Next of Kin

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young was initially self-published in 2022 and later picked up by Dell (an imprint of Penguin Random House) in 2024. The novel is a new adult romance that tells the love story of two people trying to gain custody of their younger siblings. Next of Kin also explores the meaning of family, how events happen at the right time, and the internal and external struggles involving judgments and assumptions. The book is followed by friends-to-lovers sequel Next to You and has received acclaim throughout the romance genre community for bringing critical attention to the joy of found family and love during difficult times. USA Today bestselling author Hannah Bonam-Young has built her career on writing romance books with casts of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ characters that demonstrate that everyone is deserving of love. Originally from Canada, she now lives with her husband and kids near Niagara Falls on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.

This guide is based on the 2024 Dell trade paperback edition of Next of Kin.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain sexual content, cursing, and depictions of ableism.

Plot Summary

Next of Kin follows 24-year-old Chloe through the journey of gaining custody of her newborn sister and an unlikely romance with another would-be guardian, Warren. At the book’s outset, Chloe learns her estranged birth mom has just unexpectedly had a daughter and requested Chloe become the child’s guardian. As a freelance graphic designer who’s barely getting by, Chloe knows she’s in no position to financially support a baby, especially one with health issues from fetal alcohol syndrome and being born prematurely. However, Chloe’s memories of being neglected by her birth mom make her determined to give her little sister a better childhood. At the hospital, Chloe meets with her mom to discuss the arrangement and then meets her new sister, whom she names Willow. Calvin, Willow’s nurse, takes an immediate liking to Chloe, and the two form a working friendship while Willow stays in the hospital until she’s stable enough to go home.

As Chloe expected, she doesn’t meet the Child Protective Services (CPS) financial requirements for being a guardian. Her social worker suggests CPS’s new Team Up plan, in which two prospective guardians cohabitate so they can meet the requirements. Chloe is paired with Warren, who works to gain custody of his 15-year-old brother, Luke, who is deaf, and needs a larger apartment. Chloe still lives in the three-bedroom apartment she shared with her college roommates, and though she’s nervous about living with a guy she doesn’t know, she agrees because she’ll do anything for Willow. When Warren is half an hour late to their first meeting, Chloe instantly dislikes him. Warren has a similar dislike of Chloe, believing she’s a spoiled rich girl with a fancy degree and apartment. Still, their love for their siblings is greater than their dislike for one another, and they agree to the partnership, knowing they will never see each other again after the five months are up.

The first few weeks of their cohabitation are characterized by Chloe and Warren avoiding each other as much as possible. Despite this, Warren can’t help noticing how adorable Willow is, and since Chloe knows American Sign Language (ASL) because her adoptive father is deaf, she finds herself forming a bond with Luke. After Chloe sees Luke smoking pot with his friends and doesn’t tell Warren immediately, Warren is outraged because he thinks Chloe is trying to form attachments where he doesn’t want them. Chloe argues she was only trying to help and proposes the four of them split expenses and responsibilities for the good of everyone. Warren apologizes for his outburst and agrees, knowing they both could use the extra help.

For his birthday, Warren has friends over. When Chloe catches the friends snorting cocaine, she kicks them out because she won’t have them risk her getting custody of Willow. Warren didn’t know his friends brought drugs and apologizes. He and Chloe realize how deeply their shared situation affects them both, and they kiss as their mutual support transforms into attraction. Luke interrupts and rants at Warren about keeping distance and not ruining their chances with CPS. Chloe and Warren agree they should stay just friends for now, but both wish things were different.

The next several weeks settle into comfortable teamwork. Amid this, Chloe reestablishes her relationship with her college roommates, learns Willow’s health is improved, and lets her birth mom back into her life with hopes she has truly cleaned herself up this time. In an attempt to temper her growing feelings for Warren, Chloe also invites Calvin over, which ends awkwardly when it becomes clear she and Warren are eyeing each other. As Chloe and Warren successfully overcome every hurdle together, they realize they can’t and don’t want to fight the attraction between them. They sign an agreement that says they are officially living together, removing one of the final barriers between them. Following this, they go out on an actual date, after which they make love and realize they’ll only ever want each other.

A few weeks later, Warren learns his dad—who had abandoned him and Luke—is back in town and has been in touch with Luke. Warren is enraged, even more so when Luke says he wants to move in with their dad. Warren’s anger startles Chloe for a moment, and, ashamed he made her afraid, Warren leaves. Talking to Luke makes Chloe realize that Warren’s dad only wants Luke to move in to get money from CPS, and she convinces Luke to stay. When Warren doesn’t come home, Chloe goes out to find him, finally tracking him down at a motel. There, she explains about Luke and promises Warren she’ll always be there for him. Warren apologizes, promises to get his temper under control, and goes home with her. A year later, Chloe gets official custody of Willow, and Warren proposes.