Trope Tuesday: Found Family — Our 8 Favorite Picks
- genredpodcast
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Quick definition:
A group of misfits, outcasts, or loners who choose one another. Bonds are built—not born—through shared battles, inside jokes, late-night confessions, and “I’ve got you” moments.
Why this list?
When you want heart armor—books where loyalty is the love language and home is a handful of people—you reach for Found Family. These are our go-tos across fantasy, YA, and classics.
Our Favorites (with vibes):
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Vibes: heist crew, criminal geniuses, trauma + tenderness, banter as love language
Why we love it: The Dregs are the blueprint for “broken pieces that fit together.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Vibes: school adventure, friendship as shield, house pride, holiday coziness
Why we love it: From the first shared chocolate frog to “not going alone,” this is the starter kit for found-family feels.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Vibes: complicated friend group, academic magic, melancholy + meaning, messy loyalties
Why we love it: It’s the grown-up, thorny take: imperfect people choosing each other anyway.
Crescent City (House of Earth and Blood) by Sarah J. Maas
Vibes: urban fantasy squad, ride-or-die friendships, grief to grace, big feelings
Why we love it: A chosen circle that becomes armor—equal parts feral and tender.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Vibes: enemies-to-allies-to-family, “we win together,” sprawling cast
Why we love it: The party keeps growing, and every new bond lands like a victory.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Vibes: swashbuckling comrades, loyalty oaths, “all for one,” classic hijinks
Why we love it: The original squad goals—found family with swords and flair.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Vibes: reluctant hero + dwarf company, road-trip bonds, song by the fire
Why we love it: Adventure forges kinship; the company becomes more than a contract.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Vibes: adoptive vampire clan, protective siblings, family rules, eternal sleepovers
Why we love it: The Cullens are peak “come as you are” found family—vegetarian vampires and all.
Join the conversation:
Tell us the found-family moment that lives rent-free in your brain: a toast, a rescue, a quiet kitchen scene. Drop your recs!
Listen & follow along:
🎧 Prefer to listen? We talk about the Found Family trope in this week’s episode
Mini-FAQ
What counts as Found Family?
When a group chooses each other—no blood required—and shows up through danger, grief, and joy.
Is “team adventure” the same?
Cousins! A team can be temporary; found family sticks when the quest ends.
Where should I start?
Heist-y & high-energy: Six of Crows.
Cozy-classic: The Hobbit.
Urban-fantasy feelings: Crescent City.
YA nostalgia hit: Sorcerer’s Stone.
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