130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 Auckland Bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Family Don't End with Blood

Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives
4.52 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 1,732 ratings, 290 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Family Don't End with Blood explores the profound impact of the TV show Supernatural and its fandom on the lives of its fans and cast. Through 25 essays by actors like Jared Padalecki and fans alike, the book showcases how the series inspired people to overcome personal challenges, build community, and embrace the mantra "always keep fighting." The collection also highlights the mutual influence between the show and its devoted international fanbase over more than a decade.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3500
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is perfect for fans of Supernatural, those interested in fan culture and community impact, and readers inspired by stories of overcoming adversity through collective support. It also appeals to followers of TV and media studies exploring fandom's positive influence.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

How a Show, and the Support of Its Fandom, Changed—and Saved—Lives

Supernatural, a three-time People's Choice Award winner for Favourite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show and Tumblr's 2015 Most Reblogged "Live Action TV," has made a name for itself by supporting and encouraging its fans to "always keep fighting." A memorable line from early in the show's run, "Family don't end with blood," became an inspiring mantra for many who found community in the fandom.

In 25 powerful chapters written by Supernatural's actors and fans, including series lead Jared Padalecki, plus special messages from Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Mark Sheppard, Family Don't End with Blood: Cast and Fans On How Supernatural Has Changed Lives examines the far reach of the show's impact for more than a decade. Supernatural has inspired fans to change their lives, from getting "sober for Sam" to escaping a cult to pursuing lifelong dreams. But fans aren't the only ones who have been changed. The actors who bring the show to life have also found, in the show and its community, inspiration, courage, and the strength to keep going when life seemed too hard.

Including essays and special messages from Supernatural's cast:

  • Jared Padalecki ("Sam Winchester")
  • Jensen Ackles ("Dean Winchester")
  • Misha Collins ("Castiel")
  • Mark Sheppard ("Crowley")
  • Jim Beaver ("Bobby Singer")
  • Ruth Connell ("Rowena MacLeod")
  • Osric Chau ("Kevin Tran")
  • Rob Benedict ("Chuck Shurley aka God")
  • Kim Rhodes ("Sheriff Jody Mills")
  • Briana Buckmaster ("Sheriff Donna Hanscum")
  • Matt Cohen ("Young John Winchester")
  • Gil McKinney ("Henry Winchester")
  • Rachel Miner ("Meg Masters")

Collected and edited by Lynn S. Zubernis, a clinical psychologist, professor, and passionate Supernatural fangirl, Family Don't End with Blood provides an insightful and often uplifting look into the way international fan communities become powerful, positive forces in the lives of so many.

In keeping with the show's message to "always keep fighting," a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to RANDOM ACTS, a nonprofit founded by Misha Collins, and AT TUDES IN REVERSE, whose mission is to educate young people about mental health and suicide prevention.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise the book as a compelling and heartfelt dive into Supernatural fandom. Maureen Ryan of Variety calls it a "terrific road map" to the rewards of belonging to this unique community, while Curtis Armstrong, both actor and fellow author, notes it as an exceptional introduction to what makes the Supernatural experience special. The book resonates deeply with those connected to the show and its fans.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781944648350

Publisher: BenBella Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 May 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Smart Pop

Contributors:

  • Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis
  • Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Lynn Zubernis, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and a professor at West Chester University. She is passionate about fandom both as a researcher and a fan herself, especially of the Eric Kripke classic Supernatural and (obviously) The Boys. She is the editor of Family Don’t End with Blood: Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives and There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural, both collections of personal essays from the Supernatural cast and fans, including Jensen Ackles’s and Jared Padalecki’s moving stories of how fans inspired and helped them through some of life’s inevitable challenges. She is also the co-editor of Supernatural Psychology, Fan Culture: Theory/Practice, and Fan Phenomena: Supernatural. Together with Katherine Larsen, she has co-written Fandom at the Crossroads and Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls, and with Matt Snyder, Case Conceptualization and Effective Interventions. Dr. Zubernis is the Area Chair for Stardom and Fandom of the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Fandom Studies. She writes a regular column on ‘The Science of Fandom’ for Psychology Today, reviews her television favorites for Movie TV Tech Geeks, and is a frequent guest on podcasts, radio shows, and YouTube channels talking about the positive aspects of fandom. Lynn also blogs on her own website at fangasmthebook.com. You can find her on social media @FangasmSPN.

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator of Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, comes I’ll Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. I’ll...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    16% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    21% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    20% off
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    21% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $5800
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Mah Jong Player's Companion
    Since the arrival on the market of Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney's two previous books, The Game of Mah Jong Illustrated and Improve Your Mah Jong, a wide range of hands from many parts of the world has been sent to them. In this player's companion, the authors have put together a cross-filled reference guide where over 120 hands, illustrated...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Split Enz
    New Release
    Split Enz
    'My favourite band. Ever! And certainly the best dressed.' Sam Neill Split Enz were never designed to fit. Emerging from art school mischief in early-1970s New Zealand, they turned pop into surreal theatre: costume, character and melody colliding in a rock band that refused to behave like one. At the centre of that vision was Noel Crombie—percussionist, performer and the...
    Hardback
    $5199
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.