Hello everyone! How are you? Is 2023 treating you well so far?
I spent a lovely end of the year celebrations with my family and it was really hard to get back to work at the beginning of January, especially since there is so much work to be done. Plus the cold is really not helping my motivation, I really can’t wait for spring! Give me sun, blue sky and flowers in bloom pretty please!
I’m back on the blog today to talk about some glorious found family YA books.
Found family? What is it?
Well, when we talk about found family, we mean people who are not blood family, but people with whom we forge deep and meaningful bonds based on things like shared values, mutual care and support, understanding and unconditional love. The family we choose. So, I made a little list with some of my favorite ones, hope you’ll enjoy it!
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Found Family YA Books You’ll Love
The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi
It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle is right around the corner. Séverin, a treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, is coerced by the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel, to help them on a mission. To hunt down the ancient artifact, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: an engineer with a debt to pay, a historian banished from his home, a dancer with a sinister past and a brother in arms if not blood. You’ll love the diverse cast of characters and their dynamics! A great heist book!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Queens of Geeks, Jen Wilde
Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself. You’ll love the characters, their relationships, the mental health representation but most of all you’ll enjoy how relatable this book can be. Lighthearted and fun, it also deals with heavier topics without ever feeling too heavy. It’s full of positive representations and messages. An empowering novel for anyone who has ever felt that fandom is family.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be owned, for the right price. No one knows this better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… This heist book is largely character-driven with excellent character development and relationship dynamics and that’s the main reason you’ll get obsessed with it! The hype is real, go read it now!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Some Mistakes Were Made, Kristin Dwyer
Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws Ellis’s life, and her relationship with Easton, into chaos she’s forced to move halfway across the country. After a year without talking, they’re finally facing each other… Poignant, with characters full of vulnerability, this is an emotional story of first love, found family, and the heartbreak of losing them both. 100% recommending this for any fans of the childhood friends trope, who enjoy a lot of angst and pining!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Am I Normal Yet?, Holly Bourne
All Evie wants is to be normal. She’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the girl-who-went-crazy. She’s making friends but one thing is missing… a boyfriend. However, relationships are messy, and if Evie can’t even tell her new friends Amber and Lottie the truth about herself, how will she cope when she falls in love? It’s hilarious yet thought-provocative, it deals with feminisim, mental health and friendship. Female friendships that are healthy and supportive! Yes please!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
On a Sunbeam, Tillie Walden
This one is a graphic novel and it’s glorious! On a Sunbeam takes place into the deepest reaches of space where a crew rebuilds beautiful and broken-down structures. Meet Mia, who decided to join the team to track down her long-lost love. It’s a beautiful story about found family sapphics in space and making your way back to people you once lost. You’ll love the character development and the lovely art that illustrates perfectly the feeling of being welcomed home. A balm for your soul!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Raven Boys, Maggie Stiefvater
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been told that she will kill her true love. One night, as she stands next to her clairvoyant mother, a soon-to-be-dead spirit speaks to her. His name is Gansey, and he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey and soon enough her fate become intertwined with him and his friends. The story is wrapped in magic, the characters complex and the writing gorgeous. A mesmerising tale !
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares
For best friends Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget, this is their first summer apart. A well-worn pair of soft jeans bought at a thrift-shop becomes an unexpected bond to hold the four pals together as they decide to circulate the pants amongst themselves throughout their vacation. You’ll definitely get attached to these four women. You’ll love how they care for each other, love each other and offer non-judgmental support any time. This book captures the spirit of friendship in the most charming manner possible!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Found Family Adult Books I Love
One Last Stop, Casey McQuiston
Meet twenty-three-year-old bi girl named August who has moved from university to university, state to state, looking for a place that will feel like a home she has never known. Her whole life, her mother has expected her to assist in solving a missing person case from the 70s, but August just wants to find herself, her own way, and to feel like she finally belongs somewhere. And big surprise… it’s in New York City with some weird roomates and a mysterious girl that she meets on the subway that she finally feels like she found what she was looking for. It’s unapologetically queer and heartwarming, this book feels like a hug!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Almost Adults, Ali Pantony
This is the story of Nat, Edele, Alex, and Mackie, four best friends in their late twenties who are each trying to work out what it is to be an adult. You’ll love their friendship, it’s realistic and relatable. They help each other through the good times and the bad including breakups, new jobs and huge life changes. The highs and lows of being an adult. With 4 POV, you’ll get attached to each character with their little quirks and flaws. It’s a fresh and uplifting story exploring the power of female friendships, definitely a feel-good book!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
See a book you like? Order them through these retailers and support the authors’ and our work!
For more books recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 20 Most Anticipated YA Books for 2023
- 10 adult books on my radar
- 10 awesome adult books I recently added to my TBR
📌 Pin 10 Found Family YA Books You’ll Love on Pinterest!
What did you think of my list? Did you spot any book you want to add to your TBR right this second?
What are some found family YA books you’ve read and really enjoyed? Any recommendations for me?
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Peter Martuneac says
I love found family stories, they’re some of my favorites. It’s generally what I prefer to read and write about.
Nyx says
Yeees, me too! 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading! 😘😘
CJRTB Books says
Fab list! I loved One Last Stop ❤️
Nyx says
Thank you so much! 😊
Yeees, me too! 😁
anovelglimpse says
I loved seeing Six of Crows, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Raven Boys on your list. Those are perfect examples of found family.
Nyx says
Totally! Thank you so much! 😊
Happy reading! 😘😘
Samantha @WLABB says
SoC and The Raven Boys are two that standout for me as well. There was something really special about the bonds between those characters
Nyx says
Yees, totally!!
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads says
Found family is one of my all time favorite tropes. This is a great list as well. I loved The Gilded Wolves and is one of the main books I think of when I think about great found families.
Nyx says
Same here!
Thank you so much! 😊
Happy reading! 😘😘
Books Teacup and Reviews says
Six of crows is my all-time favourite. It is the best found family book. Great recommendations!
Nyx says
Yeeees, totally! 😍
Thank you so much 😊
Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts says
One Last Stop has been on my TBR for a while and I can’t wait to finally dig into it! Planning to next month!
Nyx says
Yaaaay, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did! 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘
thecritiquesofafangirl says
Thanks for the recommendations!!!
I loved one last stop by Casey McQuiston and the relationships in that book are everything and more!
I have the other on my TBR with SoC and TRC being high priority reads for this year!
Nyx says
You’re welcome! 😊
Yeeees, I totaly agree!
Yaaay, hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did 😁
Zoe (zbestbooks.blogspot.com) says
I keep meaning to read Six Of Crows but I haven’t got round to it yet! I also have One Last Stop which I’m SO EXCITCED for, especially as I loved RW&RB so much. I have read Am I Normal Yet? and the friendship group in it are just PERFECTION and I can’t wait to read more of them in the series! Such a great list!!
Zoë
zbestbooks.blogspot.com
Nyx says
You need to read it, it’s really really good! 😁
Well, I bet you’ll love it then!
Yeeees 😍
Thank you so so much 🥰🥰
ella isn’t writing says
I really enjoyed Six of Crows and One Last Stop! Gilded Wolves and On a Sunbeam are on my TBR, thanks for the recs 🥰
Nyx says
Yaaay, so good! 😊
I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did!
You’re very welcome 🥰
ella isn’t writing says
thank you!!
Clo @ Cuppa Clo says
Queen of Geeks has been on my tbr for ages but I’ve never gotten round to reading it, maybe this year I will since I love books which feature fandoms in some way. I am forever sad that I couldn’t get on with The Gilded Wolves, it was a me thing, I just wasn’t meshing with Laila and Severin and we spend most of the book in their POVs. I ended up preferring the other 4 characters a lot more and I ended up having to DNF it around halfway through I think. I wished I could have liked those characters or like the story not be told mostly in their POVs. But yeah totally a me issue on that one.
Six of Crows has my heart, the found family there is just everything, Kaz and Inej have my heart! I loved the Holly Bourne trilogy with the 3 girls and of course the Raven Cycle squad are lovely.
Hmmm I think the two recs which spring to mind would be The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon and Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie. I’ve only read the first book in the bone season but I am getting some serious found family vibes and I am hopeful to see more found family vibes in book 2. Three Mages is book 1 in the Spellbound and there’s multiple series set in the guild codex universe, which all entangle beautifully but still allow you to read them in series order/publication order etc. Spellbound has my fav characters though and the found family vibes are so strong in that series plus the banter really adds to it. I think you’d actually really enjoy the latter rec Nyx! Loved this post 💜
Nyx says
Yeees, you need to read it soon! You’re going to love it! 😊
I totally understand, it took me a while to get into it, not my favorite on that list 😉
Yeeees, Kaz and Inej 😍😍
Yaaaay, thank you so much for the recs! I’ll check those out 😁
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading! 😘😘