Chelsea King's debut novel centers chosen family and Chicago PR

Chelsea King’s debut novel, Living With Caution Cones, follows a Chicago public relations executive whose closest friendships become her chosen family. The book, out now in paperback, hardcover and eBook, mixes career ambition, romance and LGBTQ representation in a mid-2000s Chicago setting.

Why it matters: - Living With Caution Cones puts chosen family at the center of a contemporary novel about work, love and identity. - The book frames platonic friendship as a lasting form of support, especially for readers drawn to LGBTQ representation and stories about found family. - The novel also taps into the appeal of behind-the-scenes workplace fiction set in a high-pressure industry.

What happened: - Chelsea King released her debut novel, Living With Caution Cones, on October 5, 2026. - The book is available now in paperback, hardcover and eBook formats. - Spines is publishing the novel. - The story follows Claire Dalton, a boutique public relations executive in mid-2000s Chicago. - Claire’s closest relationships include a tight circle of friends, including a close-knit group of gay men who become her chosen family.

The details: - The novel explores friendship, ambition, love and reinvention in Chicago’s public relations world. - The book portrays crisis management, media spin and image crafting from an insider’s perspective. - Claire’s relationships unfold through late-night kitchen talks, parties and moments of grief. - The story examines how friendships change as Claire approaches her 30s. - An unexpected romance enters Claire’s life, and the novel explores how romantic love can coexist with chosen family. - King said the book began as a personal tribute to a group of friends who shaped her life. - King said she wanted to write about people who enter a life without knowing how important they will become. - More information

Between the lines: - The novel appears aimed at readers who want emotionally grounded fiction with a workplace backdrop. - By centering queer friendship as family rather than side context, the book broadens the emotional frame of a typical romance-or-career story. - The Chicago PR setting gives the novel a built-in tension between public image and private feeling.

What's next: - Chelsea King is now launching her first novel into the market in multiple formats. - The book’s success will likely hinge on whether readers connect with its mix of emotional intimacy, industry detail and chosen-family themes. - King lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children and writes character-driven fiction about friendship, identity and the lives people build together.