Of all the men to (accidentally) get pregnant by, our heroine picked the PERFECT one! He is what book boyfriends are made of, and I loved watching the tender, patient, and steady hero worm his way under the reluctant heroine’s skin. They had the kind of meet cute and intimate, smokin’ HOT hookup that showcased the potential of a relationship, which made the slow burn, roommates/expectant parents scenario that followed even more torturous. Watching them build a friendship after the night they spent together was all kinds of angsty, and I often wanted to shake the heroine so she’d see what was right in front of her. I loved the heavier undertones of this otherwise lighthearted romance though – both of these characters have limb differences, and that meant they connected on a level that they might not have been able to with anyone else. It’s a black cat/golden retriever romance with tension fueling all of the quieter moments, and I loved it every step of the way.
The story follows Win, a woman who meets an intriguing guy at a Halloween party. They have instant chemistry, and Win feels comfortable enough with Bo that she suggests they have a one-time hookup. After having her heart broken in the past, Win likes to keep her relationships quick and casual… which makes the positive pregnancy test she takes a few weeks later even more troublesome. Getting knocked up by a stranger she never planned to see again is complicated enough, but Win also feels drawn to Bo in a way that has her putting up all of her walls. As the two strangers recalibrate their expectations and decide to move in together during the pregnancy, they develop a friendship that adds tension to an already messy situation. Win is determined to keep their relationship platonic, but that’s easier said than done.
I really enjoyed Bonam-Young’s first two books, so I was eager to jump into this, especially once I read the blurb. I’m always up for a fling to more romance, and I love a roommates to lovers situation. I also loved the deeper undertones and the quiet slow burn. During their night together, Win let Bo get closer than intended, and the intimacy bled from the page. Not only did they have fantastic chemistry, but those scenes revealed the depth of a connection that should’ve been shallow. After that, Win’s defenses were higher than ever. In a way, I found that frustrating, but I also understood it. To me, it was clear that Bo was a genuinely good guy, and I loved that he had the patience to win her over. The forced proximity and process of getting to know one another also added plenty of sexual tension, and that had me glued to the pages. It’s a rich, complex story that flew by for me – I really enjoyed it.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ntv4aK
Blurb:
Winnifred “Win” McNulty has always been wildly independent. Not one to be coddled for her limb difference, Win has spent most of her life trying to prove that she can do it all on her own. And, with some minor adjustments, she’s done just fine.
That is until she has a one-night stand with the incredibly charming Bo, a perfect stranger. And that one night changes everything.
While Bo is surprisingly elated to step upto the plate, Win finds herself unsure of whether she can handle this new challenge on her own or if she’ll need a helping hand.
Together, Win and Bo decide to get to know one another as friends and nothing more. But, as they both should know by now, life rarely goes according to plan.
Content Warnings:
-graphic sexual content, pregnancy and symptoms of pregnancy, brief discussion of abortion (pro-choice stance, not performed), ableism in reference to a limb difference, verbally abusive ex-partner (no reappearance), death of a parent (past, off page) depression and suicide (past, off page), cancer (past, not reoccurring), amputation (referenced, past)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ntv4aK
Another great read from Bonam-Young!
If you haven’t checked out Bonam-Young yet, I recommend Next of Kin! The two books are unrelated, but it was one of my Top 20 of 2022 selections, and it’s got a gorgeous new cover. I loved the found family aspect and roommates to lovers situation.
Two bickering strangers, Chloe and Warren, are partnered by Child Protective Services to qualify for next of kin fostering of their younger siblings.
When people-pleasing Chloe learns that her birth mother has unexpectedly had another baby, she doesn’t hesitate to become a next-of-kin guardian. But when she fails to pass Child Protective Services’ financial evaluation, she is faced with a choice: see her baby sister placed in foster care or participate in CPS’ new initiative, TeamUp.
Enter Warren, a surly mechanic’s apprentice attempting to get custody of his deaf fifteen-year-old brother after failing CPS’ housing evaluation. The two strangers immediately clash but agree to live together until Warren can find housing elsewhere and Chloe can further grow her freelance career.
As their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren both realise that they’re far more similar than they could have imagined. What started as forced begins to feel natural—and far less lonely. Chemistry soon intensifies beyond what either of them can stand, but they must each decide if what burns between them is worth risking their arrangement.
With banter, heart, and steam that will have the reader blushing, NEXT OF KIN is a true underdog story of two young adults redefining what family can look like.
Content Warnings:
For adult readers only due to explicit (consensual) sexual content, child abandonment (referenced in memory), substance abuse and addiction (referenced, not described), foster care and adoption (theme throughout), references to anxiety (brief description of a panic attack), and death of a parent (referenced in memory).
Read the review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44dO03i
About the Author:
Hannah has been a fan of stories -both written and spoken- her entire life. An admirer from a young age of the Austens and Brontës of the world, Hannah’s favourite stories are, at their core, about love.
When books are not only able to feature the romantic love between the couple but the wonderful other forms of love that change, challenge, and surround us—magic happens. That is Hannah’s goal.
Hannah writes stories featuring a cast of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ folks wherein complex and swoon-worthy storylines coexist and blend with the beautiful realities of life, in all its messy glory.
You can find Hannah at @hannahby_writes on Instagram OR visit her website hannahbywrites.com
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Jeeves Reads Romance 
Ok, thanks again for an amazing recommendation. I was in such a reading slump, but this was really FANTASTIC!
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I’m glad you loved it! I’ve been struggling the last several weeks too, so I’m hoping this one puts me back on the right track. Hope it does for you too.
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