by Rhea Dionne

First let’s get a definition:  What is Found Family?

It is the phenomenon where a group of people come to love each other like family, even through (and because) they aren't biologically related. The LGBTQ+ community in particular tends to favor this trope because it allows them to escape overbearing or harmful biological family.

Found families can be found in real-life as well, as close friend groups may feel closer to each other than to biological family.

Found Family is also known as Families of Choice.

The "Found Family" or “Family of Choice” trope refers to a device in literature and media where a group of characters find themselves united in a family-bond based on shared experiences, mutual understanding, and interpersonal connection. These arrangements often bring familial love they may have otherwise missed into their lives. Rather than the blood ties that may dictate some biological families, found family stories emphasize the connections and communities we choose for ourselves.

These narratives are often especially resonant for members of disenfranchised communities, such as those in the LGBTQ+ community, who keenly understand that unconditional love comes in all forms, and so do families.

Some examples of Found Family in fiction:

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is one example that utilizes both the band of misfits and LGBTQ angles to forge together her lovable band of rogues.

Seanan McGuire’s series-all of her book series have characters that protect those who are different and gather other misfits to their side.

A final use of the found family trope is that of a displaced ruler. Sometimes this character may or may not know their royal heritage. The Ash Princess trilogy by Laura Sebastian and Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas are two such examples. However, eventually, they set off to reclaim their birthright, encounter friends and allies along the way who become closer than family.

Now why is it important and how can it enhance your writing style?

Many of us were either different from our families growing up or had families that were not the best to say the least. I had a dysfunctional family, and while I have interests in common with some of my family, we were not close. So my friends became my family, especially as I grew older and have lost the family that I was closest to. Others never had family they were close to so friends have become their family.

Seeing the concept in fiction, in gaming, film and television, gives a model that we can relate to, that allows us to see ourselves reflected back. Just like LGBTQ and POC, it is important to have this representation.

1. Drives Character Development

Found families offer a built-in support system. By pairing characters with opposite backgrounds, you create natural friction. These differences challenge their perspectives and assign them unique social roles within the group.

• The "Cheerleader": A character who lifts up a struggling protagonist.
• The "Mom" or "Dad": A member who acts as the anchor or caretaker.

2. Creates Meaningful Conflict

Unlike traditional families with fixed hierarchies, found families lack a safety net. Members must learn to accept hard feedback, navigate disagreements, and overcome difficult circumstances to stay together. These internal arguments and discomforts push the story forward. When characters reconcile after a fight, their bond feels incredibly strong.

3. Builds High Stakes and Motivation

Nothing forces characters to grow quite like having something to lose. When a protagonist finds people they genuinely love and want to protect, the external stakes (such as saving the world or the city) become deeply personal. This motivates characters to take risks and make sacrifices for one another that they would never make on their own.

4. Resonates Deeply with Readers

Found family stories appeal to a wide range of readers. For individuals with complicated or absent family ties, this trope offers a message of hope—that you can find people who care for you unconditionally. For readers with great families, it demonstrates that you can create your own community and support system as you navigate life.

5. Balances the Tone

Writing a high-stakes adventure or a dark story can be exhausting for readers. Found families provide a natural mechanism for pacing and levity. You can insert moments of comfort, playful bickering, and quiet support between the more intense or dangerous plot points.

Honestly, for me as a writer, Found Family is something that not only resonates with me as a reader but I think makes my writing better. I tend to write characters that fall into the LGBTQIA spectrum and my characters need to forge connections outside the standard family.

When I incorporate the Found Family trope into my writing, I have stronger characters, and it allows me to add secondary characters who have a stake in the action and narrative. It allows me to resonate with readers and give them hope that there are communities that will accept them for who they are.

Beyond adding value to my writing, connecting with readers like myself is the most important aspect to Found Family. I hope you will consider using it in your writing as well.

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About Rhea Dionne

I’m a native Arizona girl that grew up loving sci fi, fantasy, gaming and comics. Characters started whispering to me in grade school and I’ve been writing ever since, especially lgbtquia characters. I took a winding road which includes movie and book reviews but my fiction includes romantic fantasy and horror. I have a horror story published in the anthology Post Mortems and am putting out a serial, Rekindling, a Gay Romantasy on my Patreon,  www.patreon.com/RheaDionne.

You can find more about what I’m working on at my website, www.rheasdesigns.shop.

Header image from Deposit Photo