Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Out On a Limb

My most favorite HBY by far!! Out on a Limb is an absolute treasure (arrrrr!). I know that this surprise pregnancy took the romance world by storm when it came out, and it's so deserved!! This book taught me more about loving others and what that looks like in any relationship.

Win, the fmc, has a limb difference like HBY. HBY shares her raw and honest thoughts in an author's note before the book and it makes the story that much more special. Win's journey to motherhood may not look like what we're used to in romance but it's important and necessary that it gets to take up space on shelves around the world. I love her so much! She's laugh-out-loud funny, compassionate, and the kind of character that I wish was real so I could have her in my life.

The people were right when they said Bo is the perfect book boyfriend. Ha! Everything he does proves just how much he loves Win. From splitting finances equitably, to constantly surprising her with not-so-wanted but necessary expensive gifts. He's a sweet man with a huge heart (and other things ;)). A romance that's all about being chosen by the person you love. I will be screaming about this from the rooftops for the remainder of my life. Everyone should read it!

Content Warnings

sdupont's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is fantastic! Honestly criminal of me to have waited this long before reading it. I absolutely loved Win and Bo. They are just two of the most tender and sweet souls who clearly were meant to find each other. They find such small (and big) ways to support each other and show they care. Bo is so honest and vulnerable it hurts. He equal parts makes me want to wrap him up in a hug and have him take care of me. Win is so strong I appreciate her evolution throughout the story. I can’t even be mad that this book wasn’t dual POV because I think Bo’s would’ve made me spontaneously combust. Honorable mention to Sarah, may we all be lucky to have a friend like her. Also, it needs to be said this book offers up excellent banter you will laugh out loud and some quality spicy scenes. This book is an absolutely must read!

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mels_reading_log's review

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely hate the surprise pregnancy trope, so when I started this book and heard the warning from the author about pregnancy in the book, I almost put it aside. But Hannah Bonam-Young is amazing, so I gave it a chance and THIS is how you write a surprise pregnancy book!! Ugh, it was so good and the characters are lovely and so swoon worthy. I’m obsessed with Bo and his dad, maybe this should become a series and we could follow daddy Robert fining love in France. Just a suggestion…

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stungbythewood's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My first thought when finishing this book, and many times while reading/listening to it, was “Wow.” My second thought was, “Do men like Bo actually exist?”

I will admit, I was beginning to think my hope for finding a romance book that I’d give 5 stars would never come, but this was it. I LOVE(D) this book and definitely recommend anyone wanting to read it to give it a chance.

I love the slow burn between Winn and Bo. I find myself relating to a lot of Winn’a internal struggles with fear and feeling stagnant and I love that she allows herself to grow and not only make room for Bo and her baby, but also herself. I too am making room for myself to fully flourish into who I want/need to be.

All the characters feel well rounded. I adore Winn’s relationship with Sarah just as much as I do with Winn’s relationship with Bo.

I love how they keep an honest and open communication style with each other, especially early on, talking about sexual health and birth control.

I LOVE how Bo is a good man, down to his core, with no ulterior motives. His kindness and generosity is something I hope to find in a partner myself.

I was cheering for them from start to finish, aching during their will they won’t they moments.

All in all this was a wonderful book, one I got from a booktok recs list. I’m not sure if the author has written any more stories but I’d eagerly pick them up if so.

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wanderlust_romance's review

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

While I tend to be very leery of books that are showered with immense praise, Out On A Limb proved to be a funny, realistic, refreshing, and sexy read. I enjoyed it thoroughly, as so many others before me. Pregnancy after a memorable one night stand? Not usually my trope of choice. However, OOAL is the kind of story that is so engaging and entertaining that you’ll potentially reconsider. I appreciated the on page discussions of reproductive choice, between Win and her doctor, Win and Sarah, and Win and Bo. Pregnancy is often inaccurately portrayed (from a physical perspective) in the romance genre, layered on top is the emotional weight of having to decide how to approach a potential co-parent. Your hormones are literally going haywire, your body is creating a whole other human, and you’re having to navigate a potential minefield of emotions! And to its credit, OOAL takes all of that into consideration and pulls it off with such intentional care. I loved that this book also had an own voices aspect to the disability rep. It is thoughtful and never comes across as ableist “inspiration p*rn.” The fact that Win has to comes to term with her own internalized ableism and natural concerns about the baby’s health was so relatable, and speaks to the deep seated concerns that many women feel but don’t often voice during their pregnancies.

And yes. Bo is absolutely as wonderful, emotionally vulnerable, caring, funny, and nerdy as you’d expect from a picture perfect book boyfriend.

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ankiaisreading's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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mj_86's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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annabananadel's review against another edition

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emotional 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

5.0

“I love you, Win. I love you so much it makes me feel like I’ve hated everything else in my life up until now. Nothing compares to what I feel for you. Not even close.“

I’ve been seeing this book in the book community although not a lot compared to “booktok” books. I haven’t seen anybody reviewed this in a negative way so I thought that even with only a few reels about it, it should be an amazing read. And it was, for me. I devoured it. Devoured the relationship between Win and Bo. Such unique names and nicknames too. I knew this book has a “kid” trope in it but I did not expect it to be an “accidental pregnancy” trope (i think that’s a thing).

When you read about two people hitting it off on the get-go, it makes you hope that you’d encounter such experience with another person. To be honest, that was me and my current partner. First time we met, it was just instant connection (at least on my side). Like Win and Bo, it was topics after topics and you just can’t shut up because it conversation just don’t stop. Sure, they weren’t ready to be in a relationship when they met but they both had to be weeks after. You can’t deny that Win won out by having Bo as the father because you can’t ask for anybody more perfect than Bo. Bo was just amazing, to say the least. The way he was happy and accepted the pregnancy for what it was - a blessing. Hannah also writes the best side characters too! The wits and banters and just the interactions between all characters are just hilarious that made me really laugh out loud at 2 in the morning.

Definitely recommend this especially if you like seeing disability representation!!! It was just written beautifully. It was such a blast seeing the two of them became acquaintances to roommates to friends to lovers to parents.

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