I’m writing this with a specific, very new Carry On fan in mind, but feel free to take these recommendations no matter who you are!
Keep Me Warm by EchoSpell43, 1k, rated T: Set during seventh year at Watford. Baz nearly freezes while hunting in the Wavering Wood. When he returns to the room, Simon decides to warm him up. Short and adorable.
we are the kings and the queens by morbidbookworm, 2k, rated M: A royalty AU. As crown princess, Agatha is supposed to choose a prince consort by age 17. But the two young men who are supposed to be vying for her hand seem to be falling for each other instead. Achingly beautiful.
I Hoped It Was You by EllisyaSyron, 8k, rated T: Set during sixth year at Watford. Baz writes Drarry fanfiction. Simon reads it and draws fanart. They fall in love online, unaware that they’re roommates and mortal enemies in real life. Good enemies-to-lovers stuff here.
Merlin, May I? by Mudblood428, aka @vkelleyart, 7k, rated T: Set during eighth year at Watford. Baz goads Simon into playing a game of making dangerous requests. It doesn’t go as planned, but (ultimately) not in a bad way. Heart-wrenching and lovely.
Honestly by MissCeliaKnight, 7k, rated T: Set during seventh year at Watford. Watford students are assigned to use truth spells on their roommates. Simon gets Baz to admit way more than Simon was prepared to hear. Beautiful angst with a happy ending.
MY SHORT FICS (ignore this section if you don’t like my writing)
Nightmares by HermioneGirl96, 2k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Baz and Simon both have nightmares about losing each other, and they wind up having a serious conversation about the relationship.
Love Me and Mend by HermioneGirl96, 5k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Simon has the flu, so he has to miss going to the Globe Theatre with Baz. Baz goes anyway and then takes care of Simon.
Christmas Planning by HermioneGirl96, 3k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Baz’s father is homophobic and Penny and Simon try to comfort Baz.
I Remember the First Time We Wished upon Parallel Lines by HermioneGirl96, 5k, rated T: Set during fall of eighth year at Watford. Simon and Baz catch each other attempting suicide and talk each other out of it. TW for suicide attempts.
Love in the Time of Influenza by HermioneGirl96, 3k, rated G: Set several months post-epilogue. Baz thinks Simon is cheating on him. Simon thinks Baz is afraid of germs. They’re both wrong.
MEDIUM-LENGTH FICS (10k-60k)
Carry Me Home by Mathmagician, 34k, rated T: Canon-divergent AU where the Humdrum doesn’t exist. Baz is rescued from the numpties by a man who becomes his very abusive boyfriend. Baz is subsequently rescued from his abusive boyfriend by Penny and Simon. Teamwork, discoveries, and romance ensue. Angsty and beautiful. TW for violence.
Love Is Always in Style by rainbowbaz, 40k, rated T: AU where Baz is editor of a fashion magazine and Simon is his assistant. Baz seems so aloof at first, but soon enough he and Simon become … close. Witty and lovely.
True Love’s Kiss by rhien, 11k, rated T: Set during a later year at Watford. Baz awakens Simon from a spell-induced stupor with a true love’s kiss and has to deal with the fallout of Simon remembering what happened. Gorgeous and full of feels.
Straight Boy by @bazypitchandsimonsnow, 31k, rated M: University AU. Baz transfers to Watford University and becomes friends with Simon. Well–“friends.” Baz thinks they’re dating. Simon thinks of himself as straight. It’s a mess but works out in the end. Funny and relatable.
BAN’S MEDIUM-LENGTH FICS (because Ban deserves her own section)
network connectivity problems by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 35k, rated T: University AU. Simon has Baz’s number but doesn’t realize it belongs to Baz. The two fall for each other over text even though Simon hates Baz in real life. It gets messy but ultimately works out. Witty and real.
Large Black Coffee by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 19k, rated G: University AU. Simon and Baz are classmates and enemies. Simon is also Baz’s favorite barista. But everything changes when Baz gets sick. Just a fun read.
This Must Be the Place by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 36k, rated G: Canon-divergent AU where Simon gets a phone the summer before eighth year at Watford. He tries to contact Penny but winds up Snapchatting with Baz instead. A lot happens. Beautiful with just the right amount of sadness.
Take on Me by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 50k, rated T: AU where Baz and Simon work in Fiona’s bookshop. At first they hate each other, and then they don’t. What I love, here and elsewhere, is that Ban doesn’t shy away from messy emotional realities and Simon and Baz’s imperfections.
Family and Genus by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 48k, rated T: AU where Baz is supposed to fix up the family manor, and Simon winds up in the area looking for evidence about his parentage. It’s so lovingly written and just great.
rebel rebel by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 183k, rated T: Canon-divergent AU where Baz was raised by Fiona, spanning all eight years at Watford. This fic is the literal best–funny, angsty, believable, complex. Just. I can’t even.
American Holiday by Olivia Ballard, 138k, rated T: Basically a sequel to Carry On. Baz gets into Julliard and the gang relocates to New York City. This fic will rip you apart and put you back together, and if I don’t like Wayward Son this is what I’m going to believe in instead.
Can’t Find My Way Home by tbazzsnow, aka @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, currently 25k, rated T: Normal AU where Baz and Simon used to be roommates at a non-magical boarding school. They run into each other at an airport in a snow storm and a road trip to the nearest functioning airport ensues. I am LIVING for these updates.
One Nice Thing by @mybrianisfried, currently 20k, rated T: Normal AU. A very Gen Z group chat fic that I happen to find both hilarious and feels-y.
Video Killed the Radio Star by thegoodthebadandthenerdy, currently 97k, rated T: YouTuber AU where Baz and Agatha have a makeup channel, Simon has a baking channel, and Penny has a social justice/book review channel. Lots of queer OCs and lots of attention on Penny and Baz’s families. Just delightful.
The Petal Peddler by @carryonebeneza is an AU told through Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter updates screenshotted and posted to Tumblr. Fiona and Ebb are an item; Baz works at the library; Simon works at Ebb’s flower shop; Agatha is aro; Penny is a boss; everything is great. 24 updates so far.
@simonsrosebud is doing a similar thing, but it’s a university AU and Simon’s the one who works at the library. Agatha’s an American exchange student rooming with Penny. There have only been a few updates, but it’s promising so far!
Feel no obligation to read any of these, but this is what I think is good in the Carry On fandom at the moment!
