So every 2 years or so I remember TLAT exists and get sad again because it’s unfinished, what are your favorite Jily recs with similar characterization? I couldn’t get into Commentarius (sp?) and am open for long and short but for my weak heart they must be finished. Preferably no AUs, just normal Hogwarts romance 🥹
tlat meltdowns, my area of expertise. welcome to my office
(also. a disclaimer: every writer's characterization is their own—I wish I could give you a set that's neatly categorized as 'similar to TLAT characters,' but honestly that doesn't really exist because none of us are Jules and we all write differently. however! here is a list of canon works whose main cast are all beloved to me personally. so. as a TLAT fan, that is the best I can give you, mi amor.)
so! I'm sure by now you are well familiar with @chdarling 's magnum opus "The Last Enemy" series, and I'd highly recommend TLE Book One if you haven't binge-read it already. I love CH's Lily so very much, she holds a special place in my heart. and YES I know the series is ongoing but god ok the first book is finished so I'm winning on a technicality
@dizzy--bird 's "The Mapmakers" is a great canonverse longfic, too! ANDDDD newly finished! when I first talked to Dizzy on Tumblr I confess I sent her a very excited long message to the tune of, "are you THE dizzy--bird who wrote [redacted very good Lily scene]?? in Mapmakers????" and she WAS
"Summer Girl" by @efkgirldetective is complete and beautiful and so alive! prose that wrecks you! intimacy that kills you! it's the first part in her series and whew. highly recommend checking out the followup "Earthquake Drills" even though it's not finished! just trust me!
now, would it be a clarewithnoi rec list without @thequibblah ? I daresay it would not be. BUT if you really want to get into beautiful canon-ISH characterization (as in. they're in Hogwarts. it's not totally canon but it might as well be canon to ME), please for the love of god read "tell me where your secrets lie." oh my GOD. mental breakdown central. also I KNOWWWW you said complete but her canon longfic “Come Together” is 700k words and SO worth it
now, for my big finale, if you're really stuck in TLAT!verse, my good pal @jilyesplz has actually done the work to write one shots in the TLAT world and even continue where Jules left off—here's her "TLAT Continuation Things" collection. she is a paragon of respect for the source material and care for the fans who crave more of it. so. there you go!
also—I have not read Comm yet either because of time constraints but from what I hear if you stick with it it really blooms into a beautiful canon fic! I think Bee started it when she was around thirteen, which is such a massive endeavor. all respect to her, I bow down, truly. No pressure on that, obvi HAHA but just in case you felt like giving another shot! many of my most trusted and respected Jily peers hold it in incredibly high esteem, and I don't doubt that it deserves the hype.
hope this was helpful! sorry for the short list—I try not to read a lot of canon longfic for fear that I will inadvertently steal something when writing my own canon fic "Bond and Free."