Celebrating the found family trope books is a theme any reader can love. Explore chosen family through historical fiction, older protagonists, fantasy, and YA.
If you are anything like me, you love the found family trope in your books and are thankful to experience that in your real life, too.
Throughout my extensive years of reading, I’ve discovered a consistent thread weaving through many stories—a chosen family narrative showcasing the bonds between characters beyond blood ties.
What is Found Family Trope?
The found family trope is a storytelling trope where a group of characters, often unrelated by blood, come together and form close familial bonds.
These relationships are built on shared experiences, mutual support, and a deep emotional connection.
In contrast to traditional family structures, where individuals are related by birth or marriage, the found family trope emphasizes the idea that relationships can be forged through choice and shared hardships can be just as strong and meaningful.
This theme is prevalent in literature, film, and television sitcoms, showcasing the diverse ways in which individuals create their own families beyond biological ties.
Chosen family is showcased today through this month’s book list and our podcast, where we discuss some of our favorite found family stories from the unexpected to TOTALLY expected (but we loved that for us).
Listen to the full episode (the show notes are located here) below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this one.
The Best Found Family Trope Books
Uncover the magic of chosen family in this gathering of captivating found family trope stories, exploring the beauty in belonging.
This week's list was created with @tonightsbookishfeast for this week's Book Gang podcast episode.
How to Be Remembered by Michael Thompson
A couple is caught off guard when a strange child shows up in their home on one mysterious night.
It happens to be Tommy's first birthday, but birthdays start with a surreal twist each year.
Each time the clock strikes, he is erased from existence—his belongings, photographs, and even the memories of those who knew him vanish into thin air...even his parents!
But there's one constant: a caregiver from foster care who's always there for him.
In this uplifting and magical story of found family, Tommy keeps spreading kindness, even as he fades from memory each year.
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh
Meet Isadora Bentley, a quirky and introverted researcher who throws herself into her work, avoiding connections and relationships.
Skeptical about the concept of “choosing happiness,” she embarks on a journey to disprove a list of "Thirty One Ways to Be Happy."
Along the way, she encounters Cal, Marty, Darby, and her daughter Delilah, forming deep connections that intertwine their stories.
Isadora's running inner monologue adds humor, ultimately making readers root for Isadora to open up to life's potential joys.
Related- 17 Stunning Friendship Stories
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
This quiet novel offers three interconnected stories of characters facing loss and self-discovery in the winter seasons of their lives.
Joella's story shines with beautifully formed characters and a strong sense of place, creating a vivid small-town tapestry that feels remarkably real.
As Ethan Joella is known for his found family trope in both his stories, I'm excited to see what his next novel, The Same Bright Stars, will deliver this summer.
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Happy Place by Emily Henry
In Emily Henry’s new book, Harriet and Wyn, a once-perfect couple with a mysterious breakup navigate an annual Maine cottage vacation, concealing their secret from friends.
Amid rich side plots and conflicts, the story unfolds, highlighting the evolution of a found family within their friend circle.
It brings a fresh perspective to many romance tropes, making this an immediate bestseller.
Related- 2023 Summer Reading Guide
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
The new book I did not know would make this list this year is a psychological thriller that unravels in a small village in rural Ireland.
In the opening pages, Sally Diamond does something strange and horrific. She feeds her father's body into their incinerator because he told her that he should be tossed out like the trash when he died.
As Sally takes everything quite literally, she does precisely that. When a neighbor smells a strange odor from her property, the news throughout their village quickly spreads, and Sally is brought in for questioning.
This isn't the first time that Sally has made headline news. She doesn't know that yet, though.
Before his death, her father wrote a letter in which he instructed Sally to digest into three sections over time because he knew what she would uncover about her past would change her life forever.
As Sally unravels repressed memories, the village becomes Sally's found family, adding unexpected warmth to this chilling, dark thriller.
Related- The Best Psychological Thriller Books to Read
FANTASY FOUND FAMILY
Discover enchanted worlds where characters forge unbreakable connections through the strength of their chosen family.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
This heartwarming fantasy brings Linus Baker, a meticulous government caseworker, to an enchanting and unusual orphanage.
As he grows fond of the extraordinary children and their endearing caretaker, the story beautifully explores finding found family in the most unexpected places.
If you need a great audiobook to do while you are putting together jigsaw puzzles this winter, I recommend this as a great family audiobook experience!
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This YA fantasy brings together a group of misfits who become part of a daring heist in this fantastical world.
As they navigate challenges, their camaraderie deepens into a powerful found family experience that many readers deem one of their favorite stories of found family they have experienced.
I'm so excited to read this one over the holidays because it has become such a favorite of our readers.
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MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS WITH FOUND FAMILY
These enchanting middle-grade books also celebrate the power of found family!
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
This middle-grade selection was read in 2020 by Jessica, and she shared it made her best book of the WHOLE YEAR!
This story imagines an extraordinary cross-country journey with Coyote and her father, Rodeo, who live on a school bus as they grapple with the profound grief of losing Coyote's mom and sister.
Coyote hasn't been home in all that time.
Still, when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished―the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box―she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.
Along their journey from Florida to Washington state, they pick up stray travelers weaving in these found family themes beautifully.
Please read it and prepare for The Journey of Coyote Sunrise sequel in February!
Coyote Lost and Found is described as a standalone companion that takes place one year later and will continue Coyote's story.
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HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS WITH FOUND FAMILY TROPE
These are my favorite books on chosen connections in trials and triumphs of the past through historical fiction.
The Second Life of Mirielle West
Looking for a book you can read for free? This selection is part of my curated collection of the best Prime reading, where you can download up to ten free books!
This historical fiction book was brought to our Old Hollywood podcast episode with Molly Fader and ended up being a captivating vacation read that I devoured this summer.
From 1894 to 2005, Carville, situated in Louisiana, was the only national facility to treat leprosy in the United States.
Mirielle West, a 1920s socialite, faces a life-altering diagnosis of leprosy, leading her to the leper colony, where she discovers an unlikely found family among the patients and staff.
In this novel, Skenandore gives us a unique lens into this world because she isn’t just an author, registered nurse, and certified infection preventionist.
Her insights into the disease, the social stigma, and the experimental medical treatments used by this leprosy colony made this an informative reading experience.
The Unseen World by Liz Moore
Each year, I pick one found family story for our book club, and this year's literary fiction selection takes a soft science fiction bend.
This character-driven tale weaves in a technology exploration with the universal quest for belonging and love.
Set in the 1980s, Ada navigates adolescent challenges due to her unusual upbringing with her socially awkward father, David.
When David faces an unexpected health crisis, a co-worker steps in to raise her to keep her out of the foster care system, offering Ada her first taste of a traditional home environment.
As she longs for connection with her father, she begins to use the AI tool he developed to unravel the mystery of the Dad she never fully knew.
This novel is a beautiful companion for readers seeking books like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
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The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller
In this surprisingly humorous historical fiction book, Sven Ormson retreats to the Arctic Circle after a disfiguring mining accident, seeking refuge away from the world.
He doesn't expect unexpected companionship in friends, a loyal dog, and a disrupting family visitor who all make their way into his heart on this journey, creating an oddball family that yields the perfect winter read.
We were so lucky to spend an hour with Nathaniel Ian Miller discussing his former Arctic Circle Expeditionary Program residency, where he visited the little hut that inspired this story.
Genuinely, I haven't belly-laughed this hard through an interview in a long time.
You'll love discovering how we related Sven's difficulties with employment to the unusual ways that Miller's mom gave him vocabulary lessons growing up. Don't miss the fun!
FOUND FAMILY BOOKS WITH OLDER PROTAGONISTS
Join characters who, later in life, find unexpected connections, forming bonds that redefine what it means to be family.
All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
In his weekly calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a rosy picture of his vibrant retirement filled with joy and connection.
However, the reality is stark—lonely days pass without meaningful interactions.
Everything changes when his daughter plans an unexpected visit.
Now, Hubert must transform his solitary existence to match the facade he's created.
Along this journey, he discovers a second chance at love, rekindles a cherished friendship, and becomes part of a community initiative to conquer loneliness once and for all.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Meet Vera, a candid and opinionated older woman running a tea shop in San Francisco.
When she discovers a dead body in her establishment, Vera, convinced it's murder, takes it upon herself to solve the case using her unique perspective.
Unexpectedly, Vera forms bonds with the suspects as she investigates, creating a heartwarming and hilarious adventure for the reader.
Sutanto skillfully weaves the suspects' narratives with Vera as the central thread, creating a captivating and unputdownable story.
Stay tuned for Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice TV adaptation, developed by Mindy Kaling and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo, promising to bring Vera's charm to the screen.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Backman's novel launched a literary trend of beloved cantankerous protagonists.
In this novel, an endearing man unexpectedly finds himself embraced by an unlikely and mismatched group of neighbors, which offers readers the most beloved found family story.
This heartwarming tale beautifully illustrates that sometimes, family isn't the one we are born into, but the one we create through shared moments and unexpected connections.
If you love it, don't miss the charming A Man Called Otto movie adaptation starring Tom Hanks, which is available to rent on Prime Video.
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
An insightful interview with Matt Cain highlighted why LGBTQ-found family stories are prevalent on our bookshelves.
He shared on the Book Gang podcast, "Queer people are one of the few groups where they don't automatically have at least one parent from that same minority group.
They don't have any way to pick up their cultural legacy of being queer people, and many died during the AIDS epidemic that would have passed these experiences on to them."
In his heartwarming, uplifting novel, he wanted to explore this concept with a character who wants to find the love of his life, George, and all the unexpected people who help him along the way.
As retirement approaches, Albert recognizes his loneliness stems from not living his truth. Readers uncover a beautiful love story that could never be fulfilled because of societal expectations and his father’s disapproval.
Sharing his love story with co-workers launches him into a journey of personal discovery, setting Albert on a new path that redefines what it means to be family.
