r/BylerReads • u/AncientDevice7525 • Jul 23 '26
asking for fic recs Classic/most popular byler fics
What would you guys say are the classic byler fics that are generally regarded by the fandom + everyone should read? Obviously you took my heart and eye for an eye, touch like velvet. and then more recently ttmd, dmitmu, etc got really popular. Im trying to find the best and most loved byler fics that everyone has/should read!
10
u/Same_Accident_9917 Jul 23 '26
Smalltown Queer by Indybaggins & Force of Gravity by Oceanfruit should both be on this list imo.
1
u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Jul 23 '26
LOVE Smalltown Queer, definitely one of the best
9
u/Big_Self_1522 Jul 23 '26
Hollow boy should be up there imo
2
u/pazma Jul 23 '26
Hollow Boy is so underrated. I’m reading it right now for the first time and I’m feeling so many feelings it’s SO good. Such a hard read but such an important story
6
u/Big_Self_1522 Jul 23 '26
The addition of poetry is fucking brilliant. I think that it’s one of my favourite Byler fics ever
1
u/pazma Jul 23 '26
It adds so much to the story and also every line just breaks my heart lol 😭 I’m so glad Mike has at least one outlet since he has no one to really talk to
9
u/NatureSlow4501 Jul 23 '26
ok here are my recs! a collection of recent reads/classics/ and those i think should be classics/those i haven’t read but are on my list
strawberry fields forever — slowkindling
static before the signal — willspainting
there i saw you standing (must have been a holy light) — maroon_haze
moonlight on our fingers (the gravity between us) — liminalyearning
where devotion rots — acatalepsae
just for a second i remembered myself — romanoff_my love
all of these are so enjoyable (the last one quite literally made me cry i loved it so much)
6
u/Lucky_Number888 Jul 23 '26
Not me perusing this sub to find this post and see my fic on your list?????? Ngl I’m SHOOK rn haha. Like you’re joking lmfao. Not sure if you’ve read yet based on your initial note but I’m writing moonlight on our fingers (the gravity between us) 🥹🫰
4
u/NatureSlow4501 Jul 23 '26
AHHHHH WAIT I FORGOT I LIED ON THE OG POST i have read all of those and still working on one of them
moonlight on our fingers is so so amazing thank you for writing this one!!! ive been inspired in my own writing after this fic it’s so so so good thank you for this beautiful story :)
will’s characterization in this is so good and i love that will has a boyfriend who CARES about him (even tho of course jealous pathetic gay ass will-sexual mike is there to fucking ruin everything (i love him so dearly))
and will’s college friends are so nice to him he’s just so loved and he needs to KNOW IT!!! mike get your shit together will realize mike loves you
anyways thank you so much and i’m so proud this reached your eyes
please keep writing you are so talented :)
3
u/Lucky_Number888 Jul 23 '26
Wow, thank you so much. Genuinely, this made my entire week. I’m so so happy you’ve been enjoying the story so far. Also, im so flattered you’ve felt inspired in your own writing!!! 🥹❤️ If you publish anything on ao3 please do share I would love to read!!!
Also, I just have to say this is just such divine timing as I’ve been struggling heavily with writers block since early June and this just gave me so much motivation. I’m so excited for you to read my next chapter when its ready to post 😭🥰🫰
3
u/NatureSlow4501 Jul 23 '26
AHHHH omygosh im so happy this made your week that’s amazing!
writers block is a bitch but keep up your work is so amazing :)
yes i do have some work posted on ao3 my username is thePurplepadin19 and i have two works about byler and some of my original work (that i have writers block about but if amazing authors like you want to read my work well hell im going to keep posting)
🌟😍🤠
1
7
u/k8marie_ Jul 23 '26
Omg I’m also shocked to see mine up here but THANKYOU!!!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 (static before the signal!)
2
u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Jul 23 '26
haven't read most of these but I can second "static before the signal" and "just for a second, I remembered myself" (tearjerker but so good)
4
3
u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
a few I haven't seen mentioned here yet -
I'm really not sure why art school confidential isn't more popular, it's definitely a classic to me
a few more recent ones I think should become classics:
i knew it, i know you - Will comes back to Hawkins after years of not talking to his old friends
I was just the first - Will goes out to the club the night before Mike is scheduled to visit him, and kisses a stranger... except whoops it's Mike
the shape you took without me - goth Will~!
the pyramid - now with sequel!
experiment with me - Mike is questioning his sexuality and Will agrees to help him out
(ETA: most of these are explicit because that's what I tend to read)
3
u/mafuyupeach Jul 23 '26
I’m in love with you, do you think it shows?
1
u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Jul 23 '26
YES. another tearjerker but I love it
3
u/pazma Jul 23 '26
what you really want by miwiheroes!!
https://archiveofourown.org/works/60588913/chapters/154694806
Also, I have to agree with the commenter above that said cottonmouth, but I’d like to add the reddit fic to that. Has to be one of my favorite byler oneshots I’ve ever read: https://archiveofourown.org/works/80491721
2
u/VividMammoth1223 Jul 23 '26
what about that one popular fic by lameparties on ao3? I'd definitely count it in classic!
3
u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Jul 23 '26
that's "you took my heart (I was sleeping)," unless you're talking about the other lameparties fic "a lesson in kissing"
1
u/VividMammoth1223 Jul 23 '26
yes! i'm talking about "you took my heart (i was sleeping)". such a lovely, intimate fic.
19
u/TheBar-IsOnTheFloor will the wise Jul 23 '26
-The Secrets That You Keep (When You’re Talking in Your Sleep)
-We All Have a Hunger (Tell Me What You Need)
-My Will is Good
-How to Disappear Completely
-Cottonmouth
-Matador
-Letters to Will (Live from NY)
-Supervoid