Just Trying To Make My Teenage Self Proud

Early 30s & New Here Accountant by Day, Wannabe Writer by Every Other Moment I Can ao3 Link!

[marythesheeeep]

What are your tobs fanfic recs? Canon or AU I will read anything

God I have read so many and love each one. I can give you some that I have enjoyed and I will give you some that I personally, selfishly want more people to read.

The Lodger by minyoongies. It has just two chapters but it has me completely hooked. It is an Alternative Universe where Mary goes to live with the Gardiners three years earlier and is living with them at the same time Tom lodge with them. I am patiently waiting for the next chapter but it is really good.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

A most (dis)agreeable duel by GhostoftheDoctor

This is a two in one as it is a continuation of another fic called (Dis)approval, it has one chapter and I love it, I am waiting for the next update.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Special shout out to materia1gor1 she is the pioneer (if you have an account) of fics in AO3 she was the first one and everything she has written I have loved so there you have it. I also highly recommend anything written by Lilghostgal, Vellinae and riskyfixins, they have a good mix of more canon stories and AUs and I will continue to gush about some of my other favorite authors below

If it's meant to be, then it will be by WickedSong

A wonderful and delightful canon divergence of chapter 7 onwards that is just beautiful, I have loved every chapter and I am sad we are just one chapter short of the end.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Default Judgement by crazyoldlouise1331

A ModernAU that will make you hate William Ryder and you will love it. It is so good you can find me there gushing about how good it is, and you should just read it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/84026641

Daffodil by booksantrash

Bridgerton meets TOBS need I say more, I love it this fic deserves to be read by everybody for how good it is.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/86592681

Tom Hayward's Operational Guide to Yearning (While Being a Public Nuisance) by dbpn

If you want a fun espionage au you need to read this, it is such a delight to read and it is so good i always have a riot and have my feelings hurt by dbpn (I am still a bit traumatized by Larkie angst it was so good and broke my hearth) and I cannot recommend it enough.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/86363216

The other Mr. And Mrs. Smith by horamiji

This is inspired by Mr. And Mrs. Smith the series from Amazon (I believe I haven't actually seen the series) it is great, I love it, I need an update stat as where it was left off it just has me at the edge of my seat and I will wait for however long but that is all I will say.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83780226

I swear whenever I look for the link I am reminded of another great fic so I will leave you with two more.

Another Brother (in law) by Little_Miss_Rainstorm

It is about the engagement period and the wedding between Mary and Tom is delightful and I just love it and God I want to say something but I also don't want to spoil you if you have not read it so just go read it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/82337261

Tea by fairmanor

A lovely modern au One-shot that if I am entirely selfish want a continuation for what can I say I loved it so much.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/82378046

God truly I had to stop myself from continuing to recommend you fics as I have loved them all, please go read I assure you you will find a great variety of fics that you will love as this community has a great talent you have 249 fics as of now to choose from and if I could I would link you to each one of them but I cannot and I feel like there is not enough space for me to continue to gush about all of the lovely authors in this community I am a fan of each one if them and you should be too.

[eddie-redcliffe]

The Other Bennet Sister (2026)

[eddie-redcliffe]

The Other Bennet Sister (2026) Chapter 1 » Chapter 10

[atlantidea]

THE OTHER BENNET SISTER (2026)

[neitherthehoneynorthebee]

SPOILERS but there's something so funny about Tom Hayward saying he chose to "graciously step aside" so Mary could marry the wealthier Mr Ryder when, in fact, he acted like a miserable, sulking wet cat the entire walk down the mountain.

[crazyoldlouise1331]

New Chapter Up :) Chapter 7: Room for Me

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[tomhaywards]

Jealous Tom Hayward, you will always be famous

[theboyfromcork]

britboxtv

--

Thanks @lostgirl88!

[atlantidea]

i love watching tom hayward dying inside every single time during tobs, hes so pathetic (i love him so much)

[anotherapologist]

If you isolate the vocals on this scene you can barely hear Tom begin to say "I don't think" to Caroline in an effort to get her to shuuuuuut the fuck up.

(Bonus: Mary immediately looking at Tom for help but he's already trying to provide it)

[madlytemporary]

The Other Bennet Sister fic recs!

Warning! I have a very specific need for a certain kind of fan fic. Basically I need fix it fics, gap scenes, scenes from neglected characters POV, and AUs within the universe of the show. There is one modern AU included below, and it is the exception that proves the rule. (Nothing against modern AUs, they're just not what I'm in neeed of.) If you're like me, this is the post for yooouuu.

Here are some of my faves for The Other Bennet Sister:

Multi-Chapter Series

The Middle of it All

by crazyoldlouise1331

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83151991/chapters/219600876

TOBS from Tom’s pov. I think about it all the time. Basically reading it as canon it’s so good. I'm sad/slightly afraid she's not gonna update it because she's updating her other fic that I also love, which is -

Default Judgement

by crazyoldlouise1331 https://archiveofourown.org/works/84026641/chapters/221538546 This is the only modern AU I like, and I reeaalllly like it. The author gets the characters on a primordial level so even though it’s a different time I still feel like I’m getting to know the characters. I'm slightly obsessed and need this updated now even though it just got updated…

catch from thy wild eyes these gleams

by Vellinae This is my kind of AU. The kind that imagines a what if within the universe of the story. I'm also obsessed with stories that (to me) have a kind of borderline science fiction quality because the writing is so good you get the sense that the characters feel this timeline is wrong.

A Week To Build A Dream On

By MischiefInATeacup

My favorite fills-the-gap fic for the time in the Lakes. So needed. So good.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The unravelling of tom hayward

by Murder_shesnored

Brilliantly fills the gap of Anne dumping Tom. Fills the gap of the time before Tom will propose. Yes agony, yes.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The Lodger

by minyoongies

Imagines Mary moved to London three years earlier. Only two chapters so far! Aching for this one to get updated.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Single Chapters/One-Shots

1. let lips do what hands do

by bookstantrash

So freaking satisfying yes hallway makeout session yes.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

2.

Our Dwelling is the Light of Setting Suns

by minyoongies

https://archiveofourown.org/works/82269886

I think this was the first TOBS fic I read. So simple, clearly written, and powerfully told. Love it.

3.

nestled between your heart and mine

by Vellinae

This short gap fic with Tom made the show itself better for its wonderfulness. I've read it multiple times.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/84309636

Vigil

by BlissfulEscape

Lovely gap scene

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Smut Adjacent

Shake

by immaculateyearner

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

apparelled in celestial light

by Vellinae

I mean, it's a masturbation short story that gave me a deeper understanding of the character and his misery and helped me appreciate the show on a more complex level. Perfect!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Two I can't find! There's a great fix-it fic where Mary and Tom end up next to each other for warmth in a cave that I can't find! And Mary and Tom's first time where Tom describes the experience of kissing alone like this as distinctly different because "we don't have to stop." I can't find themmmmm but they are great.

[crazyoldlouise1331]

😭 and alongside some of my personal favorites? What an honor.

[chryssadirewolf]

In that scene where Mary is instructing Tom how to fish, never once does he act annoyed or insulted that Mary is the one giving him direction. Not once in TOBS has Tom Hayward mansplained anything to Mary or brushed off any of her opinions or insights as insignificant. Let’s remember that he holds all the cards as far as society at that time is concerned because he can vote, he can own property, he can inherit and have a bank account while Mary cannot.

The only time he did make a decision that affected them both without consulting her was when he believed Mary would be better off with Ryder and then disappeared, for which he was reprimanded and smacked on the arm by Mary, and rightly so. I’m sure he never made that mistake again.

[liberalsarecool]

Cosign.

[hihereami]

The Other Bennet Sister Fic Recs

Got a message in my inbox asking for my fic recs and, having been in this fandom from the moment there was no tag whatsoever, I want to highlight the beautiful writers 💜

If it were for me, I'd rec all 217 fics, since I've read most of them several times. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS ON ALL THE FICS YOU READ AND LIKE. That said, here's a good start:

A most advantageous marriage by WanderingStella. Post Canon, Epistolary compilation. Multichapter/Ongoing. This fic is written SO deliciously and retaining much of the language of the period. It's a lovely insight on the Bennets and how they meet Tom previous to the wedding!

till heart with heart in concord beats by sapphicbecca. Post canon. One shot. Tom gets in the habit of sending Mary poems during their engagement + writes her a special one once married. It's tender, it's sweet and this writer understands Mary and Tom in such a special way! (the sapphic way). This author has another beautiful fic on Marytom and poems, please go read it!

All the Weather of You by LilGhostGal. Modern AU. Multichapter. Complete. This one can only be described as a throughout character study on who Mary and Tom are, at their core, on the specificity of each of them. This being a Modern AU is stunning because you'd think... what's holding them back? They adore one another, they have an extremely special relationship and yet... it all shatters. What are these character's fears? Thoughts? Does modernity heal it? Does love heal it?

this season, with their unripe fruits by Vellinae. Post-canon. One shot. Married Mary Hayward brings her newly orphaned nieces into her house. Her niece, daughter of Lydia and Wickham, who has been neglected in her own way. As Vellinae puts it, Mary gets to be the Mrs Gardiner in someone else's story. It's a poignant fic, extremely interesting concept and beautifully written. This author has quite a lot of fics for TOBS and I've enjoyed each and every one.

catch from thy wild eyes these gleams by Vellinae. Canon Divergence. Multichapter. Ongoing. Mary marries Mr Collins instead of Charlotte. She becomes a wife, a mother and then -- a widow. Tom Hayward is summoned to arrange late Mr Collins's estate. It's a beautiful story on healing, on personhood, on quiet loving, steady loving.

Another Brother (in-law) by Little_Miss_Rainstorm. Post canon. Engagement period. Multichap. Ongoing. Dwells onto the Bennets, the Darcys, the Bingleys, the Haywards... we've got everyone here and it's a beautiful wild ride. It's one of the first multichapters in the fandom and the writer has plunged us so WONDERFULLY into this world!

What We Become by BlissfulEscape. Multichap. Post Canon. Marriage and Pregnancy. Ongoing. Mary, Tom, their first pregnancy and the family they've already built. Please read the rest of this author's fics too. They are #1 Gardiners warrior and a dear friend!

good bones by reindeerjumper. Post canon. Married Marytom. Oneshot. Just absolutely delightful breakdown of the Hayward marriage through senses!

let lips do what hands do by bookstantrash. Post canon. One shot. Engaged Marytom spend a stolen moment unchaperoned. It's insanely well written and it'll leave you blushing and flailing. They love each other! Good for them!

Tom Hayward Master Yearner series by astronat. Canon compliant. One shots. Angsty. A deep dive into Tom's mindset and yearning throughout the show and after.

Lyrical Ballads by susanpxvensie. Post-canon. Multichap. Ongoing. The first longfic from this fandom, forever tattoed in my heart. Just an exploration of the engagement period + marriage of MaryTom.

The Bennets Descend by LilGhostGal. Post-canon. One shot. Tom meets the Bennets and their husbands. It's a fuckin' riot. The characterization is excellent, Darcy and Bingley were so accurate I was cracking up. JUST DELIGHTFUL.

Anyway, these are a great start but, as mentioned, each of the 217 fics I've come across have delighted me plenty. I have missed so many of my favs and cut a lot because... it's already a long list.

Please remember to comment and be kind since these authors are working for the pleasure of it and it's a very small corner of the internet!

[tommyhayward]

Look how excited he is to tell his surrogate parents that the girl he loves said YES

[sailforvalinor]

One would assume that Mary seeing the man she has a crush on but can’t pursue because he’s already engaged at social events would be extremely distressing, so I love that instead we’re seeing it be a mixed but net positive experience of coming into herself while every cut to Mr. Hayward makes it obvious that he’s the one having an absolutely miserable time

[ohthalie]

it's been a while since i want to talk about why the forearms' scene is so important in deep. first i must clarify that tobs is a femgaze show; one made by women to women and where every character/scene resonates with us. where we dont see (women) sexualized or used just as plot devices that have no other meaning to the story that be a reason to the hero to show how great he is.

many things have been said about the forearms' scene (or just about donal's forearms) and there's one that deeply bothered me: no, tom is NOT being sexualized on that scene.

to sexualize a character is to strip them of their humanity and transform them into a piece of meat whose only use is being the viewers' sexual fantasy. there isnt a deep meaning to those type of scenes and, most of the time, are extremely stupid.

in tobs what we see is how mary face desire for the first time in a long time. the importance of this scene is that we're seeing tom throught mary's eyes. we perceive his forearms as sexy bc she does. it's her lust's awakening and in mary is something so important that the scene is not only a break point to her, but to the viewers too.

mary has surpressed her feelings for years (or at least she tried) bc she didnt want to hurt others and herself. she's hidden them in the deepest part of herself, but when she sees tom casually rolling his sleeves everything shattered. those seconds is not her brain which is in control of her actions, but desire.

for the first time on the show, she met a man she sees attractive and feels attraction for. and she doesnt know how to handle it. but the best thing about this scene is that everything happens in the most natural way. tom isnt put into a situation that shame him, but it's just him being himself what awakened mary's desires.

and thats the most beautiful thing to watch.