Fanfiction Recommendation
This is a Santana-centric rec list without one-shots, because I haven’t read fanfiction of any sorts in years, but went back in November and it’s mostly filling my need of good coming of age stories. Of course I’m drawn to my fav Glee character, because the angst stemming from coming to terms with her sexuality, coming out in general and opening up to love is the perfect groundwork for CoA.
Sorry, don’t know in what order this makes the most sense, so I go with alphabetical instead of ships, just read the descriptions.
After the Glitter fades by Vivi Dahlin *complete*
Rachel Berry made it to New York, but while she tries her best to find a footing on stage she works her shifts as a singing waitress. One day a customer comes in that is all too familiar - Santana Lopez. She works on a stage of her own as a stripper. And she is very close to rock bottom. Yes, Pezberry. This gets bonuspoints for featuring Fleetwood Mac lyrics. Drugs are featured and not just a recreational joint.
And I’m calling you to be my lifeline by daysofinspiration *complete*
Tina Cohen-Chang receives a strange phone call in the middle of the night. Some girl seems to have dialed the wrong number seeking out advice - Tina realizes it’s Santana and with the personal things she is telling her, Tina doesn’t reveal herself, but listens. And helps. Set during S2, finding it’s way through a lot of canon moments.
Eyes Closed to Fingers Crossed (aka ECFC) by thememoriesfire *in progress again*
This is a series, a long series with many different crackships if you will. But this takes all the Glee characters and diverts them from their path after “Original Song”. In a harsh, believable and spot on way. If you are interested in Santana’s coming out story in any way, shape or form, do yourself a favor and read at least the first installment of this:
Five Stages - not kidding, this can stand on its own feet. READ IT!
ECFC starts during junior year, covers graduating high school and moving on to college. Part X has a time jump and it seemed everything wrapped up nicely, but now Part XI popped up with a vengeance (they are in their early 30s already). Characters this series deals with are Brittany, Mike, Puck, Quinn and Rachel (yes, this is in alphabetical order), with Kurt as kinda a special guest and you will fall in love with Rachel’s dads (forever naming them Black Berry & Berry White). There are interludes* dealing with different POVs, but the main series belongs to Santana’s inner workings.
Part I Five Stages
Part II The Future won’t listen to me*
Part III The Lights that stop me
Part IV You’re the Waves to my Ocean*
Part V Everybody chooses Sides*
Part VI Blind with Casualties
Part VII This is not what you had planned*
Part VIII We started secret Plans
Part IX As the Stars fall from our Heads*
Part X The Onset of a later Stage
Part XI Staking odds on bigger Breaks *in progress*
So, okay, let me spoil this for you, this is not a Brittana-endgame story (which doesn’t mean Brittany isn’t important to Santana)… but it’s brilliant, so lay of crackship hate and just read the damn thing, excellent character development.
Fifty First States by TequilaQuest *in progress*
If you’ve seen the movie “Girl, Interrupted” you’re set. After confessing to arson she didn’t commit Brittany S. Pierce is committed into a Psychiatric Hospital. Britt’s POV is hilarious, because she has an endless amount of quick wit and the most beautiful references to describe her surroundings. Santana Lopez has lived for years in this ward and now plans to escape (not for the first time).
The Girl next Door by TequilaQuest *in progress*
Brittany Pierce moves to Lima and finds herself being a neighbor to Santana Lopez, the bitchy cheerleader everyone fears. But Brittany isn’t like everyone. She has Asperger’s and literally can’t be touched by other people, not even her parents. At first she seems like the perfect victim to a prank, but then Santana gets to know her - and both girls know this friendship will change them both. Glee Club is present, but they are real outsiders (and no popular kids present). Quinn is of course around, but this deals with a whole new level of Brittana starting out. Sweet and angsty in about equal parts.
I wish I could be strong without somebody there by ellowyntinuviel *complete*
Like “After the Glitter fades” this deals with Rachel’s pole-insult from 2x14. Santana got thrown out at the end of junior year and left Lima behind. For years she got by as a stripper in New York without contacting anyone and now Rachel Berry of all people comes rushing back into her life. Where AtGf plays out in a mostly selfcontained Pezberry-bubble this eventually deals with facing everybody from the good ol’ days. It is a Pezberry story, but covers Brittana on another level.
I’ve never reached an answer, I’m only given clues by thefooliam *in progress*
Santana and Quinn want to spent the summer before senior year with a nice roadtrip down to the Florida Keys where they can stay in the house of Santana’s grandmother. But suddenly everybody else’s plans fall through and this turns into the whole Glee Club going. Which of course means that the two girls can’t outrun the shit they wanted to get away from, but have to deal with even more. The relationship drama chart maxes out and there are some things nobody knows about Santana that come to light. Lots of alcohol and angst.
If Only You Could See What I See by FrogsRcool *complete*
An AU fiction from Brittany’s (amazing) POV. She has a family, friends, a job at a bar, a loving cat and it all seems like an okay life. But then there is Santana, a person she just has to know more about, even though she doesn’t know why. You get the whole Glee cast with a new perspective. Beautiful insights into Britt’s own little world and an emotional rollercoaster. (Sequel is on its way.)
Influence by Sappho’s Ghost *complete*
I feel like that’s a given on any such list, but let me join the bandwagon. Brittany is in fact a talented and smart girl, but as a child she learns it’s better to not stand out too much. Like too many children Doctors are eager to treat her falling grades and slight misbehaviors with drugs. But the thing she is most dependent on is also the thing that hurts her most - Santana. The art to this story lies in the fact, that it incorporates season 1 canon, giving an insight into Brittany’s world unlike most could imagine.
Karma by lovelyego *in progress*
After Santana comes out to her parents she finds herself on the street. Unsure where to go she turns to the one person she believes can relate to her problem - Kurt Hummel. Of course that means she is in the same house as Finn Hudson. Kurtana friendship story that deals with a heavy outcome of the outing and incorporates the way this affects all of Santana’s relationships within the glee club (Brittana is of course on).
Life or Something like it by ellowyntinuviel *in progress*
Do you want to read a gothic horror story? I dare you to click that link. Santana Lopez is dead. But she is not gone. And there has to be a reason why Rachel Berry is the only person who can see her. Believe me, if you can put aside the notion of Brittana being endgame read this, if you want a Stephen King like experience (good King, not long-winded dull King). It’s far more complicated than it looks at first, of course Santana and Rachel don’t like each other, but maybe there is something more to everything that happened that lead to Santana’s death.
Santana Lopez can, in fact, do anything by leftlanden *complete*
So, you don’t believe Pezberry could work? Read this and shut up! Santana needs a new challenge and taking Berry’s v-card seems like the perfect task. The snarky comments are top notch and both girls stay in-character about 95% (there need to be some adjustments for sex to happen of course). Fun part of this is, that you can read this first installment as a nice one-shot, but slowly the universe expands. Follow ups are:
Santana Lopez likes what she likes, okay?
Santana Lopez makes sure Situations are win win
Here’s the kicker. We all know Pezberry can be smutty fun, but Santana has feelings for Brittany and yes, this does turn into Brittana. And also Faberry. The only Faberry story I like to this date, because the last chapter really deals with Quinn and her religious upbringing. It starts with lots and lots of humor, but develops into more. Friendship is important and there are some bumps during the summer before senior year.
Taking the long way by Lingering Lilies *complete*
This story strays from canon after the Hurt Locker confession and spans Santana’s struggle of coming out, getting Brittany and then keeping her. High School years are over rather quick and this focuses on Brittana building a life together. College, jobs, family trouble. Roughly ten years worth of growth, some angst and above all love. Original characters, very convincing hardships and wonderful emotional insights, because Santana is always seeking approval. Brittany’s career is pretty interesting, because she has to deal with her own issues.
The Sequel Me and You and Daisies is finally *in progess*. And I can’t tell you what milestone that is about without spoiling TtLW, so… but the sequel shifts to first person narration, Britt’s POV. *excited*
Thunder, clap us open by jellyfishtia *in progress*
The summer before senior year. Brittany is on a month long vacation leaving Santana behind in a brooding state of mind. Britt wants nothing more than an open relationship, but Santana is concerned about her family. But then her grandmother - suffering from Alzheimer’s - moves in and she gets some new perspective on her family. Her little brother Desi is one of the best humans ever and to top this of Santana can get Quinn Fabray back on her friends list. Quinn has to deal with her own stuff and the girls find solace that both are experts at keeping emotions bottled up. Excellent family portrait.
-tbc-
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And lastly there is one story, that I have to give a shout out to, but that needs a SERIOUS WARNING. This one has TRIGGERS all over the place. It’s violent, it’s graphic and it deals with rape. I normally stay away from rape fiction, because it’s a heavy subject and even most professional authors struggle with the portrayal of the aftermath. Every survivor has to find their own coping mechanism and I do believe it really shouldn’t be used as a hook for a (romantic) story as it is often the case. I don’t take this lightly, but this story captivates me, because there is no miraculous healing process, no knight in shining armor. There is grief, pain, bitterness, depression. It reads like a more thought out version of the movie “I spit on your grave” (well, we haven’t reached the revenge part yet).
Seeing Red by Vivi Dahlin *in progress*
Again - if you are in the slightest way triggered by rape, violence and/or even thoughts of suicide, don’t read this! I have skimmed some stories dealing with rape, because I really want for someone to cover this subject in “the right way” and right now this is as close as it gets. This starts on Halloween during Senior Year and Skank!Quinn comes in very handy.
