This article explores contemporary and classic novels that celebrate chosen family and belonging, highlighting how literature captures the deep bonds we forge outside traditional family structures.
Family is often defined by blood, by the ties we are born into. But what happens when those ties are frayed, broken, or simply not enough? What if the place we feel most seen, most supported, and most ourselves is with a group of people we chose? This is the powerful, resonant heart of the found family narrative, a trope that celebrates the deep, abiding connections we forge through shared experience, mutual respect, and unconditional love. These are the families of choice, and their stories remind us that “home” is not always a place we inherit, but one we build.
These narratives are more than just heartwarming tales; they offer a vital lifeline, particularly for those who have felt like outsiders. They show us that belonging is a fundamental human need, and that we have the power to create our own communities of care. From the gritty streets of a fantasy metropolis to a sun-drenched, magical island, literature is rich with stories that explore this very idea. Here, we delve into four exceptional books that masterfully capture the essence of the chosen family, each offering a unique perspective on what it truly means to belong.
If the found family trope were a warm hug, it would be T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea. This book has become a touchstone for readers seeking comfort, hope, and a powerful dose of kindness. The story follows Linus Baker, a diligent but lonely caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He lives a quiet, gray life governed by rules and regulations, until he is sent on a highly classified assignment to a remote island orphanage.
This is no ordinary orphanage. It is home to six “dangerous” magical children—including a gnome, a wyvern, and the Antichrist—cared for by the enigmatic and fiercely protective Arthur Parnassus. Linus arrives expecting chaos and monstrosity, but instead finds a chaotic, loving, and fiercely loyal family. The beauty of this novel lies in its gentle unfolding of relationships. We watch as Linus’s rigid worldview softens, and as he, the children, and Arthur slowly, tentatively, and beautifully become a family. Klune’s writing is praised by readers for its descriptive detail and delightful humor, creating a story that tackles themes of prejudice and acceptance with a tender, open heart. It’s a profound reminder that family isn’t about being perfect; it’s about creating a safe space to be perfectly, wonderfully yourself.
Find your place on Marsyas Island and purchase The House in the Cerulean Sea on Amazon.
Moving from the gentle warmth of the Cerulean Sea to the crime-ridden alleys of Ketterdam, Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows presents a found family born not of kindness, but of necessity, shared trauma, and a burning will to survive. This is not a story of sweet embraces, but of sharp edges that learn to fit together to form an unbreakable whole. The novel follows Kaz Brekker, a brilliant and ruthless criminal mastermind, as he assembles a crew of six outcasts for an impossible heist.
Each member of the Dregs is a stray, a cast-off with a painful past:
- Inej, the spy who seeks freedom from indenture.
- Jesper, the sharpshooter hiding a secret and a gambling debt.
- Nina, the powerful Grisha Heartrender navigating betrayal.
- Matthias, the disgraced soldier whose hatred for Grisha is challenged by his love for one.
- Wylan, the runaway merchant’s son with a secret of his own.
Together, they are a mess of conflicting loyalties and deep-seated pain. Yet, within this crucible of danger, they find something that resembles belonging. Their bond isn’t expressed in gentle words but in action—in watching each other’s backs, in understanding each other’s scars without judgment, and in risking everything for one another. Readers consistently praise the novel for its fleshed-out, realistic characters and the heart-wrenching, authentic development of their relationships. Bardugo masterfully shows that family can be the crew you’d pull off an impossible job with, the people who have seen you at your worst and choose to stand by you anyway.
Join the crew and get your copy of Six of Crows on Amazon.
The need for a chosen family is not confined to fantasy worlds. Morgan Rogers’ stunning debut, Honey Girl, grounds the theme in the contemporary struggles of burnout, parental expectations, and finding your path as a queer Black woman in academia. Grace Porter has done everything right her whole life. She’s a perfectionist who just earned her PhD in astronomy. To celebrate, she goes on a wild trip to Vegas and wakes up married to a woman whose name she doesn’t even know.
Fleeing the immense pressure of her life and her military-father’s rigid expectations, Grace spends the summer in New York with her new wife, Yuki. But the heart of this story lies in the incredible support system Grace has with her friends. Her found family is a vibrant, diverse group of queer friends who love her fiercely and hold space for her to fall apart. Rogers captures the aching, beautiful reality of friendships so deep they become familial. As one reader noted, a favorite aspect was “the queer found family.” The dialogue is sharp, the characters are richly drawn, and the representation is both broad and authentic, featuring a biracial Black lesbian protagonist and a diverse cast of queer, trans, and BIPOC characters. Honey Girl is a breathtaking exploration of self-discovery, showing that sometimes the people who give you the courage to find yourself are the family you’ve chosen.
Discover a story of love and self-discovery with Honey Girl on Amazon.
For twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, fitting in feels impossible. Born in America but living in Nigeria, she is an albino, a fact that makes her an outsider among her peers. She can’t play in the sun, and she feels caught between two cultures. But Sunny’s life changes forever when she discovers she has latent magical abilities. She is a “Leopard Person,” and she is soon initiated into a quartet of magic students.
Dubbed “the Nigerian Harry Potter,” Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch offers a rich, unique world of magic rooted in West African traditions and beliefs. Sunny’s found family—consisting of the wise Orlu, the fiery Chichi, and the steadfast Sasha—becomes her anchor as she navigates this strange new world. Together, they learn to harness their powers, confront dangerous spirits, and study the complex rules of their society. This quartet is where Sunny finally finds her place. Her friends don't just accept her for who she is; they need her unique abilities to succeed. The novel is celebrated for its dynamic characters and multilayered writing, beautifully illustrating how coming into your own is often a journey you take with the people who see and celebrate every part of you, especially the parts that make you different.
Begin a magical journey and purchase Akata Witch on Amazon.
Whether they are a team of misfits pulling off a heist, a group of magical children finding safety, a circle of friends navigating adulthood, or a quartet of young magic-wielders, these stories highlight a universal truth: family is a verb. It's an act of choosing, of showing up, of loving, and of building a home in the hearts of others. These books, and countless others like them, redefine the boundaries of family, offering a powerful and affirming message that the deepest bonds are not always forged by blood, but by the profound, life-altering choice to belong to one another.
