Hannah Bonam-Young

🎨For Fans of:
- Alzheimer representation
- bisexual representation
- Russian-Canadians
- sexual innuendos
- annoying to lovers
- she finds him annoying
- playboy MMC x innocent FMC
- small town romance
- opposites attract
- sex lessons
- spicy romance
- third act breakup that actually makes sense

⭐️ 3.5 True Rating
✏️ Spoiler-Free Review
He’s a playboy who instantly falls for her but she’s determined not to fall for him, telling herself that he’s an annoying bad boy.

While I first show more thought this book was a run-of-the-mill “teach me” romance, it actually had a lot of emotional depth to it. She is the main caretaker of her mother with Alzheimer’s while her father runs his store and he is the brother who has always run away from his traumatic and abusive childhood, even if that meant leaving others behind.

It was rewarding to see growth from both of them, and not just for the benefit of their budding relationship. She has to come to an understanding with her father who is keeping his own secrets. He has to deal with his demons so he can be a better brother to his two siblings. Lots of healing and I kinda loved it. I only wish the end had been a little slower with her relationship with her dad. It wrapped up too quickly and was a bit too spicy for me to personally give this a 5-star.

I also just want to say that since she’s a virgin and he’s teaching her, there is definitely a fair amount of spice! Imagine “Practice Makes Perfect” by Sarah Adams but with way more spice and different family dynamics.

If you’re looking for a spicy romance with some sassy enemies to friends to lovers tropes, this one has some fun banter and heartwarming family elements. show less

A single POV romance about unexpected parenthood. Chloe is embarking on life after university when she gets a phone call to say that her birth mother has had a premature baby, and Chloe is a candidate to become a next-of-kin carer.

Chloe has a decent-sized apartment but her burgeoning freelance career as a graphic designer isn’t enough to convince the authorities she’s sufficiently financially secure. She is encouraged to join forces with another would-be carer, Warren, who has a steady show more job but hasn’t been able to find a suitable housing close to his teenage brother’s school for the Deaf.

There’s an inevitable romance and while I liked seeing the two of them support each other, I was much more interested in the experiences of becoming a carer for a younger sibling -- and of having a baby staying in the neonatal intensive care unit. My youngest sibling was born early and spent months in NICU. Unlike Chloe, I was a child myself at that time but old enough that I remember vividly (some of) what that was like for my family. It’s an experience I haven’t seen portrayed in fiction before. show less

Super sweet with exceptionally likable main characters.

Win was born to a single mother who was so desperate to find a man that she sublimated her life and her needs to those of the many men who floated through their lives. Win was also born with a small and minimally functional hand. She functions just fine with her limb difference, but it has caused pain in her life, mostly due to others' reactions to it. Her mother's issues with men have actually left more scars. After Win ends a long and show more terrible relationship where she allowed a man to play her she decides she prefers to be on her own. She sinks into an easy if unfulfilling professional life and finds her respite in her relationship with her wonderful best friends who are married to one another, and were high school sweethearts. She also has lots of interests and her life is mostly good enough. When those best friends throw a Halloween party she meets a very alluring man (I won't provide details, it is a fun meetcute) who also has limb difference. His is from a recent leg amputation following a cancer diagnosis. Things happen which throw them together and we ride alongside.

Both main characters are nerdy, smart and kind, so it is fun to hang with them and root for them. There is some steam here, but despite it being detailed (especially with respect to cunnilingus) I did not find it terribly hot but YMMV. Like the characters' actions in the rest of the book, their sex scenes seemed polite, thoughtful, and pleasant. I mean, they are Canadian, maybe that is a thing? (JK! That is joke for my Canadian friends.)

This one is recommended for anyone looking for the warm fuzzies, like a Hallmark movie but with lots of oral. show less

Add another auto-buy author to the list!

The Plot:
Sarah and Caleb Linwood are high school sweethearts that got married really young. After a fundraising event doesn't go as expected, they get into a severe fight that could cost them their marriage.
Luckily there's a guided hiking tour that Sarah gets free tickets to and Caleb reluctantly agrees to go.
During their hiking tour, Caleb and Sarah face their fears and weaknesses head on and put it all out on the table in order to get through their show more rough patch.

My Thoughts:
Hannah Bonam-Young is a terrific author. I love her characters and their depths. She doesn't write stereotypes. Each character is fleshed out and has strengths and flaws that don't exist just to further the plot. I admire the vulnerability she exposes in the start of the book. This is roughly based off her high school sweetheart marriage and all the judgement she got from that.

Caleb and Sarah were adorable characters. I loved their dynamics and their honesty throughout the story. Caleb is a great husband and he is very good at voicing what he wants. Watching the two characters experience their least favorite activity (anything in the wild) and yet still facing them with joy, curiosity, and love for each other was so refreshing to read. They are probably one of my favorite book couples now. show less