After a night of drinking to cope with the fact she is the last one standing in singlehood, Lane buys a large school bus. The plan is to renovate it and make it into a livable space with the help of mechanic Matt.

Once again, the author has provided a whirlwind of a read. The chemistry? sizzling. The vibes? cozy. Emotions? not coping well.

This romance just felt so real and pure, and the nickname that Matt gives Lane is just a giggling, feet kicking, blushing moment. I love the writing style that this author uses in all of her books.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy

Wow what a book. It was such a brilliant read. Hannah writing was so engaging. I loved the friends to lovers trope. I love the found family in the story. The cover definitely drew me to this book and I shall definitely be adding it to my collection.

Hannah was a new author to me but definitely will be reading more from her. It was a utter joy to read and had me staying up late into the night to finish because I couldn't put it down.

Hannah dealt with grief so well.
For me it was a five star read

I absolutely love and will always love Hannah bonam young and her impeccable talent of writing the sweetest most swoon worthy men, as soon as the words “for the criers” appeared I knew I was going to be absolutely in love with this and I was right, this book was so adorable, so cute and I’m so obsessed with the idea of renovating my own bus home.

An absolutely heartwarming love story that will definitely bring you to tears, and make you research if you can renovate your own bus. Lane and Matt will absolutely steal your heart with their impulsive and explosive love. Complicated families, strong bonds, and a bus that suits them perfectly.
Fell absolutely in love with Next to You, and this was such a fantastic continuation in the Next series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

This book was just *chefkiss* and exactly what I needed. I think Hannah has a talent of writing swoon worth men.
Lane was great. I thought that many people could relate to her. As much as I wanted to shake her at the beginning of the book and make her see what was in front of her, I also understood her thought progress. That being said, majority of my glowing stars go to Mattheus Tilo-Jones. Matt is a literal dream. He was gentle, he was pretty, he was understandable, he was patient (like no joke), he also had a filthy mouth. Very very filthy. 
This book is a well-done friends to lovers, it does deal with grief and anxiety but was done in a way that it didn't take the lightness and glow of the story. Hannah has written this book beautifully. It was easy to get into and read. I had many favourite moments in this book but my top has to be when Matt done a victory dance thinking no one is seeing it only to be captured on his own security camera . 

I absolutely adored the friend that both Lane and Matt built between themselves and others in their friendship group. It was genuine and pure. Although the perspective was solely from Lane's point of view, Matt's unwavering affection for her was palpable, making me strongly rooting for their relationship. The progression of Lane and Matt's romance was both exciting and heartwarming, culminating in a beautifully wholesome love story. When they started to cross some lines, the giddiness I felt! 

Lane deserved Matt and Matt deserved Lane. They were inevitable. I am glad I had the opportunity to read their wholesome beautiful love story.

i loved this book so much, the anxiety rep was amazing 🥺 and matt?? ACTS OF SERVICE KING. one of the best friends to lovers i’ve ever read!!

It took me a while to get into this book and it felt quite slow because of that. I think that was partly because there was a lot of repetition involved in the writing and thoughts on the first third or so.

It did pick up a bit, but that was mainly whenever both Matt and Lane’s families were introduced and so there was more to play with dynamics and story wise.

I thought the chemistry between Matt and Lane was great but it didn’t feel consistent and there were times when I wasn’t as invested in them getting together as I perhaps should have been.

I thought the last few chapters were sweet but overall it just wasn’t quite for me.

I absolutely adored this. Hannah had written two characters who I just want to give massive cuddles too.
I related to Lane on so many levels and the way the author had her handle anxiety and fear was perfect for me and I felt every emotion the character did.
Matt is a proper golden retriever. Utter sweetness and he made Lane so gooey it was great!

This book tackles difficult topics and the author handled each with compassion and thought and it was so beautifully written that I couldn’t help but love it

This is my second Hannah Bonam-Young book and after loving the first one I read this did not disappoint.

Next to You follows Lane and Matt who we have previously met in Next of Kin, and have a strong friendship. Lane has just bought a school bus that she plans to turn into a home with Matt’s help and even though they know they are both attracted to each other they also know that nothing more than friendship will work between them.

This book is a standalone companion to Next of Kin so you have no need to have read Next of Kin but takes place afterwards so if you want to read both it will spoil Next of Kin in a few different ways.

We follow Lane’s perspective throughout the story and really get to know her and understand what has happened previously in her life that has led her to behave how she does. At times it is hard to read and you wish that things had been easier for her but you do get to understand her and are happy with the way things start to change in the later part of the book.

I really liked seeing Lane and Matt’s friendship develop as a friendship and into more throughout the story. You could tell that first and foremost they wanted to be there for each other and support them when that support was needed but with that, it led to them wanting to make sure they were putting in and taking the right amount rather than only taking and not giving and I liked how they were aware and while they wanted the relationship they wanted to do it right because it doesn’t feel like something I see often, especially when it comes to third act break-ups.

I also love the support that Lane and Matt get from both their friends and family. I have grown to love this friendship group so much over these two books, how much they support each other and how understanding they are always trying to be even if they aren't as understanding as they may think they are being. Matt's family was also great to read about and I love how supportive they also are, as well as that general noisiness and chaos that comes with large families but is great fun to read about.

Overall a really fun romance book that I could not put down and highly recommend. I love Hannah Bonam-Young's writing so much and cannot wait to read Out on a Limb as soon as I can. An easy 4.5 stars, and I will definitely be getting my hands on a physical copy as soon as possible.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bedford Square Publishers for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

🌟 4/5
🌶️ 2.5/5

Genre: new adult romance
POV: single, first person

Tropes:
✨ he falls first
✨ friends to lovers
✨ friends with benefits

TWs: grief, anxiety, agoraphobia, car accident

Dedication: This one is for all of us criers. For the ones who seem to feel nothing or everything all at once.

Lane is struggling to find her path in life after losing her father. Drunk on her 27th birthday, stuck in a renovation hole on tiktok, she buys a 27 seater yellow school bus with the intention of living in it.

Matt, her best friend and mechanic, jumps on board no questions asked and helps her renovate it.

The tension has been brewing for years, but the close proximity and her fear of commitment leads to them agreeing to be friends with benefits (Matt with take anything he can get - he’s so obviously in love with her 😭)

Matt is part of a huge family, who welcome Lane with open arms. His family dynamic filled me with warmth, really cosy vibes. And Matt was full of stories from his childhood.

It really felt like a journey with these characters, as Lane slowly learnt that she needed to prioritise herself in order to move forward and live a life she deserves, that Matt can give her.

Matt was so patient and understanding. The letters 😭 sweet sweet man. If you love a simping man, Matt is for you.

Lane was a beautifully written character, with grief and anxiety depicted so well.

“Anxiety creeps up in many forms, but most often, it feels like exhaustion. I’m an electric vehicle running on two AA batteries.” Never related to something more 🥲 anxiety is exhausting, people really underestimate the effort it takes a person with anxiety to just exist!

I loved this book, it is full of emotions!!

This was stunning, beautiful and emotional. Hannah knows how to write about friendships, relationships, trauma and family love. I loved this book from beginning to end. It depicted life in a way that many can relate to i believe, sometimes itis necesarry to take that leap of faith, even if it may seem insane at the time but it can lead to a life full of happiness. The depiction of Lane's anxiety was so well done and i liked how it was portrayed so human and not only in a negative light. Her journey of self-discovery and healing was beautiful. Also Matt was gorgeos and the biggest green flag!

Cant recommend this book enough. Anything Hannah Bonam- Young writes i will buy. She has the abiltiy to depict sensitive topics in such a beautiful and human way.

It’s not very often that a book can make me sob with happy tears but Hannah Bonam-Young has achieved that with every single one of her books so far.

Lane and Matt had my heart from the first page of this book and now I have finished it they own in completely. They had an incredible love story that deals with so many sensitive topics, that were all handled incredibly well!

As an anxiety sufferer myself I absolutely love it when we get a character like Lane who I can relate to so much.

I found Lane and Matt’s relationship development amazing as it all just seemed so natural, not a single element of their relationship felt forced in any way, it was built out of mutual respect and genuine love of spending time with each other, which is absolutely lovely to read about!

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Bedford Square Publishers and Hannah Bonam-Young for an eArc of this book!

4 stars⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital e-arc of this book. This book was adorable and omg the mmc was everything a girl needs in a man. Matt was every man a girl could dream!!! This was written so lovely and a great way to finish the series too.

I really enjoyed this story overall, I went expecting a pretty light-hearted romance, but it was quite an emotional rollercoaster. The characters were easy to like and I especially loved that Hannah Bonam-Young took the time to really flesh out the families of the MMC/FMC as well.

I wish the story had spent a bit more time with the bus, I think it would have been interesting to have some more scenes involving the renovation. I also felt that the first 20-30% of the book moved quite slowly, and I struggled to get into the plot. However, after this, it really picked up, and I whizzed through the last half in less than a day.

Hannah Bonam-Young knocks it out of the park every time and this truly is no exception. It handles the less pleasant topics within perfectly, however I did appreciate the trigger warnings before even starting. As for the story itself, I was absolutely enamoured with the main character and could definitely see myself in her. It’s nice to feel seen and recognised.

4 ⭐️ Okay so Hannah is definitely one of my new favourite authors and if you haven’t read her books before, I would 100% recommend. I was so excited when this ARC hit my kindle and started reading it so fast 😊 Friends to lovers, it’s always been you vibes!! This was a beautiful story about love, friendship, grief and communication - it was perfect 💘

What a beautiful, incredibly wholesome love story.

This was genuinely funny, so sweet, emotional, tender.

I loved Lane's personal growth, dealing with loss and grief, her insecurities and anxieties.

Matt was the most wonderful, sweet, sexy man, not afraid to be vulnerable and show his feelings.

This was friends with benefits done so, so well, Lane and Matt made the cutest couple, each bringing out the best in the other.

I also loved all the side characters, Matt's family, and Lane's relationship with her sister.

There were a lot of spicy scenes in this book, but they were all so intimate and tender.
The grovelling and big speech came from the woman this time, not the man. I loved this.

I LOVED everything about this book, so much.

i could not put my kindle down.

so much happened in this book but the tension, the pining, the fluffy scenes were EVERYTHING.

i don’t even know how to express all my thoughts and put them into words.

hannah bonam young i need to read everything you put out because your writing is so so comforting and homey, it’s like cuddling up to a warm blanket, drinking your favourite milkshake, listening to the song that makes you feel like you’re floating. makes me heart feel all the emotions every time, a rollercoaster i never want to get off.

I loved loved LOVED this book!

I loved Matt as a romantic hero and the more I think about it, he may be one of my most favourite romantic leads I’ve ever read.

The writing was beautiful, especially the dialogue between Lane and Matt - they had a convincing banter and it was sweet when it needed to and hot during the more sexy scenes.
Matt and Lane were distinctly their own people, fleshed out with their own history and culture - I enjoyed seeing them interact with both their families and seeing how differently they grew up.

I felt the conflict that Lane experiences in terms of loss was very realistic.
There were, however, a couple of things I wished to see more off.

Lane’s choice of continuing what her and Matt agreed on, knowing of his feelings felt very selfish and somewhat cruel. I can tell she didn’t mean to be, and she herself reflects on this later in the book and she wanted to let herself have it, but I did feel really bad for him. Lane would like someone to Stay and Come Back for her, but I wish I saw her fight for him a little more too. I wish we acknowledged more of his insecurities and feelings.
I also felt the scenes with Emily and Chloe felt surprisingly surface level and few and far between - I wish we saw a genuine heart to heart between them.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Warren in this book a lot.

There a couple of things that made me scratch my head - little inconsistencies. Like the fact Lane drove her bus to be closer to her mom and sister but she didn’t have the license for it or when her and Matt go to pick it up at the start of the book, they both rode in it on the way back home, but what happened to the car they arrived in? These little inconsistencies didn’t take away from my enjoyment but they did make me think I’ve skipped a paragraph here and there.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot - I recommend it as it had a lot of heart and very likeable characters and I’m likely to re-read it in the future.