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stagemanaginger's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
That was a sweet, mostly hopeful book. I expected it to take a dark turn and it didn’t, which I’m happy about!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
bookslovereaders's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautifully written book honestly reading Hannah Bonham-Young makes my heart just feel full.
Next of Kin is about two young adults that have had a hard life. Both had had terrible upbringings and have been part of the Social Care System. They come together to try and get their siblings into their care and give them everything they never had.
Already grabbed your attention? And it’s already pulling on the heartstrings? Good!
Chloe and Warren are just this super cute couple. They have both had it hard but are learning and growing with each other. They recognise that they bring out the best and want to do better and they are just so satisfying to read.
The book I would say is a romance but with strong topics that focus on the characters growth. The romance is a side story and I feel that it makes the book better.
Hannah Bonam-Young’s style of writing is so easy to read and they have created these characters that you want to bring home and smother with all the love you can give. This is my second book by this author and won’t be the last.
Please be aware of the strong topics going into this book and check all the trigger warnings.
Next of Kin is about two young adults that have had a hard life. Both had had terrible upbringings and have been part of the Social Care System. They come together to try and get their siblings into their care and give them everything they never had.
Already grabbed your attention? And it’s already pulling on the heartstrings? Good!
Chloe and Warren are just this super cute couple. They have both had it hard but are learning and growing with each other. They recognise that they bring out the best and want to do better and they are just so satisfying to read.
The book I would say is a romance but with strong topics that focus on the characters growth. The romance is a side story and I feel that it makes the book better.
Hannah Bonam-Young’s style of writing is so easy to read and they have created these characters that you want to bring home and smother with all the love you can give. This is my second book by this author and won’t be the last.
Please be aware of the strong topics going into this book and check all the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
readwithsophsx's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Medical content, Alcohol, Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
melissat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Addiction
sariereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
gillyreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
So I really enjoyed some parts of this book. I thought the idea was interesting (although you kind of just have to ignore the part where CPS makes two people live together being entirely unbelievable). I really like Luke, the younger brother, and initially I thought the way the story explores Chloe’s experience with adoption was done well. In some parts I liked the romance, but I think possibly it would have benefited from a dual POV. Overall though, the fact Warren punched a wall in front of Chloe and her baby sister was not dealt with well which then meant I didn’t really like the way they stayed together . Everything was tied up is too tidy a bow at the end, happily ever after isn’t very believed is it’s depicted as every single problem is somehow magically resolved.
My initial thoughts on finishing was a mostly good book that needed some serious editing before publication but the more I think about the more I think that it just didn’t do a good job dealing with the complex issues it was trying to represent.
My initial thoughts on finishing was a mostly good book that needed some serious editing before publication but the more I think about the more I think that it just didn’t do a good job dealing with the complex issues it was trying to represent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Addiction
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very cool rep across the board: deafness, foster care, adoption, fetal alcohol syndrome. Despite the story occuring over the course of a single year, the romantic relationship seemed to develop really fast, but i understand how major life changes—such as raising an infant—can bring people together. I also found Warren’s sweet talking a little weird, but that might just be me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Medical content, Drug abuse, and Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Death of parent
caitlaird's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A fun and sweet romance. We love a DEVOTED man (it’s the only way they should be). Chloe is such a kind character, I love that she sticks up for herself. Her relationship with Warren’s brother, Luke, is so sweet. Warren is a bit of a dreamboat, if not way too unrealistic for being so in love, but we do love to read it. This book really takes some license with CPS and the foster care system but it sure is a fun idea.
A bit of cutesy / millennial humor and writing, but for the contemporary romance books of today it wasn’t too cheesy, I personally do not enjoy that type of writing but it was rather sparse so It wasn’t too distracting. (I know that is some people’s cup of tea, so all love <3 but I will usually DNF if it’s too bad).
A bit of cutesy / millennial humor and writing, but for the contemporary romance books of today it wasn’t too cheesy, I personally do not enjoy that type of writing but it was rather sparse so It wasn’t too distracting. (I know that is some people’s cup of tea, so all love <3 but I will usually DNF if it’s too bad).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Drug abuse
kaitrates's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
One of my toxic traits is that if couples in books say ILU too soon (according to me lol) or have sex too quickly, I tend to lose interest. I LIVE for the buildup, the interrupted make-out (or more) sessions, the cooling off and trying to rationalise why they shouldn't be together.
And while there are exceptions to this—books like The Rose by Tiffany Reisz feature sex early on followed by so many ups and downs—a lack of tension and/or insta-love tends to severely reduce my enjoyment of a book.
All this is to say, that for the first 60% of Next of Kin I was INVESTED! I couldn't put the book down! There was so much tension between our lead Chloe and Warren and the stakes were SO high—they had to figure their shit out for their siblings' sakes! They were thrust into this uncomfortable ass situation and needed to make the best of it while also managing their growing attraction for one another. I was convinced this would be a new favourite book and 5+ star read.
Then,they said I love you and I lost my interest.
Really, though, I think its because Warren's way of keeping his distance was to be a cocky asshole. And though we, alongside Chloe, see hints of more depth and love, he's not really given a chance to grow on page. And while I understand how, based on their backstory, their relationship and love make sense, I didn't enjoy quickness with which they were in love and happy. Especially with both of them having such heavy trauma histories.
Like I said: toxic trait. lol
The pacing of the last 40%, particularly the romance aspect of it, felt both rushed and surface level. This is a deliciously deep book! It tackles the foster and adoption systems as well as ableism in families and the world. I wanted their romance to have that same depth and to just feel like trauma bonding. Similarly, the way the final conflict gets sorted out felt rushed—although I think Bonam-Young did a great job capturing the panic and urgency that comes with such a situation. Just left me with a sense of like "wait that's it? you guys are good again?!"
On the plus side, and unlike Out on a Limb I really enjoyed both epilogues. Getting Warren's POV in the bonus one was such a fun surprise!
I'm still a huge fan of Bonam-Young and excited to read Next to You, own and reread OOAL, and continue to read whatever she puts out. I also think this will absolutely work for others who don't share my toxic trait as it does have a lot of depth and heart.
And while there are exceptions to this—books like The Rose by Tiffany Reisz feature sex early on followed by so many ups and downs—a lack of tension and/or insta-love tends to severely reduce my enjoyment of a book.
All this is to say, that for the first 60% of Next of Kin I was INVESTED! I couldn't put the book down! There was so much tension between our lead Chloe and Warren and the stakes were SO high—they had to figure their shit out for their siblings' sakes! They were thrust into this uncomfortable ass situation and needed to make the best of it while also managing their growing attraction for one another. I was convinced this would be a new favourite book and 5+ star read.
Then,
Really, though, I think its because Warren's way of keeping his distance was to be a cocky asshole. And though we, alongside Chloe, see hints of more depth and love, he's not really given a chance to grow on page. And while I understand how, based on their backstory, their relationship and love make sense, I didn't enjoy quickness with which they were in love and happy. Especially with both of them having such heavy trauma histories.
Like I said: toxic trait. lol
The pacing of the last 40%, particularly the romance aspect of it, felt both rushed and surface level. This is a deliciously deep book! It tackles the foster and adoption systems as well as ableism in families and the world. I wanted their romance to have that same depth and to just feel like trauma bonding. Similarly, the way the final conflict gets sorted out felt rushed—although I think Bonam-Young did a great job capturing the panic and urgency that comes with such a situation. Just left me with a sense of like "wait that's it? you guys are good again?!"
On the plus side, and unlike Out on a Limb I really enjoyed both epilogues. Getting Warren's POV in the bonus one was such a fun surprise!
I'm still a huge fan of Bonam-Young and excited to read Next to You, own and reread OOAL, and continue to read whatever she puts out. I also think this will absolutely work for others who don't share my toxic trait as it does have a lot of depth and heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug abuse
beebowbabe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This 5⭐ review is based on vibes only. I giggled and smiled my way through this entire book. Such a lovely and endearing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Violence, Pregnancy, and Medical content