by Jess (link)
Genre drama/angst, supernatural
Pairings Isaac/Nikki, Taylor/OFC, Zac/Kate
Length 21 chapters
Status Unfinished
It isn’t often that I begin a story, dislike it, and come to like it more as I read. I think I can name on one hand the number of times that has happened to me with a hanfic. While I won’t say that South Street is a new favorite of mine, it is a better story than its over-dramatic opening chapter would make it seem.
The story centers around a female character, Belle, who has suffered several major losses in her life that have driven her, literally, crazy. She has clawed her way back to a normal life, only to have that ripped away from her again, for reasons that she is only just beginning to learn at the point at which Jess stopped posting the fic.
Meanwhile, Taylor–best friend of Belle’s deceased boyfriend Dean–has his own struggles to come to terms with. He’s torn between keeping Dean’s secret and comforting Belle, and between his jealous girlfriend and the attraction he doesn’t even realize he has for Belle. It’s pretty clear that the fic is moving toward the two of them getting together, but it’s one of the slowest slow burns I’ve ever read.
A little more back and forth between the two of them wouldn’t have gone amiss, but I also appreciate how much of the fic deals with friendship and companionship without other expectations. The slight supernatural mystery element just adds to the story, giving it another dimension that keeps it out of the purely chicklit category. South Street isn’t a love story. It’s just a story of survival. Of living, even when life really sucks. Still, I would have liked to have read the fic’s ending to see how Taylor and Belle’s relationship worked out.
Review by Bethany (website)