Over the past few months, I have found myself active on bookstagram and adding many more books to my want to read list and one book I have repeatedly come across and found myself wanting to read is Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young so when I saw a different book by her up to request on Netgally I thought I might as well give it a go and I was not disappointed.
Next of Kin follows Chloe who has recently discovered she has a younger sister but to be able to qualify to be her kinship carer, she has to join with households with another guardian who just missed passing social services evaluation. When Warren and his deaf younger brother move in they initially clash but agree to put their differences aside for the 5 months until Chloe can reevaluate. This is a highly enjoyable romance book that I loved so much more than I was expecting.
At the start of the book I wasn’t so sure about Warren but I warmed up to him and loved reading about these two characters learning to get along and help each other. Neither are in particularly easy situations, but they learn that getting support from the other can massively help them, even if they aren’t their biggest fans.
It was exciting to see Chloe grow throughout the story in many different ways but all really positive ways. You saw her learn how to be more honest and learn what it’s like to be a good friend, as well as learn how to be confident in what she wants from her life. I always enjoy reading and watching characters grow as people in ways that are really positive and you know will help them after the book ends.
I also really enjoyed getting to know Warren and Luke. Once you got past the hard exterior of Warren he was a fantastic character and someone who you could understand so much more. If we didn’t know his backstory you wouldn’t understand his actions so much and I don’t know that you would trust him so much, but learning his backstory gives you that context to then understand the why.
Most of the side characters were also great and I loved how much Chloe’s friends supported her throughout the story. It showed just how strong friendships you make are but also how much people can care about you even if you don’t initially realise it. I am excited to read the next book in this series at some point which I am pretty sure also follows one of Chloe’s close friends, and possibly one of Warrens?
I liked so much of this book, that I just could not put it down until I knew how it would end even when I constantly needed to be doing other things. The way that the relationship developed and the backsteps it faced all felt very natural and real to the situation, they knew what needed to be prioritised even if they wanted to push forward with it. I loved having the siblings of Chloe and Warren involved in the story as well as their families and how that has built them as people because it has had an impact on them.
I am really loving romance stories that feel like this at the moment which makes me very happy and I can’t wait to read more. It's an easy 4.5 stars that I highly recommend picking up once it is re-released on February 15th. I cannot wait to pick up the other romance stories by Hannah Bonam-Young once they have also been re-released.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bedford Square for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
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