TBR of Doom -- Found Family edition (Patreon)

Today has been an exercise of screaming into the void. We were supposed to fly out tomorrow to visit my brothers. Our flight was cancelled. My mother and I have spent all day doing triage between rescheduling flights, parking, rental van (because we had to get one big enough for us AND my brother's family), and making sure this didn't screw up anything we'd booked to do while we're down there. Our dates are shifted, but everything is rebooked.

It only took...five hours. Weeee, traveling during the holidays. I'm trying to keep the perspective that I'm lucky to get to go see my family. And that I even like most of them! But oof, frustration levels have been high around these parts. It doesn't help that in a lot of cases, it was difficult to even get ahold of someone to talk to us. (Except for our airline. They were great.) I poured my mom an egg nog and made her a snack because she handled the lion's share of all of this nonsense. The egg nog, of course, is spiked because otherwise what is the point?

While I'm looking forward to seeing most of my family, some of them are also stressful, and it makes it real clear as to why I write so much about found family. My family itself is frankensteined together between multiple marriages and divorces, so it's a 50-50 shot as to whether or not I'm related via blood to any of my family members at any given time. To me it's always been about the ones who show up. I've cobbled together some amazing friends, too. I'm lucky in that way. But since I know I'm not alone, I figured now would be a good time to do a Found Family TBR post. (Full transparency, I'm friends with a few of the authors on here, like Leigh Bardugo, Marissa Meyer, Lisa Mantchev, and Kelley Armstrong.)

American Hippo by Gailey (Adult)--I know I've yelled about this book before, but it's been a minute. I think. What is time? Anyway, American Hippo is a collection of novellas set in an alternate US following the (almost reality!) of if the US had decided to import hippos. So it's sort of a western? But with hippos? And a cool team of people that find home in each other.

Lumberjanes (YA Graphic Novel) The whole premise of Lumberjanes is Friendship to the max! It's a camp for hardcore lady types. It's adorable and weird. If you like Sweetweird stuff like Gravity Falls or Owl House, here you go!

Giant Days by John Allison (YA, Graphic Novel)--If I remember correctly, Allison came up through webcomics and honestly, he's on my list of male authors who write well-rounded women characters. Basically this comic follows three women who live in the same dorm in college. It's super funny. Highly recommend. 

Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews (adult, fantasy)--so of course I throw Ilona Andrews on here. I've been listening to the series on Graphic Audio. (I read it already.) Not sure how I feel about graphic audio? The full cast is cool, but I find the music and sound effects really distracting. Anyway, the series is about literally finding your family, but also your found family. And it's about a magical inn for people from other planets/worlds/realities set in Texas. If religious space vampires, genetically engineered werewolves, and a cook shaped like a giant hedgehog are your jam, then pick this one up. 

City of the Lost by Armstrong (adult, mystery)--I think almost all of Kelley's series have some found family element to them, but I don't think I've talked about this series too much. This series takes place in a hidden town in the yukon where people go to hideout from bad guys. But also, the town might have some bad guys there, too? *plot thickens*

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (YA Fantasy)--if you haven't read Leigh Bardugo yet, go read Leigh Bardugo. Again, she likes the found family trope, but Six of Crows is such a good group. Just a team of adorably broken misfits finding home. Plus, it's a heist novel set in a Russian-style fantasy world. 

Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (YA, Fantasy)--I know, I know, so many of you probably either have read this one or have it on your radar. But just in case, it's a fun fairytale retelling in space with great characters and just a really delightful read. Surprising no one, Wolf from Scarlett is my favorite.

Strictly No Elephants by Mantchev (picture book)--I don't usually have picture books on here, but this one has been a household fav for a long time and it's LITERALLY about how to be a good friend and build that community. I get sniffly every time I read it. Super adorable. 

Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee (YA)--during this series you follow Jess, the daughter of superheroes, who ends up working for villains. Super fun premise and a lot of discussion over what makes someone good and evil.

Hunt the Stars by Mihalik (Adult, SFF Romance)--if your favorite trope is a tightly knit, ragtag group of mercenaries just trying to stay together, this is the book for you. PLUS, it has two groups from opposing sides of conflict that have to band together, AND there's a fun animal sidekick. I mean, really, what more do you need?

Books that I know I've talked about recently that fall under this: Greta Van Helsing series by Shaw, Chilling Effect by Valdes, Wayfarers by Chambers, Legends & Lattees, Truly Devious series by Johnson, House on the Curelean Sea, Molly Harper's vampire series, etc. It's obviously a favorite trope of mine.

Okay friends, what favorite found family book did I forget? Drop it in the comments.

Happy Holidays if you celebrate any of them, and if you don't, I hope you celebrate surviving another winter. HUGS.

-Lish

PS Normally I don't post the book recs post for everyone until a week later (because higher tiers get first gander at these things) but because this time of year is super stressful, I'm posting it for all now. COMFORT THYSELF THROUGH BOOKS.