below the cut, I've shared suggested tags for anyone looking for any specific types of fics.
please enjoy!
This post is no longer being updated with new tags. It's gotten too big for one single Tumblr post, resulting in big formatting issues, losing links, etc.
Instead, new tags will be added to the tags page.
★ tags! ★
what universe are we in?
canon compliant
-> fics follow the original storyline and canon from the show, or diverge from it only a little.
canon divergent
→ fics set in a universe where the canon story (or backstory) remains intact up to a certain point and then diverges into its own direction.
au, or alternate universe
→ fics set in a universe that, moreso than not, are removed from canon, whether slightly altered, but in a fundamental way, or in a completely different setting.
neither? both? other?
→ occasionally, a story might not fit neatly into one or the other - or saying which one it is might be a bit of a spoiler.
which faberry is it?
a lot of times, faberry is in high school
but sometimes they're in college
or even better - a little adult faberry
sometimes they meet in childhood
and sometimes, stories stretch across multiples of those
what's the rating?
general audiences
teen and up
mature
explicit
not rated
and while I'm here I'll just say it
→ smut
where can I read it?
archive of our own
fanfiction.net
livejournal
tumblr
what genre is it?
angst (or sometimes light angst or angst with a happy ending)
hurt/comfort
humor
fluff
established relationship
crossover
classic tropes
celebrity au
coffee shop au
enemies to friends to lovers (or rivals to friends to lovers or enemies to lovers)
fake dating au
friends to lovers
neighbors au
roommates au
soulmate au
what happens in vegas au
specialty tags from yours truly
je ne sais quoi
-> fics which hit the deep, feral part of me that craves an unhinged, obsessed, very physical touch heavy faberry that gives me all the ooey gooey feelings. I don't really know how to explain this one, hence the name.
our own little world
-> stories that do one of my favorite things and let faberry exist in a little bubble of their own away from the rest of the world. where they thrive.
rupture and repair
-> fics where faberry breaks apart so they can come back stronger.
sub-genres or specific themes
dating someone else
domesticity
fate/destiny
friends with benefits
holidays
infidelity/cheating
kid fic
mystery
pining
secret relationship
slow burn
supernatural
they're both moms
time travel
unrequited love
world flip
written word (texting, emails, etc.)
really specific tags
50s au
age gap
alien!rachel
apocalypse au
artist!rachel
blind date au
boarding school au
body swap
celebrity!rachel
ceo!quinn
cheer!au
chef!quinn
detective!quinn
diner au
doctor au
doctor!quinn
dork!quinn
ghost au
housewife au
invisible!quinn
mom!quinn
mom!rachel
mute quinn
popular!rachel
procedural au
road trip au
serial killer au
spin the bottle
time loop
tinder au
werewolf au
witch au
zombie au
glee tags
post-finn's death
-> fics which deal with the immediate aftermath of finn's death
so I got an ask yesterday, asking me the question I've been waiting months for someone to finally say to me in an anonymous forum, so I'd have the weak excuse to do this: a faberry fic rec post!
I've been straight up addicted to faberry fics for about six months now. and yeah, the year is 2025 and YEAH, I'm in my 30s. whatever??? some of us have late in life gay awakenings. (for the record I do have a wife but that's not the point.)
anyway, below the cut are a lot of my top favorite fics that I've read so far - but incomplete and non-definitive, because the list was getting toooo long. that said, if anyone were like "omg beth this is so great please share 100 more fics that you recommend" I would probably do that. my job, who I abandoned two hours earlier than I should have today to compile this, will not thank you, but I will.
anyway, I'll either keep this list updated if I find anymore I really want to add or maybe create a second post and link it here if it gets too long. we'll see!
June 16, 2025 update: I was going to make a follow-up fic rec master post, and then the post was so long that tumblr wouldn't let me post it lol. so instead I made a faberry fic rec blog oops. enjoy!
★ faberryfic
★★★★★
I'll Be by stix04
Can Quinn pretend to be in love with Rachel just to get out of Lima? Can Rachel pretend to love Quinn so she's not so lonely in New York? And what happens when both girls realize they're no longer pretending?
This fic is fucking INSANE (affectionate). It's one that, for me at least, I had to get a ways into before I learned its language. It's just so unique and the way the characters were written is sooo...deranged? (lmao!) But it was constantly laugh out loud funny, the angst was very much believable and bearable, and more than anything, and most importantly, - it was able to capture the ooey gooey faberry feelings. You know what I'm talking about with that? Some fics just have it, you know what I mean? They just wrap around your heart and squeeze. This one does that. And at the same time, it was just soooo silly goofy ridiculous stupid - and perfect. Kind of a masterpiece tbh.
★★★★★
Comfort of Love by ForForever19
More than a decade after the death of Tony Stark, a blonde teenager walks into a diner looking for a cheeseburger, and finds more than she expected.
OR
Faberry in the MCU. Sort of.
Do not, I repeat do not let the summary for this one put you off, in case you are averse to crossovers or the MCU or both. For one thing, ForForever19 is a master of the crossover and can make anything work seamlessly, it's actually SHOCKING. And for another, the MCU is more of the backdrop for this Faberry story. It's so good, it's stupid. I loved the Quinn and Rachel characters in this one - it was the sort of story I never wanted to leave. Some might quirk an eyebrow at their age difference, but I think the story justified it. It's difficult for me to say more without giving gifts of the fic away so just know that this is one of my favorites and give it a chance.
★★★★★
these strange steps by thememoriesfire
Rachel, bottoming out completely, is doing a show in Vegas and, as a distraction from her life, gets dragged to a strip club by Puck. She hasn't seen Quinn in 8 years. This isn't how she wanted them to see each other again. Warning: D/s overtones.
There are some stories that reach further than other fics, that are trying to tell a different story than one of two girls who fall in love, and this is one of them. The author says in a note that this is more a character story than a relationship story and that’s certainly true. It’s beautiful and painful and cathartic, much more than being just a romance. But it’s perfect for exactly what it is.
★★★★★
this is me trying by ForForever19
'Lena takes steps forward, eyes searching for a free seat near the back, but it seems she's not the only one with that idea. There is a blonde woman sitting very stiffly right in the back, and Lena imagines that's what she's about to look like once she takes her seat.
Which she does, two seats over from the woman.
Then she waits.
Listens and learns.'
OR
Lena and Quinn, an adoption scandal, heartbreak, and the foreign concept of actually trying to be happy.
Oh my god, whaaattt, another ForForever19 crossover fic?? No way!! Okay so, disclaimer with this one is that Supergirl is definitely more than just a backdrop in this story - it's half the story, as half the story is about Kara and Lena. But like, who doesn't love Supercorp! Anyway, if you do, read this. The craziest thing is, my favorite part of this story isn't even Faberry, because while I did love them (as well as the Supercorp of it all), my favorite part was actually Quinn and Lena's relationship! It was so incredibly beautiful. I wrote in my notes for this fic "I ached every moment they were together, and when they weren’t, I just wanted them to go back." So, well, yeah - open yourself up to possibilities, I say! This one might just blow your mind.
★★★★★
Didn't See It Coming by ForForever19
After a devastating breakup, Quinn turns to Rachel in need of a friend, and ends up with so much more. - "If, one day, someone asks me how it all started; I'll have to say it was a granola bar that finally did me in."
This one is an absolute epic. It's a monster of a fic, but it's wonderful. To be honest, there was a lot of darkness in this story, but throughout it all, Quinn and Rachel had this deep and profound love for each other that held so strong, and it was so so lovely to read. And even the background characters felt really special in this story - Hiram and LeRoy, and Santana and Brittany. I'll also note, this fic has a song used in this fic that I became obsessed with after, and is one of my top-played songs now lmao. And every time I listen to it, I think about the specific scene from this fic!! So good.
★★★★★
I've Been Trying to Reach You by thememoriesfire
After falling pregnant in sophomore year, Quinn Fabray plummets from the top of the teen hierarchy at McKinley High to the very bottom. In an effort to give her a chance to start over, her parents transfer her to Carmel, a private school in the area with a blossoming arts program. It's supposed to be a new beginning, but what she doesn't count on is immediately becoming enemies with the most popular girl in school: Rachel Berry, co-captain of Vocal Adrenaline.
Sometimes you read a fic over six months ago and you can't remember the specifics anymore of what you loved about it. And that's okay! I still remember loving it. It still goes on this list. And to the top of my re-read list since I've forgotten everything about it apparently. Yay!
★★★★★
Never Asked To Feel Your Halo by BattleKitten
The thing was, neither of them wanted this-whatever it was, but since when did the Universe care about what Rachel or Quinn wanted? Their cards had been dealt the moment they'd entered that shower together. Now it came down to how well they played them.
This was one of the first Faberry fics I read, and it kind of took over my life when I did lmao. My wife was really concerned actually! Anyway, haters will say that Faberry is too toxic in this fic. I don't know! Maybe so! Personally I loved it. This fic also did this really specific thing that I love, which might honestly be why I love it so much, best described by this bit I wrote in my notes for it: “I loved how much stupid ridiculous attention every little detail got. Every brush of a hand sent them into a frenzy that would last a whole chapter.” There's also an incomplete sequel, so while this one is technically complete, it's also lowkey not so...proceed with caution, if that sort of thing matters to you? (*warning that there’s some transphobic language used in this fic a few times, in a “making fun of rachel” scenario*)
★★★★★
Temporary Love by ForForever19
'As far as first impressions go, Quinn Fabray would definitely sell part of her soul for a do-over.'
God, this story is so good, but so angsty. Long and heartbreaking and painful and so so so good. And painful! Did I mention painful? But seriously, it's a beautiful story, and, spoiler alert, it has a happy ending. But I think like 2/3 of the story is spent in a state of distress, if I'm gonna be honest lmao. But you know, as Taylor Swift would say - sad, beautiful, tragic love affair with a happy ending, or whatever.
★★★★★
Whenever You're Ready by ForForever19
'If anyone were to ask Quinn Fabray just what she was thinking, she'd be unable to answer. She wasn't thinking, maybe, because even she can't bring herself to rationalise just what possesses her to kidnap someone else's children. God. She's pretty sure she's just committed a felony.'
Oh, I love this fic so much, and I think about it all the time. This awoken something in me. I think that I think about it a lot because it made me want more of this very specific genre of both Quinn and Rachel being moms, and then meeting and falling in love. I just, ooooh, that's so good. I also love when an author nails writing kids, and the kids in this fic are soooo cute. It's such a good time all around, I loved it.
★★★★★
a first glance feeling on new york time by overnights
“I never doubted that you’d end up here,” Quinn says. “In New York. On Broadway. I always knew you’d be the one to make it out of Lima.”
“You did too,” Rachel points out.
“I wasn’t ever a given, though,” Quinn says quietly. “You were always the sure thing.”
"fairly quinntrospective" reads one of the tags on this fic, and well, yes. And I love Quinn soooo much, just so so so so much, and this author wrote her so beautifully. And I loved how full her world felt in this fic. This story was just so wonderful at the details. Not overbearing but just RICH. And Quinn's love for Rachel was just, oooh baby - good stuff. Reading this story made me feel like I was floating on a cloud as I read it and existed in its world. So beautiful.
★★★★★
Enough To Believe by ForForever19
Years after Shelby ups and disappears from Lima with Beth, a blonde girl shows up on Rachel and Quinn's doorstep, armed with a lot of questions, and very familiar cheekbones.
Okay, disclaimer that this one is an established relationship story, but I just loooove a Beth story so much. And teenage Beth at that! Who I am imagining in my head as Kathryn Newton and it’s perfect. This story was so sweet and warm and compelling and just niiceeeee, I loved it. I loved Beth, I loved Quinn and Rachel’s relationship. I loved all the complexities of their fucked up little family. It’s not an especially long story and it only covers like two days of time but the world feels so full and I felt so immersed in it.
★★★★★
A Matter of Timing by ForForever19
'If anyone were to ask Rachel Berry how or when it happens, she probably wouldn't be able to say. The why is much, much easier. It's Quinn. There's really no other explanation needed.'
Absolutely wonderful, painful, beautiful, tragic, angsty, mess of a story, which I loved. It was not warm feelings ooey gooey faberry - it was a pure and true angst. But it was written so so well. A story of unrequited love, and well, the title says it best - a matter of timing. It was so painful to read, and it hurt so much, but it made sense, which matters. If you're looking for or okay with something that's gonna hurt you, but you're gonna like it - this is the fic for you.
★★★★★
Past Mistakes by InvisMeg
Rachel makes a wish and finds herself in a place she never thought she'd be again. Now she's she reliving her senior year, trying to fix everything that went wrong and trying to find what she's been missing in her life.
Here's the thing, I love time travel soooo much!! So so so very much. I'll read any time travel Fabery fic you put in front of me. (Truly any one. Do it. Right now. Give me a Faberry time travel fic to read, I dare you.) But not all time travel fics are created equal, and this is one of my favorites. I love when they have a little mission that they're going back for, something to fight for, something to change. This one does that well. It was just an all around good time and a great concept - a great story to tell. YAY TIME TRAVEL!
★★★★★
Stays in Vegas by gayerfurtherfaster
Ten years after high school, Quinn and Rachel wake up after a one night stand only to find out they can't remember some very important events from the night before.
I loved this. It was so well-written and funny and cute. And just overall a fun story!! A little bit The Hangover-esque trying to retrace their steps from the night before. And this wonderful chemistry and immediate spark between them that makes their relationship fun and interesting. Just a super cute story that I really enjoyed!
★★★★★
Nineteen by ForForever19
Quinn Fabray has eighteen tattoos, and Rachel is on a mission to discover every single one.
This one is a quickie, but it's so good and so sweet! It's short, but it's still sort of a slow-burn almost. It's a slow and beautiful unfurling. A slow-building intimacy.
★★★★★
celebrate the art of dreaming by gayerfurtherfaste
What happens when your two best friends become something more?
A biiiiig disclaimer here! This is not a Faberry fic, but it is a throuple fic where two-thirds of the throuple is Faberry! That is not for everyone! It is for me! If you are like me, and a throuple fic is for you, then read this fic! If it is not for you, then carry on! Good day!!
★★★★★
take these broken wings by celaenos
Begins in Season one and follows Quinn through her life should she have chosen to keep Beth, realize she is queer, and fall in love with Rachel Berry.
The main romantic relationship will be Faberry, with a bit of Hevans and Brittana, but apart from Faberry it will be very heavy on friendship and Quinn&Beth oriented.
This is a beautiful and thoughtful series of fics. It's very sweet and done really interestingly with each fic being from a different character's POV. It starts in high school, then moves us to New York and college, and - it has one of my favorite things - Quinn as a mom! To Beth! Who we love!! Yay Beth!!
★★★★★
dear your name here by thememoriesfire
Future AU; Quinn and Rachel meet up again in college.
A fun fact about this fic is that it's the first Faberry fic I ever read. A second fun fact about this fic is that by "read" I mean that my wife read it out loud to me while we were on a roadtrip and I was driving. Twice! Two different roadtrips! Over a year and a half apart! So this seems like a good fic to end this list on. Maybe one day I'll read this fic with my own two eyes instead of my wife reading it out loud to me in a car. Not today though!
Sorry to bother, but are you the person who wrote Bet You Didn't Know That ? It's a faberry fanfic that I'm reading and I just can't find the end
Hi there! It's no bother at all. I didn't realize that there are still people reading that so seeing this ask was a bit of a surprise. I edited and posted the completed story over on ao3. I've locked it though so you will need an ao3 account to be able to read it.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
new fic just dropped
pairing: rachel berry/quinn fabray
word count: 38k
in which quinn fabray gets her college unrepression arc and finally confronts the fact that she’s sort of, maybe, possibly in love with rachel berry. featuring: repressed lesbianism, stoner roommates, quinn and sam being best friends, quinn and santana banging, those unused metro-north passes finally getting justice, and quinn fabray learning to love herself
and i’m definitely shouting into an empty void here because it is 2023 and all rational beings have long since moved on from the burnt out wreck of this show but. reblogs are appreciated
can someone help me find a faberry fic.. all i can remember is that quinn is pregnant and she likes to smell rachel's handkerchiefs? towels? clothes? bcs of the fabric softener.. i've been looking for it for days. idk how this app works but any help would be appreciated.