1 [Report This]Date: December 17, 2020 08:35 am Title: Chapter 6
The angst is making me feel horrible. Which means that this story is very well written, because I don’t feel emotion very often.
...you are planning to get them together, right?
Author's Response: Haha, thanks so much! (And sorry). And let's just say, I would not have been able to get through season 3 of The Office if I hadn't had a sneaky look ahead and to make sure they did end up together...
Date: December 17, 2020 12:35 am Title: Chapter 5
Ugh. Karen. What a nightmare of an individual. Gosh, she's manipulative in this, isn't she? I really hope Jim can open his eyes to that soon, it just seems to be wearing on him and his happiness. In any case, I'm interested to see where you take this and how you build up their history and relationship.
Intriguing how all of these characters enable each other and their (often bad) habits. Jim and Pam and Karen, all of them. But the phone call between Jim and Pam is so sweet, and I assume Jim texted her right then knowing she might be avoiding class/entering the building. You've built up the suspense for Pam's backstory well, and while I'm eager to find out her past, I'm also filled with chills of foreboding.
Really loved the detail about Jim watching Pam paint, and imagining another man getting that opportunity. Hurts my heart but I love it all the same.
Author's Response: Thanks very much!
1 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2020 12:49 pm Title: Chapter 5
Wow, this is a vigorously dislikable version of Karen from top to bottom. Controlling, self-involved, snobby, fake, passive aggressive, haughty, condescending, manipulative – what a winner. (Probably a great fit for corporate glory, admittedly.) I’ll be interested to see more of the backstory with them to see how they managed to last long enough to get to this place. I appreciate that you’ve managed to justify some of it on Jim’s end – he’s clearly kind of a pushover, and a guy who is never going to do something when he can get away with doing nothing. You did well making it clear why KAREN doesn’t think she’s in the wrong, too.
Even more eager to see Pam’s backstory with the hints that whatever it was that happened (maybe with her dad?) got in the way of her art. This is an interesting twist on canon, too – where S3 Pam always seemed like she genuinely thought Karen might be good for Jim, here she’s clearly aware there are real problems in that relationship and is staying quiet anyways.
I actually think you’ve got a pretty good handle on Ryan. Especially in the early seasons he seems to have a good instinctive sense of people’s weak spots, he’s generally pretty shameless, and he’s got pretty deft touch at manipulation. This is definitely a conversation he would have had.
This, unfortunately, is exactly the sort of thing you can see Jim and Pam falling into – much like in canon, they’ve built up something of a relationship for themselves without having to admit that’s what it is, except in this case neither of them are putting a name to it and it’s not so much a work marriage as it is an actual home. Lovely, but bound for disaster. This exchange about five minutes being enough time to figure out you like someone goes part in parcel with it – instead of not quite being on the same page, they’re exactly on the same page and just unaware of it.
Author's Response: Haha, I think I accidentally made her even more dislikeable than I originally planned. In my head, I can sort of see where she’s coming from on some of this stuff. Just with a lot of awful personality traits.
1 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2020 10:30 am Title: Chapter 5
Bless you for these quick updates.
I, too, don’t hate Karen in the show but you’re doing a pretty good job of making me dislike her here! Haha as always I can’t wait to see where this goes. You have me hooked!
Author's Response: Haha yes, sorry Karen - and thanks so much!! :)
Date: December 16, 2020 09:53 am Title: Chapter 5
Ohmygosh, this is SOOOO GOOOOD! I am so hooked. I sometimes get annoyed with fics that jump back and forth, time-wise, only because it is hard to keep track. But I am LOVING this! It's fun to watch all of them, being so self-deluded and wanting to scream at them. But it is also fun to watch them tie themselves up in knots, knowing that we'll be able to watch them figure it out. Even Ryan is fun to watch. And all the little hints at what is to come are so intriguing! I may or may not be bouncing in my chair and clapping, waiting for the next chapter! :)
Author's Response:
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a nice review! I’m so pleased to hear you’re enjoying it :) And glad the time-jumping seems to be working so far. And haha yes, I feel Ryan is very under-utilised sometimes...
Thank you!
1 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2020 09:30 am Title: Chapter 5
ugh. Jim and Pam being this close but still avoiding their feelings for each other hurts so good. 'There’s a memory that Jim tries hard not to linger on, of her outside her dorm room, twisting her hands and smiling up at him.“Five minutes is enough time to figure out you like someone.”' This part killed me. I can't wait to see what happens, how they finally manage to get together. This story is so good, so well written, I get so excited when it's updated!!
Author's Response: Thank you so much, that’s really lovely to hear! :) Really pleased you’re enjoying it (despite all the pain haha). Thanks!
Date: December 16, 2020 06:58 am Title: Chapter 5
Ok. You are definitely gonna kill me with the angst. Just no way around it. But I am loving it!
Author's Response: Haha, I’m sorry - but thank you! :) I’m afraid there is more angst to come...
Date: December 16, 2020 06:47 am Title: Chapter 5
This story is killing me with all this tension. Jim and Karen are clearly not on the same page. She wants to be Ms. Motivated and everything. She wants jim to be that guy with her, but it's clear he doesn't want to be that kind of guy. What really stikes me is that it feels like Karen is always pushing down Jim's feelings. It almost feels like she's gaslighting him. Telling him this is how he should be feeling about something. She wants him to be something he's not. She has a vision of what he should be for her and she wants that regardless of what he wants. Hopefully I comes to realize that sooner rather than later.
So Pam had a traumatic experience that made it so she didn't want to pursue art anymore. Sounds like something from college days.
Jim, she said she didn't want his number. Seriously when are these two going to stop lying to each themselves. I'm not sure if it's the idea of Pam dating that has Jim in a bother or Pam dating Ryan. Maybe both. Feels like a set up for more tension and chaos before we're done, that's for sure.
Author's Response: Thank you! And haha, sorry - the tension is really fun to write though.
Date: December 16, 2020 05:54 am Title: Chapter 5
Woahhhh. That was a good one. Lots of intrigue and mystery around Pam's part- now related to her reluctance with art. Sounds very interesting. You've got great stuff going on- like always, hooked!
And again, I love the whole back and forth. Esp loved Jim's throwback to his own five minutes. Heart goes out.
Author's Response: Thanks very much! Ha, I’m really glad to hear you’re hooked - I have to admit, I’m slightly hooked on writing it :) And I know, poor Jim...
1 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2020 05:05 am Title: Chapter 4
Ughhhhh the so close yet to far energy is on point! I'm really liking the back and forth structure of this story. Very well strung together, like the cocktail mix detail.
And the S1&2 energy is there in this AU in the college bits where you can just feel how perfect they both are for each other but their own insecurities is keeping them apart.
Also reallllyyyy love how you write jim/pam.
Date: December 15, 2020 01:22 pm Title: Chapter 3
Oh my heart! Well, color me obsessed. Once again this is lovely.
Author's Response: Thank you!!
1 [Report This]Date: December 15, 2020 12:57 pm Title: Chapter 2
Aw college Pam, and college Jim, and college JAM! It’s so cute! I love how well I can visualize JF/JK in this too. Sometimes in AU, regardless of how well everyone stays in character, I’ve found it’s hard to really fully “see” Jenna or John’s portrayal in the story. But there’s something you’ve tapped into that I admittedly can’t describe but it’s just a simplicity and quintessential jam that I’m absolutely digging.
Author's Response: Thank you! That’s really kind of you to say :) I have to say, I was initially unsure about college JAM, but there are so many good fics out there that I changed my mind. Really glad you’re enjoying so far!
1 [Report This]Date: December 15, 2020 12:25 pm Title: Chapter 1
I’m just starting this and I already love it. Having not seen Something Borrowed, I can’t speak to the inspiration, but I really am drawn to your AU characterization of our favorite couple (or non couple as the case stands). It blends and feels so real; your writing is really lovely and I’m so impressed with your dialogue. Also your brief but vivid references to canon plots (i.e. Michael’s Chili’s meeting) really bring the whole chapter together and I’m excited to see where it goes!
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! This was a really lovely review to read. I’m really glad you think it’s working well so far (and yes, I couldn’t resist a little bit of Michael...)
Thanks for taking the time to write this!
1 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2020 11:22 pm Title: Chapter 1
Hey! You have a new fic! I love it, you have a real talent to capture the nature of Jim and Pam. I love that you're not including Roy and hopefully not so much Karen.
I can't wait for an other chapter and do you plan to keep updating the your other series of one-shots?
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! That’s really kind :) And haha there will be some more Karen to come, but hopefully not too much...
Thanks for asking about the other series too - I’ve not got any immediate updates planned while I focus on this fic, but: it’s quite handy having it as a series of one-shots that I can come back to! So I may add more at a later point if I have any more inspiration.
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: December 14, 2020 04:58 pm Title: Chapter 4
Oof. So close and yet so far. Friends with good intentions sometimes only make things worse. I will say this, you've got the whole feeling of "damnit Jim and Pam just be honest with each other and you'll avoid so much heartache" vibe from canon down in spades. Nice to see more of their history though.
Author's Response:
Thank you! And yes, I know :( I would also recommend Something Borrowed if you’re a fan of that vibe haha. Thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2020 04:17 pm Title: Chapter 4
Yikes. What a mess!
You did a really good job here illustrating how they just kind of missed their moment – just a perfect storm of some well-intentioned and unhelpful interference from their friends, fear, care for and attentiveness to each other causing them to overcorrect for that fear, some self-defeating assumptions, and some unfortunate vomit and Karen-related happenstance. It’s brutal, and it does a really good job building up how they’ve managed to keep each other in this holding pattern for so long, both in terms of not moving forward and not being able to let go.
Also – really like that you gave the cocktail mix from the last chapter some history.
(I appreciate the warning about Pam/Ryan. I’ll gut through it. And the idea of Ryan as an opposite style of boyfriend to Roy sounds worth exploring.)
Author's Response: Thanks very much! And yeah, I always think there’s something much more tragic about love stories where it’s a series of small things/events just not quite working out, rather than one big thing. I thought Something Borrowed did that very well.
Date: December 14, 2020 03:33 pm Title: Chapter 4
This is getting so good!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! Really glad you’re enjoying it :)
Date: December 13, 2020 04:52 pm Title: Chapter 3
Great banter between Jim and Pam. It's clear they have a really strong friendship and it means a lot to both of them. Really getting the feel that Pam would like more, but she can't have it, so she tamps it down and takes what she can get. Though there's some hints of trials she's gone through in the past. Jim thinking things like she can stay optimistic despite her past, her having similar thoughts. Great way to keep the interest going. Though it also adds some foreboding to find out what they're talking about.
Like others I'm curious about the whole Ryan thing. It seems Ryan is superficially interested in Pam, which reads true for him. Pam reads as being friendly but not interested in anything else. So another thing to wonder about.
In Vino Veritas there Jim saying you love Pam. Especially if Karen is flaking out on you. Really seems like the Jim/Karen relationship is on its last legs. It seems Karen knew this night was big for Jim and she intentionally blew him off. Hey Jim, look, a big red flag snapping in the breeze.
Looking forward to more.
Author's Response:
Haha - ‘a big red flag snapping in the breeze’ really made me chuckle. Although I guess not actually that funny in practice. I am glad you’re intrigued by the Ryan/Pam, and Pam’s back story :) I can reassure you that there won’t be that many hidden depths to Ryan in this fic, since it is Ryan we’re talking about.
Thanks so much for reviewing!
1 [Report This]Date: December 13, 2020 04:16 pm Title: Chapter 3
I love the give-and-take between Jim and Pam here – as always, you just have such a good sense of how these two talk to each other, and how to work in how much they care about each other (I am eagerly awaiting the Pam backstory). It’s hard (in a good way) seeing they be so attentive to each other while still missing such big things.
The contrast between Jim’s joy at being around Pam and his frustration at being with Karen stings here. A lot.
As a dedicated hater of Pam/Ryan in all forms, this chapter left me feeling somewhat unsettled. But Pam not seeing Ryan’s flirting for what it is does sound a lot like Pam who has not had the confidence boost of being with Roy.
Honestly, my heart just breaks for Pam throughout this, but the line about Pam wincing at Jim’s “like we have any secrets any more” very much calls for her to get a hug.
(For the record, I say you should absolutely keep an eye out for opportunities for aggressive badminton – or aggressive volleyball! Pam is a volleyball player, it could totally work.)
Author's Response: Thank you so much!!
Date: December 13, 2020 01:00 pm Title: Chapter 3
i love this AU! So creative!
Author's Response: Thanks very much! That’s really kind :)
Date: December 13, 2020 12:25 pm Title: Chapter 3
I am loving this story so much! I love the way you’re slowly revealing their history together and how well you write Pam’s longing for him. I can’t wait for more!! Well done.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to say so! I’m really glad you’re enjoying it :)
1 [Report This]Date: December 13, 2020 10:26 am Title: Chapter 1
I'm loving the angst and the build up! So much happening, so much history. All very promising. The Ryan angle you have hinted at also has me very intrigued.
These were two really great chapters. The college interaction was cute. And the party one was just so much S2 relate where these two are just so happy and easy with each other. Perfect amount of angst and fun. Really hooked!!
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! Haha I’m really glad you’re hooked - I’m having a lot of fun writing it. There will be more Ryan, and more history to come...
Thanks for reviewing!
1 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2020 10:20 pm Title: Chapter 2
I'm sooo hooked. This is SO good so far. I did not expect Jim and Pam to be college friends and then roommates, but I love it so much. I am so excited to see where this goes!!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! I'm really glad to hear that - really appreciate the review!
1 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2020 07:31 pm Title: Chapter 2
Very cute way for them to meet up. They've got a ton of chemistry right from the off and it's a lot of fun to read. Still a few hints of insecurities and awkwardness, but they're still young. Really fun to get some back story on them like this. Looking forward to seeing where the rest goes from here as I've never seen the movie this is based on.
Author's Response: Thanks very much! And I have to admit, it's probably not going to stick super closely to the movie, so that might not tell you much anyway. Thanks for continuing to review :)
1 [Report This]Date: December 12, 2020 07:17 pm Title: Chapter 2
Yay for a flashback to the first meeting. I like how you've effectively built up Pam's shyness and distaste for risk taking - and how you've immediately established Jim as someone she can relate to easily, which is something of a rare quality for her. Him appearing at her life at a moment of peak vulnerability and helping her get through it sort of by accident definitely feels like the sort of thing that can build a strong bond in a hurry.
Brett Simmons was a bit of a surprise - I'm wondering if/how Roy is going to come into this.
Author's Response: Thank you!! So I can confirm there will be no Roy in this story - mainly because I was interested in what Pam would be like if she'd never met him. (As much as he ended up holding her back in the end, I think he must have given her a bit of a confidence boost, at least when they first starting going out). Thanks for the review!