The Sweater by LolaShoes

ACTUAL REVIEW OF THIS FIC IS STILL TO COME


The Sweater is a gift exchange fic that Lola wrote anonymously for ScarlettLetters.

This story is lovely -- like a fic hug. Just 7 chapters long, the story is self-contained and satisfying. And oh so sweet. I highly recommend this story as a delicious and quick read.

I also REALLY enjoyed her method for posting the story - 1 chapter a day for a week. It was so exciting waiting for each day's update. And so satisfying to not have to wait for week(s) for an update!!

Official Description: AU Twilight. Nine months ago Edward fled after an overwhelming first encounter with Bella. He returned from his soul-searching in Denali resigned to keep himself from her to keep her safe. Love from a distance looks a lot like dislike, it seems. But mix in a feisty Bella, a scavenger hunt, and a Secret Santa gift exchange, and even the best laid plans sometimes fail. Rated M for language and the good stuff.   COMPLETE



BELOW ARE MY CHAPTER REVIEWS. AKA SPOILERVILLE, USA. If you haven't read the story yet, you might want to avoid.





My Review of Chap 1:
Love this story!

This totally made me think of the Meryn Cadell song, The Sweater. If you don't know what I'm referring to, go here immediately to watch the music video:
www.clevver.com/music/video/26775/meryn-cadell-the-sweater.html
Makes me laugh everytime.

Can't wait for next chapter.

My Review of Chap 2:
When he buys Jessica Stanley a B&N gift card
//She'll have to drive to Tacoma or Seattle to find a Barnes and Noble, but I count that among the benefits of my solution.// LMAO


My Review of Chap 3:
Lola, you've got great laugh-out-loud moments throughout this story.

Bella is hilarious in her gift giving planning
//Each time I intend on getting him something ridiculous and end up getting him something thoughtful instead, I come home and knit furiously, deciding to add red noses to every reindeer and putting one of the snowman buttons on upside down because I know that sh|t will drive him crazy.// LMAO

At least she's not as bad as Edward who gives Jestanley some gift certificate she has to drive hours and hours out of her way to redeem. Don't know what it is about it but that sh|t cracks me up!

Edward's back and forth "I love her"/"I'm not good enough" aligns well with canon. But it still makes me want to shake him a little bit. Although I dig that he recognizes how the way he's treating her is hurting her feelings.

Can't wait for tomorrow's installment!
-- Althea


My Review of Chap 4:
Lola, This story is so frickin cute!  

//I suspect Edward is just shy, socially awkward, and complicated, and not the ass we've suspected.// Greatest conclusion ever.  

Oh noes. But then she crashes and burns with the hideous sweater gift.  

And Edward is so cute. //It occurs to me that maybe holiday sweaters like this are traditional amongst her family. Perhaps it's something they do, and she is giving me something meaningful to her.// Trying to earnestly figure out what the hell is the deal with that sweater gift.  

But in truth, Edward deserves to be perplexed by her gift, after the havoc he has wrought on her self esteem! Man, canon Edward (or canon-ish in this case) just doesn't get how much damage he inflicts when he 'looks out for her best interest' and rejects her constantly. Grrr

Was Edward actually going in for a kiss? Or was it him saying 'I love you' that she misinterpreted as him possibly going in for a kiss? (I figure it must be the latter because he probably would have mentioned the former)

Looking forward to the next installment! -- Althea

More thoughts on Chap 4:
Apparently, I have beef with canon-ish Edward. Please excuse my rant.

------------- He keeps going back and forth about whether to tell her *for real* how he feels. He makes his move to ask her out on a date (his first clear cut gesture of interest - and the dance doesn't count because his intentions were obviously not clear cut to Bella), and his motivations for making his feelings known seem to be so selfish! It seems he's only making his move because he's afraid she's going to reject him first by (a) getting over him and pursuing someone else, or (b) finding out he's a vampire and being scared away. Oh, or his more noble reasoning for finally making a move, (c) to //relieve her of the uncertainty I've given her all this time// Edward, her uncertainty? What about her heartbreak, dude? And her dashed self image of being unworthy of your attention? And then he reveals his plan //telling her how I feel, and then urging her to trust me that we could never be together// Yeah, I imagine she'll be pretty receptive to that, and then thank you for relieving her uncertainty. -------------

I think my anger re: an Edward who makes decisions for Bella in order to protect her has been exacerbated by reading The Fallout. I love this fic. However, for chapters and chapters I've been watching Edward SUFFER the aftermath because he had left her to protect her, thus leaving her vulnerable to Victoria and beyond rescue, and Bella ends up dying thinking he didn't love her or want her. (Although I still hold out hope that she is somehow alive somewhere)


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