Top Ten Tuesday – My Favorite Books That Feature Found Families
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is actually supposed to be Secondary/Minor Characters Who Deserve More Love. I completely blanked out on this topic because every favorite secondary character that came to mind has since had their own book and has gotten more love. My favorite secondary characters tend to be part of a found family though, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite books that feature found families. I really love the found family trope. There’s not much more satisfying to me than seeing characters find their people and form those loving and supportive bonds that have been missing in their lives up to that point. My favorite found families are always there for each other, ready to kick some ass, if need be, and sometimes even ready to knock some sense into each other if a member of the family has gone off the rails. There’s nothing quite like the family you choose for yourself.
My Favorite Books That Feature Found Families
1. SIX OF CROWS DUOLOGY by Leigh Bardugo – Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Matthias, and Nina – Is there anything this amazing band of morally gray characters wouldn’t do for each other? “No mourners, no funerals.”
2. THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by T.J. Klune – Linus and the adorable magical children he takes care of all just stole my heart when I read this book. This found family includes a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist.
3. BATTLE ROYAL by Lucy Parker – This is a recent favorite of mine. I had so much fun reading about the staff who worked with Sylvie at the Sugar Fair. They all bicker like an old married couple but have each other’s backs when it comes down to it.
4. THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB by Lyssa Kay Adams – Perhaps my favorite found family of all are the guys from the Bromance Book Club. I love how these guys are there to support each other, especially in matters of love and romance, but in so many other ways.
5. THE ILLUMINAE FILES by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – A group of sassy teens kicking butt and saving the day in space – what’s not to love?
6. THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax – Another recent favorite. I loved how the members of this book club became such a tremendous emotional support system for each of its members. All I could think while reading was how much I would have loved to have these folks in my corner.
7. THE LUNAR CHRONICLES BY MARISSA MEYER – I think pretty much everyone who follows me is familiar with this crew. This is my favorite fairytale retelling and it’s specifically because of the found family of Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Carswell Thorne, and Princess Winter, and Jacin and the way they all band together to defeat the evil queen.
8. THE HARRY POTTER SERIES by J.K. Rowling – Another series that everyone who follows me is probably familiar with. As much as I enjoyed all of the magical elements of this book, it was the family that Harry Potter found at Hogwarts that really made this such a special read for me.
9. ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston – The roommates August lives with when she moves to New York City, along with the staff at the 24 hour pancake diner she works at, as well as the drag queen that lives across the hall. It’s a unique collection of individuals for sure, but once they make August a part of their little family, they would truly do anything for her. It was delightful to read about.
10. A COURT OF THORN AND ROSES SERIES by Sarah J. Maas – Last but definitely not least is the crew from the Night Court in the ACOTAR series. This crew was so tight that I was convinced at first that they really were family. Rhysand, Cassian, Azriel, and Mor were exactly the support system Feyre needed after all she endured. They’re all kickass warriors but also giant softies when they need to be.
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