Found Family and Friendships in Fiction by S. Labrecque

If you’re similar to me, then you like reading about characters who like each other. The book market is full of great romantic stories. But what about the other forms of love? Where’s our rag-tag groups of friends, our siblings, our found families?

Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of 10 fiction books that feature close, non-romantic relationships, both platonic and familial. If you’re in the market for a story with people who like each other, keep reading!

Note, this post contains affiliate links.

Books with Strong Platonic Friendships

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

YA queer romance fantasy

Yes, this is a romance. Yes, romance can still feature strong platonic friendships.

One of the most important relationships in this series is between the main character Simon and his best friend, Penelope. I am always a fan of opposite-sex friendship that has no ounce of romance. Simon and Penelope are as close as siblings and loyal to a fault.

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

Romance, slice of life, fantasy Shoujo manga

This manga is a story about healing from childhood trauma through the love and support of friends and family. It is chock full of platonic relationships, and none of these friendships are less important than the romantic ones. Love is meaningful in all forms, whether it be romantic, platonic, or familial.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Epic high fantasy

Ah yes, the Fellowship. While the nine Fellowship members are only together in the first book of this trilogy, they still demonstrate great loyalty and love for each other throughout the entire trilogy. From Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli running for days straight to save Merry and Pippin, to Sam’s undying loyalty to Frodo, this is a story where men are not afraid to show tenderness towards each other.

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

YA urban fantasy

Bloodmarked is the second book in the Legendborn series. I chose the second book over the first for this list because it features the main character Bree’s friendship with Alice, her best friend,  more prominently.

Although Alice is magicless in a world of demons, her intelligence and determination make her an extremely valuable member of the team. After she was left out through most of the first book, I loved seeing more of her in the second. Her loyalty to Bree is astounding, and their mutual love provides Bree stability when her world is turned sideways.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

YA, fairytale fantasy

This is one of those stories where the central relationship is the friendship between the heroines rather than the romance with the prince. Although Agatha’s and Sophie’s friendship bounces between supportive and antagonistic, it is the true love between them that saves the titular School for Good and Evil.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Fairytale, high fantasy

This is another book that focuses on an unbreakable female friendship. The most important person in the main character Agniezka’s life is her best friend, Kasia. Agniezka’s desire to protect Kasia is her main driver through most of the story. Her decisions for Kasia’s sake push the plot forward, for better or worse.

Books with found family

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

YA, LGBTQ+, romance fantasy

The found family dynamic is one of my favorite parts of this stand-alone novel. While the narrative focus tends to be on the romance, the heroes are constantly showing each other tenderness and understanding as a real family does. They always rally around each other when one of their found family members is in trouble, no questions asked.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Supernatural horror, vampire fiction

An oldy but a goody. By the time Dracula’s plot is uncovered, the heroes can’t go two pages without proclaiming their undying love and friendship for each other. They’re faced with an undead mastermind and overwhelming evil. It’s through their bonds of fellowship and family that they manage to overcome Dracula’s great power.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

YA, dark fantasy

This story is set in a world where trust is dangerous. The characters begin separate and selfish in their goals, but over the course of their heist, they grow close and earn each other’s loyalty. It’s clear by the second book that the team has been forged through fire into a true found family.

It’s touching to see how much they’ve grown to love each other, even their stoic, cynical leader, as much as he doesn’t want to show it.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Slice of life, romance, fantasy

Viv, the main character, has a dream to build and run a coffee shop. Throughout the book, she brings people into her business and gives them a place of warmth and comfort.

But Viv doesn’t just build a coffee shop. She builds a home and a family to fill it. When things turn south and everything burns down around her, it’s that family that builds her back up.

I hope this list gives you plenty of reading material! Enjoy your found families and friendship, and happy reading.

Want more fiction recommendations? Check out my website for fun fantasy reads!

About the author

Labrecque is a fantasy author and geologist. Serena discovered her dream of becoming an author in the second grade thanks to her teacher, Mrs. Thorner, who always encouraged her creativity. In high school, she self-published her first two stories with her cousin Shawn’s help.

Serena went on to attend the University of Rochester where she received a Bachelor of Science in Geology and minored in creative writing and received a Master of Science in Geology from the University at Buffalo. After college, she returned to her dream of becoming an author.

Labrecque now writes a newsletter and posts book nerd memes on Instagram as she works on publishing her next novel. When she’s not writing, Serena can be found hiking, cuddling her cats, and playing D&D with her family.

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