this was so sweet and soft, and so intimate and emotional, with beautifully vulnerable and real characters. another stunner from hannah, i love milo and prue and this gorgeous little town of baysville so much!

prudence, towns darling and my angel girl, i love your soul. the most selfless sweetheart, i wanna give you the biggest hug!!!

thank u so much for the arc, so grateful to have read this gem early!

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I’m not a fan of the experienced MMC/virgin FMC trope. I also found the relationship to be shallow and fast-paced, with the characters declaring their love for each other within just a month of meeting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for advanced copy.

People watching follows Prudence Welch and Miles Kablukov. Prue looks after her mother who has early onset Alzheimer’s and that means she lives a very quiet, introverted life. She also works at her father’s gas station, loves writing poetry and is a virgin. Whereas Miles is a complete free spirit who has travelled the world but when his brother calls he goes to the small town of Baysville, Ontario. Milo meets Prue, they start getting to know each other but Miles who is a commitment phobe might want to be more than friends.

Fans of Hannah Bonam-Young will love this book but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. Personally I just didn’t vibe with the characters. I found this to be a little bit cringe and to be honest I’m just over romance books with a heroine that’s a virgin and a hero that’s slept with hundreds of people. I just didn’t vibe with this. Plus I’m not a huge fan of the way the Alzheimer’s was handled nor the other medical diagnosis. 3 stars.

People Watching is a thoroughly entertaining and heartfelt read that pulled me in with its charming concept and well-crafted characters. Hannah Bonam-Young has a real talent for creating protagonists with depth, and both Prue and Milo come to life through compelling backstories and strong, distinct personalities.

One of the things I appreciated most was how naturally funny and engaging the writing is. The dynamic between the characters kept me smiling, and there’s a real warmth to their interactions that made the book a joy to read. Prue, in particular, was relatable and endearing, and her connection with Milo felt genuine for the most part.

That said, I did find myself wishing that Milo’s internal conflict—his desire to escape and travel as a result of his difficult upbringing—had been explored more deeply. His shift in priorities felt a bit too quick and convenient, and I would have liked to see a more gradual or complex evolution of that aspect of his character. It made his transformation feel slightly unrealistic, especially given how significant that part of his identity seemed to be.

Still, People Watching is an enjoyable, emotionally resonant novel with humor, heart, and a cast of characters that stay with you after the final page.

Call Hannah Bonam-Young the new Abby Jimenez on the block!

Prudence is quite content with her life in small town Baysville observing the lives of others as an inspiration for her poetry and supporting her father caring for her mother as well as their family owned business. Prue is loyal and happy in her acknowledgement that she quite frankly has time for nothing else, that is until free spirited and well travelled Milo arrives in town to support his brother. Milo is hooked the second he sets his eyes on Prue, but he never bargained that meeting her takes him on a new adventure he's never travelled through before...

First Out on a Limb, then Out of the Woods, now People Watching?! Hannah Bonam-Young is just getting better and better. I was about to express my astonishment of flying through this book in a day but I'm beginning to think how I could not! It is funny, it is sexy, it is heart-breaking and it is heart-warming. The characters within People Watching are ones you fall quickly in love with, whether that's because of their top notch banter and snarky remarks or because of their love and support for one another. And it's because of this that I'm reminded of the great talent Abby Jimenez has, where you're laughing one minute and feeling sorrow the next, that Hannah Bonam-Young has mastered too. It has gotten to the point where I'm that obsessed that I'm over the moon that there's a sequel but I'm also wanting a book on Nik and Sef's journey, as well as Tom and Julie's story. Hannah, PLEASE!

I loved these two. Milo and Prue were such a great pair, their chemistry felt instant but believable. We got to see them connect in so many ways and build a solid level of trust and friendship, as well as a romantic attachment.

Milo's internal monologue is hilarious. Watching him spiral every time he sees Prue is great. From the outside, he’s that chaotic, bisexual, flirty guy, but there’s so much more depth to him. His love for his family, his struggles from childhood, and his desire for connection, even if fleeting. Prue is the town darling, but not in a soft-spoken or boring way. She’s blunt, funny, and deeply caring. Her love for her parents mirrors the love Milo has for his siblings.

Even though their relationship developed quickly, it didn’t feel rushed. It just felt like two people who instantly get each other. Prue needs support, a friend, and someone she can rely on. Milo shows up for her in so many ways and learns valuable lessons for himself along the way.

I think if the book had been a touch longer, with just a bit more space for emotional depth and character development, it would’ve easily been a five-star read for me.

Did I read this in a day? Yes... Yes I did.

Hannah Bonam-Young doesn't shy away from writing stories with tricky topics. This one was no different. I'd partly forgotten the Alzheimer's situation - this may make people feel certain ways about this book.

Also, there's some childhood abuse/neglect that's discussed and, although nothing is shared in detail, I definitely had a moment with those scenes.

The characters are, effectively, built around these aspects and have to overcome some big emotions to get to their own happiness, both having to acknowledge hard facts to get anywhere good.

I enjoyed the book, the characters were great. I liked their lists and lessons, their trust and vulnerabilities.

I struggled with some elements (secret keeping) but that plays in to the story and is just something I don't like, personally. But, as always, this was a great book and I can't wait to read it again!

The relationship between Milo and Prue was a delight to watch unfold, the trust and friendship they grew together and the connection that they so obviously both shared was well-written and I loved it so much.

The supporting cast of characters were also wonderful, and I would've loved to spend more time with them and the small town that was described. I wanted to see a bit more of the community around Milo and Prue; the sibling bond development happening with Milo, Nik and Nadia especially.

Overall I really loved this book, and would highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.