Reviews with content warning for Ableism - Next of Kin

While it is not categorized as YA, I would recommend this book to someone much younger than me. The characters and overall plot were great, but it felt extremely underdeveloped at times. Next of Kin is a roommate to lovers romance. If Chloe and Warren want to be legal guardians for their respective young siblings, they must live together through CPS’s TeamUp program. I enjoyed the disability representation in this book—Chloe’s sister was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and Warren’s brother is deaf—but every time Warren called Chloe ‘dove’ I wanted to vomit. I would still recommend this book to a friend; I think I just expected too much. My overall thoughts summed up: not a lot of substance, but cute-ish.

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andreaareadsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

FRIENDS. Hannah Bonam-Young does not disappoint. ever.
Any story of hers, I will read always. Every main character she writes? I am a fan.
She writes stories that are geared and level with the likes of Emily Henry - if this doesn't catch your attention -- Her MMCs are swoon worthy to the highest degree.

This book was so incredibly unique - specifically because it dealt with an intricate and difficult topic (that not everyone can relate to but SHOULD be aware of its implications) and includes a cast of main /supporting characters that are fighting various battles of their own (but also together).
The amount of support that pours out of HBY's novels is actually astounding and it reminds you just how much you DESERVE to have others support you/to support others around you!!

We get a found family is the most wholesome of ways, we have amazing supporting characters who make the novel feel whole and complete, we have WARREN - who has a mouth that will make you BLUSH (not kidding) - we have CHLOE who makes space for others and learns to make space for herself - and we just overall have a story that is just chefs kiss perfect.

Honestly I wish it were longer because i love chloe and warren.
Additionally, what I LOVE about HBY is that her stories are so full circle, nothing feels disconnected - and you dont get silly third act breakups AKA GREEN FLAG <3

Fave quotes so you can fall in love :)

"Show me the messy parts, OK? God knows, I’ve shown you mine."

"I could resist, try to swim out I may have referred to you as a whirlpool… as cheesy as that may be. I could resist, try to swim out, try to avoid it – but it would be easier to float. And, for the first time, I’m not scared to."

“Warren and Luke held space for my fears, my hurt, and my worries. Not once did I feel like I needed to hold back, diminish, or hide. I had never felt that way before.”

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jillkaarlela's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Taylor Swift songs: “New Year’s Day”

Age rating: 17+ (3 spicy scenes, 1.5/5🌶️)

This was such an emotionally moving romance!!! HBY really knows how to handle hard/difficult topics with grace!! The conversations around the two main characters’ family trauma and history as well as their current struggles with helping their siblings in the foster care system was so well done!

This book has forced proximity (and they were roommates…) and grumpy MMC X sunshine FMC, but he’s a secret cinnamon roll. Chloe is such a relatable main character because she has been working so hard at pleasing and taking care of everyone else, and I loved her journey of allowing someone else help her, care for her, and love her the way that she deserves!! And I loved seeing Warren show his sensitive and caring side, because he truly is a huge softie and such a sweet man. I definitely did cry at some points, iykyk.

I also was not expecting to be so heart warmed by their relationships with their younger siblings and creating this little found family!! (Usually I hate kids in books, especially babies, but not in this one!)

Overall, highly recommend as long as you check the Trigger warnings!!

Trigger warnings: abandonment, substance abuse, parental neglect, foster care, ableism (characters who are deaf), emotionally manipulative parents

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beebowbabe's review against another edition

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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.

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mabellene's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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themargherita_s's review against another edition

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5.0

<spoilerThis story is fast paced (by the 55% mark they were already together), but I think the author did such good job with the execution that it’s barely noticeable and didn’t really bother me. It did, however, stress me the hell out because that meant there was still 50% of the book where things could have gone completely wrong (which stressed me out till the very end because everything is calm until like the last chapter before the epilogue).

I really loved both Chloe and Warren, but my actual favorite character was Luke. The kid was amazing.
Anyway, all together they make a very cute family.

One thing I did not like: we have the main character mentioning a Harry Potter movie marathon on page. I know this series has been picked up by a publisher, so I checked in the with author and she said they should be able to change it in the republished version.

Content Warnings: foster care and adoption, addiction (parent), dugs, alcohol, removal from parent due to substance abuse and neglect, death of a parent by overdose, anger management issues, strained parent-child relationships, anxiety and panic attacks, ableism.

Representation: former foster kid female mc who becomes a guardian for her newborn sister, baby sister with fetal alcohol syndrome, former foster kid male mc who is the guardian for his little brother, deaf little brother. The brother and the MCs all communicate with ASL.

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plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition

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lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Somehow this story is still lighthearted even with the deeper topics metioned.
But it qas a sweet short read with nice tension between the MCs but mainly I just love me a found family.
Spice 1/5

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bubbasgotbooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I have heard such great things about this book and I FINALLY had a chance to read it! I really fell in love with Chloe and Warren (and Luke and Willow!) and felt like their characters grew together well throughout the story. The flip from grumpy to in love for Warren was a bit sudden for me, but I was glad to read a book without the 3rd act breakup. I also loved the ASL representation in this book, especially the inclusion that Chloe and Warren always exhibited. I’m excited to read Lane‘s story!

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