A review by snapcracklepoppies
Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

5.0

This was a read that is well outside of my usual genres & preferences (I generally tend to stay away from kids in smut) but the found family trope, their unique situation, and the fact that it was so well written more than made up for it, for me. I really loved the way the story started with Chloe thinking she had no one, feeling alienated because of the way her life started and the ways she had to protect herself over the years, to her realizing she has a beautiful support network that *she* built, she just needed to be open to letting them in. Even without the romance angle, I think the story would’ve been enjoyable because of that. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the romance, because I really loved the way their difficult beginnings were the bridge that brought them together. That and their desire for their siblings to never have to go through what they did, or at least to the extent that they did. I saw some other people saying it felt rushed, but when you think about the way they danced around each other, their shared traumas, the things that brought them together… it really doesn’t feel rushed to me?

I will say that seeing the 60% mark and them being together already I was really dreading whatever was going to happen in that last 40%. I kept worrying something would happen to Willow or that CPS would screw them over. I’m glad it ended up being what it was.