#this was originally highlighted for bwc bookclub but i didn't have time

[moccahobi]

LISTEN HERE! IF YOU WANT COMPLEX CHARACTERIZATION, THIS IS THE FIC FOR YOU (or maybe any of Ella's because ooof she is a master at them from her fics that I've read!). I loved the ways we see our main character navigate their life and their struggles with being able to make music a sustainable career for them.

Ella is a master at adding so many small intentional things that can kinda seem like light comments but also add so much to who our main characters are!

Some examples of this are this beautiful line: "In all the misery that it brought you, loneliness was your comfort zone." LIKE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY USE DISCOMFORT TO RELAX BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY'VE EVER KNOWN?!?! And this constant mindset of discomfort is present throughout so much of the fic. There is so much that our mc has to work through that is mostly only hinted at or lightly touched on and while we don't see the explicits of it, we get to see their growth which I think is just as beautiful.

I found myself really rooting for their growth more than them getting together with Yoongi. Like I wanted them to get their dreams (and Yoongi did too)!

Yoongi is also a complex person who, for a good chunk of this fic, gave me a sour taste (no spoilers don't worry), but Ella does a wonderful job at exploring complex situations and complex people. I feel like it's really easy to idealize people (esp stars) and to want idealized characters in our fics, and it's nice to see an exploration of gray areas. We are all so grey, full of mistakes and achievements, and I think it's so beautiful and Yoongi really shows that in this fic (and irl imo). He's kind and tries to offer kindness even in tense situations and I really love that! I really liked the line: "No one should have to be alone with this". It reminds me of a phrase in a book I am reading (How We Show Up... I highly recommend it) that talks about the importance of community when struggling. Yoongi isn't close to the mc when he offers to spend time with them with this line and yet he knows the importance of community and tries to give that!

Speaking of community, this fic passes the Bechdel test (have 2 woman talk about something other than a guy) which is something I've become super aware of with fics lately. Not that all should or can (like if I am following a cute and simple romance line, there might only be 2 characters present or if it's MxM and I only use OT7 characters) but it was just interesting to note!

Reading this fic took me a long time but I am so glad I did! It was a super enjoyable read and something that I loved as well was finding bits of the fic to scream about in Ella's dms as I read. We had some super interesting conversations both about her characterization and also about our philosophies on life! It's something I want to do more with longer pieces because it felt not only like a wonderful read but like a bonding experience. It also has been super helpful with writing this review since I can look back at our conversations and use it to add to my thoughts!

Now We Reign | myg

☆summary: when working on a collab together makes you and Min Yoongi seek comfort with the other, you discover there’s more to life than loneliness. Only, hurdles mark your path in Min Yoongi’s life, and it’s unclear what the outcome will be. Will you be destroyed by him and his world, or will you learn to reign over it, together with him?

☆pairing: Min Yoongi x singer female reader

☆rating: 18+ (minors DNI)

☆genre: work collaborators to lovers, idol!au, smut, angst, fluff

☆warnings: alcohol, cursing, OC has family problems similar to those Yoongi went through, financial insecurity, loneliness, cheating but not cheating because they are on a break, sexist interviewer, explicit content: grinding, dom!reader, switch!Yoongi, big dick!Yoongi, oral sex (male and female receiving), jerking off, face riding, tits/nipples play, hickey, fingering, protected sex, choking, clit play, denied orgasms (due to consensual drunk sex), fingering, mentions of anal sex, handcuffs, anal plug, anal fingering

☆word count: 34.9k

☆a/n: it’s so weird to post something other than The Forgotten Spaces :’) I hope you’ll still enjoy this! As per always, thank you to @moonleeai​ for her incredible work as my beta reader! You’re the best <3

☆Read the other installments in the Life Goes On series here!

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