Book Recs: LGBT Found Family

Let’s be honest, we all know that there is no trope better than found family. And actually, as long as we’re being honest with each other, found family as a concept is inherently gay. There’s just something about choosing your own family, that rings true to all LGBT people.

So yeah, here I am with ten LGBT stories featuring the found family trope. Only the best for you guys!

And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

These Rebel Waves

Sara Raasch
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, bi li, wlw side characters
TW: torture, child abuse, death, murder

Why Should I Read It?

I know the day would come when I would find a way to rec y’all this book. I don’t think I have ever read a more perfect (at least for me) YA fantasy book. It has it all! Cool worldbuilding, traumatised kids trying to win a war & save the world, an absolute lack of homophobia. And most importantly: a group of reluctant allies who become family and would do absolutely anything for each other. (Not even only the main characters, but the side ones as well!)

The Split

Laura Kay
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li, gay character with depression, lesbian side characters

Why Should I Read It?

Two words: messy lesbians. You in yet? In all seriousness, it’s very refreshing to read a book with LGBT characters who are allowed to make mistakes & aren’t demonised for it; especially lesbian characters. The Split remembers that people always have reasons, that nothing is black-and-white. And that forgiveness requires actual work.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

Jonny Garza Villa
Goodreads
Rep: Latinx/Mexican-American/Chicano gay mc, Vietnamese-American gay li, bi, gay, lesbian & pan side characters
TW: past & present parental abuse, physical abuse (chapter 14 & 28), homophobia, outing, mc gets kicked out

Why Should I Read It?

There are a lot of reasons to love Jonny’s book, but let’s focus on the one that brought us here. The found family. Because listen, Jules’ friends? They stand by him no matter what. There is no hesitation. If given a chance, they will fight people who want to hurt him. They might not always know what to do or what to say (because yeah, it’s a bunch of mostly straight kids), but their fierce love for Jules in unmatched. Also they’re all just so much fun!

Related: my review of & a mix for Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

The Weight of the Stars

K. Ancrum
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc, mixed-race Black lesbian li, side mlm relationship, side interracial polyam relationship
TW: alcohol & drug use, mention of parental death, mild violence, mention of suicide, homophobia

Why Should I Read It?

If you haven’t noticed yet, the found family is basically Kayla’s brand. And she always delivers. So yes, you will get here the most tender group of friends who take care of each other, who help each other grow up. Who truly are each other’s family. (Also the trio from The Wicker King makes an appearance.)

American Hippo

Sarah Gailey
Goodreads
Rep: pan/bi male mc, bi fat female mc, nonbinary mc, aroace Latina mc

Why Should I Read It?

Okay so, this is historical fiction but set in an alternative universe where instead of horses, cowboys use hippos & travel by swamps. It all makes perfect sense, don’t worry. And it’s not even the only selling point. Because the found family here? It’s found among lowkey criminals who get together to pull of a heist. Like, it just doesn’t get gayer than this!

Last Bus to Everland

Sophie Cameron
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, gay li, gay, pan & lesbian side characters

Why Should I Read It?

This is one of those books where you can immediately tell that basically none of the characters are straight and it makes you feel at home. It’s truly a super wholesome book, with first crushes and friends who help you to be a better person, and literally a magical land where anything is possible. The Peter Pan retelling you never knew you needed.

A Dark and Hollow Star

Ashley Shuttleworth
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc with depression, pan mc, gay mc, bi mc, genderfluid side character
TW: blood, gore, body horror, death, drugs, past suicide, suicide ideation, toxic relationship

Why Should I Read It?

There are a lot of reasons why you should read this, but if you’re anything like me, let me start with: it’s like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood but make it extra gay, and also with less war crimes. If you know, you know. If you don’t, let me talk about the lesbian on the cover, Nausicaä, who is super gay and super useless, while also being immortal. And yes, unlikely friendships form in the course of the story and it’s beautiful.

The Gilded Wolves

Roshani Chokshi
Goodreads
Rep: Filipino-Spanish bi mc, Haitian-French mlm mc

Why Should I Read It?

A historical fiction novel set in Paris, about a bunch of kids trying to solve magical mysteries. Literally what else do I need to tell you? Maybe this: those kids are the best kids in the world, and you will fall in love with them. They’re allowed space to bloom, to become real people with flaws and desires. Not to say what everyone says, but if you liked Six of Crows, you will love The Gilded Wolves.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

Natasha Pulley
Goodreads
Rep: mlm mc, Japanese mlm li

Why Should I Read It?

This is a found family in a slightly different way than all the others. Not so much a big group of friends growing together, but instead two men (and a mechanical octopus) literally becoming a family. (There’s one more addition to their little gay family near the end but I don’t wanna spoil your fun.) It’s also a very magical story, even apart from the plot, just in terms of the writing, of the feelings it evokes.

Almost Like Being in Love

Steve Kluger
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc & li

Why Should I Read It?

This is a hilarious and a little heart-breaking story, and the book uses multiple formats to tell it (emails, lists, post-it notes, journal entries, court transcripts…). Through those snapshots we come to know people who love each other fiercely, and whose love doesn’t seem like enough to grant a happy ending. But thankfully we all believe in second chances and helping strangers, and becoming friends with your exes.

This was actually the first book I ever reviewed on our blog!

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