Hannah Bonam-Young’s Out on a Limb and Out of the Woods are books I still think about to this day, and rightly so as they are well-written, homey, sweet reads that deal with heavy and bittersweet themes. I couldn’t say no to Next of Kin when it came across my radar, and I have devoured it in two bites, only split in half to allow for sleep.

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 and, ultimately, the well-being of their siblings. 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.

This story, like her other works, features some heavy subjects and, Hannah Bonam-Young includes a content warning list at the start of the novel (an amazing practice more should partake in as this is such a simple way to give warning to those who may require it while not taking away from the story itself). These include themes of drug use, adoption, the foster system, and fetal alcohol syndrome, among others. I feel that these topics and the discussions around them are so necessary and important to have, and seeing them in fiction and giving readers a space to experience their emotions surrounding these thoughts and feelings is integral to the normalisation of these conversations. I commend Hannah Bonam-Young for providing these stepping stones to get people talking about these topics, and for including characters from a diverse range of backgrounds that don’t often get represented in fiction, especially contemporary romance.

Next of Kin is full of heart-warming scenes, incredible characters, complex conflicts, and moments that will have you crossing your fingers. I really enjoy reading books with deaf characters who use sign language and seeing deaf characters communicate differently, and Next of Kin shows that through interactions and relationships including Luke and Chloe’s dad. There aren’t enough books out there with deaf representation, and just like with the aforementioned heavier themes and representations, I feel that more discussion and normalisation of deaf characters in fiction would help to normalise and create positive discussions around supporting the deaf people in our communities.

As a story itself, Next of Kin is precious and sweet, providing a lovely contemporary romance with a little bit of spice to enjoy over an afternoon. Get a warm drink, find a cosy spot in your place, sit back, and enjoy this easy-to-read romance that is all about family, love, and supporting those around you – including yourself.