Name: dreamshadow (Signed) · Date: 23 Jan 2021 09:49 PM · For: september

taylorrrr! back for the winter in fairyland review event, but also because i had to see how it was all going to end up

and okay, i sort of forgive you for the angst that was the august chapter. mostly. it did give the build up to the end scene, which was both somewhat cheesy but absolutely adorable, and i'm so beyond happy that lily was wrong about everything. i'm glad that both lily and james can admit that they are, in fact, idiots, both reading into things wrong because it's almost like they didn't deserve the other one

backing up a bit though, marlene is really an a+ best friend, offering to thrawt interference if she needed to so that lily could avoid james as much as possible. and i've gotta give her credit; she did a really good job of not totally falling apart and focusing on her schoolwork all while feeling like she was breaking apart. i still want to give her all the snuggles though

and oh my goddd, taylor, you did the chin tilt at the end. with the kiss. and the confessions. and you've mended my heart just a little bit with them getting the happy ending they deserved, and i'm so glad that lily doesn't hate betty - a very mature part of this fic, but it was also refreshing. a little infruriating that betty would be so nice and would just know about lily and james but also that makes it so obvious, like, literally everyone knows, including james' ex-girlfriend, and they're both just idiots about each other. and i love it so much

but yes, the chin tilt, 10/10 one of my favorite moves. i'm so glad you let them both be happy at the end, they really deserve it XD

what a wild, angsty ride this was, but you did a great job with all of the taylor swift references (i think i caught all of them, but if not, most of them) and the angst and heartbreak and the happy ending. i loved this so so much, so thanks for writing and sharing with us! ♥

Name: dreamshadow (Signed) · Date: 23 Jan 2021 09:21 PM · For: august

helloooo taylor! i'm here for the fairy review event :D

HERE WOULD YOU JUST TAKE MY GODDAMN HEART ALREADY? like, i knew things would be going south for lily and james, given the fact that they're meant to be a summer fling, but oh my god. i really just want to hug lily throughout this fic because she is just so angsty and relatable. and you have to make it worse, because of course you do, by letting them have that little romantic getaway to the beach, and letting them all be domestic and cute and shit and ugh, here's my heart for you

but seriously, this was another amazing chapter. i love how you were able to keep the flow of this story up, by giving us the big, highlighted scenes and watching lily and james grow closer and closer together. i'm a little surprised that james was able to keep it from sirius for so long, and i don't blame sirius for being a little annoyed that he found out so late :P i'm a little curious about how the conversation with james' parents went and what, exactly, he told them because i feel like he wouldn't call lily just some random girl. it's 100% what she'd call herself, but damn, girl, he's obviously in love with you, even if he's just being a goddamn idiot about it, ughhh

AND EXCUSE ME SIR, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CARIDGAN TO ME? i want to believe that betty left it there a while ago, but james' reaction makes me believe otherwise, and i just. SIR. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! 

and taylor, your writing. and your angst. it's just... :chefs kiss: and for the record, i did have august playing in my head while i was reading it, and it fit so so well. i'm sure that was done intentionally, but i figured it was worth it to let you know that you succeeded. especially the part where she cancels on marlene in case james comes around because, really, haven't we all done that at one point? 

and the way you wrote the build up to the sense of dread of them going back to school? poor lily, i can't imagine trying to get over someone when you're supposed to be spending so much time together. 

ughhh, and that last scene with them. lily, you don't know he's going to go back to betty, but -- he probably is, right, taylor? because i guess you want us all to suffer with you or whatever, but it's fine. ugh

another amazing chapter, thanks for sharing! ♥

Name: maraudertimes (Signed) · Date: 01 Dec 2020 06:23 PM · For: september

Alright alright, got to the end of this story and our review swap, super excited to be here taylor!

UGHHH I’m still upset that Lily has this notion in her head that James is still in love with Betty - can we get some clarification for this girl and soon so I don’t keep ripping my hair out and she can calm tf down?

Although your metaphor of the hangover is just :chefkiss:

UGH THE ANGST!!! WHY TAYLOR WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?!

YAS maybe Marlene will be able to talk some sense into Lily!!! Ugh no tell Marlene everything AGHHH!! But Marlene is a good friend, offering to run interference. We love to see women supporting women <3

Also I love that you haven’t made Betty a rival in that sense. This is all about Lily and her feelings, and Betty isn’t a terrible person and it makes it that much worse but also that much better and ugh I hate it and I love it all at once!!

ASSUMPTIONS - I love all the references ;)

STOP BEING BITTER LILY AND TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL!!!!!!!! YES JAMES GET THAT CONVERSATION GOING!!!

Ayyy more folklore references! I know you know about them because you wrote them but I want you to know that I caught them, you know? 

HE TILTED HER HEAD UP OH MY GOOODODDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!

ITS ONLY EVER BEEN YOU AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I CANT STOP AHHHHH’ing

ID PREFER IF YOU DIDNT NOOOOOOOOO ITS SO CUTE FUCKKKKKK

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY I AM SO HAPPY AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ITS SO CUTE I CANNNNOOOOOTTTTTTTTT

This was absolutely amazing taylor, thank you so much for writing this story i am obviously very moved by it and ugh its so amazingggggggg 

 

Lo <3

Name: maraudertimes (Signed) · Date: 01 Dec 2020 05:55 PM · For: august

Hello hello taylor, i am here for an impossibly late review swap! <3

You really do such an amazing job at giving me chills. I don’t know how you do it, but your first paragraphs are just so captivating and UGHHH I love Jily rn.

I absolutely adore that James always knows how to cook! What a great and underappreciated skill, truly! It’s now just part of my headcanon that James Potter is an excellent cook and that is entirely because of you!

Dang, I love forward Lily! You go girl, tell him what you want! Also you are always so good at writing sexy scenes, I don’t know how you do it, but you really can set a scene lol

While I do agree that keeping things quiet is good in this scenario, oh Lily you deserve to have your not-yet-love-but-totally-love not be a secret <3 Even if the clandestine meetings are hot (also I totally caught that reference if it is indeed a reference like I think it was)

YASSS HIDE UNDER THE BED!!! I love when that happens because it always means secrets will come out :elmofire:

Also I am so here for more insight on how Sirius ended up with his flying motorbike, we love to see it! I also love that these boys are obviously smart BECAUSE THEY ARE!!!

THE CARDIGAN!!! AHHHH ANOTHER REFERENCE!!!

UGH Lily just stay this is a total misunderstanding and I hate it Taylor why are you doing this to me???

SHE NEVER SLEEPS QUITE AS WELL AHHHHH IM SOBBING

UGH No the cabin is so cute and he cooks for her, and they’re just so domestic rn and ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! YEAH YOU ARE UGH STOP IT!!!

Oh man no he means to say it to you Lily, not Betty, stop thinking about Betty, he’s certainly not!!! I”M UPSET

Okay odds that Dumbledore totally set them up? I’m guessing McGonagall totally had a hand in it too. Probably the biggest hand tbh

NOOOOOO WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!! BE HAPPY FOR HIM AND JUST TELL IHM UR FEELINGS GOOD GOD STOP TORTUTING YOURSELF AND ME

Ayyyy another folklore reference. ALSO YEA YOU DO NEED TO APOLOGIZE THIS IS SO ANGSTY WTF!!!!

Anyways, thank you so much for writing this taylor, its a truly amazing story and I love every bit of it, even when it makes me want to cry!

 

Lo <3

Name: prideofprewett (Signed) · Date: 28 Oct 2020 10:51 AM · For: september

Hi Taylor! I figured since you had another chapter of this up, I would go ahead and read onward. I think you're turning me into a Jily fan hah. Not that I wasn't before, I just was kind of like meh about their characters. But you are making me love them so hard. So yeah, there's that. ;)

 

I love the metaphor about how time with James is like sipping fine wine. And by the end of the summer she feels like she's hungover. And based on your description of her on the morning of Sept 1, she just might be in the literal sense. <3 Also, I love that you address that a non-Prefect got Head Boy, and how people feel salty about it. I feel like a lot of times we forget that. So to bring it up adds an extra layer of tension in the story, which is great! 

 

I love Marlene's suggestion of "let me know if you need to run interference." Such a solid friend. And she doesn't ask too many questions about the situation between Lily and James, which shows that she's perceptive enough to be the kind of support Lily needs. I love it. :)

 

"You're one of my best friends." OMG. I feel close to tears at how sweet that is. And then AND THEN... "What do you mean this meant more to me than you?" I'M DYINGGG. Gahhh...I had a FEELING he meant Lily during that party scene when he admitted he was in love. But gahhh...they finally admit their feelings for one another. I love it! *dances happily* And also the sloppy kissing because they're both smiling is just absolutely precious!

 

Can I just say that I love this interpretation of how they got together so much? Like when I read the HP series, how I inferred them getting together is that James was like annoyingly persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer (which in my mind is very problematic). But you show this happening in such a subtle, lovely way! Like he's lingering in the background, hoping she would change her mind about him and them, not being forward and fresh. I absolutely LOVE THAT and you made me fall totally in love with them in this, so well done! This was such a great story! Thank you so much for writing and for requesting I review it initially! (Now I will have to lurk off to find some of your other Jily fics LOL).

 

<3 Courtney

Gifted for the fangtastic grimtown carnevil

Name: Daisies (Anonymous) · Date: 14 Oct 2020 02:35 AM · For: september

POSSIBLY (DEFINITELY) THE CUTEST STORY I HAVE EVER READ, THANK YOUUUU FOR THIS ITS SO GOOD !! 

Name: prideofprewett (Signed) · Date: 11 Oct 2020 06:53 PM · For: august

Hiya! I'm here for your review request (and I am delighted to see there is also a chapter 3 for me to pounce on next :)). 

 

I absolutely love the shift at the beginning of this. At the end of the last chapter, Lily's resigned to a friend's with benefits situation and it seems like she expects that sort of arrangement to continue whenever she arrives at the Potter mansion. But bam! Surprise, James is cooking her dinner. And I absolutely love your acknowledgement of this: "I'm cooking you dinner," he answers, like this is somehow the most normal thing in the world for a teenage boy to do for a girl he's only been seeing for about a week. Because such a thing IS highly unusual. But he LOVES her. 

 

"...the process of reducing her to a pile of mush is complete." Same Lily. Same. <3 And she's trying so hard to convince herself that she just wants to shag him, but like...there's too many intense feelings there for it to just be about that. But she's gotta protect her heart, so I suppose she's just trying to wear her denial bravely. It's a bit frustrating, but this whole thing reminds me of what it's like to be young and in love or in lust with someone. There's a lot at risk and feeling vulnerable isn't easy along with everything else you feel at this age. 

 

Also you encase them in this little couple bubble where it's just them and their arrangement and enjoying one another, so whenever Sirius comes into the room it's like poof, bubble popping! And when that happens its like a stab to the heart because it brings reality back. It's not just them, even if they're pretending it is. And Lily finding that sweater made my heart ache, really. 

 

But, but, he tells his parents about her. <3 And she only thinks they have a week left with just them. You do really good at switching back and forth between them being on the cusp of something serious and just this friends with benefits thing. It stirs up this bittersweet atmosphere because one minute I'm all, "Aww my fluttering heart," and the next it's like, "Damn you're stabbing me in the chest." It's a really effective way of approaching this story and their relationship under these circumstances. So well done!

 

And omgawsh the Head Boy thing where he's all "Don't worry I'm going to make you proud." That's ridiculously adorable. But poor Lily, dreading having to spend the extra time with him. And then she accidentally hurts him. But like he loves you too Lily. He totally does. But I understand it's all very unclear on her part given Betty's existence and them not really talking about their feelings and just being physically drawn to each other.    

 

Anyway, another wonderful chapter! This is like true love angst and you are a master at it. I am all here for this.

 

Thanks again for writing this!

<3 Courtney

Name: prideofprewett (Signed) · Date: 07 Oct 2020 10:49 AM · For: july

Hiya Taylor! I am here for your review request! ;) 

 

First of all, I love your writing style. There is an ease to reading this. But your writing isn't simple by any means. It is descriptive and emotive, particularly in how you convey Lily's internal feelings. I enjoyed getting a deeper glimpse into her mind. She's straight laced but also kind of has this darker edge to her that gives her a realistic feel. 

 

Also the way you depict James is extremely vivd as well. He jumps off the page/screen with this sort of boyish casualness in his actions and the way he speaks. He feels very real and very nuanced compared to the fleeting glimpses of James we get in canon.

 

I love a good party where feelings are realized. You steer us through this part with a certain ease that allows you to conjure up images of what is happening, but without being heavy with too many details. Lily's very considerate of the fact that James has a girlfriend and kind of loathes herself, but is also kind of like "whatever they're on a break, I can enjoy myself too," and I kind of love that about her. Giving a female character agency like that without making her out to just be "the other woman," is brill. :) And of course, her trying to be all aloof the next morning and secretly proud of herself when she is. 

 

And that last bit at the end, cheeky James picking her up on a broomstick. I loved that! It definitely leaves you wanting to see what their next adventure is. 

 

Thanks for pointing this story out to me! I've not read any Jily fics before, but I feel like you capture these characters perfectly! I would definitely read on. :)

 

<3 Courtney  

Name: maraudertimes (Signed) · Date: 29 Aug 2020 02:47 PM · For: july

Here for second review swap Taylor!! <3 Also gryffinclaw yada yada woo

Okay so even from the summary I am having chills, so let’s see how this goes <3

Alright and then the first line has me freaking crying already, so it’s going amazing and terrible all at the same time, thank you for asking…

I love the little things, like Lily working in an Apothecary (because we know she was good at potions) to James working for his dad (lol you cannot tell me he isn’t the epitome of boy who went to school for business to take over Daddy’s company), and everything that brings it back to TSwift, you truly are amazing at those kinds of things!

He’s gonna ask her out isn’t he? Oh just to a party? … I can live with that. EXCEPT GIVE A DRESS CODE MY DUDE! I mean, I’m assuming it’s casual, but tell a girl!!!

Okay thank goodness you mentioned it, because WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN???

AHHHHHH HE ISN’T SINGLE I MEAN IT MAKES SENSE GIVEN THE SONG BUT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

IT SPARKLES???? Oh man, I want some Opaleye at all times. I am nothing if not a sucker for some shiny things :P

Okay random aside, but I guess not so random, I really wanna know who his girlfriend is soooo bad like UGHHHH!!!

YASSS THE MOTORBIKE!!!

Oh I’m so dumb, OF COURSE HER NAME IS BETTY!!!!! BECAUSE ITS JAMES AND BETTY!!! Wow, that fully went over my head!

LOOOL REMUS!!! That quip is just pure gold! Also Never Have I Ever is never a good game to play, but also we should totally play it, because why tf not?

AHHHH DONT SLEEP WITH SOMEONE TO TRY AND SAVE A RELATIONSHIP!!!! (i can say that, its personal experience)

Okay, is it meant to mean that James was in love with Lily not Betty, because that’s both sweet and awful, but if he does mean Betty that is also sweet and awful, this situation is kind of a mess…

THE GARDEN??? BUT THATS A BETTY THING, AND YOU KNOW THAT TAYLOR!!

OKAY I AM HERE FOR THIS NOW, THIS IS GOING GREAT, WOOOOOOOO YES FALL INTO HIM AND FIND OUT HES SINGLE AND THEN KISS HIM LILY!!! YOU HAVE TO KISS HIM!!!

YASSSSSSSSSSS WOOOOOOOOOOO AHHHHHHHHHH ALL THE SCREAMSSSSS

AHHHHH AUGUST!!! SUMMER FLING!!! SO MANY REFERENCES!!!!!

AHHHHHH GO LILY GO but also make it serious BUT ALSO GET IT GIRL!!!

AHHHH THE ENDING OF THIS CHAPTER GAVE ME FULL ON CHILLSSSSSSSSS!!!!! 

AMAZING, ALL AROUND AMAZING JOB TAYLOR, I DONT KNOW IF YOU COULD TELL BASED ON HOW SHOUTY IVE GOTTEN, but thank you for writing this, it is amazing, and I loved every bit of it, and I cannot wait for the next chapter!!!

 

Lo <3

Name: dreamshadow (Signed) · Date: 26 Aug 2020 07:38 PM · For: july

hellooo again, taylor! back for 2/2 of our swap.

i was surprised to see that this takes place in the magical world, but i'm definitely here for it. and i'm a big fan of fics inspired by taylor swift, and on top of the jily, how could i pass it up? 

this was such a good opening chapter. it felt so casual and lighthearted, despite the angst of lily being into james (i'm hesitating to say love, although she clearly has strong feelings for him) while he's dating betty. and in the note, you said you're doing something a little different with the teenage love triangle, and that leaves me very, very curious to see how this is going to play out. and the title is just, so perfect.

i think what i love the most about lily is that she isn't just a stick in the mud. she lets herself have fun, and lets herself drink, but she's also aware; and self-aware, for that matter. i can't help but feel like a summer fling with james is going to be dangerous but i don't think i'd be able to resist the temptation to that either, if i'm being honest :P it almost reminds me a little of "it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt" and i'm really not sure who's going to get hurt in the end. my current gut says that betty's going to be the casualty, but that seems to be the obvious choice here, so i'm not too inclined to stick to that just yet. 

and i love how well your writing flows. it feels so easy and beautiful, much like the start of the romance between james and lily, and the way that summer should feel. and i loved the never have i ever; it was the proper amount of scandalous without it being too shocking, if that even makes sense. and i know it was intentional given the song/references, but i still giggled over the fact that you're outright starting this fic in august :P 

you've set the stage here for some seriously messy teenage feelings and i'm very much on board with it. good luck with the challenge & you'll have to let me know when you've posted another chapter!!

Name: grumpy cat (Signed) · Date: 24 Aug 2020 06:05 PM · For: july

pshhh i'm here for our swappy swap and like for team gryphon bc why not :elmo:

 

annnnd i know what happens in 'betty' and james damn well should absolutely not go back to betty or try going back and then for her to tell him to fuck off because damn damn damn the chemistry between him and lily is fucking sparkling like fireworks and that would just be cruellllll. so yeah in future chapters pls james listen to kris.

 

the fact that this really feels/reads like a summer romance type of thing is fantastic because i have no clue how you did that but you did it and it's fucking great. i think it's kinda like a nostalgic feeling? i'm not sure what i'm feeling nostalgic about but i ~am

 

also i'm really suspicious of this supposed 'james is in love with betty' line of thinking in lily's head because hmmmmmm it's shifty and i'm not buying it and idk james is acting friendly-ish and all and not like someone who's in love with lily but i'm still suspicious because it be like that and i have a hard time accepting they're not together lmao.

 

i adore how lily's being so bold in this bc it just reminds me of that line in betty how the other she says to the song james to get into the car because this lily is giving off those sorts of vibes even if she feels guiltyish about it but like i fully support her and just ,,,, go for what you want, lily, i am here for it 100%

 

and the ending had me kinda giggling because i guess i imagined someone seeing james on the back of his broom in a muggle town trying to woo a girl and it just seems like the sort of silly and idiot-in-love-or-lust type of thing he'd do and drag lily with him so that checks out and it's adorably silly :D

 

oh but yeah no, lily not seeing herself with james as anything permanent will have to change, i proclaim it because again ----chemistry. alchemy. same thing.

 

i'm rubbing my hands in the raccoon style expectation of the next chapter :elmo:

 

kris