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stagemanaginger's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
bookslovereaders's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
readwithsophsx's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Addiction
sariereads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
gillyreads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Medical content and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Addiction
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
3.0
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).
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Drug abuse
kaitrates's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
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.
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug abuse
beebowbabe's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Violence, Pregnancy, and Medical content