BALM TO THE WOUND, a Reylo Fic Rec List
A friend of mine once said, "That's why they're a comfort character, we're going through the same thing." And that's essentially the theme of this rec list.
These fics have given me great comfort and have even helped me heal. Sometimes we just need someone who gets us. So I'd like to share them with you as well.
Please mind the tags. These fics deal with mental health issues, struggles with interpersonal relationships, addictions, and other personal problems.
SORTED BY WORD COUNT (lowest to highest):
Little Containers by @anneannalovesreylo (1.1k, Not Rated, Modern, Established Relationship, Hopeful Ending)
- Postpartum Depression / COVID Pandemic / Pregnancy
- It isn't Rey's first pregnancy, but postpartum depression hits her especially hard this time. Struggling to go back to how she was before, she realizes that she doesn't really have to.
Rey and her Bad Brain Day by @jenofthemidwest (1.7k, Teen, Modern, Neighbors, Hopeful Ending)
- Depression / Intrusive Thoughts / Friendship
- She doesn't really know what triggers it, but Rey is losing against her intrusive thoughts today. Luckily, her sweet neighbor is there when she needs someone the most.
Winter Means Goodbye by @captainmarvel42 (1.8k, Mature, Modern, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending)
- Depression / Bipolar Disorder / Anger Issues / Alcoholism
- Believing himself to be a burden, Ben thinks that Rey is about to give up on and break up with him, just like all the others before. But Rey is here to stay.
I hold it towards you by @elle_p (2.1k, Mature, Modern, Neighbors, Sad with a Happy Ending)
- Grief/Mourning / Anxiety Disorder / COVID Lockdown
- It's the height of the pandemic, and Rey begins an unusual relationship with her next-door neighbor whom she can't see: a professor coping with the recent loss of his mother.
The meet cute by @Vittra (4k, General, Modern, Neighbors, Happy Ending)
- Parenthood / Special Needs / Autism
- Rey and her little boy River live right next door to Ben, a dog dad who works from home. When she can't find anyone to take care of River while she works, Ben offers to look after him.
Thank You, Sunberry by @aaveena (6.7k, Teen, Canon Divergence, Established Relationship, Happy Ending)
- Parenthood / Father-Daughter Relationship / Forgiveness
- Rey and Ben's eldest daughter Hanna is 13 years old when she finds out about her father's past transgressions. Her relationship with Ben grows strained, but together they find healing.
is this nice? by @daphnedevil (15.6k, Explicit, Drug Dealer and Client, Open/Hopeful Ending)
- Addiction / Insomnia / Mental Health Problems
- As she works on her degree, Rey starts having trouble sleeping. She uses weed as a solution and in the process finds love with her dealer. But as her addiction worsens, she learns that there are some things she needs to find on her own.
The Single Father by @xavtenn (15.8k, Explicit, Teacher/Student then Roommates, Angst with a Happy Ending)
- Depression / Parenthood / Postpartum Depression
- Professor Ben Solo isn't having an easy time raising his newborn baby girl. Neither is his student Rey, who has just given birth to her baby boy. Together, they go through some growing pains as first-time parents.
Mitan, Midi by @ao3animal (83.7k, Explicit, Strangers, Angst with a Happy Ending)
- Depression / Dissociation / Suicidal Ideation
- When Rey inherits a house in the middle of nowhere, she bids her humdrum city life goodbye. She'd be perfectly happy to die there, except an intruder willing to take care of her and the house comes barging right in.
Hiraeth by @ferashawrites (211.5k, Explicit, It's Complicated (Seriously), Heavy Angst, Bittersweet Ending)
- Severe Mental Health Problems / On-Again Off-Again Relationship / War and Violence
- Throughout her teen and young adult years in a country at war, Rey forms a complicated relationship with a man named Kylo Ren. Though they grow further and further apart in principles and ideals, they continue to be drawn to each other. And soon enough, Rey learns that she might have given her heart to a monster.
Thank you to these amazing writers. (More to be added in the future!)