Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Next of Kin

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

78 reviews

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.

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gracescanlon's review against another edition

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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!

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.

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lindsaymck's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

4.75

“Almost thirty minutes late, parked in a non-parking zone, villain’s cheekbones… this is a disaster.” What an entrance for Warren and a deliciously sour start to the sweetest love story.

Chloe is root-for-able from the jump. Her character is SO well-developed, layered, and lovable. I am absolutely impressed with how well Hannah Bonam-Young describes Chloe’s deeply complicated relationship with her birth mother and her quick (but wholehearted) acceptance of the guardianship of her newborn sister, Willow. Their CPS situation, and that of Warren and Luke, is handled with such care, compassion, and heart. The “Team Up” initiative sets up the perfect tension of forced proximity for Chloe and Warren, two independent people who learn how to rely on and support one another. They are in such similar positions being an older-sibling-turned-parent figure and their first impressions of one another are discarded as time reveals their true natures and undeniable compatibility. The trust they build turning into a healing love is so genuine, you can’t help but celebrate the found family they create together.

Chloe and Warren are both beautifully flawed people who want to do better for their siblings and help each other do just that. Warren invites Chloe to show him her “messy” and that is part of what made this story with such a special plot unbelievably memorable. The way she has never been fully herself in her relationships for fear of being a burden - with her adoptive family and her best friends, Emily and Lane - so clearly stems from the loneliness and heartbreaks of her childhood and having to grow up way too soon. Chloe wanting and working to save her sister (and Warren wanting and working to save his brother) from those same heartbreaks is stunningly and powerfully written. The love they find along the way is chemistry that heals not only the characters, but readers, too.

I read “Next to You” before this book, so I couldn’t appreciate the (re)appearances she and Warren have in that book and would go in order for a reread.

Moments I’m still thinking about:

Warren and Chloe’s first date, which has basically made any other first date underwhelming and mediocre. Romantic dinner, making wishes on glow in the dark golf balls, and an empty theatre with a guitar serenade of his song about her… it could’ve read cliché, but every part was original distinctly *them*
Warren’s nickname for Chloe being “Dove” and the meaning behind it is so moving. I will never settle for “babe” again. 🕊️ Warren is HOME for her the same way she is PEACE for him.

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