Fried Green Tomatoes Recs

[doranwen]

updated 2022-05-26

This post is my complete list of Fried Green Tomatoes recs. I will endeavor to keep it updated as new fics are posted. (Since such are few and far between, it should not be difficult.)

Guide to icons used:
Fics I tagged as favorites:
Fics I thought were exceptionally well-written:
(Icons come from the Icon pack by Icons8.)

As always with my db-generated lists, ratings are all converted to a single system for convenience:
Fanfiction.net - G through R
AO3 - PG through X (though the occasional child-friendly fic I mark G)
anything without a rating (AO3 or other site) - Unrated


I have tried not to spoil readers too much.
Most of the fics in this list are given with no information beyond author, title, rating, word count, major ships, and the summary the author gave it.
However, my database does store information on themes, which cover everything from grammatical things like tense & person (I mark for present tense, first person, second person, and direct address), to format (poetry, songfic, 5+1, etc.), trope (fake couple, stranded together, etc.), general feel (angst, fluff, etc.), and warnings (major character death, non-con, violence/wounds, etc.).
If you would like to see the themes for the recs from any of the fandom lists below, please comment and let me know so I can reply with that information. It is very simple to generate the recs for a large list of fics in such a way that all of the themes are listed.
If you would rather just have a list with certain themes excluded, please also comment to let me know which one(s). You can find the full list of themes here, titled Fanfic Themes.


The recs are organized below in sections by the major ships found in them. If there are any minor/background ships you want to avoid, please leave a comment and ask for a list to be made for you. Note that ships may refer to one-sided or unrequited ones as well as to requited/mutual.

Buddy Threadgoode/Eva Bates, Idgie Threadgoode/Ruth Jamison

fabfan - Eva, 1497 words, PG
Only Eva knew how bad Idgie got after Ruth left to go back to Georgia.


Idgie Threadgoode & Ruth Jamison

thegeneral - Parallels, 253 words, PG


Idgie Threadgoode/Ruth Jamison

anchorsandsunshine - Committing, 1122 words, PG-13
Idgie finally takes a step towards committing... or is it a step back?

Card Carrying Villains - Faith, 375 words, PG-13
Idgie was not one for prayer. Except sometimes. Maybe. One-shot, slightly fluffy. By Hearts

Cerise Murmur - Alive, 957 words, G
Only with Idgie does Ruth feel truly alive. Drabble, rated K. Ruth x Idgie Idgie x Ruth

civilwarrose - Can't Figure Her Out, 1512 words, PG
A cafe regular, lawman Grady has feelings for a certain young lady, but she doesn't get the hint or want to act like a proper female. Oneshot.

fabfan - Car Rides and Oysters, 901 words, PG
Ruth and Idgie's drive back home from Georgia

fabfan - Fried Green Tomatoes Drabbles, 1100 words, PG
Ficlets and drabbles from Whistle Stop, Alabama.

fabfan - Guilt and Vows, 1152 words, PG
What happened after Frank left town?

fabfan - Heaven, 1004 words, G
Idgie finds out what heaven must feel like

fabfan - Life, 1527 words, G
A moment in family life

fabfan - One Night, 1618 words, G
Being with Idgie was like living with the wind, you never knew when she was going to come blowing through to take you on another adventure.

fabfan - Rose, 3127 words, PG-13
Ruth had planted a rose bush in front of the house over a year ago and the thing had yet to bloom

fabfan - Rotgut Rye, 1079 words, PG
Idgie had to drive home after watching Ruth get married...and after drinking a bottle of liquor

fabfan - Waiting and Wondering, 1105 words, G
Idgie might act like everything was fine, but Ruth had to find out what was going on. Based on an added scene from the special edition DVD that was not in the film's original release

fawatson - Honey, 528 words, PG
Idgie and Ruth take everyone on a picnic.

flooj9235 - Miss Fancy, 925 words, G
When Idgie brings Miss Fancy to town, she makes a quick stop at the cafe to see Ruth. The elephant isn't going to be the only "Miss Fancy" in town. Oneshot. Short and fluffy.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - A Moment's Peace, 629 words, G
Just a little slice-of-life moment between friends.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - F is for Foundations, 835 words, PG
Foundations aren't roots; there's a difference. Idgie/Ruth.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - In the Still Night Air, 1400 words, PG
Summers in Alabama? Are hot. Idgie/Ruth femslash.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - Just Another Day, 1478 words, G
Idgie tries to make Ruth's Mother's Day special. Femslash.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - Momma Threadgoode, 830 words, G
One of the happiest days of Momma Threadgoode's life was the day Ruth Jamison returned to Whistlestop.

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - O is for October, 1091 words, PG-13
October's in Alabama are just about perfect. Idgie/Ruth

jaina47 (Jaina Solo2) - S is for Sunrise, 260 words, G
Sunrise brings new beginnings. Idgie/Ruth

jenben300 - Evening Drift, 2123 words, PG-13
One-shot. Ruth and Idgie spend some time under the stars. "Heaven is in your eyes bright as the stars we're under oh, is it any wonder that I'm in the mood for love". T for flirty and emotional parts.

Lucy Hallowell - Someone, 1065 words, PG
Prompted by Daphna (whenfishfly) "Would be cool to have one about Idgie and Ruth going swimming in a secluded lake (no frozen ducks)." Idgie takes Ruth skinny dipping but she's got something beyond swimming on her mind. Characters aren't mine, they belong to Fannie Flagg. Based on the book, not the movie where Ruth went out with Buddy before he died (that's total BS).

LynnieB - A Baby Story, 366 words, G
Ruth tells Idgie. It's a shorty, but I hope a goody.

o.OKathleenO.o - Colorblind, 1376 words, G
Inspired by a small detail in the movie. Ruth sits by the window, waiting

PaperPioneer - Ruth's Ring, 1654 words, PG-13
Grady and Idgie protect Ruth in their own ways.

rebecca-in-blue - One Good Thing, 971 words, PG
"Frank Bennett only ever gave me one good thing, an' I'm already takin' that." Two drabbles expanding on Ruth leaving Frank and her pregnancy. Idgie/Ruth fluff.

rebecca-in-blue - Wild Honey, 2118 words, PG-13
"You saved yourself, honey," Mrs. Threadgoode said, "but I guess you knew who to call on."

silverr - Buttermilk Pie, 2137 words, PG-13
"So we're gonna have peach pie and peach cobbler?" Idgie asked from the back doorway. Ruth paused, making her special Lord Give Me Strength face, then said patiently, "Some like one, some like the other." "I wonder how many people like both," Idgie asked with a wicked grin. "If they really love peaches they're gonna have a hard time deciding." Ruth gave her a look, then went back to writing out the menu.

timeofyoursong - Here's Your Future, 1038 words, PG-13
It's that Alabama kind of hot, the type where the cicadas are quiet and the heat seems to sink into your very bones.

Timesparrow - Just a little tipsy, 745 words, G
Idgie and Ruth have a few drinks at the Cafe at the end of the day. Just a little fun between our favorite couple.

TrulyBeTold - A Good Love Story with a Game of Poker, 2921 words, PG
A dejected Stump Threadgoode sulks into the cafe one night, confused about love. Idgie cajoles him into a game of late night poker where she tells him the story of how she fell in love with his mother. Little does she know, Ruth listens from the doorway, remembering her own love story. R&R


No major ships

Meredith Trainor - Scene Outtake: Smokey Lonesome Meets Buddy Jr, 2308 words, PG
There's a scene in the movie where Smokey returns to Whistle Stop, and the first person he sees is Ruth's child. This is a backdrop and the scene from Smokey's point of view. Rated K plus for Idgie's language. OneShot

missallyrose - Gotcha, 552 words, G
Grady Kilgore ponders how Idgie Threadgoode can possibly one-up him every single time. One-shot.

toujours_nigel - Bee Charmer, 100 words, PG


If any of the links above no longer work (and are inaccessible via the Wayback Machine), please let me know so I can flag them as "Dead" in my database, thanks!

Enjoy! :)