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suse_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-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
5.0
Incredible. I practically inhaled this book within two days and loved it so much I even sat through the half time/not quite third act breakup. Lane and Matt are incredibly adorable and lovable characters that are so easy to identify with in any way, shape or form. I also appreciate the author for not putting a child into the equation so I didn’t have to take a star off my rating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
dianaschmidty's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is an emotional rollercoaster. I love friends to lovers stories for having a built-in connection and the clear connection between Lane and Matt is a clear example of this. Chemistry radiates off of them for most of the book, making their romance so believable. I think they complemented each other well!
I really liked the additions of Lane and Matt’s families. While we’re taught to dislike Lane’s family from the beginning, we learn that there’s more to them than what meets to eye when we meet them, which is really interesting to read because it feels to realistic of real families. I also loved how his family could be a demonstration to hers that it is possible to grow a family in the wake of trauma.
The only thing I didn’t really love was how Matt handled the FWB situation. It was sad to see her tell him that she wouldn’t be able to give him a relationship only for him to get mad a month later when her feelings on the subject hadn’t changed. I get that this is why friends to lovers romances are usually messy, but I think with how well he knew her, he shouldn’t have gotten mad and lashed out at her. It was also annoying because he had agreed to not having a relationship, it’s not like it had come out of nowhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Biphobia and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility and Misogyny
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Things I liked:
- he falls first and harddd
- found family + reconnecting
- sweetheart x sweetheart
- bi mc (and it not only being mentioned once)
- 'imperfect' characters
- mental health/personal growth
- the smooth switch between cute, spicy and deep
Could have had a few more scenes of them acting couple-y but not actually dating outside or one of the them watching movies together which was kind of their thing but only tell no show and the entire them becoming/being friends part was just completely left out...so sadly just some 'vibes' were missing.
Spice (quality&quantity):
2.75/5
not that frequent and not that detailed but really focusing on the connection between the characters involved which made it hot (we also love a man wholikes to eat out appreciates the fMC)
- he falls first and harddd
- found family + reconnecting
- sweetheart x sweetheart
- bi mc (and it not only being mentioned once)
- 'imperfect' characters
- mental health/personal growth
- the smooth switch between cute, spicy and deep
Could have had a few more scenes of them acting couple-y but not actually dating outside or one of the them watching movies together which was kind of their thing but only tell no show and the entire them becoming/being friends part was just completely left out...so sadly just some 'vibes' were missing.
Spice (quality&quantity):
2.75/5
not that frequent and not that detailed but really focusing on the connection between the characters involved which made it hot (we also love a man who
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness and Car accident
Minor: Homophobia and Alcohol
headinthepages's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
soobooksalot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Author Hannah Bonam-Young has a great way with fictional people!
Just finished Next To You, the novel after Next Of Kin that intertwines some characters but also stands alone.
The story of Lane and Matt charmed me just as much as that of Chloe and Warren. The building of relationships and emotion among realistically flawed characters, just pulls a reader in. Some steamy spice doesn't hurt either.
Lane's character experiencing the long-supressed feelings of guilt related to the loss of her father adds depth. (No tears here. Nope!)
Recommended!
Just finished Next To You, the novel after Next Of Kin that intertwines some characters but also stands alone.
The story of Lane and Matt charmed me just as much as that of Chloe and Warren. The building of relationships and emotion among realistically flawed characters, just pulls a reader in. Some steamy spice doesn't hurt either.
Lane's character experiencing the long-supressed feelings of guilt related to the loss of her father adds depth. (No tears here. Nope!)
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol