Up We Go

by Oh_Hey_Tae

Fandom: 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Relationships: Kim Taehyung | V/Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung | V/Min Yoongi | Suga, Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung | V/Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin
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“If you’re a witch that works with plants, then why are all of yours dead? That can’t be good for business.”

The room dims again, and Jimin lifts a hand to flip off the ceiling. Taehyung knows he’s sad and that’s why the shop darkens and he shouldn’t find it funny—but he can’t help it. Because this is ridiculous. The good kind of ridiculous. The amazing kind.


(Or: Taehyung has a green thumb, Jimin runs a magical store, and Yoongi can kind of see dead people.)

Words: 100332

798 pages, ebook

Published May 16, 2018

Reviews

[Mashiyat Simran Hasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I don't normally count fanfiction on my reading list as they tend to be just a bit of light reading or something to pass the time. But this title is a beautiful exception. I have to read it again to talk about the plot because it's been a while and I do want to read this again as if it were brand new. The effect is healing, heart-warming, and very much like the act of Kintsugi -- This book took my heart, hammered it into pieces and then fixed it back with molten gold and I honestly would not have it any other way.

The world-building centred around witches, magic, and the modern world goes seamlessly with the story. There is heartbreak, grief, and angst along with some comedy and words of wisdom presented in such a simple way that it was almost like reading a concept for the next Studio Ghibli movie. As a plant lover myself, I loved reading what goes on in Tae's mind while he works in the field and nurses plants back to life because that's almost exactly how therapeutic gardening is to me!

It does not matter if you are not a fan of BTS because the story does not require any of the fandom elements. Even if writer publishes this book and change all the names of the character, I would still love it. (Not me checking writer's twitter every once in a while, hoping there are some updates on the publishing. I would love to have this as a physical book, and it would be awesome if it were illustrated too!)

[mon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hug to the heart. ❤️✨

[marceline · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read this 3 times now and im not ok

[muri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found Up We Go almost a year ago on ao3, purely by chance, and since then it has occupied a permanent place in my heart. I was going through a very difficult time in my life when I found this story and it honest to god saved me, gave me more hope than I had in years. This review has minor spoilers, so read at your own risk!

Taehyung isn’t used to people taking him seriously. To people caring. How do you tell someone that? I’m not used to being loved, so please try a little less.

Up We Go thrums in your veins, softly, a steady beating of a heart. From the very first word, the echo of Taehyung’s laughter in Daegu’s autumn filled fields, his grandmother’s whispers of his golden thumb— love and grief intertwine and tangle, messily, inseparable, as it does for most people in life. As odd as it may be to hear, grief is what breathes life into this book. If you are mourning, if you have lost someone, something— this story is especially for you. It won’t take away your pain or sadness, but it will help you breathe, to become comfortable with it.

The story rises and rises, building like a crescendo of waves that washes over you. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed with Taehyung’s grief balled up with my own, burning through my chest, breathless, throat tight. In other moments, I laughed and laughed, giddy, incredulous— the way the light shatters when Taehyung spins Yoongi around, the way Taehyung screams when the heliotrope grows a single green leaf. I cried and I grieved, but it felt like coming home. The thing I love the most about this story is that it doesn’t get better immediately, not even halfway through the book actually. Tae’s first safe place is the greenhouse and he spends a lot of time there; he takes space and yoonmin give him space— alone, repeatedly sorting through his head, organising his feelings, his thoughts, quiet, tired— it’s muddled, a constant tug of war, but it’s real.

It’s Taehyung running, running, running— barefoot, wanting to die and the plants won’t let him in.

Jimin’s face cracks open.

“Oh Tae,” he breathes, leaning in to knock their foreheads together. “My sweet, sweet boy.”

Up We Go is full of tender hope and a love so quiet but so loud that it resonates within every character and plant, and straight to the reader’s heart. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone, it’s a special thing to read this for the very first time. But I will say this. The writing style is beautiful; it’s raw, intimate, the words curl in your chest like the wisteria in the greenhouse / stubborn love / But the plot, oh my god. It is sheer brilliance. Not because it’s unique and never heard before, but because it is the perfect fanfic. The author takes Bangtan’s concept of Magic Shop and turns it into a literal magic shop, customers come to find something that will help them or a loved one in exchange for a happy memory of theirs. Like many of us, Taehyung finds a home with the boys in the magic shop— a place where he is loved, where he is safe, where he blooms to life.

“Hey, Jiminie,” Taehyung smiles, and as the sunshine bursts in his heart, the lights overhead flicker with it.

[Toche Ruz⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at me trying to find all of my favorite fanfics in goodreads omfg. Listen, this fic is STUNNING. Truly the most beautiful thing I've ever read. I actually want to make some sort of character and scenery design/illustrations of this fic as a personal project this year just because how much I love it. I don't know how many of the people that follow me can see my updates right now but it must be really funny to see fics being rated in goodreads *crying/laughing emoji*

It's so fucking good though like the author is incredibly talented, they built such a beautiful fantasy world and told a story of loss and finding oneself. It's probably a good time to mention that I'm a huge BTS fan, so fellow army, let's be friends ;D

[DEE · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my third time re-reading this story in all of its entirety, but it's been probably even more times than that if i'd count all the times i've been re-reading the chapters between updates when it first got published. regardless of how many times one reads it though, it remains just as magical and powerful as the first time.

this story means a lot to me, one of those rare finds that cross all boundaries of an undeservedly looked-down medium that is fanficiton publishing. it might not be hardcover bound and traditionally published but it still sits above most books i've ever read in both quality and power.

it is a lot sad, a lot hopeful. plenty healing and above all - wholly magical!

5 stars. i hope one day i can finally hold this story in a beautiful physical form. one day!

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my fave fic of all time. Even if you replace the names, I would still love it that much. I'm not really good with words but yeah, this is so beautiful and I've probably read it for countless of times already. I'm willing to purchase a copy if ever you decide to publish this.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my all time favorite fic. I think I have read it at least five times now and it still feels like coming home to a old loved friend. I am already looking forward to the next read.

[graz · Rating 5 out of 5]

queria morar dentro dessa obra queria transformar ela em liquido injetar nas minhas veias queria me transformar nela respirar ela me alimentar dela todos os dias

[zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

??? WHERE IS WHEN NIGHT COMES? i havent read this one im rating it 5 in place of when night comes

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t remember since I read it at least 4 years ago, but it’s 100% complete which is saying something as a hardcore DNFer

[pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t normally log but best fanfic of all time so IDEC