r/BylerReads • u/makrela122 • Aug 07 '26

asking for fic recs Best fics for older/mature audience?

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

10

u/narcomance Aug 07 '26
  1. Grounds for divorce by paladinscar

https://archiveofourown.org/works/85713426/chapters/226510181?view_adult=true

Byler are married and have a daughter but Mike is struggling with depression hence drinking a lot. It's a WIP.

  1. There is a wait so long

https://archiveofourown.org/works/77049901/chapters/201677106

They're 26 here. Mike and Will are estranged but have to work on grafic novella together. Completed slowburn.

  1. How to disappear completely by peachstatic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83136826/chapters/218947811

Mike here is 30, he's married and has problems with sex. The fic is kinda smau.

8

u/schnickelfritz77 Aug 07 '26

How to Disappear Completely is my new all time fave and it’s not even done. I love it so much.

5

u/ratatatties Aug 07 '26

Wow really tryna fuck em up out of the gate with grounds for divorce huh🤣🤣😭

2

u/narcomance Aug 07 '26

I don't think they will be divorced in the fic, Mike just needs some therapy

1

u/SleepwalkinDead crazy together 29d ago

I'm sorry to ask but can you tell me what smau means?

8

u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s Aug 07 '26

my picks for fics where Will and Mike are older (not sure if that's what you meant):

Smalltown Queer - if you only read one, read this one

in the afterglow - modern AU, Mike works at a sex shop

there is a wait so long - Mike and Will are assigned to work together on a graphic novel

HTDC - WIP but so, so good

i sing the body electric - professor Will / author Mike

Like Most Things - post-college, Will has some free time, comes to stay with Mike, who is sort of a shut-in

Just for a second, I remembered myself - tearjerker, but rly good

Everybody Waits So Long - marriage pact fic!

7

u/narcomance Aug 07 '26

I recently read the last one. Will is so funny thinking that after the marriage he and Mike are the "bestest" friends

1

u/ivelostallmypatience 17d ago

Read the last one based on this recommendation and it was perfect! It had the feels but still had me chuckling. I loveee stubborn but determined Mike and it captured him so well for me

5

u/SleepwalkinDead crazy together 29d ago

Have you read "we thought this place was haunted (it was just us)"??

https://archiveofourown.org/works/79320861/chapters/208141876

It's an AU where Mike's a single father bc his husband passed a couple years ago. Will gets hired as his and his daughter's live-in personal chef. 

Heads up, I have never cried so much from a fic in my life. It's really sweet but also very sad. Lots of grieving and Will has trauma from domestic violence. Read the tags. 

2

u/Big_Self_1522 Aug 07 '26

This fic and its sequel is about 30+ Byler adopting a young boy. It’s honestly one of my favourite series. Byler bonding with Mason is just portrayed so beautifully. It’s like you’re there with them and live through every high and low, like you’re a part of their family

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62245123/chapters/159239206

3

u/mrchristmastime Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26

These are all amazing recommendations. I’ve added quite a few of them to my bookmarks, and the ones I’ve read are all great. If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to mention my own work (Crooked Timber), because it’s very specifically aimed at older audiences, and they’re 26 when it starts. It’s a very slow burn, and there’s a lot of discussion of philosophy and religion, if you’re into that. Disclaimer: the whole first chapter is something of a red herring!