I love me a good found family series. The concept of random eclectic people coming together and bonding in a significant, ‘we’re family now’ kind of way is so appealing. Love the group dynamics, the inevitable teasing and banter as well as the more serious heart-to-heart chats that can be life changing. And I love getting to see that with every book in the series no matter who is starring as hero or heroine in the current story. It’s like a special kind of homecoming with every book. Found family series just make me all kinds of happy.
Only…lately, I keep finding family series. Siblings, cousins, all brothers, all sisters etc. And I love those too but lately I’m crazy craving a good, solid ‘found family’ series so I’m looking for suggestions. Bonus points if it’s an indie series. 🙂
I’m going to share one found family series per genre that I have loved and highly recommend. And I’d love for you to share any found family series suggestions you think I might enjoy. (Must be Christian Fiction or Closed Door.) Share your thoughts in a comment and I’ll enter you in a draw for a bookish gift card – details at the end of this post.
FOUND FAMILY SERIES FAVES
The Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M. Eden includes 5 books starring members of The Dread Penny Society in Victorian London. They are a group of Penny Dreadful authors who represent a wonderful cross section of society and work ‘undercover’ to rescue London’s downtrodden. Witty and mysterious with nefarious arch villains and toe-curling romance in every book.
Sarah Monzon’s Sewing in SoCal series features five women of diverse backgrounds who have formed a very special sisterhood. Love all the girl-bonding moments, the teasing, the laughter…even the sniping. I especially appreciate their shared faith which keeps them grounded…more or less. 🙂 Distinctive personalities add intriguing variety and I love the way we get a healthy dose of SoCal sisterhood interaction in each book.
Natalie Walters knows how to create memorable team dynamics and her SNAP Agency series is one of her finest. They are a a diverse and eclectic band of talented professionals who know how to work hard and have formed a deep bond which spills over into teasing banter and pointed heart-to-hearts. They’ve created a unique found family that will hold up under any kind of pressure. and I loved every single group scene! Three books and one prequel.
Shelley Shepard Gray’s Walnut Creek series centers around friends who vow to stick together after the tragic suicide of one of their group. Each book gives some quality page time to all the friends, while focusing on one hero and one heroine’s love story. And Gray doesn’t shy away from hard topics as she explores ways forgiveness and friendship can transform lives. Six books in the series and one prequel novella.
Giveaway Opportunity:
Share your thoughts in a comment to be entered in a draw to win a $10 gift card from Baker Book House OR for Canadian readers – a card of equal value from Cdn Amazon or Indigo.
Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 31 2025.
Kav's Best Reads 
I loved Roseanna M. White’s series Shadows Over England about a bunch of street urchins that have banded together into a family of sorts. I also enjoyed Sarah Eden’s Dread Penny Society series.
whthomas13 at yahoo dot com
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Ohhhh yessss…..Shadows Over England is one of my favourite found family series too!!!!!! How did that not come to mind right away?! Good luck, Winnie!
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Found family is one of my favorite tropes and the reason the Holly Novels and O Malley’s are my two favorite series. I just read C.C. Warrens’s Cherry Creek Mysteries (I finished the second one this week), and Found Family is a prominent trope in that series as well. I really enjoyed the Cheery Creek Mysteries. Ooh I’m going to have to check out Sarah Monzon‘s Sewing in SoCal Series (I’m a SoCal girl!)
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You’ve inspired me, Rebecca. I’ve been meaning to continue with CC Warrens’ Holly series so I just bought the second book from audible. I’m anxious to try her Cherry Creek series too — I’ve heard good things about it. And do check out The Sewing in SoCal series — it’s awesomesauce! Good luck, Rebecca!
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My all-time favourite, as with many others, is the O’Malley Chronicles by Dee Henderson.
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The O’Malleys are a classic — and kind of a mash up of Found Family and Siblings because they legally adopted each other and made a forever family. Good luck, Tammy!
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I have a complicated opinion of the found family trope. When it’s done well, it is my FAVORITE trope EVER!!!!!!!!! When it’s done the other way… let’s just say it won’t get a positive review. Found family can either be incredibly pro-family OR incredibly anti-family.
Some found family books are like “our families are terrible, so I’m going to forget they exist and find people who will say all the things I want to hear.” Those are the books with found family I CANNOT STAND. Family is the foundational unit of society, and I cannot and will not promote any book that supports anything different. Yes, some people have less than ideal family structures, but family is STILL important. If you’d like I could go on about this topic ALL DAY.
When found family is done correctly it is one of the most pro-family tropes EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! It reinforces the necessity of family relationships, and it’s just beautiful.
My two absolute FAVORITE examples of the found family tropes are from Madisyn Carlin’s The Shattered Lands series (her Night Guard boyses are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Abigail Kay’s A Noble Assassin (it’s just so precious and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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Interesting perspective on found families in fiction, Courtney. I can hear what you’re saying but I also think that if a person comes from a very dysfunctional family it’s a huge blessing to become part of a found family. They can nurture and support in a way that’s just not possible with the biological family – not replace it exactly, but support and encourage the person in that special way. Parts of the Walnut Creek series by Shelley Shepard Gray is like that where the friend group supports an individual so they can cope better with the dysfunction in their own family. But it’s not every character in that series. Very true to life that way. And I love how nonjudgemental the friends are with one another.
I’ve officially added The Shattered Lands series to my TBR wishlist. Good luck, Courtney!
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Cheryl Bostrom’s forthcoming title, “What the River Keeps” has some really sweet found family! The main character is very private and careful of outsiders, but there are two older folks (I want to say a married couple, but I’m not sure) at her family’s camp where she lives. They’re very nurturing and she’s able to open up more with them.
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Hope you’re having a blessed Sunday, Kav! I love “found” family books as well & I know I’ve read a lot more than these—-including some suspense, but my brain is scrambled this morning
‘Boundless, Steadfast, Relentless’ series by Amy Caldwell (indie)
‘Promises of God’ series by Kim Cash Tate (indie)
‘The Sweethaven Circle’ series about 4 friends who become like sisters over the years. A retro-read series by Courtney Walsh (this was surprisingly good!)
‘The Light on Horn Island’ by Valerie Fraser Murder (not a series but about Grandma Punk and her friends like family group)
‘The Haven Makers’ series by Robin Jones Gunn (five moms gather to share meals and soon become unlikely best friends)
dianalflowers at aol dot com
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Kav, did my comment not show up? Bc I notice you commented to Stephanie’s on mine. I think . . . 🤔
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Ooohhh, thanks for the sneak preview of What the River Keeps. It sounds intriguing and emotional. Good luck, Stephanie!
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For me it’s a series that is not christian. The Luna Chronicles by Marissa Meyers
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I’ve heard a lot of chatter about The Luna Chronicles — haven’t read any of the books yet but I just happen to have Cinder in my audible library — I got it on sale for like $5 over a year ago and still haven’t read it! You’ve inspired me, Kim. Going to start listening to it today. 🙂 Good luck!
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I have to agree that the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson is one of the best family series ever! It’s literally been years since I’ve read it and it still sticks with me.
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
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The O’Malleys were my introduction to Christian Fiction — love the way they created an official family, adopting each other and choosing a last name. And the way the series highlights their commitment and support for one another. It’s a classic for sure. Good luck, Perrianne!
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The book I’m reading right now (Desire of my Heart by Heidi Gray McGill) DEFINITELY falls under this category! Lots of “found family” for the orphaned heroine and her brother in this one🙃
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I don’t think I’ve read anything by Heidi Gray McGill and it looks like she writes both contemporary and historical. Must check her out. Good luck, Elly!
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Kav, did my comment not show up? Bc I notice you commented to Stephanie’s on mine. I think . . .
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Oh hahaha. I’m sure you didn’t miss that big emoji. How did that get there like that?
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Whoa! Giant smiley is scary!!!! He looks like he’s considering eating me. I saw your comment, Diane and I thought I replied but I don’t see it. I think your comment somehow piggybacked onto Stephanie’s and created a chain? Who knows I’ve added Amy Caldwell and Kim Cash Tate to my must read this year TBR books. I know you’ve mentioned them both before so I think it’s time I listened, don’t you? 🙂 Good luck, Diane!
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I have no clue how that giant thingamajig got there. Sorry. And grrr to WordPress … to go on Stephanie’s I would’ve had to reply to Stephanie, but instead it said, “Write a comment.” WordPress does not like me. At all. 🥺
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I showed this humongous emoji to hubby. He was amused, especially when I told him you said it looked like it was considering eating you. I asked him how it got so big like that (& embarrassing) & he shrugged his shoulders. A lot of help he is! bwahahaha
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I enjoyed Natalie Walter’s series!
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
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I love her suspense — her team building is perfection. Good luck, Caryl!
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Kav, it’s not a series, but I think Shelterwood by LIsa Wingate would fit this topic. The band of orphans that work together to stay safe become like family. Not a light family story but an important one as it is based on real historical events in Oklahoma.
ckbarker at gmail dot com
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That’s a great pick and an incredible book. Good luck, Cheryl!
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The families that came quickly to my mind are the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson and Roseanna M. White’s Shadows Over England series where we meet Barclay Pierce and his assembled family. If I remember correctly, they also appear in the next series, The Codebreakers and occasionally in following books. I enjoyed all of these books.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
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Yes to both! Shadows Over England is my favourite series by Roseanna M. White. Codebreakers too. Good luck, Pam!
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The Imposter’s series by Roseanne White.
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Hmmmm…it seems Roseanna M. White excels at found family stories. 🙂 Good luck, Lucy!
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Definitely the O’Malley family! And, the Dread Penny Society series is awesome. 😀
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Yay! Another fan of two of my favourite series! Good luck, Elizabeth!
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