megan’s eyes, her hands still on Megan’s back and Megan’s hands on her shoulders*. “What if I had married you? Because I loved you so much, and my parents were over the moon about you too.” Iseul says before she can think it through, and Megan’s breath catches in her throat. “I-I know, but Iseul I don’t know if we should be talking about this. I loved you too but you’re getting married to Grace and I’m with Tessie and we’re both happy, and bringing this up now doesn’t seem like a good idea.” She says firmly and Iseul drops her gaze. Iseul nods, feeling sheepish as she and Megan both suddenly step back from each other. “You’re right, Megs. Fuck. I’m so sorry for making it awkward.” Iseul says, running a hand through her hair. “No, it’s okay.” Megan says. “Thanks though, Megs, for listening to me.” Iseul says to combat the awkward silence. “I’m your best friend, Issy, of course.” Megan says in a joking tone, but her heart races as she thinks of what Iseul said.

[teashoptiramisu]

Fluffy fanfic rec list

On one of my Discord servers people were talking about how people seem more likely to recommend angsty fic, so I decided to put together a fluff rec list, just for fun! This is gonna be a variety of fandoms, wordcount length, genres, etc. -- the common factor is I like ‘em and they turned up when I search “fluff” in my bookmarks. I’ll point out if any are nsfw

ATLA

see your son rising at last by aloneintherain --  ATLA -- 6.5k words -- Iroh & Zuko 5+1 things fic  

North by ryfkah -- ATLA -- 300 words -- short & sweet Appa POV fic

definitely not suspicious at all in the least by presumenothing -- ATLA -- 1k words -- post-canon Gaang shenanigans

All The Gentle Creatures by Haicrescendo -- ATLA -- 10k words -- animals love Zuko, he’s basically a Disney Princess

Yuri!!! On Ice

see you next level by verity -- YoI -- 1.5k words -- Yuuri, Viktor & Phichit get drunk & watch TV, Yuuri & Viktor continue to be the most adorably sappy couple

Friendship!!! Is Magic by afrai -- YoI & OHSHC -- 10k words -- Yuuri & Haurhi meet at a conference and become friends. Viktor & Tamaki make fools of themselves (but what else is new)

Howl’s Moving Castle (mostly bookverse)

Second Time Lucky by labellementeuse -- HMC -- 5.5k words -- Howl & Sophie plan their wedding (lol i spelled that “weeding” on the first try... also accurate). As you might expect for these two it doesn’t go without some hiccups.

Could it be magic? by SpiritedYoungLady -- HMC -- 500 words -- Howls comes back from night with the rugby club, and Sophie is unamused

Fulllmetal Alchemist (mostly bhood/manga)

All That Describes a Joyful Heart by anthrop  -- FMA -- 3k words -- Hohenheim & Trisha cook together during a winter storm & they are simply TOO ADORABLE. Features some Xerxian cultural headcanons inspired by Nowruz (Persian New Year) traditions!

And They Were ROOMMATES by Turbulent_Muse -- FMA -- 30k words -- Modern AU in which college student!Ling moves into a haunted house, but since the rent is too good to pass up, he decides to try and befriend the demon. Greedling friendship & adventure fic.

Science for People Who Hate Science by Tierfal -- FMA -- 66k words -- Royed Modern AU, but even if you dislike that ship you might want to give this one a chance; it’s really more of an origfic about two characters losely inspired by Roy & Ed. They run a goofy educational youtube channel and are two dorks in love. Al shows up to make fun of them sometimes. It’s a good time!

The Sleeping Horror of Whiskerford by Eltea -- FMA -- 3.5k words -- another modern AU, in which the gang (Ed, Al, Winry, Riza, Roy, Hughes) plays D&D. Worth it for Ed’s character sheet alone, but overall just a hilarious & fun time.

A Clowder of Cats by Batsutousai -- FMA -- 4k words -- post-canon (a more-or-less canon universe fic for once!), Al settles down and adopts a bunch of cats (AS HE DESERVES)

Teen Wolf

the butt is a gift by lazulisong -- Teen Wolf -- 1.5k words -- Stiles is pinned to the couch by cats. I think this is part of a larger AU but tbh I don’t care: Stiles, cats, relatable dilemmas, what more do I need?

When the Bough Breaks by The Feels Whale (miscellea) -- Teen Wolf -- 12k words -- A bit of a weird one, but sometimes I like my TW fic weird. post-canon-ish/canon-divergence with endgame Sterek; Stiles is on the outs with Derek’s pack until they learn that he’s adopted a baby, and then they’re suddenly all over to dote on her. I actually really mostly liked this for Stiles’ single parent struggles and (platonic) relationship with the baby’s birth mother, the werewolf stuff & romance was cute but mostly incidental.

Misc fandoms

it's a new craze by attheborder -- Good Omens -- 5k words -- Crowley & Aziraphale start an advice podcast

Hot Springs and New Beginnings by CorundumBleu -- Hollow Knight -- 3k words -- in a good ending universe, Quirrel, the Knight, and The Last Stag relax at a hot springs and discuss hopes for the future. I recommend looking through CorundumBleu’s other HK fics as well -- there’s a couple other good fluff fics in there and some most angsty but still amazing stories! (I’m biased: CB is my sister & I helped edit these, but still, I think they’re great!)

Sufficient by atheilen -- The Goblin Emperor -- 2k words -- deaged!Maia; in which everyone and particularly Beshelar shows how much they care for and cherish Maia.

Sick Day by avg (AnxiousEspada) -- The Murderbot Diaries -- 4k words -- Overse & Arada are sick; Ratthi and later Murderbot visit to help them out. “To everyone’s surprise, a feverish Overse is SecUnit approved humor-fuel.” (P.S. if you like this fic consider checking out my sequel to it!)

Thrilling Night! Romantic Adventure at the Video Rental Store! by Masu_Trout --  Undertale -- 2.5k words -- wonderful Outsider POV of an employee at a video rental store who gets the admittedly uncertain priviledge of helping Alphys and Undyne pick out a movie to rent for their date night. I’m still not over the movie they end up picking, OMG.

Gonna add a reblog with BNHA, Natsuyu, Gravity Falls, and maybe some HP recs tomorrow.

Also, if you like these fics and know of more like them, feel free to let me know! I’m always taking fic recs (I’m slow to get around to them but I WILL save your recs for later) :P

[apinchofm]

Fic Rec Friday?

The Prettiest Star by DellaTrue (@justlaurabee)

Such cute little Kate fluff in which she wants her appa to have a wife and finds a princess. T, Fluffy AF, Kate POV

sunday waiting by @phantomphaeton

This fic!! Sophie and Benedict are electric. Just read it! T, Benophie, AU and it's better than the book.

The Three Futures by 1thy_truth_is_won0 (@angel-starbeam)

Love this! Any Gwen/Arthur AU fic makes me sob in the best way. G, reincarnation and Arthurian myth, AU

What We Have Together by DellaTrue (@justlaurabee)

Kate has a one night stand and comes back with a baby! She just doesn't know the father's name but she has her mama and sister! M, WiP, Fluff and Angst, modern AU

Curtain Story: The super serious, dark, dramatic and heroic rivalry of Miles Bridgerton and Charles Bridgerton by @orangepeelshortbreadcookies

Such a fun exploration into the minds of children featuring a cuteness rivalry, plotting kiddos and a stoned babysitter. G, Fluff and Humour, Modern AU

[the-power-of-stuff]

I hope this isn't weird but I'm so glad I found this blog. I'm new to Avatar Sokka/Suki and I had no idea there was so much already out there. Thank you (and for the fic rec list) but can you tell me how you got into them?

Omg, no, this isn't weird at all!! I'm legitimately so happy to hear you say this, like...no joke, this has kinda been my dream for the past few years and is basically the reason I've been attempting to curate Sukka stuff the way that I do. So...yay!!

Which ties nicely into how I got into them, I guess!

So, like a lot of other folks, I got back into ATLA during the 2020 Renaissance when the animated show got put on Netflix. And while I'd always liked Sokka (he was one of my top 3 faves when I first watched the show years ago, behind Appa and Iroh), this time around, I got really attached to him. Something about his sense of humor was hitting just right (my husband has a similar sense of humor but we'll just ignore that and move along *innocent whistling*). And then watching him grow over the course of the series and gain all these badass skills and become a competent leader...it drew me in hard. So of course, given how endeared I was to him, I just really wanted him to get to kiss his super awesome girlfriend as much as possible.

I also think there was something about this, like...really tender, playful, healthy portrayal of a romantic relationship that I found compelling. I gush a lot about their casual intimacy. How they'll be on the sidelines of a scene but still touching one another. Or how easy and carefree they are when they tease each other. But because their romance is relatively subtle and in the background of the main action of the story, it also left me wanting more. So of course I went to AO3, and I was like "AO3, gimme all the Sokka Suki kissing stories." But unfortunately I burned through what I found way too quickly.

(Just for fun, I did an "otp:true" search on AO3 for Sukka just now, and only ~70 of the 289 fics that currently meet that criteria were published pre-Renaissance. The fact that that number has quadrupled in the past four years is thrilling to me! But it also gives you an idea of what the Sukka landscape was like then.)

So yeah, I started writing Sukka fic to fill the Sukka-shaped hole in my gut, and it's been sort of self-reinforcing ever since then. I couldn't stop thinking about them, so I started writing about them, but writing about them means I just keep thinking about them, etc etc... And I've been here ever since! Plus I've made some really good friends from writing Sukka, and they're all such enablers. 😉

Long story short, Sukka inspired me in a way I hadn't been inspired in years. They got me writing again when, before that, I hadn't really written anything in maybe a decade. Being into Sukka is a compulsion. 😅

I'm so glad you found the fic rec list useful! I've been terrible about maintaining it lately, but you've totally inspired me to get back in there. It can be kinda frustrating going through the Sukka tag, or at least it used to be, since they so often appear as just a background ship in fics. Now there's the "otp:true" search and the "Enforce first-tagged?" browser extension that are both really effective filters. But yeah, I started that rec list partly because I wanted other Sukka fans to have an easier time finding Sukka stuff than I did! Then again, if I'd found it easier, I might not have started writing them. 😃

[inklessletter]

Hiiiii! Out of curiosity: first fandom? Fave fanfics? Favorite meal/snack/food? Any pets??

Oooh hiii thank you for asking <3

Well, I've got to confess that, apart from ST, I've never participated in any fandom as actively, or if I have, I definitely didn't know it was such a thing. I think I've always been into the Disney classics (fairy tales and their retellings, really), I think, yeah, that's the first.

Other fandoms I've loved while growing up are, generally speaking, magical girls anime (Card Captor Sakura and Sailor Moon, for example), Harry Potter, Kingdom Hearts and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Same with fanfics, I did read a few when I was a kid and during a brief period of time, because they were always in Spanish and honestly, not very good (English is not my native language), so, surprisingly enough, it wasn't until I started reading steddie fics by mere chance that I fell in love with the fanfic concept.

My favorite one, the one that rocked my world is the lathe by palmviolet. That was the one that kept me riding the steddie fics wave (I've read currently more than 200), the one that made me come to tumblr for the first time. It is a must. It's an ode to life.

You're Divine by azrielgreen, of course, another must. Steve's First Bruise by cairparavels is also amazing and surprising. Show me the place where he inserted the blade by cheatghost is brutal. We're better off as lovers by Appledagger is spectacular, too.

God, there are so many, I should do a steddie fic rec sometime soon, or even some analysis from certain topics and themes, these I just mentioned are brilliant masterpieces, and the authors should be proud.

Favorite meal is... ridiculous, really. I love soup, but a specific kind of soup. It's vegetable soup with a handfull of dinosaur shaped pasta, sometimes with a boiled egg. I could eat that every day.

I call it the dinosoup.

Ah, and chocolate. Dark chocolate, white chocolate. But not chocolate with milk, though (?)

I've got a dog, he's turning nine this September. It's a mix of labrador and andalusian warren hound (podenco andaluz). He's a 66 pound (30 kg) lazy sweet cinnamon roll. His name is Appa, after the flying bison in Avatar.

And I think that's all!

God, that's so long, thank you very much for asking, it was lovely of you!

[psych87]

Fic Rec - Avatar the Last Airbender

Little Zuko v the World

MuffinLance

Summary:

Zuko finds Aang a month into his banishment. They’re both 12. Expect not-a-kid-person!Zhao, gratuitous saving from pirates, badass Yue, and some solid Appa and Zuko bromance. It is the hole in your life you didn’t know needed filling.

[apparentlynotreallyfinnish]

M/M Book Recs

In addition to fic I’ve read a lot of m/m novels recently. Most of theses are books I’ve been screaming about to anyone who’s willing to listen but I thought some of y’all might enjoy them too!

The synopses are in italics. (Some are bastardized from Goodreads. Those are marked GR.) I’ve also added my thoughts on the book and some content warnings. 

Red, White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales? (GR)

Appa’s rec: 5/5 If you haven’t read this yet, this is the first one you have to pick up. The chemistry of the main characters is delicious. It’s basically a enemies-to-lovers story with awesome supporting characters and a little bit of international politics thrown in. There are some steamy sex scenes just a step below pure smut. Alex and Henry stole my heart and I will definitely be reading this book again and again.

Him - Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy 

(also, book two: Us and a novella: Epic)

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend, James Canning, into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.  Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it?  (GR)

Appa’s rec: 5/5 Ryan and Jamie broke me a little. This might be my favorite m/m book ever. The first book is a smutty masterpiece and the second book is an angsty heartbreaker with a happy ending. Highly recommend even if you don’t like hockey. The audio books are amazing as well. (I’d probably listen Teddy Hamilton to read my grocery list and swoon...)

Top Secret - Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy

Keaton and Luke are housemates. They are in a frat together. Luke thinks Keaton is a privileged idiot. Keaton thinks Luke is a grumpy asshole. They are both running for frat president. Keaton’s longtime girlfriend wants a threesome for her birthday. Keaton goes on an app to find them a guy and accidentally matches with Luke. They start texting anonymously. 

Appa’s rec: 4,5/5 There was some frat bro shenanigans that made me roll my eyes a bunch and dock 0,5 stars from my rating but other than that this book is amazing! I mean, lots of sexting, Keaton discovering his sexuality, and oh, did I mention that Luke is a stripper?! The smut is smutty and the angst is delicious. Content warning: parental abuse (mostly mental)

The Spiral Down - Aly Martinez

Henry Alexander is a famous pop star with a dark past and a very bad case of flying phobia. He’s also openly gay. After Evan Roth, a pilot, helps him through a flight and a panic attack Henry is obsessed, but Evan has his own demons that complicate their relationship to the point of breaking.

Appa’s rec: 4/5 Some solid smut, angst and a fluffy, happy ending. I highly recommend the audio book. Both readers were wonderful and I almost listened the whole thing in one sitting. I was obsessed!

Trading Teams - Romeo Alexander

Jake thought he had life all figured out. He had the perfect girlfriend, a starting position on the Varsity baseball team, and a raging social life. He was living the dream. That is, until he discovers that he’s in danger of losing his scholarship.  For Kyle, college was only a formality. He didn’t need the degree, and he barely attended his classes and still passed with flying colors. Instead of sitting in class, he’d rather be chasing his true passion—designing and programming an original MMORPG game. Kyle doesn’t need a social life, and he definitely doesn’t need a boyfriend, especially because that would require stepping out of the closet, something he has no intention of doing any time soon. (GR)

Appa’s rec: 3/5 Cute jock/nerd romance with some steamy smut. Not the greatest story but a good time!

Lock & West - Alexander C. Eberhart

Lock is awkward. He can’t make eye contact, counts when he’s nervous and has to remind himself several times a day how ‘normal’ teens behave. Homeschooled most of his life, he’s resigned himself to a friendless existence at his new Atlanta high school. Until he meets West. West has everything. Looks. Talent. Money. And secrets… so many secrets. Beneath the surface of West’s perfect existence is a pain he’s buried so deep a million therapists couldn’t unearth it and he’s determined to keep it that way. He’s an actor. He can act normal. (GR)

Appa’s rec: 4/5 This is a YA romance with some heavy, heavy stuff. Only read if you can deal with a lot of angst. (CW: eating disorders, sexual abuse, rape, parental abuse and post traumatic stress disorder). There is some light smut but it isn’t as explicit as in the previous recs. I really enjoyed this book despite the dark themes.

There Goes Sunday School -  Alexander C. Eberhart 

In sixteen-year-old Mike Hernandez’s life, only one thing is clear: Gay is NOT okay. His family’s life revolves around the church, so Mike has resolved to spend his life in the closet. His only escape—besides the occasional, anonymous gay make-out session—are his risqué drawings.

When his sketchbook goes missing in the middle of Sunday school, Mike is sure his life is over. What’s worse, the pastor’s son, Chris, suddenly seems hell-bent on adopting Mike and his friends and he has no idea why. When an awkward confrontation with Chris leads to an unexpected kiss instead of a much-expected punch, Mike’s world is turned upside down. (GR) 

Appa’s rec: 4/5 Obvious content warning for homophobia and religious guilt. This wasn’t as angsty and dark as Eberhart’s other book but there are some heavy stuff with homophobic parents and community. Some light smut. Heavy on the religion stuff. The main character is very sweet and conflicted. A good YA read if you don’t mind the religious aspects. 

Heartstopper vol 1 - Alice Oseman

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore, and he's sort of got a boyfriend, even if he's kind of mean and only wants to meet up in secret. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. Nick and Charlie are placed in the same form group and made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. (GR)

Appa’s rec: 5/5 This is a web comic made into books. There are three volumes out so far. I’ve read the first two. (You can find all of these on the web still and there will be more volumes.) Oh my god, this is the sweetest story ever and the drawings are adorable. A quick read that will stay with you for a long time. Light angst and a lot of fluff. 

[invnciblesummer]

ATLA Characters on Cactus Juice as Parks and Rec Characters on Snake Juice!

[dawnsiren]

Horrendous thought prompted by a fic acknowledging Appa does indeed have a physical body/form and isn’t just a sentient dust bunny (affectionate): Appa can, presumably, be shaved. This image will haunt me. It’s somewhere between a water bear and a naked mole rat in my head and I have Regrets XD