I read all the fic recs I post and will only recommend them if I believe they are really well written. Feel free to submit some recs when my inbox is open!
Anne is not allowed into a Christmas ball as an unaccompanied female. Good thing Gilbert is there to pretend to be her fiance so she can be allowed in! Cuteness, dancing, fake courting and a whole lot of feelings ensue!
avonleaace | complete | 1/1 | 3k
something good and right and real
"You think that the way to magically turn our friends into reserved people -- people who would never dream of starting rumors about our personal lives on the internet -- is pretending to date and therefore doing the one thing that they started rumors about on the internet?"
---
There are two ways to move past the stage of pre-friendship awkwardness where both people are too stubborn to apologize and forgive.
The first way is to let time and kindness heal the wound, gradually finding your way to friendship and understanding.
The second way? Band together as unlikely partners and mount a harebrained scheme involving half-truths, ambiguous tweets, and sniping at each other over seasonal drinks from Starbucks.
CrimsonPetrichtor | complete | 1/1 | 9k
modern
real or not real
“I could do it.” Gilbert said, looking straight ahead.
Anne stopped. “What?”
He turned to look at her; they were just outside Green Gables now. “I could do it. I could court you.”
“What- We- You- I- You don’t like me like that.” Anne sputtered.
Gilbert smirked at her. “Well we could pretend. I could court you and be your fake boyfriend.”
For one of the few times in her life, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert was speechless.
thearkdelinquents | complete | 1/1 | 12k
say my name, don’t ever stop
The gossip in Avonlea is insidious, making Gilbert think it’s a good idea to initiate a fake courtship of Anne.
Anne makes him promise it won’t affect their relationship (because, obviously, they’re just friends).
Plot twist: it affects their relationship.
anbethmarie | complete | 5/5 | 13k
c h a n d e l i e r
Anne Shirley asks her *best friend* Gilbert Blythe to accompany her to the Halifax orphanage reunion party as her supposed fiance in order to show all the people who had made her life a misery that she's got her love life together.
And then, when she gets drunk, the consequences are both unexpected and disastrous.
Or are they?
anbethmarie | complete | 12/12 | 26k
modern
UNCOMPLETE
sol i taire
Gilbert Blythe, a student of medicine struggling to make ends meet, is accosted by a desperate red-headed stranger who promises to pay him over and above what he needs if he agrees to marry her immediately.
anbethmarie | uncomplete | 9/? | 21k
Tragical Romance and All
"Anne would later attest, loudly and to anyone who would listen, that her response to finding out her secret love letter had been sent out was the response that any rational person would have.
She fainted.
Late that night, when she was running over the terrible events of the day in her head for the millionth time, she realized she had already made her decision. That she had decided when he first asked.
Fuck. She was going to fake-date Gilbert Blythe. Her life really was going to shit."
grasslandgirl | uncomplete | 1/? | 3k
modern
Love Letters
"You see, these letters aren’t just any letters. These are letters to every single boy that I’ve ever had a crush on and not just any little crush, no, a crush so incredibly major that I had no idea how else to get it out of my head. A crush so big that you might even be able to call it love. There are four in total. Moody Spurgeon, from 1st grade, Cole Mackenzie, 3rd grade, Gilbert Blythe, 7th grade, and Jerry Baynard."
Anne had always been so careful with her letters. But what happens when they accidentally get sent out? (Based on To All The Boys I've Loved Before)
All the fics listed are about shirtbert being soulmates (au).
Vivid
Gil had seen Anne's twitter, or course, with a little gray icon of her smiling serenely. Josie-- who, granted, claimed to be able to see color because she was in love with Harry Styles-- said Anne wasn’t awful.
Diaphenia | Complete | 1/1 | 1k
Pretty Injuries
Gilbert spent his childhood covered in flowers. Anne spent her childhood covered in some injury or other. Their meeting involves both.
Soulmate AU where flowers appear on a person's soulmate when the person is injured.
TW: Past child abuse, PTSD.
novahainn | Complete | 1/1 | 6k
behold your certainty
Writing an essay seemed exciting in Anne Shirley’s eyes. However, being accused of writing someone else’s were not exciting.
A Soulmate AU where their handwriting matches their true loves handwriting.
tvaine | Complete | 1/1 | 6k
Your Name Upon My Wrist
The inside of Gilbert’s wrist burned sharply as he watched the name appear. He’d always known it would be her, but somehow seeing "Anne" written in her soft script upon his skin made him feel like she was finally within reach. He could imagine her shining brightly as she walked down the aisle toward him. He could imagine endless, golden days spent together. God help him, he could imagine the nights too. But her twentieth birthday was two years away, and who could say what handwriting would appear on her skin, claiming her? Soul marks were funny things. Just because Anne was his soul mate did not mean he was hers.
MegSamadhi | Complete | 4/4 | 7k
From Red to Green With Love Between
Gilbert Blythe was born with a tuft of red hair sticking out from amidst his unruly dark curls... until the day it turned green.
A Soulmate AU where everyone has a streak of hair that matches the color of their true love.
PhoebeDillard | Complete | 1/1 | 7k
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Anne Shirley had been fascinated by the very idea of a dream her entire life. So imagine her surprise when she finally has hers and in it appears a prince that looks suspiciously similar to Gilbert Blythe.
A Soulmate AU where everyone has one dream their entire life, and in it they see the face of their true love.
PhoebeDillard | Completed | 1/1 | 8k
you belong somewhere close to me
“I know, son. I know. But if you feel what your soulmate feels, it is likely that she feels what you feel.” He raised his eyebrows. “Do you understand? If you are happy, she will be happy, too. Do you think you can be happy for her?”
He nodded. “Yes.” He would think happy thoughts every possible moment if he must.
AU. Gilbert is one of those rare, lucky souls who has a soulmate.
All of these are multi chapter fics that are 5k-10k long, THIS IS UNCOMPLETED.
A Little Birdie Told Me
Summary: Gilbert has finally returned from his adventures at sea, only to learn about some new developments between Anne and Cole. Though he's relieved someone has been watching out for Anne, Gilbert doesn't understand why learning about their kiss and subsequent proposal makes him so upset.
thelooster | Completed | 4/4 | 6k
Your Name Upon My Wrist
Summary: The inside of Gilbert’s wrist burned sharply as he watched the name appear. He’d always known it would be her, but somehow seeing "Anne" written in her soft script upon his skin made him feel like she was finally within reach. He could imagine her shining brightly as she walked down the aisle toward him. He could imagine endless, golden days spent together. God help him, he could imagine the nights too. But her twentieth birthday was two years away, and who could say what handwriting would appear on her skin, claiming her? Soul marks were funny things. Just because Anne was his soul mate did not mean he was hers.
MegSamadhi | Completed | 4/4 | 6k
how to move on
Summary: Later that day, when Marilla inquired why she’d missed afternoon tea and forgotten to return Mrs. Lynde’s borrowed patterns, Anne would be sure to omit the undignified shriek she’d let out in the Haunted Woods.
Firstly, because she had no business loitering in said woods. With Jerry under the weather for over three days, both Anne and Marilla were swamped with inside and outside chores.
Secondly, because of distressing news that abductors and hoodlums roamed Prince Edward Island. Down in Carmody, six children had been taken and a storefront smashed while the owner was still inside. Folks were beside themselves with worry. Matthew had made her promise not to stray out of their property or walk alone until the culprits were caught.
And finally, because if word got out that she’d hugged Gilbert Blythe, she would never ever live it down.
FlowerStorm | Completed | 5/5 | 8k
Kill Me Now
Summary: The list of Gil-approved spouses for Anne included a single entry, and that entry was certainly not the man holding Anne on the front of the invitation Gil held before him. In the entire history of the world, has chicken or beef ever been such a difficult decision for anyone? Modern.
SoMuchDepends | Completed | 12/12 | 8k
the dreams of distant lives
Summary: Anne Shirley-Cuthbert comes back from Echo Lodge refreshed and finally ready to confront her feelings for her best friend. Life, on the other hand, has different plans for her. Modern.
All of these are multi chapter fics that are 5k-10k long
please know that these are not ALL of the fics under this category but just the ones I’ve gotten to read.
I’ll Come to Thee By Moonlight
Summary: Gilbert can't sleep.
MeggieB | Completed | 2/2 | 6k
Ours are the moments I play in the dark / wild and fluorescent / come home to my heart
Summary: Avonlea, August 1914 – England declares war on Germany. Anne Shirley shows up rain-drenched on Gilbert Blythe’s doorstep and learns her fiancé is due to leave for the Western front in a week’s time.
All Anne wanted was to have the memory of a few quiet moments alone with Gilbert. The fact that she would get wet through on the way to his house and have to wear his shirt while waiting for her clothes to dry did not enter into her calculations.
Anbethmarie | Completed | 3/3 | 9k
when the sun goes to sleep
Summary: Anne always thought she like to watch him go. Not because she was happy to see him leave, but because she always got the faint feeling that perhaps he would stay longer if he could
Gilbert confesses his feelings for Anne.
lil_redhead | Completed | 2/2 | 5k
Mistakes like this
Summary: Anne and Gilbert kiss three times... but on the third time they don't have an excuse.
Lysanderwarrior | Completed | 3/3 | 5k
To Be There
Summary: Hearing the news of Matthew's death, Gilbert regrets the distance between himself and Anne.
mille_libri | Completed | 3/3 | 5k
Jealousy is an ugly thing
Summary: Gilbert finds out about the spin the bottle game, he also discovers that Anne kissed Cole in the game. Not knowing it was on the cheek Gilbert is distraught and doesn't know why!
Shirbert | Completed | 4/4 | 5k
Fair and Square
Summary: When Anne is knocked out by a virus for a week straight, Miss Stacy kindly asks Gilbert to go deliver some books to her.
tvaine | Completed | 2/2 | 5k
Under His Autumnal Frost
Summary: A frightening incident during Christmas dinner at Green Gables prompts Anne and Gilbert to open up to each other about their pasts. While Gilbert receives some insight into the horrors of Anne’s childhood, Anne also learns of the other tragedy that changed his life forever.
Please note that the fic is written entirely in script format.
Sweetcallalily17 | completed | 2/2 | 7k
all of the dreams that get harder, all of the things that I offer you
Summary: Anne receives proposals of marriage from various and undesirable quarters. Gilbert Blythe naturally happens to stumble upon her immediately afterwards every time.
Inspired by a tumblr post about how Gilbert only realises he needs to tell Anne about his feelings for her once she starts receiving proposals of marriage from basically every other man in Avonlea.
anbethmarie | Completed | 3/3 | 7k
all of the dreams that get harder, all of the things that I offer you
Summary: Anne receives proposals of marriage from various and undesirable quarters. Gilbert Blythe naturally happens to stumble upon her immediately afterwards every time.
Inspired by a tumblr post about how Gilbert only realises he needs to tell Anne about his feelings for her once she starts receiving proposals of marriage from basically every other man in Avonlea.
anbethmarie | Completed | 3/3 | 7k
you never go away
Summary: I think of you often. I look at the sunset over the horizon, the sky dripping in watercolors of red and orange and I think of your hair. Your beautiful hair that you hate so much. Even at night, when there are no colors to bring you to mind, I see the stars and am reminded of the constellations that shine on your cheeks. Even months ago, when I was at sea, I thought of you. I would look at the seemingly bottomless ocean and all I can think about is how it doesn’t begin to reflect the depth of your eyes.
Anyway...
-Gilbert accidentally sends Anne a love letter. He doesn't know she has it. Then they have to read and analyze the letter Darcy writes to Lizzy in P&P. Oblivious Gilbert & mortified Anne.
thearekdelinquents | Completed | 5/5 | 7k
We Are Human
Summary: Avonlea smelt of familiarity and petrichor, the same two scents that flooded her senses on a fateful day in Redmond.
"Anne, I love you! Surely you must have known?" Gilbert clasped her hands in his own. "I'm not asking for your love right this instant but maybe with time, just give me hope and I'll wait an eternity for you."
"Gilbert, Please!" Anne objected as she snatched her hands back. "What about Roy?"
"Roy?!" He asked angrily. "Are we really bringing him into this equation?" The fury was clear in his eyes.
AKA let's find out why Gilbert is angry?
foreveryours | Completed | 5/5 | 7k
French Birthday
Summary: Diana loves Anne! She does! Yet, she's never thought of the redhead's birthday. She makes it her biggest priority to make it the best for Anne and find a perfect present. Perhaps someone will help her with the latter?