#bughead fic recs

[good-night-dodger]

Bughead Fandom Love Day

We are incredibly lucky to have so many talented creators in our fandom. I want to thank you all for your gifs, your fics, your fanart, your memes, your comments, your presence. The last few years haven't been easy in canon (to say the least), but we can always rely on you to make it better.

To kick start Bughead Appreciation Week, here are 20+ Bughead fics, new and old, that I revisit often.

Detention by @lovedinapastlife

(wise men say) only fools rush in by @anniemurphys and @syl-s

I would woo you in a quiet place (if i could speak the words) by @honestlyhappymoon

How Things Could Be by GoingQuietly

Playlist Amour by @1sleepydormouse

For All the Words I Can't Speak Aloud (I'll write down in verse) by @itsindiansummer13

Tacos and Tequila by @jugandbettsdetectiveagency

Harvest to Home by @writeradamanteve

Jellybean's babysitter by @cooperandjonesinc

(my youth ain't) tangled up in bad decisions by @anniemurphys

The blonde in the window by @sadie-quinn

A New Creature by @thepointoftheneedle

The Space Between by @bugheadsextape

Southside High by @noorakardemmomesaetre

otherworldly (is how i describe you) by @riverdalenerdlol

Milkshakes & Chastity Belts by darlingdearestdead

if i told you who i am (can i call you baby?) by @thetaoofbetty

Of Midnight and Moonlight by @likemereckless

Summer Shivers by @lucivar

do you like or like like me? by @stonerbughead

In vain I have struggled by @purple-spring

Betty Cooper and the Elixir of Life by @easyluckyfree45

a revelation in the light of day by @iconic-ponytail

a great language by @heartunsettledsoul

[imreallyloveleee]

Hi, do you have good Bughead fic recs of their reunion after all those years?

you bet i do!

these are all a) complete and b) have a happy ending, but as always, mind the tags.

Adventures with Uncle Hobo series by @edgarsabandonedrocketship

An Antonym for Serenade by ForsythiaRising

Consent to Cuddle by @lovedinapastlife

I Miss You More Than Life by @middleagedresidentofriverdale

no greater gift by @heartunsettledsoul

only good things happen here by @sweetsoundsofignorance

seven years by @thetaoofbetty

to excavate by @stillscape

we sit in your car (and our love is a ghost) by @thesunflowerx

you'll always be my favorite ghost by @heartunsettledsoul

[jandjsalmon]

2024 FRC - July 🍁

Hello everyone! I hope you have been enjoying your summer! I've never been so grateful for a/c in my life because it's been super warm and lovely here. We finally got the gang back together for a family photo and in a completely unplanned but super fun way - they all showed up in band shirts - the *same* band shirts. I think that illustrates some pretty good parenting there I think. 😏

Anyway, I am just about finished with the @fanfic-reading-challenge I have two number tasks (12mill and 15 mill) that I haven't cracked yet and then there are five tasks that I can't complete until December. But other than those, I can read whatever I want now. I'm excited to go back and reread old favourites.  If you have a favourite fic that you think I’d like - please let me know!

As for my monthly recs for you - I hope you'll give these ones a chance. Read and review - tell the authors how awesome they are.

my heart, oh my heart by @auspicious-goblin (Carmy/Claire - T 1/1) - I don't read a ton of 'The Bear' fanfiction (mostly because I don't ship the predominant ship) but once and a while something just jumps out at you and this is one of those stories. It's actually less shippy and more about trauma and identifying self-sabotage (which is seriously what the show is about to me). The characters are written SO well - and the ending feels really earned. It's not a long fic, but it's one I've thought about a lot since reading it. I highly recommend.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Leprechaun by @he-aint-heavy-hes-my-leprechaun (Sweeney/Laura - T 7/7) - There are several post-S2 fics in the American Gods fandom... but none of the others have a super fun fake-marriage trope and characters written so in character that you'd think you're watching the show. This is a delight.

Harvest to Home by @writeradamanteve (Bughead - E 13/13) - If you've been around here for a while, you've probably already read this fic (maybe multiple times) - but this was our first taste of this amazing author's talent and it was SUCH an awesome time to be in fandom. This is completely AU - set on a farm in UpstateNY - and you'll fall in love with every single character. Even Cheryl. SO SO good. I was so happy to reread this one this month.

Sending love to all of you - hope you have a wonderful August. ����

[daphnefangirling]

Anyone who’s been in the Bughead fandom for as long as I have will remember this brilliant fic. Re-read it now as a book!

🚨🚨🚨 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 🚨🚨🚨

As the only known survivor of the Staten Island Reaper, Olivia Spencer needs a place to hide. Fortunately for her, she finds a job at the local biker bar in a small logging town called North Bend. Between the ongoing feud dividing the town and a mysterious group threatening their way of life, North Bend seems to have just as many demons as she does. When the horrors chasing her finally catch up, her past and present collide, forcing Olivia to decide if the love for her new home and the man at the center of it is worth confronting her trauma.

Preorder and Merch links 🔗 are in my Instagram bio!

[stonerbughead]

Bughead Fandom Love Day

I appreciate all the talented humans in our fandom so much! I've been active in the Bughead fandom since 2018, and while we've seen brighter days, I wouldn't trade meeting so many of you for anything! And I will stan our precious investigative duo till the end of time. In celebration of Bughead Appreciation Week 2023, here are some recs!

Favorite Bughead gifsets

@simon-eriksson's series of fanfics she loves! i will forever be obsessed with the one Lourdes made for my fic.

@bugheadchemistry's Bughead Touches series! so many soft moments captured.

@bettycooper's "that time" series ! no one's doing sassy bughead gifsets like Cat.

@bettyjugheads' investigative duo bughead set

@katherineebishop's beautiful blue and gold bughead set

Some favorite Bughead fics

a dark world aches (for a splash of the sun) by @heartunsettledsoul

a revelation in the light of day by @iconic-ponytail

Betty Cooper, Girl Reporter by @sullypants

step by step by @imreallyloveleee

Let it Snow by @go-ldy

speak by @heavy-lies-the-crown

I’ll be the one by @literatiruinedme

The Space Between by @bugheadsextape

modern love by @stillscape

i'm letting go (of everything but you) by @thetaoofbetty

A Perpetual Estrangement by @satelliteinasupernova

A Written Life series by @darknessaroundus

Waking Druantia by @likemereckless

Viper Radio by @lucivar

The Lightning by @thepointoftheneedle

it's so nice (to be stoned) by @ms-maj

Written in Blood by @kesleyjo

to all the boys (but especially you) by @lovedinapastlife

april come she will by @flwrpotts

swept up in your hurricane by @jugandbettsdetectiveagency

Serpent Strings by @bluevelvetvideo

Some favorite Bughead fanart

bughead makin out against jug's motorcycle by @celandineitsaflowerdickward

a kiss at the center of the universe by satelliteinasupernova

bughead dancing by @alpacalypseartb

1x06 kiss by @archiesart

Bughead and toffee by @edgarsabandonedrocketship

Other Must Follow Blogs:

@ketelonebotanical @winterlovesong1 @thatiranianphantom @lurker-no-more @stillhidden @middleagedresidentofriverdale @bughead-bones @onlyalittlebookworm @underrmyumbrellaella @feisty-aquarius4 @edamamechips @bugheadcuddles @mrscolesprouse @daphnesvieira @raymondebidochonlifechoices @bettsc @djgrannyglasses @good-night-dodger @theheavycrown

it made me stop tagging people i believe, so i'm sorry if i missed anyone!!! i'll try to tag in the replies anyone i remember <3 LOVE YOU ALL, HAPPY BUGHEAD FANDOM LOVE DAY!

[rythmicjea]

Hobbyism is the best way to get through grief. ~Cole Sprouse

NEW FIC BACKSTORY

Okay... so... This is an odd one (and a long one). This is kind of representative of my current "chaos era". It's a bit of a story and I put most of it in the A/N. But this was not a story I was ever intending to write. In fact, I am not part of the fandom (scandalous I know), and better yet, I had no idea that the show even existed until this past November... But apparently it was big! My excuse is that I was not of the demographic for it age wise. I think if it's age appropriate, anyone can watch anything. Rock on, man.

The backstory of this goes, I found out that my baby boy (cat) Jayne, had advanced kidney disease. For a brief and shining moment, I thought that he would beat the odds. Unfortunately, he was gone within two weeks. I held him as he passed. I have a little altar to him on my desk because he will never be forgotten. But, in my grief, I knew I needed to find an outlet. While I can't journal write (I absolutely hate it lol) I can tell stories. And I wanted to write something very dark and nihilistic that basically combined Peaky Blinders with Riverdale (Chaos Era).

So while I was falling down the Jeronica rabbit hole, I was gathering playlists and mashup videos to aid in my inspiration. But, the story refuse to appear. Instead, YouTube kept suggesting clips from a show I had never heard of. And the clips were OLD. Like from over 10 years ago. Though I said I was uninterested the recs kept coming. So I did ONE google search. I read ONE synopsis. I saw a cast list and I saw a timeline of a relationship. I thought that was all I needed. My brain said NOPE!

The timeline of this relationship ended every entry with "and they hugged". I was very confused about why this couple was only hugging. Then when I saw that the last episode was graduation I got a little more incensed. I had two puzzle pieces that didn't connect without a third. So, I asked around. I have friends that were of the age demographic at the time this was on. And every one of them said that 1.) they loved the show and 2.) It was a very Disney show. Now, there were some sporadic kisses here and there but I remember being that age in high school and while I wasn't some "light BDSM scene on the second time I ever had sex" (Looking at you Bughead in Riverdale...) I definitely did more than just hug my high school boyfriend.

Even though I wasn't satisfied with the answer I thought that was the end of it. My brain had other ideas. My brain told me that if I didn't write this story then I would never write again. Well. That's death to a creative type like me. While I never wrote every day or even put out stories consistently, I was still crafting stories in my head. I needed to be able to write. I was in a desperate state. So I thought "fine, I'll write 3000 words, delete it, and then write what I want."

I wrote 10,000 words in one sitting.

I wrote 50,000 words in 18 days.

I didn't watch the show until I was like 80% done with the fic.

It currently stands over 100,000 words.

If you've made it this far you're going "WHAT IS THE STORY?!"

Okay, I'll tell you. It turns out I was being recommended the clips because of an actor. This actor is Cole Sprouse. I knew him mostly as Ben Geller from Friends. I didn't know he had an actual career before Riverdale. I just thought he did something as a kid, and then came back after college. I was so wrong... So so so so so wrong...

If you guessed The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and The Suite Life on Deck you would be correct.

This massive story started as a way to explain why Cody and Bailey "only hugged". Turned into a love story. I made Zack not straight and married to a man with identical twin girls. London is a pediatric surgeon (and I still stand by that decision knowing what I know now). And Cody and Bailey are probably the least likable characters in the entire thing but they are relatable. This is a story of trying to find love after you discover the amount of abuse you went through. Why running from things is not ideal. And maybe, even when you live an outlandish life, there's some normalcy to discover. It's kind of dark, but there's a lot of humor. If you're not familiar with the show, I would just think of it as an original work. (I know, I know... certain death for a fanfic writer lol)

If you enjoy it, please drop a kudos and my comments section is open and I welcome kind and constructive criticism and questions. Like, fuck me up with questions. Please.

[crazymisscarly]

Gonna have no reception for a week 😭 any long Bughead fics I should download to read???

[i-know-you-can]

One of the best series out there! Bughead and sci-fi is the perfect combo for me.

Week 10

Back from a slight hiatus! I have been losing my fic-reading steam, but this is probably one of my three most read fics and so I know it will get me back in the spirit! It’s a series, but you can just read and enjoy the first part (though I know you’ll want to continue!)

Check out Cowboy Jones: Rocketship Salsa by @writeradamanteve

Authors description: To get away from her overbearing mother, Betty jumped at the chance to work as a mechanic for the Whyte Wyrm. The ship’s captain, FP Jones flies across the galaxy hunting bounties for a living with his son and daughter and their lives are as exciting as they are mundane. Betty’s ready to adventure with this ragtag family of space cowboys, and when she isn’t working--daydreaming about the handsome Cowboy, Jughead Jones.

Rating: E

Word Count: 13,373

Ao3: Link

Don’t forget to leave some love in the comments!

[imreallyloveleee]

fic rec: Beautiful Broken Things by teaandpinkfrosting

you guys, i am obsessed. this is an incredibly well-written s1 rewrite, with a twist on the mystery that i've never seen before, and impeccable Bughead investigative duo slowly falling for each other vibes. oh, and there's actual FRIENDSHIP. the fact that we're getting this story while the absolute disaster that is s7 is airing kind of blows my mind? but it's truly a balm to my soul lol

i just really want everyone to read this. it's so wonderful. get thee to ao3!

[iarasstuffss]

Guys! This fic is so so so good! It has everything the writers won't give us. And will also heal your bughead heart ❤️

Spoiler alert: IS ANGSTYYYYY but eventually they'll get there!

[dsvridiculousfangirl]

I have exactly zero interest in watching whatever garbage the RVD writers come up with for season 7, but this? THIS, I’ll read as soon as @lovedinapastlife posts it.

Found You - fic preview

Jughead cannot stand being in this decade–hell, this universe–for one more minute. He stalks into the Blue and Gold, his heart skipping at the sight of a beautiful, poodle-skirt-wearing blonde rearranging the photo layout. “Help me Betty Cooper, you’re my only hope.”

She quirks her eyebrow. “What?”

Tugging his cap and flushing at the memory of another life, another Jughead, what?, he scuttles over to her. “Ah, sorry, that movie hasn’t come out yet.”

“What are you talking about, Jughead?” She giggles, her voice airy and light in a way that makes his stomach tighten with need. Her smile transcends timelines. He loves her in tight sweaters and nylons, but he misses her bandanas and overalls too. He’s not sure he can miss and adore someone when she’s standing right in front of him. Sort of. But he’s had that problem in other universes too.

“It’s…complicated,” he says.

“Are you feeling okay? You’ve been weird ever since the comet. Maybe you’ve got meteor fever,” she jokes, her eyes bright as she lays the back of her hand on his forehead.

The contact makes his insides flutter in an embarrassing sort of way. “N-no, it’s not that.” He starts to pull her hand away, but finds himself holding it, instead. Being near her comforts him. It always has. Her skin is soft and warm, and the scars…they’re not deep in this life, yet. Maybe because her sister’s never gone missing. He rubs her palm. Maybe she could be happy here. He meets her curious gaze, resolve building in his bones. Maybe they could be.

[likemereckless]

You post about just watching but you still write Bughead stories (which none of us read I might add.. like none of us). And you post weekly story recs and no one is even participating in your fic reads. You aren’t part of the Bughead fandom and you never were and maybe since you don’t care what happens shipwise on the show it’s time you finally disappear from here.

I feel like you have to be the same person who always sends these nasty replies because you’ve 100% used the same wording before. Not sure what I’ve done to piss you off, but 🤷‍♀️.

[edamamechips]

the boy from southside

moodboard by the beautiful @moons2stars​

Betty Cooper was officially having the worst day of her life. The coffee stains on her white blouse and her usually perky ponytail falling apart haphazardly were visible testimonials. Betty, the perfect employee and the youngest Chief Editor of one of New York's most successful publishing houses, was running late for the most important meeting of the year. It all began with that damned phone call two days ago.

“Betty, you cannot avoid this town forever. You are well aware that you had to return someday. And that time has come. Do not ignore this, Elizabeth. Stop running away from your demons,” Polly had said solemnly.

Betty’s mother was sick but that wasn’t anything new. Alice Cooper had been sick for the past few years and unfortunately, Alice had just a few more months left. And according to her mother’s last wish of spending the last of her days with her daughters, Betty was obligated to return to that godforsaken town as if aiding all her family’s financial responsibilities wasn’t enough.

Since then, everything had gone downhill. Her meeting got shifted to an earlier date resulting in her working overtime, making her the most loathed boss in the office, and completely draining her in the process.

No matter how hard she tried, the demons she wanted to bury always haunted her. And now she had no choice but to slay them headfirst.

The worst one being the ghost of him.

read chapter one on ao3. beta-d by the immensely talented @easyluckyfree45​

[thetaoofbetty]

Hi I have read all of your stories they are fantastic. I was hoping maybe you could reccomend some other fics for me

Hello you cinnamon toast of cuteness! 

First of all, you’re very sweet to say such nice things to me, so thank you for the kind words, doll. Second, I am the worst person to ask this question to. My free time is when I do my writing and reading and writing takes a lot longer than reading so usually that’s the one I sacrifice. 

Let me think, I can offer the last few stories I remember reading and commenting on? Or starting and have tabs open that I’m trying to finish? Okay, we deep diving into my AO3 history now: 

Opened and trying to finish reading: 

Virginia is for Lovers by @bestpillowtalkever 

won’t you promise me? (we’ll keep dancing) by @mrscolesprouse

Read and thoroughly enjoyed: 

show you what all that howling is for by @lovedinapastlife (all her stuff really) 

It’ll be you by CrownsAndMilkshakes (are they on tumblr? same name? someone tell me dammit)

Unhinged by @crescentmoonmadness (WHERE IS BETTY? 👀)

Til There Was You by @cheryllclayton (we on the pain train, let me tell you) 

an overflowing bottle (of her own creation) by @riverdalenerdlol (out there mushing my feelings, man) 

What We Lost (What We Will Be) by @darknessaroundus (high key invested from the first word)

I hope that helped you some, lovely! I don’t get to read as much as I want but this is what I’ve been reading lately. Don’t forget to drop the author a comment if you do read any of them, we love that sort of thing. 

Thanks for the ask, beautiful!

[daphnefangirling]

When you have no plans to watch the Riverdale series finale, but @lazydaizies drops a 30K fic that will keep you entertained for the evening 😏

Eyes On Me

READ IT HERE

Thank you for the last seven years. I love Bughead and I love you.