Here.

Thanks and I'm Mint. (20+/She/Her) This blog is just whatever I have interest in. I reblog either too much or too little and I occasionally post my own art. Also, if someone hasn’t told you already, I am glad you’re alive to see this. DO NOT repost my art or use for AI training! my art

[interact-if]

Modern/Slice-of-Life Winner 🏆 When Life Gives You Lemons

It was an incredible pleasure to interview @when-life-gives-you-lemons-if, author of the top-voted complete game in the modern/slice-of-life category for When Life Gives You Lemons—and an absolute gem and inspiration.

It's hard to find an IF that makes ordinary life feel as compelling as saving the world as the chosen one, but WLGYL does exactly that. It lets you live your best (or most chaotic) life as a single parent navigating the ups and downs of everyday life—and perhaps finding love again. Best of all, it has been submitted to Hosted Games and will hit shelves (well, digital shelves) once the publishing process is done!

See the full list of winners in this category here.

About the author

I’ve been writing IF since 2020. English is not my first language. I speak French, and a bit of Spanish. I have a sweet tooth.

About the game

Hot singles in your area, but also, you’re trying to care for your child/sibling.

Tell me more about your journey into interactive fiction or what you're working on now

Working on A Taste of Heat. It’s a chef-inspired story where the MC starts working at a Michelin-starred restaurant after a rather tumultuous breakup. Work-life balance is really at the core of this story: managing a staff while dealing with your own personal baggage, all while trying not to fall in love. I’ve been writing IFs since 2020, and so far I’ve really enjoyed the ride. I just want to keep writing fun, fluffy stories that readers can resonate with.

What was the inspiration for this game, and why did you want to write a story in this genre?

The inspiration for When Life Gives You Lemons mostly came from my need to write something fluffy, sweet, and very low-stakes. My previous project at the time was a horror/fantasy story, so I really needed something different. Something that would just make me giggle, kick my feet, and make all the ROs fall in love with the MC.

How has your identity, heritage/background, or personal experience influenced your storytelling?

My first game, The Midnight Saga, was heavily inspired by my background and where I'm from. The story itself is based on an old Haitian folklore about not staying outside after midnight—if you do, the Keeper of Midnight will eat you. I took that idea and built the characters around it.

I even managed to include some spells written in Haitian Creole. It was a lot of fun to write, and even though Book 2 is currently on hiatus, this story has a special place in my heart because it was my first game. The characters are a representation of my people and the struggles they’ve gone through. I’m really happy that it was my debut story.

What does your writing process look like (e.g. for worldbuilding, character, plot)? Any tips, tricks, routines or approaches that have worked very well for you?

My writing process is a mess. My brain gets pulled in so many directions. When I get an idea, I have to code it, shape it, and give it life—otherwise, it’s going to bug me forever. That’s why I end up with so many WIPs. I need to see them through, at least to a short demo, to see if they make sense.

My desk is also full of notes, and I basically write on anything—pieces of napkins, tissue boxes, whatever is nearby. One weird habit I have is that some of the best changes I’ve made to my games, those "spark" moments, happen when I’m in the shower. It’s weird and strange, but it works.

For folks who enjoyed your IF, what other book/music/movie should they check out with the same ‘vibe’, (whatever that means to you)?

That list of modern/slice-of-life IFs you guys put together is honestly such a nice place for readers to start. It has a little bit of everything, and they’ll definitely be busy for a while reading through all those amazing stories.

What're you excited to implement or work on next?

 Laws of Passion is a legal drama-inspired story. I’ve been obsessed with some really interesting legal cases making headlines lately, so I can’t wait to dive in and give readers my own little version of what the legal world could be like. And of course, there’ll also be plenty of romance and drama.

Fun with the modern/slice-of-life genre

Personal fave profession: Being an assistant.

Personal fave modern setting: Small town, where everyone knows each other’s business.

If you were transported into the setting above, as the profession you selected, what would be the main current plot ‘struggle’ be: MC is on the run, trying to blend in and hide her real identity from the townsfolks.

[when-life-gives-you-lemons-if]

Thank you to everyone who voted. 💕

[interact-if]

Best Historical Fiction IFs

The votes are in! Here are the top-voted IFs in the fantasy genre. From immersive world-building to richly-researched settings to compelling characters, these games deliver stories that bring the past vividly to life.

We also had the great pleasure of interviewing @doriana-gray-games for the winning game in this category, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Affairs of the Heart, so do look out for that post!

Completed

I, The Forgotten One by @johnlouisif (tied with Season of Shadows)

The Golden Rose by @anathemafiction

Ongoing

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Affairs of the Heart by @doriana-gray-games (overall winner)

Scapegoated by @scapegoated-if

Season of Shadows by Krisis

Play all the historical fiction games that were submitted here.

[interact-if]

Best Fantasy IFs

Announcing the top-voted IFs in the fantasy genre! Congrats to all the winning games. Definitely check them out if you're in the mood for some fantastical feels, excellent character work, and great pacing.

Completed

The Wayhaven Chronicles by @seraphinitegames

Ongoing

A Tale of Crowns by @ataleofcrowns (overall winner)

God-Cursed by @wings-of-ink

Shepherds of Haven by @shepherds-of-haven

Play all the games in the fantasy genre here.

[milfsisyphus]

when the really good fic author only has 1 story for each of their 35 fandoms. see you in another life brother.

[interact-if]

Best action/adventure IFs

Announcing the top-voted IFs in the action/adventure genre! Congrats to all the winning games. Definitely check them out if you're in the mood for some thrills, excellent character work, and great pacing.

We had the honor to interview the supremely talented and amazingly kind author of the overall winner of the category, Cantata: @fir-fireweed. Read the author spotlight here.

Completed

Whiskey Four by @johnlouisif

Ongoing

Cantata by @fir-fireweed

The Exile by @exilethegame

Drink your villain juice by @drinkyourvillainjuice

Play all the games in the action/adventure category here.

[interact-if]

Action/Adventure Winner 🏆 Cantata

It was such an honor to interview @fir-fireweed, author of the winning game in the action/adventure genre. It touches on human connection, hope, and jotting down ideas whenever they come up, and so much more!

See the full list of winners in this category here.

About the author

As one of my characters might say, I’m an elder but not old, haha. I’m probably the same age as the parents of most of my readership.

I’m a Marketing Manager in my other life, and I balance my time between my writing, my career, my husband, my 2.5 kids (counting the dog), and my white picket fence. Viatica was my first foray into fiction after a 20+ year dry spell.

About the game

Cantata is a low fantasy IF about human connection, self-expression, persecution, culture and the loss of it, and ultimately, the indomitable human spirit.

Tell me more about your journey into interactive fiction

I discovered interactive fiction almost 4 years ago, at a critical low point for myself and my family. The aftermath of Covid hit my family hard, particularly my son, and all of us were dealing with levels of depression, apathy and isolation.

I desperately needed something to cheer myself up. When I realized these amazing stories were being written by people just like me, it flipped a switch in my brain. And that’s what I love writing about—that human connection. That’s what I seek to explore in all of my works.

What was the inspiration for this game, and why did you want to write a story in this genre?

Cantata blends my love of words and music and my Italian heritage. The original inspiration was the video game “Jade Empire”, but it evolved into its own unique tale.

Cantata may have been voted in the Action Genre (thank you, all!) but ultimately it’s a story about humanity. It’s about personal tragedies, of persecution, of the loss of heritage and self—all deeply troubling themes that are being played out in very real time right now.

But more than that, it’s about overcoming those tragedies and persevering. That’s something I personally needed to write about and explore.

Are there any specific themes or messages you hope players take away from your work?

All my works revolve around hope, heart, and human connection. I do write about tragedy and strife, because they are important aspects of our journey and moments we all relate to. But I try not to dwell on them. I’d rather focus on the bright side, the silver lining, the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nowadays especially, I think we all need a reminder that there is a light after the long dark, and it’s worth fighting for.

What does your writing process look like? Any habits, tips, tricks, routines or approaches that have worked well for you?

My writing process is very sporadic. I don’t write daily. Personally, I find that if I commit to writing daily, it becomes more of a chore or a job, and I don’t want it to feel forced. However, I do write snippets often. These aren’t long drawn out scenes, usually just lines of dialogue with brief descriptions. These snippets help me flesh out my characters and define their attitude toward one another.

If I had one piece of advice to give, it’d be that the minute you get an idea in your head, jot it down, no matter how bare bones it is, no matter if you think you’ll never use it. You never know what may come of it!

Any books, music, movies etc. you’re obsessed with at the moment, or would like to recommend?

Oh gosh, how limited on space am I here?? Currently, I’m obsessed with Andy Weir. I know everyone is loving “Project Hail Mary” (and rightly so), but “The Martian” was my first introduction to his excellent writing and will always be my favorite.

Going back further, Amy Tan is my favorite author of all time; she probably had the most profound impact on my own writing. She’s a Chinese American author who writes about immigrant families, mother/daughter relationships, culture and the loss of it—and she does it all with heart and poignancy. You might be familiar with “The Joy Luck Club”, which is a phenomenal book, but my personal favorite is “The Kitchen God’s Wife.”

If you were to say one thing to your readers, other authors, and/or the interactive fiction community: what would it be?

You’re never too old to start! If you haven’t written in months, years, or even decades, don’t let that stop you from trying again. Write!

Fun section for the action/adventure genre

Personal fave action/adventure protagonist archetype: The reluctant hero, that dude in the wrong place at the right time.

Personal fave action/adventure setting: Post-apocalypse

If you were transported into the setting above, as the protagonist archetype you selected, what quest/adventure would you be on?

Oh gosh, I’d love to tell you I’d be like my own character Lion, fighting for the oppressed, but Bilbo Baggins is probably more accurate. I’d be giving the heroic speeches and encouraging everyone to do what’s right, while simultaneously complaining that they’re eating all my food, sleeping in my bed, and lamenting all the apocalyptic dirt and dust everywhere.

[hypermediagirl]

HTML for People

HTML isn't only for people working in the tech field. It's for everyone. Learn how to make a website from scratch in this beginner friendly

if you're learning HTML for any reason, i can't recommend HTML for people highly enough. it's a fantastic introduction to HTML and CSS targeted towards beginners who aren't technically inclined, and it isn't patronizing towards the reader for that. it's a very relaxed and kind (but informative) resource that even i reference from time to time (and i consider myself pretty good with semantic HTML).

definitely check it out if you're interested in making a personal site, or working with HTML at all.

[interact-if]

You can find all of the submissions for the Fantasy Interactive Fiction category down below!

(Not listed in any particular order—top games in each category coming soon)

Ongoing

A Thin Line Between Desires by @theostwistedtales

The Gray Ascendancy by @thegrayascendancy-if

The Sword of Rhivenia by @theswordofrhivenia 

The Marked by @peonyb

The Lost Bride by @thelostbride-if

The Midnight Bay @midnight-bay-if

A Tale of Crowns by @ataleofcrowns

Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse  @stygiansun-totaleclipse

Wayfarer by @idrellegames

Shepherds of Haven  by @shepherds-of-haven

Cantata by @fir-fireweed

When Twilight Strikes  by @evertidings

The Lonely Shore by @thelonelyshore-if

God-Cursed by  @wings-of-ink

The Bastard of Camelot by @llamagirl28

Crown of Exile by @ramonag-if

Misplaced by @calliopefiction

Wolfsbane by @wolfsbane-if

Pactbinder by @pactbinder-if (mentioned in action/adventure)  

The Nameless by @parkerlyn

Tales of Wocdes: The Silver Protector  by @tales-of-wocdes

Small Fires by @smallfires-if

The Exile (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @exilethegame

Speaker  by  @speakergame

Pro Patria Mori by @pro-patria-mori-if

Kindling  by @kindlingif

Island of Whispers  by @islandwhispers-if

Anything for the Crown  by @anything4thecrown-if

Guardian of Time by @guardian-of-time-if

Crown of Ashes and Flames by @coeluvr  

The Sovereign’s Ring  by @thesovereignsring-if

Garden of Bones  by @gardenofbones-if

The Pretenders Guild  by @thepretendersguild

The King’s Hound by @kal-down  

Golden Ashes* (Demo unavailable—currently being rewritten) by @goldenashes-if

Skin & Scales by @skinandscales-if 

Honor Amongst Thieves (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @leoneliterary

The Rot of Witchwood by @rotting-ink

Venturis by @venturis-if

Ashenmaw - Dragons of Marrowoods by @ashenmaw-if

The Well of The Divine by @well-of-divine-if

Chains of Destiny by @chains-of-destiny

RPG in Another World  (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @drowsyruigames

Burning Academia by @burning-academia-if

The Abyssal by @theabyssal

The Ballad of the Young Gods by  @childrenofcain-if

Softly, Opulent by @softlyopulent-if

The Eternal Library  by @leiatalon

Hyperion by @hyperion-if

God Syndicate by @god-syndicate-if

Forever Gold by @lsdoiphin

The Abyssal Song by @ri-writes-if

Bladeweaver by @bladeweaver-if

The Brightest Stars by @brighteststars-if

Summoners Return by @king-of-fae

The Bonewitch by @thebonewitch-if

The Iron King’s Heir by @ironkingsheir-if

Fellow Traveler (urban modern fantasy) by @robotvampire

Thicker Than  (modern supernatural) by @barbwritesstuff

Wolf Set Free (modern supernatural) by @wolfsetfree-if

Sanguine Sky (dark fantasy) by @sanguinesky-if

Bride of Shadows (dark fantasy) by @mortish-writes

Weeping Gods by @jcollinswrites

Completed

A Mage Reborn: Book One by @mage-parivir (sequel in the works)

Love the Guard, Be The King by @ligiawrites

The Night Market Book One by @night-market-if (sequel in the works)

Lovewood by @lovewoodvn

Arcadie: Second Born by @sofia-d-asb (sequel in the works)

The Second Sight: Dead Reckoning by @spoiledblogif (sequel in the works)

Choice of Rebels: Uprising (sequel in the works) by Joel Havenstone

The Wayhaven Chronicles (book 1-3 completed, book 4 is in the works) by @seraphinitegames

Their Majesties' Pleasure by @leiatalon

Ink and Intrigue by @leiatalon

Hearts in Hades: Divine Passion by Lidia Molina Whyte

NonPlatonic Forms by @alexis-royce

The Case of the Serialized Killer by @alexis-royce

Blood Moon (supernatural/modern supernatural) by @barbwritesstuff

Fields of Asphodel (sequel in the works) by @chrysanthemumgames

The compiling was done by a small team, so do bear with us if you spot any errors! You can DM us or leave a comment to let us know!

[interact-if]

Interact-IF Genre Lists (May 2026): Voting

🎉 The submissions for the Interact-IF genre lists (May 2026) are in — and now it’s time to vote! 🎉

Over the past week, we've received submissions for an incredible range of games across 5 genres.

We move into the next stage of the Interact-IF Genre List Event: COMMUNITY VOTING!

Vote for your favorite submitted games in each genre category HERE! Whether you’re cheering on longtime classics, hidden gems, or newer projects that deserve more eyes, this is your chance to help spotlight the games that made an impression on you.

Voting will run from now till May 21. Once again, here's the link to the form for voting.

*Note: For the sake of voting fairness, IFs that have been submitted to more than one category have been included in only ONE category. However, in the rec lists, the IF will be included in any/all categories that it appears in. If you think a game should be in a different main category from what it's listed as, you can DM us or leave a comment at the end of this form to let us know. 

If you missed out submitting a game to the rec lists, you can use this google form to submit the game, but do note that these would not be eligible for the voting round. This will be open until May 21 as well.

GENRES:

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Action/Adventure

Modern/Slice-of-life

Historical Drama

[interact-if]

Last day to cast your votes!

Results and full rec lists will be out May 24!

[chaotic-neutral-knitter]

never be good at your job. it's a trap. they'll just give you more and harder stuff to do and it'll pull you away from your true passion of writing gay fanfiction for people on the internet

[memewhore]

[spleenyz]

[fallout-lou-begas]

[kermittingacrime]

ask and you shall receive.

[gayvampyr]

[writingdose]

one of the best feelings tbh

[mintcreamchan]

Omg, every time I start trying to code (like choicescript, twine, renpy, etc.), I remember why I hate it. It makes me so dizzy looking at all of it

But,I must admit the satisfaction of figuring out how one line works. Hahaha, it just shows I have a long way to go :’(

[hewoweens]

u can be boiling alive in your mind for months and then on a random tuesday ur head gets so clear and life is worth living again and you're like damn what was all that about then

[sofia-d-asb]

🔥 RELEASE DATE 🔥

⭐Wishlist the game on Steam!

@interact-if

[soulsisterif]

Now I'm curious about what other ifs you play. I know you've played love island and thth but I mean more the small creator community. Any recs?

Ooooh, buckle up because this is gonna be a long trip. I've got so many, though you probably know most, if not all. (I really should start reblogging other authors if they have a Tumblr).

Let's stick to text-based stories. I haven't had as much time to play lately so I may be missing newer, cool stories. I'm going to have to leave some out; otherwise this post will be never-ending and it's already half a bible.

Might do another with more stories. How lucky are we that people write so many marvellous stories? And for free!

Number one is my first love and the main reason I started reading text based IF when I used to focus on visual novels:

• Scout: An Apocalypse Story by @anya-dev. Five years later I still think about the Orange Plains. We miss you, Anya. Hoping you're okay and thank you so much for this story. Your legacy carries through time like the cough of the Rover through your desert world. E, you were destined to be my soulmate but Sabine doesn't give a f*ck about destiny. The image of a guy using his very limited electricity supply to iron his clothes in the apocalypse still lives in my mind rent-free.

• Since I already mentioned it College Tennis: Origin Story by @allieebobo. Very slice of life, great dynamics among characters that go beyond their interactions with MC. You'll come to this story for the romance and you'll stay for the community feel and the engaging tennis descriptions. I love playing the matches so much I don't even unleash the kraken anymore. There are lots of customization for you to enjoy and countless little things that get acknowledged by the story (including race and gender). Y'all know I'm a sucker for that kind of flavour text. Same author of Merry Crisis which is being adapted as a visual novel (you go, author!) and is also a very enjoyable read. Coming-of-age vibes.

• The Golden Rose by @anathemafiction. Can't wait for the second book. Welcome to a new version of Tarragona! Explore the city; fight with your horse; get your face Halloween-ed; feel like a rich bastard after meeting a street rat and remember how dirt poor you actually are after meeting actual rich folks; enjoy the flavour text you'll get (including differences depending on your MC's sex). Alessa, I will make a simp out of you. Or not. I'll love you anyway because I'm a soft-hearted fool. Never had I ever raced an old woman who pushed her steed to its limit. She also pushed my buttons. In a darker playthrough the memory of this hag might just be the last straw for a corrupt and likely insane Romanus.

• Love After Death by @loveafterdeath-if. The kind of story I enjoy immensely and that I know I will never be able to write because I'm no good at writing confrontation. Won't leave you indifferent, will make you feel. May be rage, may be hope, may be hurt but it will definitely make you feel. You'll get your heart broken, though it can be mended by a grumpy cat with a liberal idea of what a litter box looks like. Then again, your heart is the least of your concerns if you let your sanity suffer blow after blow. Be damned, Juliet. Heaps of customization, flavour text and reactions to choose from. Solid 10.

• The Wayhaven Chronicles, by @seraphinitegames. Need I say more? Insane branching across books, good and varied romances great plot and dynamics. You can have mommy issues! Honestly, what else could you possibly ask for? In Book Two a little girl may be told that all she has to do to achieve her goal is to work hard and she may answer 'oh, I don't want to do that'. If you can't relate... Have bought all three books. Will defo buy the fourth when it's out.

• The Cruel Palace by @tispyyyyy. Every single character the author introduced feels real. Gorgeous writing, flows like a calm river going downhill; it's solemn and poetic but also fun and witty when the story allows for it, and the writer sure knows when the story allows for it because the tone is always on point. The missives are top notch. MC's mother and older sister are severe but still managed to worm their way into my poor little heart. The fact that they are so similar and yet don't get along didn't escape my notice.

• Blood Moon by @barbwritesstuff. A lot of branching and different paths for such a "short" story. Very straightforward and not the tiniest bit less interesting for it. It's refreshing to read something that doesn't need to be incredibly convoluted to earn the 'good plot' badge. I might be biased because it's very rare that I don't lose interest in complicated games, even worse if they rely heavily on stats. I'm so incredibly envious of writers that can tell a story without losing sight of the big picture. This is it. I adore werewolves, I adore this story and I sure adore the fact that whoever wrote it also knew about ducks' corkscrew dicks.

• When Life Gives You Lemons by @when-life-gives-you-lemons-if. This one is strange for me because I remember playing the demo when it first came out and I didn't like it that much. Maybe because I'm not a messy player and I wasn't interested in any of the ROs. BUT. It has a very distinct style, there's humour galore, a soft comfy vibe all throughout and it updated recently. Boy, I was hooked. It's like those open-world games that let you explore and before you know it you've got 100 hours played and you never did a single main mission. You can skip romance (or devote yourself to Fiffer and Fiffer only, like moi) and it's still such a wholesome game. Slice of life is rare in the IF community. I saw a post the author made and I was shocked to learn she only gets 25% of the revenue. It may be fair for shorter games since HG gives you the program to actually make the game but man, for a story that has almost a million words? It seems a bit unjust. Still will buy it. 25 is more than 0.

• A Taste of Heat (formerly Spices of the Heart) by @when-life-gives-you-lemons-if. Again, very distinct style. If you read a story by this author you know it's hers. Slice of life, lots of smut but you're good to play without it and still feels like a very special game. Fun and funny, the MC feels like an actual person with their flaws and their virtues. We'll save your pizzeria, Alexis! Screw the Michelin Restaurant! Descriptions are great and the writing really makes you feel like the food is important. Lots of content and many ROs to choose from, all of them quite different from the other. I also like that stats are present but not the be-all and end-all of the story.

• Cantata by @fir-fireweed. Unique story, great worldbuilding, marvellous cast even outside of the ROs, lots of flavour text (I can only take a guess at how draining it must be keeping track of all those variables in Twine so my utter respect). It's very wholesome but bittersweet in certain parts. Super original premise and very imaginative. Calliope's gadgets are incredibly interesting and I've played several times and changed my MC's attunement just to see what her daddy came up with. The kind of writing that tells a lot without being convoluted and still manages to tell it beautifully. The kind of story I read and think, 'man, I wish I could write like this'.

• Season of Shadows by Krisis. Sooooooo goddamn gooooooood. Funny as hell, awesome dialogue, perfect and mocking depiction of sensationalist press, sensible understanding of what being a social pariah looks like (applicable but not limited to MC's situation). Very different characters that all manage to be interesting, not a single page is boring to read. Quantity and quality because who said you can't have it all? I adore this story. Every word and punctuation mark. Jane Austen would be proud (and probably also very low in Lady Blackwood's list. She ended up a spinster, anyway). One of the few stories in which I genuinely don't know who I'm going to romance first. So probably whoever has the earliest lock-in.

• Such Happy Campers by @girlfromthecrypt. What a shame the author had to deal with certain comments that made them put the game on hold. If you read this, author, I love this game to bits. DashingDon is gone and so is the demo as far as I know but I still remember it and do so very fondly. Flo saying that people are drawn to him because he comes across as mysterious only to leave him behind once they realise that "under all that 'me' there's just more 'me'" still haunts me in a beautiful way.

• Mantle: Mask On by @jjdove. I am so hyped for this story. I love the banter and dialogue choices; they really make MC feel like their own person and it allows for a lot of freedom as a player. Tilly is already growing on me (and I'm befuddling her with Xtreme kindness) but I'm mostly dying to know more about my darling Bee and whatever happened to her. Ain't no bathtub high enough that she can't conquer it but I'll be nearby in case she ever wants help. Or two buff, strong arms to cradle her Not letting us hug her right there is a crime, by the by.

• Soulmates Inc by @soulmatesinc-if. Love the concept. Super original, lots of options on how to carry out a mission. MCs company is shady as fuck but Romero and I don't see eye to eye so here's to hoping I'm mistaken. Sam, dearest, I don't need a machine to tell me about you, I'll simply court you the traditional way. I like to think this is how Tinder actually operates, then the amount of weirdos that use the app would make sense. Those profiles belong to infiltrated soul-links, people. "Anne Nonimmus, 25. 'I have 3 kids and 4 baby daddies (we're still sorting out who fathered the youngest one). If you're less than 201cm and will make a fuss about paying for my and my kids' meals on a date don't even bother'."

• Apartment 502 by @apt502-if. Sitcom vibes? Immaculate. Option to ignore and/or be spiteful to the person who made you move to another city/country? You betcha. Calli, I'll wait for you (or get charmed by Lani) while your relationship crashes and burns. Either way, I'll support you, girl. I would tell Rainn to go eat glass but we're not on speaking terms and I blocked her number. Which is funny because I choose to act all high and mighty when we happen to meet face to face. Good news is, if you're not happy with this ex you can have another one! Yay!

• Étreinte by @etreinte-if. Criminally underrated. Criminally, I'm telling you. Even if it is fairly popular. The contrast between playing the innocent, proper girl like mommy dearest taught us while she narrows her eyes, 100% aware of the duping and yet her being completely unable to smell the bull if you go the humble way because she's completely unacquainted with the notion of humility will never not be funny. Lots of flavour text depending on your choices, nice plot, solid characters and a very clearly horrible person so that everyone can agree on whom to hate. Nothing creates communion like a common foe does! Also, the drastic way my poor Lena changed from a vibrant little girl to a subdued young woman kills me every time.

• This one may be a little of a hear me out but I f*cking stand by it. What Makes a Shinobi by heeheehaw. I must confess I didn't expect much of it. I thought it would be just another Naruto fanfic but in a different format and I guess in a certain way it is, but the writing sucked me into the author's world. There's a lot of insight in the way we're told about MC's progress. I still remember the instructor explaining the lower rank missions and saying something along the lines of 'most of you won't ever go beyond these. This is not failure, this is the job'. I will keep that sentence in my heart for as long as I live. It's hard to surprise a fan of the original when you're borrowing a very well-loved and popular manga. This one did it for me!

• The Abyssal by @theabyssal. No words for this one. Sooooo immersive. An unbelievable freedom to craft the way you feel about a proper betrayal. From indescribable sadness to insurmountable rage. From clinging to a past in which you were happy while struggling with the reality of what was done to you to cutting ties with everything and everyone and wanting nothing else but to make them pay back in full for what they put you through. Masterpiece!

[thememedaddy]