Date: May 27, 2020 08:20 pm Title: Somebody that I used to know
I'm so excited to see an update. This story is my favourite, although I don't know why because it has way more than its share of angst! Seriously though, this is epic.
The banter is so perfect, you've captured Jim and Pam just as they are only better. Both are mature and beginning to understand the ways they both contributed to their breakup.
Karen and Jo are both excellent. Jo is so fun. The little interaction with her taking Andy for coffee - perfection!
You know I'm living for the third date. Please don't make us wait so long!
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2020 08:07 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
Love this! Just discovered it when you updated today and am hooked. Keep the updates coming!
Date: May 27, 2020 07:08 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
Your writing is wonderful. Can't wait for date 3.
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2020 06:14 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
Very glad to see this updated. This whole chapter seemed like a nice way to calm down from the events of the previous night and yet set the stage for what's to come. After all this time, Jim and Pam still connect with each other. It's great to see.
The flashback where they got together the first time with the more than hints of steam set the stage nicely. Hopefully that means that this time they're also getting back together again too. Not just a fling or anything like that. But that's me hoping.
Incredibly innocent and pure? Yeah, nice try. I see those devil horns. At the same time, really looking forward to seeing how the date goes. Jim, word of advice, put your phone on silent this time.
Date: May 27, 2020 03:16 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
OK that's very adorable. I am fascinated by the question of how much he actually spent. But I love this story so much, and your writing style as well, so I'm just ding-dang-delighted that you decided to update.
Also I will make a fake account and give you all of its additional jellybeans if you actually write an innocent and pure third date, just to see the metaphorical look on Coley and AG's faces.
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2020 02:56 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
I was legitimately smiling all throughout this chapter, I couldn't stop. And you know I will be counting down the minutes until the next chapter. This was so beyond worth the wait
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2020 02:06 pm Title: Nothing is as it has been and I miss your face like hell
No word of a lie I thought about this story yesterday and desperately wished for an update last night!
I adore this fic and I can’t wait for the innocent third date ;)
Also, rivers and roads is one of my all time favourite songs! So thanks for including that in this too :)
1 [Report This]Date: April 11, 2020 03:21 pm Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
WOW. This was a WILD ride. I absolutely adored it and need more of it, soon. I actually teared up reading this chapter. This was amazing, 5 stars.
1 [Report This]Date: January 06, 2020 10:26 am Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
Dying to hear what’s next for these two. The parking lot kiss! That late night phone call! So much hurt and joy and AHH. Two months since an update has been torture
Date: November 12, 2019 07:24 pm Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
Spotted: Jim and Pam and Karen and Paul having the best adult sleepover ever. What can I even say about this flashback? I’m never going to be able to go into a Whole Foods without smirking ever again. I’m not mad about that.
Hey, let’s talk about Karen for a second before I get into this story. She got bangs. Karen got bangs after a break up with Paul, and you put the best tiny details into this story and my favorite part about reading it is finding these little gems.
Anyways. Now they’re at the mural, and why do I get kind of choked up every time Jim tells Pam he’s proud of her?
Listen. I love that all of this – the confessions, the fight, the kiss – it all takes place in a parking lot, but not the DM parking lot. The symmetry is really nice, and I appreciate you didn’t take the easy route of putting them back in familiar territory.
“I came back for you.” I mean, I was already super invested in this chapter, but the build-up of the fight from this line all the way to Pam’s “I went to your goddamned engagement party…” It’s.. it’s just so very good. All of it. I don’t think I breathed while reading their fight? And I knew what Pam’s comeback was going to be, but it still felt like a sucker punch. And then everything after that? Jim freaking apologizes to her for her showing up at his engagement party. That entire moment, when he doesn’t know what to do or say, it’s now firmly in my top 5 favorite emotional moments of this entire story.
AND THEN SHE KISSES HIM. AND HE KISSES HER BACK. Yeah he does.
“Pam bites her bottom lip because it’s really all too much with him like this. Wanting to lighten the mood, she pushes her fingertips against his pectoral muscles, and, with an exaggerated jaw drop, mouths, “Wow. So strong.”” Like, thank you for this because *I* needed the same break from that moment.
“But, Jesus, Pam actually stands up and takes a gulp of wine at seeing Jim’s name on her phone. She picks up a teal throw pillow and resettles into a corner of the couch, clutching the pillow and her wineglass like it’s her mid-thirties version of a security blanket.” I ask this every chapter, but seriously, how do you do this? That whole carefully casual goodnight phone call made me grin, because it’s so sweet, and Pam just wants to sneak into Jim’s parents’ house and who can blame her?
The idea of 10 more chapters of this makes me happier than you’ll ever know.
xoxo, Coley.
Date: November 12, 2019 06:58 pm Title: One foot in and one foot back
Oh hey, you’re crushing hearts right off the bat in this chapter. Good. I’ve been missing being emotionally destroyed by fictional characters.
Jim. Ugh, poor Jim. To have Margaret tell him that Pam had moved is just such a brilliant choice. And then to have Hannah have to bail him out of jail? Not a great night to be Jim.
Speaking of Hannah, I really love the way you turned her into a whole person, and not just a throwaway character that we don’t care about. You gave her depth, and we know that she’s not super touchy feely, and that she knew her marriage to Jim was doomed from the beginning, but she still loved him in her own way – this is all very good, and don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re divorced, but it was nice getting to know Hannah a little bit. Even the husband sharing part of her. Not so much the breaking the rules and cheating with Aaron part of her, but well, no one is perfect. I really love how they just know they’re better off after the divorce, and able to be friends after everything.
But back to present day – and this tea date is adorable in the best of ways, and Pam’s list of rules for dating is perfect, and their banter is the best, and how do you do this? Seriously.
“I was not in any way over you. Even a little. It was too soon after we, you know… And, she was, obviously, in no way over her ex.” Jim’s complete honesty here is so good, I don’t even care if it’s because Karen told him he needed to be. And then when he gets to the “But I didn’t get that life, so I bought a fast car?” part of his life story… Again, I’m fine and have no real attachment to these characters and this world you’ve built.
Date: October 31, 2019 10:21 am Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
20 Chapters! Sweet merciful crap girl! What else are you going to drag us through? Mostly kidding of course. These two seem to have a lot of issues they still need to sort out. That being said, the flashback was wonderfully sweet.
Lots of very real emotions going on there outside the bar. It's very easy to see that things would get heated between them before they get "heated," for other reasons. I do like that they're being honest with each other like this. In the show it seemed for the first few seasons that Jim and Pam took the long way around before they finally got together. Even more so with this story. Things are looking up to be sure. Hope they can stay on track.
Author's Response: Warrior, thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate your commitment to reviewing each chapter. I hope you enjoy where the rest of the story goes.
Date: October 31, 2019 02:26 am Title: Somebody that I used to know
This 5 jelly bean limit is seriously killing me!! I’m fresh outta beans here, but wish I could fork over a Costco sized container of those little Kerman’s of joy! This is solidly one of my favorite stories out there. I adore your writing and pine for each new chapter. This one had all the feels and was... hot! 🌶🌶🌶 Their canon characters are so vibrant. The AU missed connections are devastating. This chapter was a sweet Halloween treat. Thank you!
Author's Response: A2RM, oh my gosh this review is so incredibly kind! And I absolutely laughed out loud at those peppers! :) I really hope you enjoy where this story continues to go and thank you so much!
Date: October 31, 2019 12:57 am Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
Wow, DC, wow. I mean I’m already generally an emotional mess most of the time, but that entire flashback left me reeling. How they lost all that... Ugh. So much ugh.
And then there’s present day, and what a ride that was. It’s so, so nice to finally see some honesty and courage from the both of them. That kiss, oh boy that kiss. I can’t deal with how heart wrenchingly perfect this whole thing is...
Author's Response: Oh, JB! You are too kind. I'm so glad you are enjoying this. You have no idea how much I appreciate your very kind words and ongoing encouragement of this story!
Date: October 30, 2019 07:57 pm Title: Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones
Oh this was so good. Every chapter is worth the wait. Halfway through...that's wonderful. I love how your descriptions are so detailed. And the little bits of intimate humour like Jim flexing are just perfect.
Author's Response: Sprinkles, thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate how much you have enjoyed this story and I hope you continue to like where it goes from here.
1 [Report This]Date: October 28, 2019 11:58 pm Title: Somebody that I used to know
I needed to catch up on the last few chapters and then realized that I have egregiously not reviewed this at all so time to fixed both those issues!
You know how in the Pilot episode you’re just starting to feel Jim and Pam’s cute banter and flirty chemistry then *boom* Roy walks in and the rug is pulled out? Well this chapter had the same energy with Pam doing exactly what we wanted her to do on casino night deciding to be with Jim and then *boom* fast forward years later, they’ve been broken up for years (?) and Pam’s inspecting Jim’s finger for a wedding ring, wha-what??
Anyway amazing job conveying the awkwardness of running into an ex (especially an ex you’re still very much attracted to) and dropping lots of little bread crumbs I have no choice but to follow. And it’s early but I can already tell your Karen is the friend Pam so needed and deserved but never got on the show (but thankfully we have fanfic!)
Author's Response: Oh, NLM. Any review from you is a treat, and this one is no different. Thank you for your kind words about this story. And I'm SO glad you like where the Karen and Pam friendship is going. You know I feel robbed, but I'm SO thankful for fanfic and MTT to fill that void.
Date: September 29, 2019 02:42 pm Title: One foot in and one foot back
SO GOOD SO GOOD SO GOOD SO GOOD. Truly what a huge payoff. So many thoughts on this.
First, I feel bad for Jim. There’s something really sad about reading his POV. His DUI, telling Hannah what he wanted to say to Pam, commuting to this unhappy life waiting for rock bottom, and almost a fear of making his own life better because what he had wasn’t great but seemed comfortable and it was better to live with regret and not having what he wanted.
Seeing Pam convince herself out loud to him that his life is better without her (via the car) was also interesting to read him interpret. The line about the wife who spent too much on art supplies was a punch to the gut. And I love him laying out the hard truth about where he’s at, even if he didn’t say everything he needed to. I wish she would have pushed him more on the marriage and why he didn’t propose to her because really that was kind of the catalyst for their break up and this long painful self destructing road they’ve both been on where they think they’re happy but not, only he knows that right now.
I truly cannot wait for it to come out about her going to his engagement party and where it goes from here. Screaming in excitement.
Side note, I feel like Pam needs a Fleabag jumpsuit moment at some point.
Author's Response:
Oh, bjb, I always appreciate your reviews for this fic so much. You feeling something about "spent too much on art supplies" is the right kind of punch to my gut. I so appreciate your kind words and the details about what works for you. We WILL hear about why Jim didn't propose, but it probably won't come for a while. Hang in there, okay? :)
Fleabag is on my list to watch so I'm not sure what the specific moment is. BUT. The jumpsuit itself makes me swoon!!
Thank you, as always, for the kind words and appreciation of this one.
Date: September 29, 2019 10:47 am Title: One foot in and one foot back
DC, this is so good. I just sat at my kitchen counter completely engrossed in this for the last 20 minutes. I finished and it was like I had to shake myself back to reality. I love this adult version of JAM. Thank you for such a great chapter.
Author's Response: Sprinkles, this review is so kind! I'm glad it was that immersive. I always appreciate your feedback on this story! xoxo
1 [Report This]Date: September 28, 2019 09:33 pm Title: One foot in and one foot back
Okay, “I and Love and You” is a fantastic song and the chapter title coming from it really set me up to adore this update.
Great song aside, oh my heart. This chapter was amazing & hurt in the best way possible.
“their confusion how people they loved changed the rules in the middle” - just when I thought this fic couldn’t destroy me anymore, this line broke my heart. So, so good.
Oh Jim and the sadness that didn’t come from the divorce but from the jealousy that Hannah got to be with her person.
I didn’t want this chapter to end, & then it ended & damn I really didn’t want it to end!
Author's Response:
JB, that song, RIGHT?!?!?! I'm the dork who creates a playlist for every WIP and this was on repeat with at least six possible titles. It's just such a powerhouse song.
Aw, man. I'm (sorry, but) glad that line hit that way. I didn't want to fall too far into the depths of Jim and Hannah's connection over their grief but it happens. I'm so glad that line and the source of Jim's jealousy served their purpose.
Thank you so much for this kind review. I appreciate it so much!
Date: September 28, 2019 05:26 pm Title: One foot in and one foot back
Like I said in a previous review, it was Jim's turn to have his heart dragged through the mud for a bit. Gotta feel for the guy that all that is what he was trying to do to "move on."
However their conversation, actually more like Jim's confession, seems like a lot of progress. Good on you Jim for not acting like the tool you did last time you were sitting across a public table from her. If Jim and Pam's biggest concern has always been lack of communication, this is a good way for them to start fixing that mistake. Great writing as always.
Author's Response: Thanks, Warrior! I hope this chapter provided some good insight into Jim's motives and history without taking away from this being primarily about Pam's journey. Thank you, as always, for your review.
Date: September 28, 2019 04:36 pm Title: One foot in and one foot back
Resolution and honesty would be nice (are we going to get a "honesty isn't her strong suit" callout?). This fic is killing me but in a very good way. I am not usually a fan of fics in which JAM didn't work out the first time, but this one is highly addictive because of the emotional work you put into it for both of them, both on why they broke up and on why they would each want to find each other again, without invalidating what came before. Also, from your intro: "doing grown-up things"--why is it that grown-up things (in addition to sex) always means completely emotionally screwed up, self-deceiving bullshit? Not blaming you for the accurate description, just saying that "grown-up" so often means, as here, "fundamentally childish."
Author's Response:
Oh, Comfect your reviews always get me thinking long and hard about how I've approached something. I appreciate that so much! I didn't know that Reconnecting Jam wasn't typically your thing so it means that much more that you are so invested in this one. Thank you!!
And, I get what you're saying, but it's a redemption story, friend! There has to be some major deviance to make that work AND to emphasize how self-destructive they both became after losing each other. I'm a sucker for people stumbling a little until they fall face first and then pulling themselves out of it. But that warning was mostly for the people who like Puritan Jam. Cause... this isn't that (as much as I love good fluff with no drama :D). Seriously, your insightful reviews are always so appreciated! And I'm really glad you're back. :)
1 [Report This]Date: September 17, 2019 07:37 pm Title: Somebody that I used to know
Oh my gosh this story is amazing!
It’s now 3:35am and I’m still awake because I couldn’t stop reading!
I LOVE everything about this! I love the characters in this context and the way you write is honestly beautiful! I can honestly picture everything and can hear their conversations... you write so naturally!
Thank you for this masterpiece - please update soon!
Author's Response: Wow! Rach, that is such an amazing review. Thank you SO MUCH! As twisted as it sounds, it is an amazing compliment to have someone sacrifice sleep in order to read your work. That in and of itself is such a compliment. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the updates.
Date: September 05, 2019 08:10 pm Title: Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
Oh hi, it's just me. Calling this meeting of the Karen fan club to order. (Are you happy now? Because I'm so confused as to how I got here.)
First of all, I'd completely forgotten about this song you used for the title. Such a great choice! But back to the story.
Karen and Pam have weekly Gossip Girl dates. Of course they do. And when the three of them go to lunch and it takes less than an hour for Karen to be all "Just kiss already, you two?" Love that.
Also love how she's like, it's cool... we're friends now Jim, so go get me that guy's phone number."
Listen. I didn't come to this story with the expectation that I was going to not only ship Karen and Paul, but become fucking invested in them and their relationship and let's just go right into the scene that is their fourth date because I have so many things to say about it.
It's not just that she's in deeper than she wanted to be and that she's all but begging him to sleep with her (that's all great!) but its the tiny details of her trying to make things happen; what with the Sinatra, and the getting him to pick her up, and the black dress and she brought a toothbrush with her.
Karen's kind of a genius. And fine, she's just looking for an easy lay but she ends up with a husband and god, these two are perfect for each other and I don't know how you did it.
I don't know what it says about me that one of my favorite parts of Karen's backstory is that Josh's wife is named Jasmine, because the alliteration of that just delights me. Obviously, I hate the rest of the Porter portion of this story, but you put these tiny little moments in and I feel the need to comment on all of them. Not sorry.
But like. Why DID Paul piss on a cop car?
So, I love that both Karen and Paul have been there for Jim and Pam's story since the beginning. It makes Paul's protectiveness of Pam in the previous chapter so much more real.
Do I love that present day Karen and Paul fight over Pam and Jim? I mean, no, but also yes? Because they're really good friends. And he's still calling her Chief. *swoon*
But now we're to the Karen and Jim showdown and you know that gif that's just the guy settling in with his popcorn? That's me right now.
And I'm not disappointed. I love Karen's initial wariness, but I especially love how she almost immediately can't escape the familiarity of their friendship. Even she isn't impervious to Jim's charms. God bless her for teasing him about the Raya profile.
But hey. Thanks for the mini heart attack in which for three seconds, you had me scared that Pam OD'd in New York. But no, it was Ryan. And Pam was there. Why was Pam there, hmm?
" Pam never tells anyone about her dalliances while in New York. She doesn’t talk about the pills or the random hookups or the blackout drinking." This is a lot and I need a minute, but also I want all the details of these dalliances.
Ugh, I relate too much to Karen's instinct to smack some sense into Jim. I appreciate her wanting to take things into her own hands and fix their problems for them and I know way too well how hard it is for her to bite her tongue, offer vague suggestions, and then sit back and wait for these two idiots to sort themselves out on their own.
Maybe Paul SHOULD take her to the range. She probably has some aggression to work out after all of that.
This is one of my favorite chapters in a story of favorite chapters so... good luck topping this. ;)
Author's Response:
Man, this review is full of so much that I'm just blown over.
So, in short, yeah I kind of fell in love with writing Karen and Paul. Way more than expected. If I was an author IRL they would get their own spinoff series. And the cop car thing was related to a stray football, the cop getting unnecessarily authoritative, and one too many Long Island Iced Teas.
I knew the OD would have that reaction; it was only for a minute that I considered dragging out that revelation. You're welcome. ;)
Thank you so so so much for this incredibly kind review. I won't lie. I'm a little worried about topping this chapter now. :D
Date: September 05, 2019 07:47 pm Title: Just wanna keep calling your name until you've come back home
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet. Please forgive me.
I mean. This whole flashback is just punch after punch to the gut. In the best of ways, of course. Pam's going to Philadelphia. She's wearing The Dress. She's got ideas of grand speeches and apologies and what could go wrong? EVERYTHING. Everything could go wrong.
"It took four hours to get back to Scranton. There was a wreck that added a little time, but mostly it was the stops that prolonged the trip. One stop to pull over and vomit at the thought of… everything, all of this. Another stop to buy a bottle of water. Another stop to embrace the fury that pushed her to call Jim.
Pam was fully prepared to release a string of expletives toward him along with her theories that he must have cheated on her, that this was why he didn’t fight with her on ending things between them, that she knew all along she would never be enough for him. She wasn’t prepared for the annoyed man who answered and said something like, ‘Yeah this ain’t Jim’s phone I done told ya’ before ending the call abruptly." SHE TRIED TO CALL HIM AND IT'S NOT HIS NUMBER ANYMORE.
So like, I just need to know. Do you enjoy the pain you cause me with these flashbacks? Just me, wondering.
We need to talk about this scene at Paul and Karen's house. It's just perfect start to finish. I love Pam being comfortable enough to go through Karen's bathroom drawers. I adore Paul threatening to call Jim. I die because his nickname for Karen is Chief.
"Yep, just call me the Patron Saint of Relationship Rejuvenation and Realizations" I laugh a little bit every time I read this line, and I love the self-awareness of everyone else needing to work at their relationships when they realize Jim and Pam couldn't keep it together.
"Pam, emboldened by comfort and wine, rolled her eyes without restraint and looked at Karen. “A rebound is fucking an Australian one night on vacation. Not getting married. Jesus, Kare, it’s been three fucking months.” She leaned forward and picked up her refilled glass. “It took him three goddamn years to tell me he loved me and three more to not propose so… Now he’s engaged to the perfect lawyer from college. The one I didn’t think anything about when she suggested he get a haircut and he fucking listened to her. Cause men only listen to women they’re fucking about haircuts —”
“Okay, you’re getting cut off.” Karen ceremoniously moved the wine bottle to the floor. “You say ‘fuck’ a lot when you get twisted.”" Here's another question for you: Are you TRYING to make me the president of the I love Karen as Pam's best friend fan club?
Let's just say, if elected, there will be wine at every meeting.
And here we are at my favorite scene of this entire chapter. I know, how could I pick just one? But this next morning scene has everything. Kelly referring to her and Ryan as the next Kim and Kanye is golden. So here we are, deep, deep into this chapter and I've felt a lot of feelings akin to rage and sadness and well, it's been a Lana del Rey song, you feel me? But then we get here and you just have this way of throwing in these absolutely delightful details that make me laugh and laugh and love you just a little bit more each time.
Pam created a fake facebook account. Pam named herself Stacey Carosi. STACEY FUCKING CAROSI. This is the kind of pop culture add-in I need in my life and honestly, I'm so, so, so sad that no one else has praised you for it.
Stacey Carosi. You're the best.
I love New York Pam's habit of hate-reading Hannah's facebook. HappyHalperts, my ass. How'd that work out for you, Hannah?
But then I'm so proud when she deletes everything. And that teeny tiny little Ryan moment? LOOK WHO GOT A GLOW UP INDEED.
And then we're in present day and I almost forgot there's a present day to this story because that flashback was just so fucking good. But now we've got Erin and Pete and her boyfriend Drew, and Pam and Karen mocking the Raya profile, and Darryl being Darryl and everything is light and fine and happy!
Except nah, you're gonna throw one more dagger into my heart. It's fine. I still like you. Pam and her phone and the unspoken deal with her friends and family that she doesn't know what pictures they're talking about blah blah blah, you fucking pulled out the big guns for this final gut punch, didn't you?
That photo. THAT photo. That. Photo. It's fine. We're all fiiiiine here.
You know I love this story a lot, right? Just checking.
Author's Response:
First of all, you will forever and always be the President of the Karen and Pam as BFF fan club. I'll be at EVERY meeting with champagne and cupcakes.
See, this is why I can't with your reviews. You catch the things that make me giggle like the idiot I am while writing. The patron saint bit. Paul calling Karen Chief. STACEY FUCKING CAROSI.
I'm glad everything else worked as I hoped it would. Especially that photo. Yup. THAT photo.
So glad you love this story so much. xoxo
Date: September 04, 2019 12:16 am Title: Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
I'll be honest, I was a little hesitant about this being from Karen's POV, since I'm literally chomping at the bit for more JAM. But, her background on her friendship with Pam and feeling conflicted about the current state of affairs was really good intel and very relatable. I also really liked her staying out of some of the questions he asked her and lobbing it back to him to go talk to her and find out for himself. I know how hard that restraint is, LOL. Really hope we get some truth out there soon, the tension is killing me (not in a serious way).
Author's Response: Oh, BJB, thank you for this review. I get it; not everyone is in the Karen Fan Club. Thank you for taking a chance on it!! While writing, it was a fun exercise to frame Karen in this world how we watched JAM as viewers in those early seasons. "WHEN WILL THESE TWO IDIOTS SEE WHAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM?!" And we are completely on the path to getting some truth; thank you so so so much for hanging in there. I always appreciate your honest, insightful reviews.