Scan barcode
A review by gracescanlon
Next Of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
challenging
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this!
My favorite things:
1. Deaf representation!
2. Warren is a very giving lover, and has the sweetest and also the dirtiest mouth on him. Total hottie!
3.I was PRAYING the third-act conflict wouldn’t be either a breakup or Connie relapsing. Thank you, Ms. Bonam-Young, for taking a different tack!!!
A few things kept this from a higher score for me:
1. I wanted Chloe to be more verbally expressive to Warren about the nice things she thought about him. Not at his level (but SWOON!), but I felt like Warren deserved a little more verbal affection.
2. Chloe didn’t pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:“I don’t want to be your friend.” The second time he said it made his original intent obvious. Chloe didn’t make the connection, which was a little disappointing.
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachel’s visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloe’s circumstances???? What a missed opportunity for some higher-stakes tension!
4. It was pretty insta-lovey, which on one hand makes sense (Chloe and Warren share v similar pasts in addition to their present similar situations), but on the other was a bit concerning, given both their traumas. Their repeated statements of wanting “forever” when they’ve known each other five months at most worried me.
5. Warren does a bit of a 180, personality-wise. The book is in first-person POV (Chloe’s POV), so it’s understandable that she might not have picked up on Warren’s more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesn’t comment on either her surprise or reflection with her new understandings of who Warren is. This and my second list point made Chloe seem entirely unobservant, which was frustrating.
TL;DR — Fast-paced and mildly steamy, but also heartwarming. I loved the recurrent themes of healing and forgiveness, as well as opening up to and being vulnerable with loved ones for deeper bonds.
My favorite things:
1. Deaf representation!
2.
3.
A few things kept this from a higher score for me:
1. I wanted Chloe to be more verbally expressive to Warren about the nice things she thought about him. Not at his level (but SWOON!), but I felt like Warren deserved a little more verbal affection.
2. Chloe didn’t pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachel’s visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloe’s circumstances???? What a missed opportunity for some higher-stakes tension!
4. It was pretty insta-lovey, which on one hand makes sense (Chloe and Warren share v similar pasts in addition to their present similar situations), but on the other was a bit concerning, given both their traumas. Their repeated statements of wanting “forever” when they’ve known each other five months at most worried me.
5. Warren does a bit of a 180, personality-wise. The book is in first-person POV (Chloe’s POV), so it’s understandable that she might not have picked up on Warren’s more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesn’t comment on either her surprise or reflection with her new understandings of who Warren is. This and my second list point made Chloe seem entirely unobservant, which was frustrating.
TL;DR — Fast-paced and mildly steamy, but also heartwarming. I loved the recurrent themes of healing and forgiveness, as well as opening up to and being vulnerable with loved ones for deeper bonds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy