YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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.

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ This book is really not wasting any time messing around! Actually obsessed with this:

“When did you start making your feelings smaller for other people’s benefit?”

There is no way a real life man would ever have this much emotional intelligence but I am already sooo keen! Like is this completely unrealistic and also makes no sense with the rest of his angsty personality? Yes - but I am so here for it! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[ Okay hate to say it but I might have to eat my words, so far Warren is not convincing me. His mood swings are actually giving me whiplash! I cannot keep up! And I’m sure it’s all going to get linked back to his traumas but I really just would like him to be nicer to Chloe please!!! The angst is just a little bit overkill. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ Okay but like this date is soooo cute! His song is giving Ken but in the best way possible and I’m actually obsessed with how obsessed he is! If there’s a third act breakup because he’s too emotionally unavailable though I’ll actually be fuming. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Okay look, this did not quite hit the way I wanted it to. I went in with really high expectations because I have LOVED her other 2 books that I’ve read - but this was not quite on the same level. I can see everything I love about her writing coming through in the good moments that Chloe & Warren have together, but like they go from 0 to in love so fast?? It felt like insta-love that took half the book to actually get there and idk how to explain it. The good bits were really good but big picture this didn’t work for me :( (hide spoiler)]

OMG SRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Got carried away by scheduling 5 books read in august 1 😭😭😭😭 ill try to finish this ASAP

8%

(view spoiler)[i already love how everyone is so supportive! This book is very awesome already even though the scene that just happened... Is definitely not (hide spoiler)]

Lara wrote: "Chapter 7: This book is really not wasting any time messing around! Actually obsessed with this:

“When did you start making your feelings smaller for other people’s benefit?”

There is no way a r..."

Agreed! I think this book is not trying to have any problems because so far no one literally has any problems yet, i think it's suffer some being too "perfect" and that is just what makes this book unrealistic for a bit.

Gohnar23 wrote: "OMG SRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Got carried away by scheduling 5 books read in august 1 😭😭😭😭 ill try to finish this ASAP"

HAHA that is all good, when I saw how many you had scheduled for the start of the month I was so impressed! But I'm very keen to hear your thoughts on this one!

28%


(view spoiler)[i don't really know how to open as supposed to be 'enemies' but ok, I love how they treat Luke and how they aren't giving that much harshness when it comes to his punishments.....also them being "Mutually beneficial cohabitants" is a bit funny 😋😋😋, they don't have any major disagreements yet (hide spoiler)]

39%

(view spoiler)[waitt........ They hate each other????????? It really doesn't feel like it and it just seems that they just simply don't like each other very much, but i don't think that's the case hungry because they still interact with each other and Chloe even hangs out with Luke, Warren would probably be like 'don't touch my brother' if the two of them really hate each other but that is not the case.

Plus right now they already kissed each other. This part on the romance aspect is rushed and moreover basically insta-love.

I mean da hell, i am not even expecting to like this, i don't even like romance books (hide spoiler)]

66%

(view spoiler)[i mean i love that the two of them love each other now, but this really screams insta love, i think i love her friends more than her actual relationship with Warren (hide spoiler)]

Lara wrote: "Chapter 18: [spoilers removed]"

Wait was it that bad 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭, i think of it as just minor inconveniences and minor dislikes towards each other. His mood swings those kind of metal a little bit severely confusing and unpredictable but i think that's just who he is. I may not want to eat my words but i don't want to eat something right now :((((((((

Ch 31:

(view spoiler)[awhhhhhh, he's getting a bit shyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 (pretty much out of character for him) (hide spoiler)]

Ch 32:

(view spoiler)[You made me fall in love with you so you could lead me to my death?


I want to know what happens if this was actually the case 😁😁😁😁😁😁, this is pretty boring so far so this sudden change of pace and story would be hella fun, like you were made to think that this is just some silly enemies to lovers book in which they are not actually enemies just minor hatred towards each other (hide spoiler)]

84%

(view spoiler)[why are all of them just talking about sex now, omagoshh pls have a plot😭😭😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

Lara wrote: "Chapter 32: [spoilers removed]"

I'll actually be more interested if there's a third act break up because this is boring af 😭😭😭😭😭

100%

(view spoiler)[sry but this is too cheesy and i feel like i've read the exact same story already 😭😭😭😭, Luke is the only interesting character in here. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Nah yeah I think I completely agree with you! This book was mid at best, didn't really do anything and the romance was insta-love and unconvincing (hide spoiler)]