by Jenn (link)
Genre drama/angst
Pairings Taylor/OFC
Length 27 chapters
Status Unfinished
The basis of this fic–Taylor with an eating disorder–is one that feels a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. Although I’ve only read a few, it seems I’ve seen dozens of fics with the same premise from those early days, but Distortedly Perfect does have a bit more lurking below the surface than it seems.
Jenn begins with a bit of exposition that doesn’t really explain how his eating disorder came about. While that’s a bit dry, he quickly moves on to other habits that show how much his mental state is deteriorating. At times, I’m not sure he’s going to survive until the end of the story, and that fear keeps me on the edge of my seat, trying my hardest not to skim read so that I don’t miss any of Jenn’s beautiful turns of phrase.
Once Taylor hits rock bottom, the fic becomes oddly similar to another favorite of mine, although I don’t want to outright accuse that author of copying Jenn. I would understand if someone felt so inclined, though, because aside from a few misused words and tense slips, Jenn’s writing is superb and her plot incredibly mature for the time period in which it was written. The only thing Distortedly Perfect really lacks is an ending to show me that Taylor did, indeed, manage to find some happiness and peace.
Review by Bethany (website)