Best “Found-Family” Books

One of my absolute favorite subgenres of fiction books is “uplit” — those often quirky but ultimately heartwarming stories that just absolutely hit the right spot and maybe even redeem your faith in humanity. I am an absolute sucker for any book centered around a lost soul finding their place in the world.

I often see readers looking for more books with that flavor, so if you like instant hits like A Man Called Ove, this list is for you!

Here are 15 of my favorite books in the uplit, found-family genre for you to consider: 

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting

What would it be like to be looking for your footing as a 50-something, feeling generationally out of place in your job? Or as a young woman grappling with the start of a new relationship? As a middle-aged professional suddenly fired from the only job he’s known? Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting brings together an assortment of seemingly dissimilar train commuters who come from very different backgrounds but all share this common thread: their mooring has come loose, and beneath their polite and cool British exteriors, each is quite desperately in need of help to find a new path forward. It’s not hard to root for these characters, nor to fall for their charm within just a few pages.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

I knew from the synopsis that this book would make me cry, and honestly, that's not my favorite thing. I generally read to escape life's emotional rollercoaster so I don't typically sign myself up for more drama. And I was right, it did make me cry, but it was oh. so. worth. it.

Seventeen-year-old Lenni is living in the terminal ward of the hospital. Mostly there on her own and marching to her own beat, she bumps into Margot, an 83-year-old staying in the next ward, during an art class. When they realize that 17 + 83 = 100, they decide to paint their stories of one hundred years lived. What a beautiful tale of friendship, aging, bravery, and death. I loved the fiery nature of both Lenni and Margot! A perfect match — especially poignant on audiobook.

The Guncle

If you judged a book by its cover, you would think this was going to be a breezy beach read with some quirky gay humor thrown in. And you would be wrong. The Guncle has humorous moments, for sure, but fundamentally, it is a book about emotions and grief. And, oh, how it explores all of that so, so well. Patrick is an award-winning actor who has been hiding from the world since his partner Joe died. All of this changes when his niece and nephew come to stay with him for three months, immediately following the death of their mother. As their gay uncle (or "guncle"), it seems at first that his loner Hollywood lifestyle is not a match for raising kids. But he proves himself adept at navigating them through the emotions of grief, and in providing a safe harbor for them, and himself.

Sourdough

This novel is delightfully bizzare! Sloan treats us to a wild ride filled with a mystical sourdough starter, a competitive culinary world, the rise of the robots, and the quest for a wholly sustaining nutritional slop.

Lois is a software engineer working for a robotics company (shout out to representation for women in STEM!). While she enjoys her work, it leaves little time for human contact, which mostly consists of interactions with her favorite restaurant workers. When they move away and leave her with their sourdough starter, her whole world begins to tip sideways, in the best possible, though surprising, ways.

I found Sourdough a super-fun book, and a great short/fast book to add to your reading count for the year.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Told primarily through the eyes of Bree, a 15-year-old whose mother suddenly goes missing, Where’d You Go, Bernadette is ultimately a tale about accepting yourself and finding those who will accept you, too.

Having earned perfect grades at her private school, Bree chooses a family trip to Antarctica as her reward. But just on the cusp of their departure, Bree’s mother Bernadette goes missing after she bungles the school fundraiser she’s in charge with. Seeking answers, Bree pieces together the events by digging deep into Bernadette’s emails, invoices, and school memos — gaining a deep understanding of her mother in the process. Quirky, humorous, and lightly intriguing.

The Golem and the Jinni

Just all-around beautiful, this one earned a permanent spot on my shelves. While part fairy tale, The Golem and the Jinni is about so much more than mythical creatures.

Chava is a golem, made of clay, created to be the wife of a rabbi, who dies shortly after bringing her to life. Without her master to guide her, Chava is left unmoored in a new country.

She soon meets Ahmad, a jinni trapped in an old flask, who is released but still not entirely free. The two strike up a wary friendship that grows into much more.

I loved its messages about the complex nature of independence, both what you gain from it and what you lose. Is it worth sacrificing some independence for the sake of love?

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman has quickly become one of my favorite authors, thanks to the strong and endearing voice he delivers through his characters, and his absolute gift for understanding and empathizing with the nuances of human behavior. He can make you feel compassion for just about any character, it seems.

This is absolutely true of the popular A Man Called Ove, which chronicles the story of a lonely older man who wants to be left alone to himself and his structured routines. When a young family moves into the neighborhood and accidentally knock over his mailbox, both his loneliness and orderly life are at risk of crumbling. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal parts — it’s worth the read.

Other Birds

This novel charmed me, with its simple, mystical narrative and insightful wisdom. Other Birds is a coming-of-age story that deals with themes of grief, identity, friendship, and forgiveness.

At almost 19, Zoey has just inherited her mother’s condo on Mallow Island, a remote community off the coast of South Carolina. Zoey arrives eager to make friends and immediately sets out to meet her neighbors. There she comes across the condo manager who once knew her mother, estranged sisters with a murky past, a henna artist who rarely settles in one place for long, and a young chef also struggling with grief. Also featured is Pigeon, the invisible bird that Zoey has befriended. This magical realism novel is like a warm cup of cocoa, sweet and redeeming, with characters you want to root for.

The Humans

In The Humans, an unnamed extraterrestrial has taken over a human's body, here to wipe out any record of the man's mathematical discovery that will irrevocably change the entire universe. With little preparation about (and many misunderstandings on) the true nature of humans, the alien must learn quickly to prevent detection. This novel presents a heartwarming, touching appreciation of all the best characteristics of humankind, contrasted with the most puzzling parts of our behavior.

Perhaps my favorite part of the book was Haig's Advice for a Human list — chef’s kiss! A few of items on that list caused little appreciative prickles of tears at the backs of my eyes. For anyone who has ever felt frustrated with humankind or their place in it, this one is for you.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant is socially awkard, a blunt communicator with rigid routines and a chronic avoider of social interactions. Her life is predictable, if lonely. This all changes when she meets Raymond, a colleague who is in many ways her exact opposite. When they rescue Sammy, an older man who falls outside their office, the three spark a friendship that comes cracks open a door to escaping their mutual isolation and loneliness.

There is an overwhelming spirit of kindness in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, often thanks to Raymond’s big heart, and while Eleanor has a difficult history that is slowly revealed, the book also finds its own unique happy ending.

How the Penguins Saved Veronica

Veronica is a reserved Scottish woman who locates Patrick, a long-lost grandson she never knew about. It's safe to say it's not love at first sight when the two meet. Deciding there's no one left for her to leave her millions to, Veronica finds herself drawn to a documentary about scientists in Antarctica working to protect penguins. She decides to travel to Antarctica in person to see if she may want to name them in her will. There, she meets research scientist Terry. In the warmth of Terry's kind nature, Veronica slowly begins to reveal her history and the life struggles that led to her hardened shell.

This is a charming book, with beautiful prose and a heartwarming end. I enjoyed the environmental undertones and setting as well.

Nothing to See Here

I devoured this book, which was a light, quick read that is utterly unique. Who would think you could make the topic of kids who spontaneously catch on fire not only believable, but also a reflection on the many shades of human imperfections? It made me laugh out loud more than once at the absurdity.

Former boarding school roommates Lillian and Madison are reunited when Madison begs for Lillian’s help in caring for her two stepkids as their nanny. With nothing to lose in a life that’s underwhelming and underperforming, Lillian agrees — even when Madison warns her that the children will burst into flames when they get agitated. While Lillian originally seems wholly unsuited for caring for kids, she soon proves herself as everything the pair needs.

The Sign for Home

This one was stickered as a romance by our library and even the cover suggests it'll be a light hearted, fluffy beach read — yet this novel is so. much. more. Yes, main character Arlo is seeking a long lost love, but there are bigger messages to unpack in this novel and I truly think it's a must-read for all.

Arlo Dilly is DeafBlind and seeking a new interpreter to help him as he begins classes at a local college. Cyril is thrilled to accept the position. Due to the heavy workload, he shares this job with Molly, Arlo's longtime interpreter and fellow Jehovah's Witness. As Cyril begins to work more closely with Arlo, he starts to question whether Arlo's life with Molly and his uncle has been beneficial. This is a powerful, endearing story that goes deeper than you’d expect.

Under the Whispering Door

Charming and magical, Under the Whispering Door is the grown-up equivalent of a cup of hot milk: comforting, nourishing, and ultimately wholesome. This novel follows the after-death journey of Wallace, an insufferable grump with little kindness for others. Following an untimely fatal heart attack, Wallace is taken by his reaper Mei to meet Hugo, who is tasked with ferrying him to the afterlife.

Stubborn and cantankerous, Wallace is in no mood to accept this fate, and takes his time lingering at Hugo's tea shop, learning the ways of the ferryman. While there, Wallace learns a number of life lessons and, with Kune's trademark style, manages to fall in love with Hugo along the way. This book takes you through an impressive emotional range, along with reminders of the best parts of humanity.

We Begin at the End

A sometimes heartbreaking look at broken lives and long-lasting ripples. Thirteen-year-old Duchess is a self-proclaimed outlaw, living by her own rules. With a drug-addicted mother, Duchess is left to care for her five-year-old brother with whatever it takes.

Walk, who grew up with Duchess’ mother, is the local chief of police and unofficial protector of the children. He grapples with guilt over having sent his best friend to prison decades before. Now, on the cusp of his friend’s release, both Walk and Duchess must face a life about to change.

I recommend sticking to the print version as I started out on audio and got lost if I wasn't listening closely. I switched to print and felt the book so much more deeply. It’ll break your heart, but it’ll put you back together, too.