In my elementary school library, a poster on the wall said "A good book makes you want to live in the story; a great book gives you no choice." The other day i was thinking about how a great fanfiction is written in a way you end up getting mad at the characters because of how well-written they are rather than the author because of how the story is written, and it ties into that quote perfectly.
Imo a great story doesn't have to have metaphors every which way and symbolism everywhere, a great story gives you no choice but to be transported into another universe.
This is just rambling, lmk if you have any opinions on this :P