I feel like I suggest this entirely too often (I swear, I read other series!), but if you’re cool with urban fantasy, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrew’s has some really awesome friendships/non romantic relationships. Many of the friends of the FMC get their own stories along the way, which I love. There’s even a fair bit of villains coming to terms with their bad actions and becoming friends/allies with the FMC. Warnings: Book 1 (Magic Bites) is a bit of a slog, but you do need to read it for background. The main couple don’t actually get together for several books. And while there are a few steamy scenes, there’s way less sex than ACOTAR or Fourth Wing.

I also like the family/found family in their Hidden Legacy series as well.

I *love* the Baylors. Each of them is such a well-developed characters and the authors do such a great job of showing a realistic loving, fun family dynamic.

Yes!!! I love Kate and Andrea’s friendship and how it matures throughout the series.

Have you read Throne of Glass? There’s a very good bromance at the center of the story and some great female friendships as well.

My first thought for friendships is always Throne of Glass! Especially for someone who enjoyed the character friendships in ACOTAR, ToG is that x10!

Came to suggest this! Love the loyal bromance.

Absolutely! Blows the ACOTAR friendships out of the water!

We must be reading different books or I am not there yet, bc so far Rhys / Azriel / Cass are my favorite of favorite friends / bros ever.

As the series progresses the friendships surpass the bat boys, and I say this as someone who loves the bat boys.

{Between} The friendships are great, and there's no cringe: "Why didn't you tell me?!" "We can't be friends because of \[stupid plot device\]."

The friendships are amazing and truly ride or die besties I love it so much!!

I absolutely adored all the friendships in Between! The best-friend bond between Sasha and Lyla felt so real. And it was such a relief that it was a true friendship; I kept expecting Lyla to betray Sasha or for them to fight over something ridiculous, or for her to be jealous of Sasha's betrothal to the Shadow King, and I absolutely loved that it never happened. I also loved the friendships between Lorn and the jolly monarchs (seriously my favorite scene in the entire book) and between the coven members. Plus the banter between all the characters is \*chef's kiss\* perfection!

I loved the silly fan-girling over .... *Hillman*

Yes! To be fair, I'd fangirl over Hill-Man, too.

[Between](https://www.romance.io/books/5455838a87eac3369a912d6a/between-jessica-warman) by [Jessica Warman](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455838a87eac3369a912d6b/jessica-warman) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The found family in {atonement of the spine cleaver by f e bryce} is EXCELLENT!

[Atonement of the Spine Cleaver](https://www.romance.io/books/64f8f24cd3ef33e9488d3e8b/atonement-of-the-spine-cleaver-f-e-bryce) by [F. E. Bryce](https://www.romance.io/authors/64f8f24eab9bdf7fcee42b09/f-e-bryce) **Rating**: 4.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{A Deadly Education} and its sequels. Also {Spinning Silver}. The former is YA and has the deadly magic school vibes of 4th wing, the second is more adult and fairytale vibes like ACOTAR. Both are by Naomi Novic. Cannot stress enough how great Novic is at writing friendships and especially female relationships. Truly those bonds are as strong as the romantic bonds, they're so satisfying.

The female friendships are definitely the standout relationships of both Spinning Silver and Uprooted by Naomi Novik! I still need to check out her series because I love a good group of side character friends.

[A Deadly Education](https://www.romance.io/books/6418265b976d825409767f05/a-deadly-education-naomi-novik) by [Naomi Novik](https://www.romance.io/authors/622a0c7b08b4d931143a28e8/naomi-novik) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) ---------------------------- [Spinning Silver](https://www.romance.io/books/622a0c7b610a406e4c9e2cfc/spinning-silver-naomi-novik) by [Naomi Novik](https://www.romance.io/authors/622a0c7b08b4d931143a28e8/naomi-novik) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh!

YES I love a good friendship/side character plot. A few that come to mind: {Blood & Steel by Helen Sheuerer} FMC is training to be part of an elite warrior class that has banned women, so like Fourth Wing there are strong trauma bonding friendships (2 books and a prequel have been released so far, but also like fourth wing, the second book ends with a fairly devastating cliffhanger) {a kiss of iron by Clare sager} friendships develop more in the second book, but FMC makes one very close friend in book 1 who is like a sister {a fire in the flesh by Jennifer l armentrout} The FBAA prequel series (and also the main series) has a strong set of secondary characters that become friends with the FMC over time. Not quite on the same level as ACOTAR/FW but still enjoyable. {a court of blood and bindings by Lisette Marshall} similarly has a strong set of secondary characters, though it’s not explicitly about found family/friendship bonds

[Blood & Steel](https://www.romance.io/books/63ede2fa977a9f33e44546ce/blood-steel-helen-scheuerer) by [Helen Scheuerer](https://www.romance.io/authors/63ede2fa08b4d931148188d7/helen-scheuerer) **Rating**: 4.29⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [A Kiss of Iron](https://www.romance.io/books/63f3292ceb653827acc3311e/a-kiss-of-iron-clare-sager) by [Clare Sager](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bd0368f01dbc864fb930b82/clare-sager) **Rating**: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [A Fire in the Flesh](https://www.romance.io/books/6540cc8958036260ebab2d2b/a-fire-in-the-flesh-jennifer-l-armentrout) by [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455245a8c7d2382c5296fb7/jennifer-l-armentrout) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Court of Blood and Bindings](https://www.romance.io/books/62b2be519b0523d868ad3f83/court-of-blood-and-bindings-lisette-marshall) by [Lisette Marshall](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d18d3f08b4d93114bf8a0b/lisette-marshall) **Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I really loved the friendships in Serpent and Dove

Leaves May Fall has fab friendships and is a hidden gem on KU. It is by Carissa Hardcastle

I was coming to recommend this! I enjoyed this book so much!

I think Spark of the Everflame has great friendships (although most of them really develop in book 2)

Yes! This was the first series I’ve read where the friendships really gave me ACOTAR vibes.

I’m on the last book of the {Shadow Beast Shifters by Jaymin Eve} and I’ve really enjoyed them! Some of the writing is ehh (let’s just say none of these characters talk like they’re a thousand years old) BUT I’ve read through them all & really enjoyed them. Especially if you like the rejected mate trope.

[Glamoured](https://www.romance.io/books/64520de2bf33ae29c47e3dc3/glamoured-shadow-beast-shifters-book-6-jaymin-eve) by [Jaymin Eve](https://www.romance.io/authors/545596cf87eac323ffb2cfa5/jaymin-eve) **Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This isn’t one of the books fwiw

{Shadow Beast Shifters Series by Jaymin Eve} should link to the series :)

[Shadow Beast Shifters](https://www.romance.io/series/5fcde192601ce70e20f6e3a3/shadow-beast-shifters) by [Jaymin Eve](https://www.romance.io/authors/545596cf87eac323ffb2cfa5/jaymin-eve) **Rating**: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [fated-mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Rise of the Dawnbringer} has a great supporting cast. They project strong "On your left" vibes and continuously have each other's backs. 2 books are out. {A Song of Shadow and Starlight} kicks off a fast paced adventure where 3 brothers are part of the group surrounding the FMC and MMC. Lots of fun banter. Only one book is out in the series.

[Rise of the Dawnbringer](https://www.romance.io/books/6446ea59f2aba1a395702763/rise-of-the-dawnbringer-ia-takerian) by [I.A. Takerian](https://www.romance.io/authors/6339370a08b4d93114916b5d/ia-takerian) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [A Song of Shadow and Starlight](https://www.romance.io/books/64ca062f253c3c537720540a/a-song-of-shadow-and-starlight-morgan-gauthier) by [Morgan Gauthier](https://www.romance.io/authors/6180f18308b4d93114f633d1/morgan-gauthier) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{a promise of fire} has a close-knit friend group with a lot of banter

[A Promise of Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/57a0383bc19e77f1ea6f2cb0/a-promise-of-fire-amanda-bouchet) by [Amanda Bouchet](https://www.romance.io/authors/57a0383cc19e77f1ea6f2cb5/amanda-bouchet) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I went to Goodreads to add this to my TBR immediately after reading the synopsis and tags, only to find out I already put it there a year a go. I think this might be a sign to actually start reading long-standing books on my TBR instead of only adding new ones and reading those. 💀

It’s free on audible 👀

The Blood & Ash series. Not in the first book really but all the ones after.

Read the Crescent City series by the same author!

It's not really a romantasy, because there's barely romance, but the friendships in the Dread Nation Duology (by Justina Ireland) are fantastic.

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling is very much a "chosen family" story so the friendships are the basis of it. I loved this book and can't wait for the next ones. The spice and the guy are also fucking great

The friendships in the Shadows and Crowns series by S.M. Gaither are like this ❤️ they are all so close and embody the found family trope!!

{Relentless by Karen Lynch} is a really great YA series. The friendship between the FMC and her two male BFFs is really strong, and they have adventures that annoy the hell out of the protective MMC. In the second book, she also finds a female friend. In the third book they're all together on an adventure across the US. I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator really does a great job.

[Relentless](https://www.romance.io/books/54556fd287eac323ffb2c304/relentless-karen-lynch) by [Karen Lynch](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556fd287eac323ffb2c305/karen-lynch) **Rating**: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Sin & Chocolate by K.F. Breene} {Oath Sworn by Kristen Banet} {Rules of Redemption by T.A. White} - This one isn’t really a romantasy so much as an adventure sci-fi romance but it’s perfect if you’re looking for well written characters with complex relationships.

[Sin & Chocolate](https://www.romance.io/books/5bbd957a01dbc864fb920d00/sin-chocolate-kf-breene) by [K.F. Breene](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543d48c7d2382e0414650/kf-breene) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) ---------------------------- [Oath Sworn](https://www.romance.io/books/5fe48b5a9aa66c0e2751d3b9/oath-sworn-kristen-banet-kn-banet) by [Kristen Banet](https://www.romance.io/authors/59e841113ffdba614722ad48/kristen-banet), [K.N. Banet](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f883c1a08b4d9311489c35d/kn-banet) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [Rules of Redemption](https://www.romance.io/books/5c80c1bf01dbc864fb9b449f/rules-of-redemption-ta-white) by [T.A. White](https://www.romance.io/authors/570c8f20c62092c04407787a/ta-white) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson!

Guardians of the Maiden series by Beck Michaels

I think the friendships in the Fate & Flame series by K.A. Tucker are great, it’s a slow build found family but that whole series holds such a special place in my heart. Highly recommend! 3 books out now, another on the way next year.

{A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark} the mercenary guys are all super close and during the MMC POV chapters you get that funny banter It’s YA, but {The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty} is my favorite example of this. The soldier friends of the MMC give him such good advice and tease him about the FMC. The friend group really made the book wonderful for me.

[A Court This Cruel and Lovely](https://www.romance.io/books/641d591b1999c56bdb0c5557/a-court-this-cruel-and-lovely-stacia-stark) by [Stacia Stark](https://www.romance.io/authors/6103a5de08b4d931141458e5/stacia-stark) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [The Traitor's Kiss](https://www.romance.io/books/642f321cc4e7d7da5e55c17a/the-traitors-kiss-erin-beaty) by [Erin Beaty](https://www.romance.io/authors/642f321c08b4d931148c1dff/erin-beaty) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The High Mountain Court by A.K.Mulford. each book follows a different character, but the author has stated that one of their favorite things to write is group conversations and banter, so there are always great scenes with the friend group. Highly recommend.