My 2021 wrap up was such a hit I thought I would do another one! While I didn't read nearly as many fanfics this year, I did discover a few new authors whose bodies of work are just *chef kiss*.
(Don't forget to check out my All Time Favourite Fic list and my pinned post with all my rec lists!)
And in no particular order...
Dog Day Open Hydrant by LinearA | @linearao3 | Explicit | 4k | One Shot | PWP | Modern AU | Summertime | Strangers to Lovers | Antagonism | Fireman!Ben Solo | It's too hot for this shit | One Night stand ??? | Ben POV | "Ben's come to close an open hydrant. The kids playing in it don't want him to, and a pretty girl on the street is backing them up."
Get Close by iffyluv | Explicit | 4k | Oneshot | PWP | Modern AU | Snowed-in | Cuddling for warmth | Co-workers | Multi POV | Stranded on the side of the road during a blizzard, Ben and Rey share a blanket to stay warm *wiggles eyebrows*
A for... by crossingwinter | @shmisolo | Explicit | 5k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Maturbation | Anal Sex | Co-workers | Jewish!Ben Solo | Falling in love | Rey POV | A fantastically written oneshot about Rey's affinity for anal sex and how she ends up having it with Ben Solo.
tell me you recognize defeat by emphemeron | @emphemeron | Explicit | 10k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Office setting | Co-workers | Friends to Lovers but Rey's too stupid to see it coming | Zero discussions of boundaries | mildly dubious consent | ANGST because Rey is an idiot | Shy!Ben Solo | Rey POV | "Rey just wants to be friends with the tall, quiet IT specialist who sits by himself at the company all-hands meetings."
Yes, and... by slipgoingunder | @slipgoingunder | Explicit | 10k | Complete | PWP | Modern AU | Actors | Christmas | behind the scenes of making a Hallmark movie | Mistaken Identity | Actress!Rey | Acting coach!Ben Solo | Rey POV | "Newbie actress Rey lands the starring role in a Hallmark Christmas Movie...but she finds it's not so easy to become a wholesome Hallmark heroine. Enter a mysterious stranger who just might turn out to be her Christmas angel."
Ben Solo Is Not His Brother's Keeper by LyricalRiot | @lyricalriot | Explicit | 13k | Complete | Historical AU | Unspecific Setting | Strangers to Lovers | MISUNDERSTANDINGS | Arranged Marriage | Prima Noctis vibes | Infidelity | Ben and Poe are brothers | Hunting/trapping | Han Solo is an idiot | Poe and Rey are engaged | Loss of Virginity | Deflowering Ritual | HEA | Multi POV | It is expected that the great honor of deflowering his bride will fall to Poe's younger brother Ben. Ben who is secretly in love with Poe's bride wishes he was dead.
Orion by ianixela | @ianixela | Explicit | 14k | Complete | Modern AU | Strangers to lovers | Slowish burn | Photojournalist!Rey | Guide!Ben Solo | Ex-military!Ben Solo | Amputee!Ben Solo | PTSD | Implied/referenced abortion | Past Adultry | Desert | Oasis | Stranded togther | HEA | Reylo Baby | Rey POV | "Rey Niima finds herself in the Saharan desert trying to heal wounds from her life, and Ben Solo is there too, fixing himself along the way."
The Single Father by xtenn | @xavtenn | Explicit | 15k | Complete | Modern AU | College/University | Professor/Student dynamic | Single father!Ben Solo | Professor!Solo | Single mom!Rey | Student!Rey | Post Partum Depression | ANGST | Baby OCs | Breastfeeding | Roommates | Pining | Past Sexual Trauma | HEA | Ben POV | Returning to work after becoming a single father, Professor Solo is struggling to keep his head above water when he receives an unexpected offer from one of his student's.
For the Record by canox | Explicit | 16k | Complete | Modern AU | Office setting | Co-workers | Mistaken Indentity | One-night-stand | Drama at work | Snoke is a toxic boss | Rey POV | "Rey is a sharp-eyed editor at a top magazine. After a frustrating day at work, she has a one-night stand with a musician, never thinking he might be someone she knows. But she’s about to discover that, between sleeping with a stranger and missing what's happening at work, maybe she's not as sharp-eyed as she thought."
Avant Gardenerby bobaheadshark & kalx58 | @bobaheadshark | Explicit | 21k | Complete | Modern AU | Pandemic/Quarantine/covid-19 | Texting | Plant Nerds | Strangers to friends to hook up to friends to lovers | Rey wants casual | Ben wants Rey | NO-STRINGS-ATTACHED sure jan | Bisexual!Rey | Character study | Rey POV | "The ideal person to break Rey’s quarantine dry spell? The guy she’s been talking online with about plants for months. A harmless one night stand. She’ll never see him again. But the universe might have other plans."
hive. by indiecisivepsych | @indiecisivepsych | Explicit | 33k | Complete | Modern AU | Idiots to lovers | Casual no-strings-attached relationship | Honey Porn | Rey loves Bees | Ben loves Rey | Angst | Pining | HEA | "Rey Niima loves bees. And she doesn't want to admit that she also loves Ben Solo, the man who keeps giving her honey."
Similar Creatures by quamquam20 | @quamquam20 | Explicit | 36k | Complete | Historical AU | 1700s | Venice | Pretty Woman retelling | Sex worker!Rey | Mafioso/enforcer!Ben | "no kissing on the mouth" | Angst | HEA | Multi POV | "As the Hammer of the Medici, Benjamin Solatti has a lot of practice crushing dreams and wringing every coin from nearly empty pockets. Sent to Venice to collect on a debt, he doesn’t have time for pleasure. Nobody knows the winding alleys and canals of Venice quite like someone who works them. So when street-smart Rey notices a lost Florentine noble, she’s more than happy to offer her services. Worlds apart, they lead very different lives. Brought together by chance and an irresistible proposition, those same differences might be what tear them apart when their time runs out."
You Can Have Manhattan by reylo_addict | @thereyloaddict | Explicit | 41k | Complete | Modern AU | Manhattan | Established Reylo | Break ups | Flashbacks | Falling in love | Devoted Reylo | Angst | Break up sex | HEA | Rey POV | In the past: Rey falls in love with New York at the same time she falls in love with Ben Solo. In the present: Rey is angrily (and drunkenly) phoning her Ex from the otherside of the country.
what if the storm ends by SecretReyloTrash | @lyresandlasers | Explicit | 61k | Complete | Historic AU | 1950's | WW2 flashbacks | England/Yorkshire | Growing up together | Estrangement | ANGST. SO MUCH BLOODY ANGST | Author!Rey | Widower!Ben | Ben was happily married to another | Farmer!Ben | Rey has PTSD | HEA | Rey POV | "As a child, Rey is evacuated from London to the Yorkshire Dales during the Blitz. She spends the war in the care of the Solos on their farm, wandering the moors with their son looking for a legendary family artifact long lost. When the war is over, she returns to a city she no longer recognizes, and she writes a popular series of children's fantasy books based on her childhood in the Dales. After amassing fame and fortune with her stories, tragedy brings her back to the farm to see Ben Solo, once her greatest inspiration and now a widower."
Pressed by mzladybird | @mzladybird | Explicit | 4k | Oneshot | PWP | Modern AU | Strangers-to-lovers | Employee/customer | Rough sex | Rey POV | Rey works at a drycleaners and takes some *ahem* liberties with Ben's shirts.
A Scent Like Peony by mzladybird | @mzladybird | Explicit | 6k | Oneshot | Arranged Marriage | Strangers | Jealousy | Hate sex? | Rey!Palpatine | Steamy AF | Rey POV | As heiress to the Palpatine Empire Rey always knew she was going to marry Ben Solo.
a good woman by AnonPenguin | @penthescoundrel | Explicit | 9k | Oneshot | Historical AU | Victorian? | American West | Small Town | Widow!Rey | Teacher!Ben Solo | Eniemes to lovers | Misunderstandings | Spanking | Feral!Rey | HEA | Rey POV | "Upstanding citizen and businesswoman, Rey Johnson, has an indelible sense of the way forward. But, that all changes when the new school teacher, Mister Solo, comes to town."
little sir by AnonPenguin | @penthescoundrel | Explicit | 14k | Complete | Historic AU | Medieval | Robin Hood vibes | Injury Recovery | Strangers to lovers | Turbo-virgin!Rey | Ben Solo is a tits guy | Rey POV | Rey is a vigilante who is caught by Lord Solo but instead of turning her in he wants to worship her tits marry her.
Heirloom by AnonPenguin | @penthescoundrel | Explicit | 24k | Complete | Historic AU | Regency/Victorian | Arranged Marriage | Wedding Night | Curses/Magic | Sex Pollen Vibes | Age Difference | Dirty talk | Brat!Rey | Idiots In love | Ben POV | "Ben is encouraged to give an heirloom ring with "hopes" for the marriage to his new bride written inside. Showing a general disdain for the arrangement, he inscribes it, "May we fuck like bunnies, and never have enough", not realizing that magic binds the wish to come true."
Let's Eat by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 4k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Strangers to lovers | Food Porn | Bathroom sex | Rey POV | "The restaurant serves a tasting menu for two, and Rey wants to try it. So does the man sitting beside her at the bar. The solution? She shares a meal with a stranger. And if they end up sharing so much more than just food, well, Rey’s okay with that. Ben Solo isn’t so bad. Not really. And it’s nice, not eating alone."
Happenchance by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 5k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Office Party | Mistaken Indentity | Mention of sex work | Rey POV | "When Rose hires an escort to be Rey’s date for their company’s fundraising event, Rey’s livid. Until… Well, until she spots him in the hotel’s lobby. Tall and gorgeous, with dark hair nearly brushing the collar of the suit he fills out sinfully well. Maybe Rey doesn’t hate Rose. Maybe she should write Rose a thank you note. Or, Rey thinks Ben is an escort. Ben is not an escort."
Differential Equation by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 8.6k | Oneshot with a sequel | Modern AU | College/University | Enemies-to-lovers | Rivalry | Rey POV | After overhearing some comments about herself at a party Rey hates privileged frat boy Ben Solo.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 16k | Complete | Modern AU | Blind Date | Christmas/holidays/ Hanukkah | Fake Dating | Dating | Falling in love | Christmas parties | Skating | Multi POV | "After a disastrous blind date, Ben and Rey can at least agree on one thing—between fancy work galas, ugly sweater parties, Hanukkah with the Solos, and Christmas Eve with Rey’s rowdy group of friends… facing December alone is tiring. Being chronically single with friends trying to pair you off is worse. But fake-dating their way through the holidays? What could go wrong."
Thin Ice by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 14k | Complete | Modern AU | Fake Dating | Hockey | Multi POV | To get revenge on her Ex Rey asks His favourite hockey player to be her date to said Ex's wedding.
Rental Girlfriend by PurpleSugarQuills | @purplesugarquills | Explicit | 18k | Complete | Modern AU | College/University | Enemies-to-lovers | Friend group dynamic | Escort!Rey | jealous/posessive/idiot!Ben Solo | Misunderstandings | ANGST | Rey POV | "Being a rental girlfriend was the best thing that ever happened to Rey. Until she met Ben Solo." or Rey can't stand the new guy at pub trivia. And the new guy cannot figure out Rey.
Trial and Error by Celia_and | @whatceliawrites | Explicit | 7k | Complete | Modern AU | Enemies-to-lovers | Rivals-to-lovers | Scientists | Angst | HEA | Rey POV | "When rival scientists Rey and Kylo keep meeting at out-of-town conferences, the growing tension isn’t strictly professional."
To Heal by Celia_and | @whatceliawrites | Explicit | 8k | Complete | Modern AU | Flashbacks | Big Buisness | Acquisitions/mergers | Enemies with History | College/University | Falling in Love | Marriage | PTSD | Night Terrors | ANGST | Break-ups | Reconciliation | Rey POV | "When CEO Rey Palpatine faces down her rival Ben Solo across a boardroom table, it’s been ten years since she’s seen him. Ten years since they belonged to each other."
How to Save a Life by Celia_and | @whatceliawrites | Explicit | 8k | Complete | Modern AU | Co-workers | Blizzard | Snowed-in | Scorned lover | Misunderstandings | Bickering as sexual tension | Steamy AF | Rey POV | "Ben rescues his coworker Rey from her cabin in a blizzard, and she can’t forgive him for it."
underworld by elle_p (need ao3 account to read) | Explicit | 2k | Oneshot | PWP | Modern AU | College/University | Rave | Strangers | Hookup | Outdoor sex | Rey POV | "Rey goes to a rave. This tall guy won’t stop staring at her."
I hold it towards you by elle_p (need ao3 account to read) | Mature | 2k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Pandemic/Quarantine/covid-19 | Loneliness | Anxiety/Depression | Neighbours | Strangers | Age gap | Angst | Happy/Hopeful ending | Rey POV | "After spending time alone in quarantine, Rey meets her next door neighbor, a poetry professor by the name of Benjamin Solo."
melatonin by sevenofreylo | @sevenofreylo | Explicit | 3k | One shot | Modern AU | Summertime | School vacation | Enemies-to-lovers | Bullying | Teenagers(?) | Awkward virgins | Masturbation | No p-in-v | Bunkbeds | Rey POV | "Rey can’t sleep, not with Luke’s nephew in the same room."
Feet Cute by sevenofreylo | @sevenofreylo | Explicit | 3.6k | Oneshot | Modern AU | Meet-cute | Ben has a foot fetish | Adorable then steamy AF | Rey POV | "Rey buys new trainers from Ben’s store."
Making Emends by alantieislander | Explicit | 3k | Oneshot | Modern AU | A/B/O | Alpha x Beta | Ben POV | "In which Alpha Ben meets Beta Rey, and has a biological crisis."
Snowmates by alantieislander | Explicit | 5k | Complete (One shot in two parts with a small epilogue) | Modern AU | Roomates | Rey/Finn | Ben&Finn friendship | No Infidelity | Friends to lovers | Multi POV | When they met Rey was dating Finn. Then Finn and Ben became roommates. Then Rey and Finn Broke up. Then Rey moved away. Now she's back for a visit.
Holdings by alantieislander | Explicit | 5k | Complete | Modern AU | Rich!Ben Solo | Assistant!Rey | Wrokplace relationship | Romantic | Multi POV | "In which Rey is a congresswoman's assistant's assistant and Ben is one of the richest men in the world, and they really like each other."
Leave It All, Lock to the Tide by alantieislander | Explicit | 11k | Complete | Historic AU | 1860s | Maine Coast | Shipwrecked | Magical Abilities | Injury recovery | Depression | HEA | Rey POV | Rey has the ability to take away other's pain, but unlike her mother or grandmother before her she cannot get rid of the pain, only magnify it. Rey exiles herself to a small coastal island to live out her lonely days in peace. Until Ben Solo washes up on the shore.
full fathom five (little lies) by lachesisgrimm | @lachesisgrimm | Mature | 45k | Complete | Modern AU | ANGST | Unplanned Pregnancy | Hurt/comfort | injury!recovery | Broken friend group dynamic | Villian!Luke | Rey needs a hug | Devoted Reylo | HEA | Rey POV | Ben ghosts Rey. He wont even answer her texts when she tells him she's pregnant. Then one day a phone call revealing that Ben has been in a coma for 5 months and he wants to see Rey. Slowly the truth comes out that a master manipulator has been pulling strings in the shadows.
mouth, stomach, heart by lachesisgrimm | @lachesisgrimm | Mature | 80k | Complete | Modern AU | Strangers to lovers | Rey needs a hug | Sick!fic | Food | Angst | Feral!Rey | Utter simp!Ben Solo | "i licked it and its mine" | Stalking/harassment | OC Antagonist | Falling in love | Loss of Virginity | Marriage proposals | Friend group dynamic | Rey POV | Rey works at Han's garage and his son starts hanging around. Rey's shitty childhood has left her with issues surrounding food and Ben wins her over with his cooking.
