@unforth-ninawaters replied to your post

I mean…maybe just go for it an be honest? I used to do reviews like that…

No one ever said anything but I stopped cause I worried I’d hurt someone’s feelings.

Yeah I was gonna add to what I wrote…im Also incredibly picky if I waited for a perfect fix I’d never rec anything. I have like 4 perfect fics in all of fandom.

I think, “I loved this because xyz but wish there’d been more Sam” is a perfectly reasonable critique especially since it’s obviously a personal preference and not a condemnation of the author.

That’s very true. I’d never rec or read anything if I held out for the “perfect” fic. I mean, I don’t think there are even published novels I like that don’t have a flaw or two. 

But that phrasing is good. I think that’s a good way of voicing my concern but not condemning anyone. It tells people what they need to know and how I feel without getting too critical, so it’s good. 

On a slightly tangential note, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to appraoch a rec list of fics that I personally feel are better than the things that constantly get rec’d. Like, I don’t want to sound like I know so much better or whatever but there are fics that are way better than the few that seem held up as fandom standard. But I also don’t want to make those authors feel bad or encure the wrath of their fans. IDK, it’s tricky. I just know there are a few people I’ve spoken with who might be interested in some destiel fics but read the stuff that’s popular and wind up totally not getting why those fics are popular. (I don’t really get it either. I suspect timing has a lot to do with it though.) It’s like this delecate balance between not wanting to offend or discourage authors and wanting to ensure fans know about good fic.