! Recommended stories
> Criteria: There is no fixed criteria. I won't be judging based on the marks I gave (because honestly speaking I don't think I'm a great mark distributor lol). If the story is still fresh in my head and there's something 'special' about it, it'll be on here.
> Click the posters to be redirected to the review I made for that story.

Pull me Under by mistressdean
Genres: Angst, drama, family, friendship
Characters: Sehun, OC
Synopsis: She was drowning, but nobody saw her. She wouldn't let them.
Recommended for: Gripping writing style, intense emotions, relatable characters, basically if you love angst you're sure to love this
Comments: This is one of the first few stories I reviewed, so you can tell it has made a really huge impact on me for it to be sitting on this spot lol. The author, mistressdean, has an absolutely captivating writing style. Before you know it, you're just drowning (no pun intended) in the sea of emotions her stories have flooded you, struggling to catch a breath. I haven't read all her stories yet (because I truly am a turtle reader) but what I've read from her is just amazing. Also, the main character, Nameless, is very reletable, and I can imagine myself in her shoes if my brother is the one sitting on the patient bed. The message behind this story is also profound and enables us to reflect upon ourselves. Shall we drown in regret, desperately clutching onto the remnants of our pain and all the what-ifs despite knowing how futile it is, or shall we swim up and move forward to the present? The decision is yours to make.

Trapped in a K-drama by Blu3Wind
Genres: Comedy, drama, fluff, romance
Characters: INFINITE, OC
Synopsis: Nam Eun Hee was an aspiring writer who watched K-Dramas on a daily basis for inspiration. She criticized how the stories were very similar in terms of predictable plots and cliches. What happened when she woke up the next morning and saw that her whole life had turned upside down? She was now trapped in a typical K-Drama parallel universe with no way out.
Recommended for: Humourous writing style, endearing characters, basically if comedy is your cup of tea then this is the story that will liven up your boring life
Comments: This story is what made me begin to really like INFINITE a lot lol. It follows a very cliche storyline (duh, because the main character is stuck in a cliche universe) but the way the main character tactfully handles each cliche situation sends the readers into fits of laughter. Also, the characters are absolutely lovely (especially Nam Eunhee, oh boy if you love spunky main characters this story will be a delight to read). This story is a lot of fun, but there are also some thoughtful moments in this story for us to think about. All in all, this story is an exciting adventure, and if you need to take a break from all those stressful exams and activities, Trapped in a K-drama is probably what you need!

The Fated String by Blu3Wind
Genres: Angst, comedy, romance
Characters: Chanyeol, OC
Synopsis: They say a red string invisible to the human eye is tied around the pinky of a person, and the other end would be tied to the person you are destined to be with; your soulmate. Hwang Yerin has the ability to see this fated string, but she believes people have a choice to defy it and go against all odds.
Recommended for: Appropriate balance of both fluff and angst, lovable interactions between characters
Comments: ...Well, you can tell how much I like Melody's work by the fact that I've actually recommended another fic from her lol. This story does show her progression as an author, from the funny and sweet Trapped in a K-drama to a more solemn and emotional tone. Of course, there are still some fluffy moments, but the highlight is in how Melody manages to express emotions through her writing. You just can't help but root for this couple. So I guess if you're looking for a break from the stressful work, you can opt for Trapped in a K-drama, while if you're looking to read a story to vent out all your pent-up emotions, you can opt for the Fated String!

threadbare blanket by ejacyeolation
Genres: Angst, fluff (but I think the fluff emphasised the angst even more...)
Characters: Byun Baekhyun, Park Chanyeol, Do Kyungsoo
Synopsis: Baekhyun thinks that if he can't see the stars in the sky, he can definitely see them in Chanyeol's eyes.
Recommended for: Buildup of emotions, meaningful symbolism, beautiful writing style, basically if you love angst you'll like this.
Comments: The constant repetition and reminder of the haunting symbolism of a threadbare blanket and many others is glorious. From the start to the end, it's basically a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Despite its very short length, it manages to bring across so many emotions in the readers that even longer stories have failed to accomplish. It's difficult for me to say much without spoiling, but just read it. Experiencing is the best way to feel and know. Especially that ending. Wow, just thinking about it makes me breathless.

Aphelion by fefedove
Genres: Angst
Warning: Rated M
Characters: Yixing, Yifan, Luhan, Tao
Synopsis: University is the time of and angst, friendship and hate, losing yourself to find the way.
Recommended for: Ambiguity (that somehow works), unpredictable structure (that somehow works as well)
Comments: When I looked back at this story again, I can't believe I didn't upvote it because it just left me breathless at the first read (I assume I must have forgotten back then because I am quite forgetful sometimes lol). This story is quite an enigma, actually. As someone who loves ambiguity, this story is like the real epitome of ambiguity. It's complicated, but it echoes the characters' lives, and the author is just so good at what she's doing that it doesn't feel jarring. The flow is jumpy; sometimes we see glimpses of scenes before we jump to another, yet it all works. The ending is especially impactful. I don't know how to describe this whirlwind of emotions, except that it's like... taking a rollercoaster and going up a track. This time, we're going up to the maximum point of the track, but before we know it, we're forced downwards in a speedy motion. That's basically what the story is like. And if you love bizarre, dark stories, this story is definitely one for you.

Erlebnisse by paperdaisy
Genres: Angst
Characters: Kyungsoo, Jongin
Synopsis: If all strangers in the world were parallel lines that never touched, and friends were lines that somehow managed to cross each other for an amount of time before continuing on in their separate directions, there must have been a point where Kyungsoo and Jongin’s lines were melded into one.
Recommended for: Incorporation of people's struggles with homouality into the story, vivid emotions, angst lovers' cup of tea
Comments: Guess I'm a er for angst because all I've been recommending are angst stories lol. Erlebnisse is probably the first story I've read which actually addresses the problems of homouality (but maybe I just have goldfish memory and there are more stories than I think). The way it portrays Kyungsoo's fear towards being seen as an 'odd one out' is very true and very real, and it echoes to us the struggles the people in the LGBT community may be facing, and the fact that we shouldn't discriminate against these people. The meaning behind this story is very profound, and how I wish there are more stories like these.

Blood on Canvas by -sputnik-
Genres: Angst, dark, a side of romance
Characters: Donghae, Hyukjae
Synopsis: Donghae is a extremely talented and world-renowned artist. His art is considered very unique and very, very dark, with dark reds and blacks, jagged edges. It's also quite abstract. 
When his agent tells Donghae that he's required to do a collection that is outside his comfort zone -- a light hearted commentary on everyday life -- Donghae is stuck. He has no experience with that such art and commentary. He paints what he sees. That is it. In his struggles, his agent partners him with an art critique (Eunhyuk) who attempts to help him with his struggles.
In doing so, Donghae discovers why he sees the world the way that he does. His past abuse has a lot to do with the darkness he sees in the world, and maybe this art piece is the key for him to learn to see a little bit more.
Recommended for: Authentic dialogue, sarcasm, relatable characters, fans of dark and angst stories
Comments: Look! Another angst story! Why am I not surprised? Anyway, this is probably as dark as Aphelion, and this is also somewhat ambiguous as Aphelion is, although there is more clarity in terms of the emotions from what I've seen so far. The story makes use of golden sarcasm which is rarely found in many stories, and the characters are pretty relatable and filled with emotions. Definitely an angst story worth checking out, especially if you like a story with some darkness.

Revision by iRaine
Genres: Angst, tragedy
Characters: Kyungsoo, Jongin
Synopsis: He quickly reaches for his phone, typing in the string of numbers buried deep within the furthest recesses of his mind, and calls Jongin. There's a beep and a woman's voice, "You have reached a number that is no longer in service. Please check the number and try the call again. Thank you." Jongin pushed him away again. Kyungsoo wakes up.
Recommended for: Heartbreaking twist at the end of the story, nice revelation of struggles of the characters
Comments: The development (or rather, regression) of Kyungsoo is done very nicely here, and the ending hits you with such a bang that you'll pretty much be stunned and left in shock. Although the premise is relatively cliche, the execution leaves the reader in anguish for the main characters. 

Leaning on the Edge by chubbyfaceDiVa
Genres: Angst, tragedy
Characters: Jaejoong, BoA
Synopsis: 'Life... A mystery it is, with many ups and downs, sometimes more downs than ups. So what do you do then? What do you do when living itself becomes the tougher challenge? How do you cope? Do you wallow in your sorrows or do you take up arms against the sea?" Jaejoong wonders. So, will Jaejoong find his answer?
Recommended for: Poetic writing style, heartbreaking romance
Comments: For those who like Shakespeare, there are plenty of Shakespeare references here which are fitting for this bittersweet story. The writer manages to convey lots of emotions through her writing style and this enables us to feel for the two main characters involved.

Cheese Me by Blu3Wind
Genres: Comedy, fluff, romance
Characters: Woohyun, OC
Synopsis: He is the guy who lost his cheesiness. She is the girl who brings the cheesiness out in others.
Recommended for: Cheese, pickup lines dosage, humourous characters, genuine and fun relationship, basically your cup of tea if you're cheesy enough
Comments: This is the third time one of Melody's stories is on here, and I reviewed like 4 of her stories so far... /dramatic sighs. Anyway, Cheese Me is a real joy to read. Woohyun and the OC, Hyunmi, has such fantastic chemistry that you can't help but root for them. The cheesiness is unbearable but for all those cheeseballs, this will be a real gem for you. The dialogue is fun, witty and it (literally) charms hearts. Read Cheese Me and you'll be whirled into a cheesy, ridiculous and wacky journey.

**Section to be updated whenever I spot a good story.