Another first has been ticked off – romance with a pregnancy at the core of the story. I am not usually a pregnancy trope in romance fan, or any genre for that matter, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like Hannah Bonam-Young’s Out on a Limb. I have been pleasantly surprised by the enjoyment, emotion, and engagement I experienced reading this novel, and there are many things that I loved about this sweet romance book.

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 up to 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.

Out on a Limb has the following warnings: pregnancy and symptoms of pregnancy, brief discussion of abortion (pro-choice stance, not performed), ablism in reference to a limb difference, erbally abusive ex-partner (no reappearance), death of a parent (past, off-page), depression and suicide (past, off-page), cancer (past, not reoccurring), and amputation (past, off page). There is also the warning that this book is spicy, contains graphic sexual content, and is not for young readers.

Let’s start with some context. Hannah Bonam-Young, the author of this book (and Out of the Woods which follows this one but I read out of order and thoroughly enjoyed) was born with a limb difference, and this is a huge theme and aspect of Out on a Limb. Not only is Winnie, the female main character, born with the same limb difference in her hand, but Bo, our male main character, has an amputated leg which he was not born with. Through this subtle contrast, we get to see two different perspectives to the life of someone with a disability. This shape the characters and the novel in very small but impactful ways. The novel isn’t about their disabilities or how they live their life, but the plot navigates the challenges of pregnancy and becoming parents with these details in mind. To see part of Hannah’s experience as a soon-to-be mother in Winnie’s thought process throughout her pregnancy is incredibly heartening to see. Representation in stories is so important, and I find that diversity accurately represented in romance is especially important. For that reason alone, I would recommend this novel.

I love the characters in Out on a Limb. From Winnie who is sweet and caring yet fiercely independent to a fault and struggling with past relationships, to Bo, a man who has been through so much and continues to be not only a kind and attentive person, but who has simple pleasures he is not afraid to enjoy, even if they may be seen as nerdy. I love Sarah and Caleb, and seeing the contrast between them in this novel and in their novel Out of the Woods makes things all the more interesting in my mind, and has me more likely to reread the latter before the year’s end.

Out on a Limb is a sweet yet spicy romance that is perfect for the highs and lows of the novels core themes and plot. It is not just a light romance, for many darker themes are touched up, as well as the possibly blunt addressing of the characters’ limb differences. It is a book that brings many things to the conversation in regards to pregnancy, raising a child, and doing so as a parent with a limb difference and/or amputation. I highly recommend Out on a Limb to all contemporary readers, romance readers, and anyone wanting a bit of a feel good read that isn’t so straight forward.