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jellyfists's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I can't believe this was written by the same author as Out On a Limb.
I really liked this at first but it was too fast paced. It's still insta-love if they're grumpy with each other for a bit and then completely obsessed with each other two chapters later (especially since both of them feel so shallow as characters). Much love for Warren's younger brother Luke though, his relationship with the main characters was so much more interesting than their relationship with each other. Overall pretty forgettable, the details are slipping from my mind as we speak.
I really liked this at first but it was too fast paced. It's still insta-love if they're grumpy with each other for a bit and then completely obsessed with each other two chapters later (especially since both of them feel so shallow as characters). Much love for Warren's younger brother Luke though, his relationship with the main characters was so much more interesting than their relationship with each other. Overall pretty forgettable, the details are slipping from my mind as we speak.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
kays_reading_journal's review
No star rating yet. I enjoyed a lot of it.
However, it was published in 2022 yet there’s a HP reference. This is made worse by the fact that the FMC’s best friend is trans (this actually slipped by me, I was listening to the audio and never heard this).
As for the rest of the book:
While I still enjoyed the romance, it wasn’t my favorite aspect in the beginning. I was much more interested in Chloe’s path to raising Willow.
During the second half, I became a bit more invested in the romance. I was glad that the book brought up Warren’s anger problems and how he was dealing with them, but I don’t know that the way it was all handled will sit well with everyone.
Listening to the scene where his anger comes out the most, jarred me.
Most of the content warnings will be in that section, however i did want to mention the anger. There is a scene where a male character yells towards the female character and punches a wall.
However, it was published in 2022 yet there’s a HP reference. This is made worse by the fact that the FMC’s best friend is trans (this actually slipped by me, I was listening to the audio and never heard this).
As for the rest of the book:
While I still enjoyed the romance, it wasn’t my favorite aspect in the beginning. I was much more interested in Chloe’s path to raising Willow.
During the second half, I became a bit more invested in the romance. I was glad that the book brought up Warren’s anger problems and how he was dealing with them, but I don’t know that the way it was all handled will sit well with everyone.
Listening to the scene where his anger comes out the most, jarred me.
Most of the content warnings will be in that section, however i did want to mention the anger. There is a scene where a male character yells towards the female character and punches a wall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcohol
dymonlikestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
✨ Book Review✨
Next of Kin
Author: Hannah Bonam-Young
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (3.75)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
When Chloe receives a call that her alcohol-addicted birth mother Connie has given birth to her little sister Chloe steps up. To meet child protective services standards she participates in their Teamup initiative. Warren is financially stable while Chloe provides the space needed for Warren to take custody of his teenage brother Luke. Hesitant but willing to do anything to protect her little sister from a similar childhood she had.
I think the plot of the book is amazing. I loved the representation in the book. I love ASL and I was so glad to see it being represented in this book. Initially, I liked Chloe and Warren he was grumpy but funny. The first half of the book was excellent. I think a combination of the banter, instant love, and Warren's attitude lowered the overall rating for me.
The book was pretty fast-paced we didn’t get enough background on Chloe’s transition from a single woman to essentially a single mother. There wasn’t much background either on how Warren and Chloe fell in love. The only connection I saw that could’ve created a relationship between Warren and Chloe was the care he had for Willow. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two of them.
Maybe I am biased as someone who has dealt with a person exactly like Warren—someone who blows up at small things and has explosive reactions. I couldn’t imagine feeling safe around them with a baby, especially with my adoption on the line.
Overall, I think the storyline was there and regardless of how it was executed I still enjoyed it. I definitely will be checking out the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse
turnthepages_nl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
frankiereadstoomuch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
literary_laur's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- 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
3.5
The story behind how the characters come together is unique and I really liked the concept. The main characters each had their struggles and though that can somehow make things feel forced, it felt natural in how they supported each other and showed their vulnerabilities. I felt the relationship came together naturally. The found family aspect was a nice touch. The writing was accessible, but did lack some depth in places where it was "telling, not showing" I wish there weren't time jumps, I think the gaps left were important ones to fill. I appreciate that the conflict wasn't the typical normally seen in romances. I think dual POV would have also added great depth. It was a heartwarming read that touched on healing, forgiveness and acceptance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Classism
callenmecait's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
I really loved the storyline to start with. I liked that the catalyst for the story was CPS based and how the trials and tribulations of social work affect people at every level, and how there’s a wide range of outcomes from the “same” approach. The characters were lifelike, realistic, relatable. They made me laugh, cry. I loved the accurate portrayal of being an exhausted parent, and the found family trope, and the romance was very cute. There was one point where I felt it was a little forced, but I chalked that up to me reading it really fast and just not sitting with the story and the characters enough when they were first getting interested in each other. I’m really excited to read more books by her!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
gracescanlon's review against another edition
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