15 Books About Unconventional Friendships
Friendship doesn’t always fit neatly into expected shapes. Sometimes, it blooms between rivals or outcasts, between humans and creatures, between the living and the dead. It defies boundaries, bridges differences, and rewrites the very meaning of companionship. These 15 books celebrate unconventional friendships—the kind that shouldn’t exist but do, forming bonds that are fierce, tender, and unforgettable.
If you love stories where unlikely souls find each other and change each other forever, this list is for you.
1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
🏡 A Bureaucrat, a Caretaker, and Magical Children Who Change Everything
Linus Baker lives a quiet, structured life until he’s sent to evaluate an orphanage filled with magical children—including a boy who might be the Antichrist. But instead of fear, Linus finds a strange and wonderful family, led by Arthur Parnassus, the enigmatic caretaker. Their growing connection proves that sometimes, friendship is the most powerful magic of all.
📖 Read if you love: Found family, whimsical fantasy, and heartwarming tales.
2. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
⚰️ A Living Boy Raised by Ghosts
Nobody Owens (Bod) is an ordinary boy—except for the fact that he’s raised by ghosts in a graveyard. His closest friends include a mysterious guardian, a long-dead witch, and a mischievous ghostly child. As he grows, he learns that friendship can transcend life and death, and that sometimes, the most unconventional companions make the best protectors.
📖 Read if you love: Gothic tales, coming-of-age stories, and eerie but heartwarming friendships.
3. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
🐶 A Man and His Wise, Philosophical Dog
Told from the perspective of Enzo, a dog who believes he’ll be reincarnated as a human, this novel explores his deep and unbreakable bond with his owner, a race car driver. Enzo sees himself as more than just a pet—he’s a companion, a confidant, and a witness to the joys and heartbreaks of human life.
📖 Read if you love: Emotional storytelling, animal companions, and deep reflections on life.
4. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
😈😇 A Demon and an Angel—Best Friends Against the Apocalypse
Aziraphale, a fussy angel, and Crowley, a jaded demon, have been watching over Earth for centuries—and have grown rather fond of it (and each other). When the end of the world is imminent, these unlikely allies decide to thwart fate itself, proving that even celestial beings can form lifelong bonds.
📖 Read if you love: Witty humor, satirical fantasy, and the ultimate odd-couple dynamic.
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
📖 A Girl and the Personification of Death
Liesel Meminger’s best friend is not just the boy next door—it’s Death itself, who watches over her life with unexpected tenderness. As she steals books and navigates Nazi Germany, Death tells her story, showing that friendship can exist in the most unexpected places, even between the living and the inevitable.
📖 Read if you love: Hauntingly beautiful prose, historical fiction, and unique narrators.
6. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
🚇 A Normal Man and the Denizens of London Below
Richard Mayhew was an ordinary Londoner—until he helped a wounded girl named Door and was thrown into the hidden world of London Below. His guides include a trickster, a warrior, and an immortal marquis, proving that sometimes, friendships are forged in darkness, danger, and the strangest of places.
📖 Read if you love: Urban fantasy, hidden worlds, and unlikely heroes.
7. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
🚪 A Grumpy Old Man and a Loud, Loving Neighbor
Ove is a gruff, reclusive man who wants nothing more than to be left alone—until a noisy, relentlessly friendly family moves in next door. Despite his resistance, he finds himself drawn into their world, forming a friendship that is both unexpected and life-changing.
📖 Read if you love: Heartwarming stories, found family, and grumpy-old-man protagonists.
8. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
🐎 A Boy, A Girl, and the Dangerous Horses That Bind Them
On the island of Thisby, Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly should be rivals, not friends. But through their shared love of the deadly, magical water horses, they form a quiet, powerful bond—one built on trust, understanding, and the fierce independence they both carry.
📖 Read if you love: Atmospheric fantasy, slow-burn friendships, and mythical creatures.
9. The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
📚 A Brilliant Orphan and an Outcast Boy—The Start of a Genius Friendship
Before Nicholas Benedict became the brilliant mind behind The Mysterious Benedict Society, he was a lonely orphan with a remarkable brain. His unlikely friendship with John, a misunderstood boy with a big heart, proves that sometimes, the most brilliant minds need a kindred spirit to shine.
📖 Read if you love: Smart, quirky characters, childhood adventures, and heartwarming friendships.
10. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
⚡ A Demigod, a Satyr, and a Smartest-Girl-in-the-Room
Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood shouldn’t work as a team. One’s a troublemaker, one’s a know-it-all, and one’s a goat-legged protector. But together, they create an unbreakable bond that defies gods and monsters alike.
📖 Read if you love: Mythology, action-packed friendships, and hilarious banter.
11. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
🌊 A Lonely Boy and an Ancient, Otherworldly Girl
When a man returns to his childhood home, he remembers his long-lost friendship with Lettie Hempstock, a girl who wasn’t quite human but who protected him with a fierceness beyond her years. Their friendship is both wistful and otherworldly, as fleeting as childhood itself.
📖 Read if you love: Dreamlike fantasy, nostalgia, and stories that linger in your soul.
12. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
🐦 A Domesticated Crow and a Loyal Dog in the Apocalypse
When humanity collapses, it’s up to S.T., a foul-mouthed crow, and his devoted canine companion, Dennis, to figure out what’s happened. Their friendship is one of survival, loyalty, and humor in a world falling apart.
📖 Read if you love: Animal perspectives, post-apocalyptic adventure, and dark humor.
🌟 The Beauty of Unlikely Bonds
Friendship isn’t about convention—it’s about connection. These books remind us that the strongest bonds come in the most unexpected forms, proving that sometimes, the best friendships are the ones we never saw coming.
Have you read any of these? Do you have a favorite unconventional friendship in fiction? Let’s talk in the comments! 💬📚✨
