Sarah Writes Fic

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[ghostofbambifanfiction]

2026 Reading List

To be updated as and when I complete books. Reading goal: 24 Completed: 6

Book List

1) The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden (#1 of the Winternight Trilogy) Genre: Historical Fantasy Finished: 6th January 2026 3.5/5

I read this whilst recovering from illness, wrapped up in a blanket in a dark room with a starlight projector aimed at my ceiling and snow on the ground outside, and it was a perfect marriage of two things. The build was great, although the ending was less so. Slavic folklore is always fascinating and works so well for novels like this. I really don't like mid-paragraph POV changes so I wasn't wild about that element of the writing, but overall I enjoyed the prose and the story was good enough to compensate for that one irritation.

2) An Absolute Casserole: The Taskmaster Compendium - Alex Horne and Jack Bernhardt Genre: Non-Fiction, Comedy Finished: 10th January 2026 3/5

I really enjoyed all of the behind the scenes information and backstory on the original Edinburgh show, but a lot of it was just rehashing things I already knew from watching the show itself, and I could have done with less of that. Also spotted two factual errors which made me feel like Alex Horne, spiritually.

3) Margo's Got Money Troubles - Rufi Thorpe Genre: Contemporary Fiction Finished: 11th January 2026 5/5

Beautiful and unpretentious and sharp and profound. It didn't make me laugh out loud like many reviewers have claimed, but I didn't need it to. I wanted to select a quote I loved to highlight but there were so many and I finished this book wanting to snatch them all up and gobble them and gorge myself on sentiment like ice cream in a bowl. Plus, the author clearly knows her shit about wrestling, and my rating would have gone way down if she hadn't.

4) Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery Genre: Classic Fiction Finished: 15th January 2026 5/5

This gets 5 stars because it was such a huge comfort to me as a child, even if it is oversentimental in a way that I wouldn't really vibe with in any other book series. Rereading it as an adult is still a really pleasant experience. Cried more than once and was particularly moved by Marilla's willingness, as a parent, to hold herself accountable and apologise to Anne when she was in the wrong. Plus, Anne and Gilbert were my first real ship and I'm pleased to say that it definitely still holds up.

5) Anne of Avonlea - L. M. Montgomery Genre: Classic Fiction Finished: 17th January 2026 3/5

Look. This was always my least favourite Anne book. There's so much time taken up by additional characters that don't add much to the story and take up space that would have been better served by Diana, Marilla and Gilbert. As a parent it's irritating to see Davy be so indulged despite being such a brat, especially when sweet little Dora, who tries so hard to be good, goes ignored in the background. My teeth hurt whenever I had to read Paul Irving's "my little mother" and Miss Lavendar annoys the shit out of me. If my employer couldn't be bothered to learn my name and just called me by the name of a previous employee I'd walk straight out of their damn house. But I loved every moment aside from that.

6) A Useful Woman - Darcie Wilde Genre: Historical Mystery Finished: 15th March 2026 4.5/5

What's not to love about a Regency Era murder mystery? Very little. While I'm never fond of a love triangle and I'm pretty sure Rosalind is going to end up with the blonde love interest, I can forgive the book for these follies because everything else that happens is infinitely more interesting than the romance angle. Honestly she could cut the romance plot out entirely and I'd still gobble the rest of these books up.

Next to read: The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix E. Harrow

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Did I read Eight Days again? Yes. Am I feral about it again? Yes? Did I harass Bee with questions about it again ALSO yes? Adios my sanity for the next several months.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Where on the smut chart will the next chapter of happy hour fall?

I'd say they tick off several boxes on the smut checklist in the next chapter, yeah. Can't have a casual sex arrangement without casual sex.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Wait who fancies sirius??? Can’t wait to read these crazy kids

Most people, if you ask him.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

All the noob anons making me worried you won’t update happy hour next, it’s my favorite of all

I am writing Happy Hour at this very minute, anon sweet. Have a snippy.

"Well, yeah, she loves me like a brother; her fancying Sirius has nothing to do with that." His hands are splayed across her stomach, all warmth, and they seem so much larger than hers. "Did you ever?"

"Did I ever what?"

"Fancy Sirius." His voice is barely a whisper. "When you first met."

"Not even a little bit."

"Not your type?"

"No."

One of his hands drifts lower, brushing the top button of her jeans, and Lily feels herself thaw and acquiesce, leaning back against his body, pliable and soft. The way he can do that to her with minimal effort is almost enough to make her angry. "What is your type?"

"Men who don't dig for compliments," she mutters through her teeth, and feels him laugh softly, rather than hears it.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Hello! Got a question about n00b (but if it's too spoilery you don't have to answer):

Are you able to disclose whether the first person to figure out the secret identities will be one of them (James or Lily)? Or will it be a different character?

That is too spoilery, I'm afraid, but something I can reveal is that several people are going to find out in very quick, almost immediate succession.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

i have too many and not enough shows i want to watch/rewatch so im back to derry girls like truly nothing compares to my fav comedy ever god i love this show!!!

I'm like that with Frasier, haha. Literally started rewatching it last night while I was having dinner. That and Downton Abbey are constantly on a loop in this house. My husband has never sat through an episode of Downton but I've watched it so much that he's pieced the whole plot together like a patchwork quilt.

Derry Girls is fantastic, though. I did not grow up in NI so watching it is a very "different yet the same" experience for me, but the ending when the Good Friday Agreement passes always makes me cry. I must have gone to school and been taught by about ten nuns who were all exactly like Sister Michael. Sister Geraldine I will never forget you listening to Eminem on your Discman and bopping your head like an irate pigeon, nor will I forget the time you confiscated the self-insert fanfic that my friend Ciara and I were writing about Rupert Grint and Tom Felton and read it out to the class.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Joining the noob reread train and just wanna say you're an absolute gem and an awesome writer

Thank you so much! You're an absolute gem and an awesome anon!

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

reading noob for th first time snd I just got to chapter 12 LOL I can see why it got the reaction it did!! So excited for a new obsession after cyoa!

Hahaha, I was so giddy dropping that chapter because I knew no one was expecting it and I also knew that even after the coffee shop scene nobody would expect the chapter to end in the way that it did. An all time moment for me in the many years I have spent writing fic. So happy that you enjoyed it, thank you!

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

just now getting around to reading the cyoa updates and JESUS H CHRIST!!!!! "Sirius would pick her for a sister, if he could. He reckons that would be alright." and the paragraph before it just really GOT MY ASS and now i am CRYING ABOUT IT 😭😭😭 love u + ur writing

Thank you so much, anon! I wasn't expecting that part to gain such traction but Sirius and Lily's found family dynamic seems to be something people want, and I simply must give the people what they want.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

So is CYOA on hold again? I just reread the whole thing and it was just Lily and James constantly complimenting each other over and over xD It really accumulates when you read it all in one go, they're so adorable

Nah, CYOA's not on hold, I'm on hold. My job feels like it's killing me at this point, I only managed to get CYOA updated twice recently because I was signed off sick for a week, which might give you some idea as to how bad it is right now.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Heyy do you have any n00b snippets? I love love love your writing 💗

"Is this gonna be a problem?"

"I don't… know?" she admitted, a little alarmed by her own discomfiture, but then James's hands were on her hips, slipping beneath her t-shirt to find bare skin, and a voice in her head said shut up shut up SHUT UP and put your hand down his trousers. "No, it doesn't matter. It doesn't have to matter. You smell really fucking good."

"Do I?"

"Yes." She pushed him up against his car and his back hit the window with an audible thump; a lethal cocktail of need and arousal had lent more strength to her limbs than she'd expected. "How do you always smell so good?"

"I'm a very clean boy," he said, smirking as he reached for her. "C'mere."

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Noob is one of my favourite fics of yours sincerely. They're so sweet in it i swear, the dialogue is everything and I like how their dynamic when they meet each other in real life is complemented by their dynamic online like lilys confident and aloof and james is dramatic and himself and then Lily's honest about her desires and james is a lot more tame. Was just wondering if we can expect an update of them soon

Ahaha thank you!! I think the difference in their interactions are what's going to be fun about working on the next few chapters, because IRL Lily is a lot more willing to be vulnerable than she is when she's being Josie, and IRL James is doing the exact opposite, trying his best to be cocky and self-assured so that he'll remain attractive to her for as long as possible. Josie already knows that he's a mess on the inside, so there's no point in trying to hide it from her now.

Eventually, though, it'll all become delightfully muddled!

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Went to go re-read n00b and it dawned on me that since the last update I have moved to a new country and completed a whole year at uni.

This has made me deeply question the concept of time because I recall reading chapter 13 so vividly when it first came out (and it's just as good almost a year later)

Just know when n00b nexts gets updated I will be bursting for joy at that email update ❤️❤️

Oh god, I updated it in September last year, for some reason it felt a lot more recent than that???? I remember being on a real hot streak with those chapters and then getting super burned out, as is so often the way, but I do love it and really want to update it.

Edit: I forgot to THANK YOU so much for your lovely kind ask I'm so sorry!!!

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Going off anons and reviews here but why are a bunch of people reading noob all of a sudden? You all have ME rereading it at work!

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Maybe that coffee shop scene is a peak I'll never reach again.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Going off anons and reviews here but why are a bunch of people reading noob all of a sudden? You all have ME rereading it at work!

[frownyalfred]

me, quietly whispering to the ao3 page of an author who doesn’t even know I exist: I am obsessed with you

[newskyillusion]

me, whispering to the ao3 page of an author who hasn’t updated anything in four years: I think about you often and I hope you’re alright

[azrielgreen]

me, whispering to the ao3 page of an author who wrote one life altering banger and nothing else: I hope your pillow is cool and your skin is clear and you find money in a forgotten jeans pocket

[jezebelgoldstone]

me, whispering to every single person on this post: please leave one singular comment saying literally any of that