Series: Next #1
Author: Hannah Bonam-Young
Published February 6th 2024 by Dell
Goodreads Synopsis
Two bickering strangers trying to foster their younger siblings team up to create a stable home, but the chemistry between them threatens to undo their plans.
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 see her baby sister placed in foster care or participate in CPS’s new initiative, where two prospective guardians join households to qualify.
Enter Warren, a surly mechanic’s apprentice attempting to get custody of his deaf fifteen-year-old brother. From the moment Warren drives up thirty minutes late, blasting music out of his car, Chloe is convinced that this is a very bad idea. The two immediately clash but eventually agree to live together for the sake of their younger siblings.
As their lives intertwine, and Chloe adjusts to caring for her newborn sister, she begins to see a new, softer side of Warren. In fact, they’re far more similar than she 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 is their mutual attraction worth risking everything they’ve fought for?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
All Chloe has ever wanted was to have a stable life. She passed through the foster system as a child, and though she eventually found a home, the past with her birth mother has changed her. So when it's revealed her birth mother has just given birth to a little girl, who will enter the system unless Chloe becomes a next-of-kin guardian, it's a no brainer. But she isn't a suitable guardian, financially, so needs to group together with another next-of-kin carer, so that she can keep her sister. Warren, a mechanic who needs a suitable apartment to care for his deaf 15 year old brother, hates the idea of living with the peppy Chloe, but will do whatever it takes to ensure that Luke is looked after. As the foursome start to navigate life together, it becomes more natural than forced, and both Chloe and Warren begin to forget they're not actually family.
Well, this book blew me away. The characters were so complex and nuanced, but still so likeable and realistic. Chloe was someone I really felt for. Though her life had improved when she was adopted, she never felt truly part of the family, so having a sibling, who was hers completely, was a dream, though it was also hard. She was struggling financially, but would do anything for little Willow, and that included moving two complete strangers, though vetted by CPS, into her apartment. Warren was the typical grumpy man, but he cared so much for Luke, that he would put up with anything. Both Warren and Chloe were polar opposites, but they worked together so well, and the change from strangers, to friends, to lovers, was great and so natural. Next of Kin was such a fantastic book, and I need to see more from this family in future books!
Dates Read:
February 2-3, 2024
Rating
4 Stars
