hello everyone! after reading 200+ fics this year, i decided to make a fic rec of my favorite fics that i read in 2021. these were all wonderful works, and if you choose to read them (which i highly encourage!) please remember to leave kudos for the authors! in no particular order, here’s the 2021 end of year fic rec:
one sole will survive by starryharry (@lt2soon) | T | 71K
The one where Harry and Louis fake a relationship so Louis can get another shot at winning his favourite reality competition, Survivor.
now that you’re in it, what will you do? (keep your eyes open, they’re coming for you) by starryharry (@lt2soon) | NR | 81K
The second part of the Survivor AU series; the game from Harry’s point of view. (Second part to the above fic - PLEASE read both, you won’t regret it!)
Hold You Now by @solvetheminourdreams | M | 131K
Three years ago, Harry Styles said goodbye to communications consultancy firm McQuiston Worldwide, leaving a life of travel and agency PR behind. When he accompanies his best friend to a family wedding across the Atlantic, he’ll be forced to reopen old wounds and face his past—one that no one wants to hash out, but may just have to.
Join Me In The Afterlife by guccikings | E | 262K
The one where Louis is a simple guy - all he wants from his summer break is to spend some quality time with his mother, get to know her new husband, and learn to play the guitar. Nothing out of the ordinary, that is for sure. However, life has a funny way of working and when Louis finds a strange boy sitting on his bed one sunny day, his summer break takes a turn for the better (or worse) when he discovers a ghost has stolen his heart from the get-go.
don't want to fight you by @lt2soon | M | 124K
The one where two fighters can also be lovers because routines are never permanent.
Have Love, Will Travel by kingsofeverything | E | 97K
Rather than spend the summer working at their desks, Louis and Harry are given the opportunity to crisscross the country together in a tiny camper, filming their adventures for a YouTube series.
It soon becomes obvious to their viewers that there’s something more than friendship between them. Eventually, they figure it out.
Like Water Over Fire (Like Water On Fire) by MCSSymon | M | 119K
Prince Harry has 46 men and 13 weeks to find the husband of his dreams, Louis has a limited amount to time to live out a royal fantasy. They might just be exactly what the other needs.
Caught Up in the Countryside by @cowboylarries | M | 60K
Louis Tomlinson had a great life, or so he thought, until everything came crashing down on him and he had to run away from his hurt. When he ends up in a little cowtown in Utah, everyone is so friendly, including Harry Styles, the hot hotel chef. Louis is welcomed into Harry's friend group but Louis isn't so sure that he can just be friends.
smell the sea, feel the sky by lightwoodsmagic | E | 16K
Louis doesn't know how he's going to spend a week with the one person he wants and can't have. Harry proves him wrong.
reach the heavens own blue by loubellies | E | 21K
Louis is a Boston Red Sox and Harry is a New York Yankee.
plant new seeds by @cloudslou | T | 45K
Louis works at a lonely community garden, Harry is the upstanding fraternity man who makes it all feels a little less lonely. Over the course of a semester, that is.
On the Edge by zanni_scaramouche | E | 47K
Olympics AU where Louis is a figure skater, Harry is a hockey player, and a baggage mix-up brings them together.
You've Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) by lucythegoosey | E | 95K
Harry and Louis are forced to fake-date after an old video from when they were dating emerges.
Three Days in February by @mercurial-madhouse | E | 188K
How close is too close? Harry and Louis are about to find out after a drunken night leaves Louis cursed. With only a week before tour starts, the race is on to fix things before they lose Louis forever. Oh, and Harry has to keep his long-time crush on Louis a secret while the lad can literally hear his thoughts. Easy, right?
It Goes, It's Golden by lucythegoosey | E | 151K
Canon compliant AU in which Harry and Louis broke under the strain of it all and now, years on, there's a chance to put all the pieces back together. Set in early April 2015 all the way through to October. Written in Harry and Louis' perspectives, alternating every chapter.
Love After the End of the World by @mercurial-madhouse | E | 161K
When staying alive is already a constant battle, the deadliest weakness is to be in love. For Harry and Louis, finding each other sits on top of the endless list of What Else Could Go Wrong.
Call Me a Thief by moodlighting | NR | 9K
Of all the people on campus, the one person Louis can’t seem to stop running into is Harry fucking Styles. And he keeps stealing all of Louis’ shit.
Pining for You by peanutbutterapple | T | 9K
Harry sells Christmas trees. Louis doesn't mean to buy so many of them.
Bite by tita | E | 11K
Louis is a vampire hunter, and Harry is too happy being his prey.
But If This Ends by nonsensedarling | E | 12K
Harry’s life as a vampire is routine. He spends his years moving around from place to place, learning as much as he can, and falling in love whenever the universe sees fit. When he tries to move his casual relationship with Louis to something more, it all gets turned on its head.
Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.
Dreaming Of You by velvetoscar | NR | 69K
The Begrudging Starbucks AU.
once bitten and twice shy by pinkcords | M | 19K
In a rush of bravery only senior year can bring, Harry confesses his feelings in a letter to his neighbor and best friend, Louis, only for the entire school to hear it and laugh him out of their small town in Wisconsin. Ten years later, Harry's a successful lawyer at Columbia Records, coming home for Christmas for the first time since he departed for college. He plans to work his way through the trip, eat his mom's cooking, and avoid everyone from his past for as long as possible. The only problem is best laid plans hardly ever go as intended.
Lonesome When You Go by 13ways | E | 159K
Harry, Louis, Niall, and Liam are surgeons-in-training at the most prestigious program in the United States.
More than that, Harry and Louis have a history unknown to the others, a history that involves dogs and God, anatomy lessons, food fights, vinyl jazz records, and one hell of an oyster tour.
Remember Me Fondly by kiddle | M | 74K
Grunge legends Fearless Doe topped the rock charts in the ‘90s, but they spent the decade kicking Smudge off their heels. From lawsuits to jaw-dropping scandals and a surprising joint world tour, the two bands share a complicated history.
Twenty-five years later, frontmen Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles are finally ready to sit down and tell the world their two sides of the same story.
You Watched Me Sink by bananasandboats | E | 69K
The one where Harry teaches Sex Ed and sneaks around with the drama teacher, and doesn't realize how out of tune he is with his true feelings until everyone else figures it out for him.
hustling for the good life by bravestyles | NR | 120K
At the beginning of his sophomore year of college basketball, Harry's struggles with binge eating disorder and depression come to a head.
7 Up by cherrystreet | E | 52K
Very loosely based on the British TV show "The Up Series" and somewhat inspired by the song “Something I Need” by Onerepublic, we follow the lives of Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson in an interview setting every seven years. They fall apart and come together, their lives and emotions recorded. Harry calls it a time capsule. Louis calls it a pain in the arse.
let me look in his eyes by @narrylover | GA | 2K
"Did he know the sign was coming? Oh, then he’s doing it! Let me look at his eyes, let me look in his eye.... Yeah he’s gonna do it...."
