Chosen Family

From Sydney-based writer-critic Madeleine Gray comes an unforgettable exploration of the bonds that shape us. Spanning 18 years, Chosen Family chronicles the lives of Nell Argall and Eve Bowman, two brilliant, quirky misfits whose chance high-school friendship transforms into a complex tapestry of love, rivalry, co-parenting, and queer family dynamics.

Reading Chosen Family is an absolute pleasure. Gray writes with a rare blend of tenderness and precision, rendering her protagonists not as mere characters on a page but as fully realised people. The novel brims with deep relatability, particularly in its portrayal of queer experience, a subject often overshadowed in fiction. Gray approaches it with nuance and care, never shying away from complexity, and the result is both moving and profoundly authentic. I was a huge admirer of Gray’s debut, Green Dot, and it’s clear she has carried all the brilliance of that first novel into Chosen Family, but with even greater assurance. The writing feels sharper, the emotional stakes deeper, and the growth between works is remarkable. I’m pegging this novel as a ‘Chosen Family Summer’. A book to savour slowly, share in conversation, and carry with me into the warmer months.