*This is a book review of Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young.
Quick Facts
Author: Hannah Bonam-Young
Release Date: November 21, 2022
Genre: Romance
Main Characters: Lane & Matt
Number of Pages: 344
Rating: 3/5
The Synopsis
While in the midst of an identity crisis, Lane impulsively buys a bus with the intention of making it her home. Considering her inexperience, she enlists the help of Matt, a giant man with the best Golden Retriever energy. Understanding the mutual attraction, Matt and Lane agree to be just friends, but does that ever really last?
The Good
Immediately, I fell in love with the floppiness of the physical book; it is so incredibly satisfying. It’s also nice that she put the author’s note with trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Our male main character, Matt, is Samoan, and I love to see it. Matt’s term of endearment for Lane is a Samoan word, and it makes my heart melt every time. Matt is the perfect example of a male lead with Golden Retriever energy.
This is another book with a diverse friend group, which I love. Emily is Ghanian, and it’s mentioned when she fixes her edges. Emily’s fiancé is Honduran.
Chapter twenty to twenty-two hit close to home. Like, they will live in my head rent-free [for at least another month].
The Bad
There are lots of pop culture references being dropped, and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not. Within the first twenty pages, Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse, and Simone Biles are mentioned. Lane’s twin sister and husband are literally named after members of the British royal family. These moments heavily remind me of Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter.
There’s a certain immaturity about Lane that I find a little annoying. It’s not quite insufferable but definitely unpleasant.
The Overall
Reading this book makes me want to renovate a bus into a mobile home.
That’s it. That’s my take away.
Next book to be read and reviewed: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
“‘Nine months. Surely enough time to grow a new human is enough time to decide to marry one.'”
– Liz
