Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Next of Kin

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

8 reviews

nakole's review against another edition

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4.0

𝓝𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓚𝓲𝓷

Next Book 1

By: Hannah Bonam-Young

Contemporary Romance

Paperback

𝒪𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓁: 4/5

𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒: 2/5

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌: This book has reinspired me to pick up learning ASL again, I have taken a couple classes but since I graduated I've been slacking so I'm going to get myself to focus on it again.

It's very different concept than any other contemporary romances I have read recently which is really nice. I enjoyed that Chloe, Warren, and Luke do not just have any easy time, because while I have never been nor have I had someone I've been close to been part of the foster/adoption system, I do know that it is a process that takes it's toll and Hannah shows it in this book. How Chloe struggles with her adoptive parents and birth mother, the anxiety that Chloe experiences when she seens it's CPS calling her, Warren's anger issues, Luke being a people pleaser. And those are just a couple of examples and it is really nice to see characters learning to heal rather then meet a partner and everything being fine and dandy right away.

𝒜 𝐹𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒬𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒: "I told him that you made it impossible to stay away. That everything about you is pulling me in. I may have refered to you as a whirlpool...as cheesy as that may be. I could resist, try to swim out, try to avoid it-but it would be easier to float. And, for the first time, I'm not scared to."

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈: Disability Rep; Slow Burn; Forced Proximity; Roommates To Lovers; Grumpy Sunshine; Banter; Foster Guardians; Single POV; Roommates; Deaf Rep

𝒯𝓇𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: Foster Care & Adoption; Past Parental Neglect & Abandonment; Past Death of Parent (Drug Overdose); Drug & Alcohol Consumption; Sexual Content (Consensual); Anxiety, PTSD, & Anger Management Issues; Medically Fragile Infant in NICU (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome); Ableism; Toxic Relationships (Not MCs); Cursing

Content Warnings

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

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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

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.

Content Warnings

herbookarchives's review against another edition

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funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

marinajonesreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-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

4.0

This was a nice read. She worked with sensitivity readers and it landed well. The dedication is what drew me in (something like “For anyone who thought Jess was Rory’s best boyfriend.”) and I’m glad I tried it. The characters were lovable, the scenario felt real, and I just love a read where the communication isn’t just awful. They were actually pretty open considering the situation. Would indeed recommend for a quick, lovely book.

Content Warnings

aepompu's review

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This was super sweet and was definitely enjoyable. Definitely insta-love, at least on one side, but the progression of feelings for both MMC and FMC felt pretty rushed.

If there was a bit more development of the emotional attachment between the two MCs then this would have been a 5 star read.

🌶️🌶️/5

Content Warnings

sariereads's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

izziepng's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring relaxing medium-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

3.0

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

I have nothing to say other then i feel like there were to many time jumps so 1- you loose track of the time and don’t realize how much time has passed ( i think it’s like 5 or 6 months but it could very well be like 2 or 3) and 2- we don’t really see Chloe and Warrens relationship grow come together so when they tell eachother they love eachother i was like “damn wow okay that was quick” no it wasn’t theyve known eachother for months, i believe that they would love eachother but i didn’t really get to see the relationship forming because of the time jumps.

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