Name: justawillowtree (Signed) · Date: 25 May 2018 11:47 AM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Sam!

 

This is so freaking cute, and I can see why Renee loves this story so much! From the beginning I was smiling so widely because of how fluffy and sweet this piece is. And you also mentioned a lot of super relatable things too.

 

I love how from the beginning, it’s clear that Alicia and Katie understood each other best, with Alicia finding the Special Sofa and getting Katie to talk. And the natural way they held each other’s hands!! And the way Alicia knew about and sympathized with Katie’s stutter!!! By the end of the story I was just flailing because the two finally went on a date, and it was as lovely and romantic and sweet as I’d imagined it to be, and these two are just meant to be I love it.

 

Also haha. That first first date with Verity Monard made me laugh a bit, because I mean, what’re you supposed to do when you have a super cute girl with whom you disagree quite strongly? Like?? What if they’re just really pretty??? So Katie’s line of thought was very amusing and relatable there. And all her other dates too. It made me feel a little sad that she got less and less enthusiastic the more dates she went on, because she wasn’t finding the right one, and I just wanted to give her a great big hug and tell her that things were going to be okay.

 

I also loved Katie’s story about Pats, where it’s like you have so much in common that it feels more like a romance than a friendship. But my favorite favorite favorite line had to be this one -- Alicia’s eyes gleam. “You don’t have to tell me.” Because of course Alicia understands that Quidditch girls are the cutest!!

 

The other two dates that Katie went on were probably saddening and difficult for her to a degree, but it’s a learning process, and I’m so glad that she found who she wanted in the end.

 

SAM YOU’RE SO GOOD HOW. <3

 

Love,

Eva

Name: Stella Blue (Signed) · Date: 12 Jun 2017 08:07 PM · For: Chapter 1

Here for some more excellent Sam-writing!

 

Alicia is the best friend in the world and I love the way these two interact even from the beginning. And when I say friend I mean "friend" as in, they are friends first and foremost when this story begins, even though I sense there will be more to it than that later and I already ship it even though the ship hasn't really left the dock yet.

 

"I mean, I had no idea what to say to her! It was so embarrassing. " -- In which Katie describes all of my dates, ever.

 

 I think it came off a bit more as flaily and a little deranged -- Omg but really are Katie and I the same person?

 

I immediately avert my eyes. -- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND EVERYONE, OUR SHIP HAS ARRIVED. She's averting her eyes from Alicia so fast when the topic of kissing comes up. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but also maybe I'm not. I'm not.

 

Their cuddle after Alicia consoles Katie about her stutter is adorable beyond words.

 

Alicia’s eyes gleam. “You don’t have to tell me.” -- 10 galleons says I know who she is thinking about

 

And then the end is basically the best piece of literature I have ever read and it is a monument to adorableness and I want to roll around in all the fluff. They are so sweet together and it's a perfect ending because you've been building up how good they are for each other since the very beginning of the story, with the way Katie can always confide in Alicia and how Alicia is always there for Katie in a heartbeat, and the end just feels so natural and so right, like when you put the last piece into a jigsaw puzzle. I can't believe I'd never read this story before, or this ship, and my friend you have a new sailor on the Alicia/Katie ship. I loved this story and I love your writing! ♥♥♥

Author's Response:

Thank you again, Kristin!

 

This is a story that I didn’t expect to love this much when I wrote it. Like it was nice and all, but generally my affection for one shots decrease over time. However, I’ve gotten such strong positive reactions from readers that it’s earned a very happy place in my heart, so much so that Katie and Alicia have earned an unplanned place in the Polyverse (Alicia eventually becomes partners with Audrey)!

 

Yes, some of these dates were inspired by actual dates I have been on. XD Particularly “omg she’s so hot but she’s an awful person but she’s so hooooot.” Such a moral conundrum.

 

I might have based Katie off you without knowing it. I wouldn’t rule it out.

 

Bahaha, I love your announcement of the ship arriving XD

 

Watching your live-shipping is so much fun. Thank you for that gift.

 

“basically the best piece of literature I have ever read and it is a monument to adorableness and I want to roll around in all the fluff” Bahaha some would find parts of this to be conflicting statements, but I love it.

 

Yay, welcome to the Katie/Alicia ship! I am so glad you loved this so much!

 

Sam.

Name: dirtydeedsdonedirtcheap (Signed) · Date: 20 Feb 2017 10:32 AM · For: Chapter 1

Oh boy, I'm jelly. I have melted. This was beautiful. I've never read a story focused on Alicia or Katie, they're usually background characters but I can totally see them together. Their dynamic was wonderful. I like that at first you don't really think the two of them are going to get together. I just thought she was trying to be a good friend but then when she set her up with Daphne I kind of felt this unsaid attraction between them. Her interests were piqued but more than normal. I felt it was very believable that it took awhile, a number of bad dates, so-so dates, etc. to finally reach that one. Hey, dating sucks. Sometimes you meet someone amazing and other times you meet Lucifer. I'm glad she met someone amazing, someone that was there all along. 

Author's Response:

Awwwww yay!! Always great to melt readers!

I am a huge sucker for background characters, and even more so for putting them in queer relationships!

I am really glad that you enjoyed their dynamic, and I really appreciate how you liked watching their connection grown, from not thinking they'd get together, to a growing attraction, to fitting together so well. It's always fun to read feedback on this one!

Again, thank you so much for all your lovely reviews!

Name: MuggleMaybe (Signed) · Date: 06 Nov 2016 12:32 PM · For: Chapter 1

[[transferred from HPFF]]

 

SAM! ♥ ♥ ♥

I don't have to pretend I was crying to make a point, because this story is wonderfully happy and fluffy.

But also, not? There is something so real about Katie's experience of trying and trying, and time and time again coming up empty handed. You capture the frustration of that, but in an optimistic way.

I think Katie is an underutilized character in fic. I was excited when I saw you'd used her as the MC! Even though this story is mostly dialogue, you managed to show us that Katie is a multilayered person.

But of course, the main thing is the relationship between Katie and Alicia. Alicia is a wonderful friend, always there to listen when Katie needs her (*cough*) and right from the start I had an inkling that their friendship was more important than simply to serve as a framing device. The way you start out with Katie feeling ignored and bring Alicia into that moment gives her a lot of power right away in Katie's life. It's true she gets almost too zealous about Katie's love life, but I can't stay mad at her when her intentions were so good.

You did a brilliant job of not revealing your hand too soon. I had the feeling earlier on in the story, "oh, I hope they end up together" - but I really didn't know if it was going to happen or not. And then the way you did end it, holding us in suspense until the last possible moment, was perfection.

A few details -

the mention of how Alicia reads Katie's physicality is a nice foreshadow, because it could be simply a friend thing, but it demonstrates that more tangible connection between them.

I adore the humor and frankness in this line:
-- “Mostly just sat there and thought about how pretty she was,” I admit.

and this, one, so perfect!
-- I nod immediately. “It’s like I’m learning…” I stumble over my words as they fall out of my mouth, “what I want.”

and something about this line made me positively grin.
-- “You’re killing me here, Bell.”

I really loved this so much! Thank you for the wonderful recommendation! :wub: I agree with what you said about CH 1 of WIGOWY, except more broadly - there is something bright and liquid about the way you put words together that is overwhelmingly pleasant.

I got really sleepy part way through this review, so hopefully it makes some kind of sense :P

lots of love!
Renee

Author's Response:

<3

Name: abhorsen (Signed) · Date: 01 Nov 2016 03:31 PM · For: Chapter 1

I loved this so, so much! It's absolutely adorable. I was actually really, really hoping that Alicia would eventually end up being Katie's date, because I adore their chemistry, and I was very happy when you took the story in that direction. Overall, though, I thought that you did an amazing job of capturing the awkward and uncomfortable world of dating, particularly when you're not straight - Katie's experiences rang so, so true to me. Amazing job.

Author's Response:

*Jumps up and down at the fact that you like my story*

 

*Doesn't have much to say beyond jumping up and down that you like my story*