I received an ARC for People Watching from NetGalley. This is the second book I’ve read by Hannah Bonam-Young. I’ll be honest, this one fell a bit short of expectations for me. I enjoy Hannah’s style of writing and her overall flow while writing. However, this one lacked depth for me. It was VERY spicy, which is fine, but I don’t feel like there was much exploration into some of each of the main characters issues. It was mostly just sex. Again, that’s okay, but it left me wanting more depth to the story. Thank you for the ARC and the opportunity to give my honest review!

Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed the FMC and I love the cover but that’s about where my enjoyment of this book ends. I found the MMC’s pov annoying especially at the start, i’m not a fan of the reformed player trope so this could definitely be why. The relationship also seemed rushed, in a sort of insta-love way. Their dynamic seemed to rushed in my opinion. Overall I feel like perhaps my expectations were just too high maybe especially based on the premise and the emotional context of this book, but it missed the mark for me personally. 2.5-3 stars

3.5/5

Extremely excited to have gotten an ARC because HBY is one of my favorite authors to read. IMO, Out on a Limb is still unmatched for me out of HBY's books, but People Watching still has many of the great qualities that I love about HBY's writing.

People Watching centers around a pretty common trope of a casual dater/player who turns into a committed "one and only." TBH, I wasn't feeling great (a little ick) about this trope throughout the book (I feel like it's really overdone and produces a weird dynamic between the characters that I don't really like) - there was a lot of emphasis on Milo being Prue's first (she's a virgin), but magically, she is great at sex despite having no prior experience. Plus the fact that it doesn't take much for Milo to give up his casual relationship ways. It all just didn't feel realistic to me. Also, the third act breakup could honestly be seen from a mile away.

But (time for my likes about this book) Milo and Prue are infused with a lot of depth into their characters, with both of them battling with real life issues with themselves and their families, making this a truly wonderful story to read. Milo is struggling with trauma from his parents and childhood - being constantly moving and running away is his way of coping. Prue has been caring for her mom, who has early Alzheimer's, and is pushed by her dad to consider whether a life outside of her town is for her. When Milo comes into the picture, he represents those possibilities of a different future, while Milo begins to see Prue as a major reason to stop running and stay. They pull each other out of their comfort zones and are vulnerable with each other. Their relationships with their family and each of their character developments - individually and together - were the best parts about this book.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

i'm not going to spend too much time harping on these points, but there are issues with consent with the mmc and the infantilization of the fmc (in numerous aspects of her life, not just in the main relationship). the love also wasn't there as the mmc's growth with his family (however he still should've gotten therapy) was the focus resulting in the fmc's nonexistent growth. i just wanted to know more about the fmc and what she wants from this life rather than being told by secondary characters. the red string moments also seemed like a plot device. will still read everything bonam-young writes but just maybe with a bit more caution to sensitivity.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine for this ARC! I’ve read pretty much all of HBY’s books within in the last month and the half and let me say this keeps her streak going strong. I absolutely adored People watching. All the characters felt so raw, and real. I love seeing love stories with real issues and struggles.

Pure and Milo have the most adorable story. The wit and banter between these two is unreal (not to mention the chemistry 🔥)

This felt so Taylor Swift core to me, specifically the Archer. Also the invisible string moments?!?

Highly recommend this for a cozy, spicy and heartfelt read full of deeply relatable characters

MASTERFUL. I laughed, I cried. I felt all the things. This book had a little bit of everything. I was so engrossed in the story of Milo and Prue that I didn't even realize how quickly I was turning the page. There were so many HEAVY HEAVY topics, and it made the romance all the more sweet and the humor at times felt so needed. I loved this.

Hannah Bonam-Young has done it again. She writes flawed characters who grow in such a beautiful way. The romance is hot, but the emotional toll of these characters having to adapt to difficult family situations will make you cry. You can't help but root for everyone and for every thing to work out.

I had a really hard time with this book and considering dnf-ing it. Milo, the mmc is extremely unlikeable. He is portrayed as a bisexual guy who sleeps around. Prue, the mfc is much more reserved. They have absolutely ZERO chemistry, but share some red string theories due to the people in their lives knowing eachother. Milo is a major red flag in every sense. The book has zero development. Right when you *think* it is going to get serious and have a decent storyline *BAM* nothing but sex. The sex is also cringe due to one of the characters being a virgin and playing into that trope.

4.5

hannah i am a slave for you forever and always

i’m crying this was so good!!!

thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review

as always, this romance hit in all the ways it needed to. it was super hot (omg like a lot) and they were adorable and i’m a slut for a manwhore who becomes an obsessed pathetic loverboy for THE girl

it always makes me squeal when there’s an element of the red string theory and always meant for each other and knowing each other before they ever actually met

yes they fell fast but whatever unlike a lot of instalove stories this one didn’t give me the ick. it’s probably a testament to hannah’s writing and how much i love her

half a star taken away for the third act breakup and seriously baffling behavior of her father that precipitated it

this will definitely be a reread in the future! i mourn my future self that can’t read this for the first time again in september when it officially releases

Where do I begin? I was so looking forward to this book, I have given every other book by Hannah 5 stars and really thought this would be no different, unfortunately I was wrong. From the beginning I could almost feel like something was different than Hannah's usual work and I do think this is one of the rare cases where I wish we did not get the MMCs POV.

Right off the bat, we're introduced to Milo, and immediately he's written to be the "sexual deviant bisexual" stereotype that I think we really need to retire it's so harmful. AND we're making jokes about Fox News which I simply do not think is appropriate in today's political climate. Then we meet Prue, a virgin who has never left her hometown. What could go wrong with these two? Definitely much more than happens in this book. Why is Prue, again a virgin, fucking like a porn star? A book is not teaching you to give the best head someone (especially not someone who has had over 200 sexual partners) has ever had in their life.

If we removed all of that I would've loved the book, it deals with hard topics exceptionally well which I think is Hannah's strongest skill as a writer. But then we get to the end, right after they make up and all of a sudden Prue is on birth control (she's had sex for the first time like a week and a half ago) and not for extra protection. No why would safe sex be practiced in full. No, she does it so Milo can hit it raw and nut in her. What are we doing here? Also I need everyone to stop making their FMCs fall asleep right after sex multiple times, have them go pee why do you want them to have chronic UTIs so bad

I finished this book yesterday and I can't stop thinking about it. I can't wait to get through the summer and read it again when it comes out in September. This book was amazing and I feel in love with the characters from the very first page. They're dynamic, banter, and they way they care for each other made me kick my feet and giggle as I read. I want to read it again already.

This is the 5th book by Hannah I have read and I can say that I'm a fan of her work. This book, while I did enjoy it, is most definitely not my favorite. This book felt a bit less organic than the others I have read and seemed forced in parts. While I ended up liking Milo in the end, I felt like his character was a bit over the top. Also, while I guess I can see why Prue is a virgin at 24 (there is absolutely nothing wrong with that), the reasoning just didn't seem all that great to me. I get that her mom is sick and she needs to help with the store, among other things but that doesn't mean she has to have no life whatsoever. No wonder her dad wanted her to leave and find a life for herself.

I liked the book when I was suspending my disbelief that these two would actually work together and the book was pretty short so I read it quickly. This is one of those book couples that I wonder where they will be in 5-10 years because Prue has no life experiences whereas Milo is the opposite (and I don't mean just sexually). I'm a big believer in that you need to find yourself before you find your life partner and I just don't know if Prue has that. But, again, this is just a book so I'm happy that they get their Happy Ever After.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting but I did enjoy it nevertheless. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the Arc.

I really wanted to love this book. The story had potential and I can see why so many readers love this author. Unfortunately I didn’t end up finishing it. The writing itself was good, but I struggled to stay invested in the story.

The chemistry between the main characters just wasn’t there for me. Their connection felt forced and awkward rather than developed, and it made it hard to care for them. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, and I know every book won’t resonate with every reader. This one just wasn’t the right fit for me.

This is a relatable, heart warming, and romantic love story about finding yourself and what makes you happy in a world that is real and messy. I absolutely fell in love with Prue & Milo, their personal growth was inspiring but also made me want to hug both of them ❤️ Life is complicated but Hannah Bonam-Young once again highlights how opening your heart to love is worth the risk.

Prue once had a dream of leaving her small town to pursue her dreams but now she spends her days helping her father at his store in small town Baysville & caregiving for her mother, who has early onset Alzheimer's. Milo is a wanderer at heart and blows into Baysville looking to fulfill his family duty and move on.

The pairs meet cute had the sparks flying instantly and soon they are engaged in a s*xy lessons agreement proposed by Prue (*insert eye roll 🙄*). I found that aspect of the plot to be unnecessary but I'm not the writer so I rolled with it and it turned out cute & with deeper connection which is what I enjoy in my romance. But holy moly is this spicy in the middle (🔥🔥🔥🔥/5) so proceed with caution.

Please note that caregiving for a parent, Alzheimer's and parental neglect (off page) play a huge part of this story. While Hannah does a respectful job depicting these topics they are described in great detail and may be upsetting for some readers ❤️

Thank you Dell Romance for the ARC

I would read anything Hannah Bonam-Young writes and I loved this book! Milo and Prue are great and get along well fairly quick. It was interesting to see how Prue and her family go about her mom’s alzheimer’s and having to adapt to her care. The connection between the two mc’s happened very quickly but I still enjoyed this very much. Thank you Netgalley for the arc, I really appreciate it!

4.5/5

this was truly excellent. i had a really big problem with the conflict in the third act so CLEARLY stemming from something as felt so entirely unfair to milo, but besides that, this banged.

4.5

this was EXCELLENT, but i did have one big, glaring problem with it, unfortunately :(

BUT FIRST - the good!

milo is insane. a mmc ripped from my fantasies. should’ve known he’d eventually come from HBY…

and prue! love her. truly, ALL of the characters here are wonderful. the plot and story just seemed to flow so easily.

NOW, THE PROBLEM… (stop reading if you don’t want to be spoiled!)

come one. really? their main fight/issue stem from her dad asking milo to keep a secret? it made me so angry. i could see that as the third act drama from MILES away, and i think it was not fair of her dad AT ALL to put that weight and burden on milo.

besides that, though? A GREAT BOOK!

#netgalley

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

This is without a doubt one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It was raw and heartbreaking and invigorating and just so, so special.