Book Recommendations

How We Curate Our Collection

At Found Family Books, inclusion is never an afterthought. Every book we stock is chosen with care and purpose to ensure that LGBTQ+ voices are not just represented, but centered. A book may be considered for inclusion if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Written by an LGBTQ+ Author
    We prioritize books crafted by those with lived queer experiences, knowing how powerful it is to read stories from within the community.
  2. Centers LGBTQ+ Themes or Characters
    A book must do more than mention queerness—it should weave it meaningfully into the plot, character development, or emotional journey. Side characters with passing mentions don’t qualify if the story isn’t grounded in queer identity.
  3. Explores LGBTQ+ History, Culture, or Realities
    From activist biographies to essays on modern identity, we aim to stock titles that explore the past, present, and future of queer life.
  4. Community-Recommended Titles
    We take recommendations seriously—but we still vet them to ensure they meet our core standards of meaningful representation and alignment with our mission.
  5. Reflects Key Emotional or Thematic Experiences from a Queer Lens
    We sort books into themes like Found Family, Queer Joy, Trans Journeys, or Coming Out Stories. These aren’t just vibes—they’re identity-rooted categories meant to help readers find resonance, affirmation, and connection.

What May Exclude a Book from the Collection

While we believe all stories have value, not every title aligns with the mission of Found Family Books. We may choose not to carry titles that include:

  • Incidental or Background Representation
    Books where LGBTQ+ characters are merely token side figures without meaningful impact.
  • Stereotypes or Villainous Queer Coding
    Titles that lean on tired or harmful tropes without affirming queer identity.
  • Non-Queer Protagonists in Queer Settings
    When LGBTQ+ spaces are used as a backdrop but not explored through a queer lens.
  • Disrespectful or Voyeuristic Portrayals
    Stories that sensationalize trauma or use queer identity for shock value.
  • No Queer Representation Despite Thematic Alignment
    A “found family” story without any LGBTQ+ presence doesn’t meet our inclusion standards—even if it resonates emotionally.
  • Bigotry or Hate Speech
    The one hard line: we do not stock books that promote or excuse any form of bigotry, including queerphobia, racism, or transphobia.

This framing keeps our standards firm but flexible, and it leaves room for nuance, acknowledging that representation can be messy, evolving, and sometimes imperfect, but still must be rooted in respect.