People Watching delivered a beautiful, emotionally layered story that balanced heartfelt realism with sizzling chemistry. Prudence Welch’s journey from self-contained caretaker to a woman rediscovering her desires and agency was rendered with remarkable sensitivity and care. The author’s portrayal of life with a parent suffering from Early Onset Alzheimer's was both devastating and compassionate, adding deep emotional stakes to Prue’s otherwise quiet life in small-town Baysville.
Milo Kablukov was the perfect foil—adventurous, disarming, and deeply human. Their connection built slowly, naturally, and deliciously, with the “casual-sex lessons” turning into something far more vulnerable and tender. The romance was charged with heat, but also trust and emotional growth, making it easy to root for them even when their fears and pasts threatened to pull them apart.
The writing was witty, poignant, and sharp, with dialogue that felt real and characters that stayed with me long after the final page. She masterfully captured what it means to love someone while still learning how to love and choose yourself.
People Watching wasn’t just a love story—it was a story of healing, change, and finding freedom in connection. A standout romance that hit every emotional note.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Hannah Bonam-Young never disappoints. This story, the love story of Prue and Milo is told against the backdrop of dementia and grief, abuse and familial strain. As with all of Bonam-Young’s characters, Prue and Milo are so likable and I rooted for them from the beginning. And the supporting cast of characters - from Prue’s parents to Milo’s siblings, to John the baker, and Clyde - everyone! - made me wish I could crawl in and love in this story forever. Or until she writes her next book!

2 stars

This is like if Lyla Sage wrote a book about Canadians. And no, that’s not the compliment you’re thinking it is. (If you’re new here and unaware of my feelings with Lyla Sage’s books, please help yourself to my reviews on her series). Unfortunately People Watching is another case of the latest Abby Jimenez syndrome. The concept might’ve been there, but the execution wasn’t. And then it’s peppered with problematic situations that the reader is supposed to find endearing

This book had so many red flags in it that I’m shocked it even made it past whomever HBY’s alpha and beta readers are, let alone editing.

Let’s start with the books number one red flag: our MMC, Milo. Consent? Consent who? Milo doesn’t know her. There is an actual line in the book where he says “but your body is saying yes” after our FMC, Prue says “No” when he informs her he’s going to kiss her. He even justifies himself by saying “You hesitated”. I hope readers realize what an egregious problem that scene is. Especially when there is no rebuke towards it by either party. It’s written in a way that seems like you’re supposed to find Milo charming and suave and sexy. But after reading many reviews, not one reader has flagged this issue. Consent being tackled so irresponsibly needs further discussion and awareness, especially when its underlying message is for the reader to praise it instead of condemn the action. Additionally this scene is only the second time these two have met. The first time being a quick exchange where Prue was visibly uncomfortable. Our man Milo’s obsession with her (which was immediate) allows him no space to read a room.

Milo also suffers from some pretty severe childhood trauma and “daddy issues” (his words) but seems to use that as an excuse for his behavior instead of seeking therapy. The entire book we are told how he never stays in one place because he has the urge to flee when things get tough. We are told time and time again how he has no issues in confronting his trauma in any real productive way. It’s mentioned that his brother sought therapy for himself, but given the 300+ pages of this book not once does Milo consider that same path for himself. In the end it reads more like a book with the energy of “I can fix him” or “love heals all”.

When it comes to Prue, our FMC, we are treated to a really great job of how to infantilize a grown adult woman. It makes reading some of the sex scenes uncomfortable. Prue is a 25 year old virgin - (again, this is how she describes herself) and her “virginity” (truly hate using that term because it’s such a patriarchal social construct) is due, not to choice, but because she doesn’t have friends and is lonely and otherwise a social pariah. I think we are meant to believe the reason for this is because she spends all her free time caretaking for her mother who has early onset Alzheimer’s. But that wouldn’t explain her time in high school when she apparently couldn’t make any friends. And as a virgin she asks Milo to give her lessons in sex. (The main trope this book is marketed for, and yet it doesn’t begin to even show its face until the 42% mark). Nothing too much to explain here other than Prue being incredibly adept at all sexual acts she tries for the first time…

Speaking of sex, there is a scene where Milo internally says the following:
“Prue's tits are perfect and begging to be worshiped—covered in goosebumps that I lick as if reading braille with my tongue.”
At best, this is very cringe. At worst, though, this is using a disability in a fetishistic and/or gimmicky sort of way.

And we can’t forget the trauma porn of it all. The list looks like this:
* Mother with early onset Alzheimer’s
* Dad with cancer diagnosis
* MMC (and siblings) suffering abuse in childhood
* Parentified characters
There was just so much trying to go on at once that it took away from actually getting to know the characters.

Some other important things to note: this book took place (if I was calculating correctly) somewhere between 2-3 weeks. Milo and Prue were in love in less than a month. Milo, a self proclaimed commitment-averse man, is cured by love in a few weeks. The epilogue takes place 6 months later where he then proposes. Absolutely no way this man doesn’t up and leave Prue in the middle of the night when his trauma comes back after the love (read: lust) high has lifted.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for this novel!
All opinions are purely my own!

This is my favourite HBY book yet! These characters really snuck their way into my heart and tucked themselves right in. I had such a hard time putting this down. The author does such a good job of handling really really heavy topics while still managing to keep her stories full of love and light-hearted. I will literally recommend HBY to ANYONE who asks. I *loved* this!

Thank you to Hannah Bonam-Young and Dell for letting me read this eARC. I had a fun time reading this (i was giggling sm during this read!!!!) I liked how both characters communicated and how they're both not perfect; they have their flaws. Milo and Prue were both sweet and understanding with each other. I loved the small-town vibes. i LOVED the side characters. overall, an enjoyable read and i can't wait to go to the bookstore to buy my physical copy in september!!!

People Watching is a tender, emotionally rich romance that balances introspection with slow-burn heat. Hannah Bonam-Young crafts a compelling story around Prudence Welch, a small-town woman whose world has narrowed under the weight of family responsibilities. Enter Milo, a charming, rootless wanderer with a past full of stories and a knack for pulling Prue out of her shell.

What sets this novel apart is its thoughtful handling of grief, caregiving, and the quiet complexities of living with emotional burdens. Prue’s relationship with her mother—who has Early Onset Alzheimer’s—is portrayed with sincerity and sensitivity. It anchors the story in something deeply human, even as the central romance unfolds with humor, sexual tension, and vulnerability.

The chemistry between Prue and Milo is genuine and well-paced, moving from playful to poignant in a way that feels natural. Their “lessons in casual sex” setup could have easily veered into cliché, but Bonam-Young infuses it with heart and emotional resonance. Milo is more than just a quirky free spirit—he's layered and compassionate, and his own growth arc is as satisfying as Prue’s.

If there's a reason this isn’t a full five stars, it's that some pacing lags in the middle, and a few side characters could’ve used more depth. Still, the overall journey is emotionally satisfying, the writing strong, and the love story truly earned.

Perfect for fans of small-town romance with a soulful core, People Watching is a warm, sexy, and sincere story about healing, growth, and learning to leap when love feels real.

I was so excited to read this book. I’ve loved all HBY’s previous books and expected to feel the same about “People Watching”. Unfortunately, this story just didn’t hit the mark for me. It wasn’t “bad” but very little happens and the love story felt immature.

Milo comes into town because his brother puts out an SOS for help. But after meeting Prue, Milo barely helps his brother at all. There is no mention of him watching the kids outside of the day that his sister in law gave birth, and he does the bare minimum to help prepare for his brother’s bar opening.

It is mentioned more than once that Milo and his brother were abused by their parents but they never actually shared what happened or came to any kind of closure. Their story felt like an afterthought. Nadia and Aleks story is more than hinted at as the next book. I hope HBY takes the time to have the three siblings do some work on healing in book two.

Milo blames himself for Prue being upset with him, when he did nothing wrong. She didn’t let him get a word in edgewise, but she managed to instantly forgive her father, who was the reason why there was a secret at all?

Prue could have been taking an online course or posting her writing online or something. She really just existed to caretake for her mother. Her lack of dreams or ambitions made her a flat character for me.

I could see why Milo was ready to finally stick in one place. He was over the transient lifestyle and just wanted to be loved and welcomed home. He was basically a human golden retriever with a ton of emotional baggage and little to no self awareness on why he behaved the way he did.

The villain of the story was Prue’s father. He thought he knew best, tried to manipulate Milo into making Prue want to leave, lied about his illness (as though she wouldn’t have come home as soon as she found out) and made Milo keep a secret that he had no right asking him to.

All in all, Prue was a unambitious small town virgin who spent all her time with her parents. A hot tattooed bisexual came into town, and then into her. They fell in love without going on any actual dates or doing much at all… The story was just lacking some substance.

I had to sit with my thoughts on this one for a bit. I worry the hype around this author’s prior books set my expectations a little too high. Don’t get me wrong: this was a cute (although corny) and thoughtful read. The spice was pretty good. We were given some heartwarming glimpses into the relationships the MCs have with their families, while also bringing to light heavier topics such as childhood trauma and caring for a family member with early onset Alzheimer’s. Despite the pros for this book (including that cute cover!!), I felt it was hard to connect with the MCs. I didn’t receive enough history on them to feel like I knew them well enough for the instalove story given to us. Even though this one didn’t land for me, I can see why many others would love this and I enjoyed the writing style enough that I will be checking out this author’s other work!

Hannah has mastered the art of drawing readers in. Every single book of hers I’ve read grabs my attention right from the start. I love that because I find myself interested in her characters, especially in this case where we have Prue, who is caring for a parent with early onset Alzheimer’s, and Milo who comes with his own baggage.

Another thing she excels in is witty, thoughtful dialogue. I enjoyed the conversations Milo and Prue had with each other. I also enjoyed the spice. lol. But I do wish we got to see more character growth, especially from Milo. Therapy, maybe? Something that would show he was working through his issues so the ending felt less rushed.

I found that certain parts of the story leaned into telling instead of showing. There were also some instances that were red flags for me and I didn't think were handled as well as they could have been.

I still look forward to Hannah’s next book. Thank you so much for the ARC!

RATING: 4/5 STARS

PEOPLE WATCHING is another lovely novel from Hannah Bonam-Young. The chemistry in this one is off the charts and the characters were endearing. Being a caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer's disease is challenging, and this book really delves into that with grace.

HBY has done it again! I love how Hannah is able to combine touching romances with deeply emotional storylines and they get me every time. Maybe this goes without saying, but I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note of every HBY book. They’re beautifully written, you get a little insight into the inspiration for the book, and there are some content warnings for those emotional storylines.
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"People Watching" was a delight to read. Milo has such golden retriever energy and is absolutely gone for Prue in the sweetest way, despite his commitment issues. I could be wrong, but while I was reading I actually felt like the book was more from his POV and I’m not mad about it… I loved their story, the sex lessons trope was really well done (the spicy scenes 🔥), and all of the characters were multi-dimensional and relatable. HBY is so good at writing characters with realistic and understandable reactions to conflict (no miscommunication tropes here) and I loved how Milo and Prue both grew throughout the book. The one thing I felt was missing a bit throughout the book and wish had been explored further was how either of the characters made a living or what their plans were for the future (I was hoping for art teacher Milo but maybe that’s just me).

Thank you, NetGalley & Ballantine, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
May contain slight spoilers.

I have absolutely fallen in love with Milo and Prue. They both carry so much trauma tied to their families but in completely different ways. Prue is desperately trying to show her father that her dream is to stay close, to repay the love and care her family has given her. Meanwhile, Milo is learning to cope with the wounds left by the physical abuse he and his siblings suffered growing up. Watching them help each other heal, little by little, was so deeply moving. Their love felt like the softest place to land in a world that has been so harsh to them.

It was incredibly hard for me personally to read about the progression of Prue’s mother's disease. Watching that slow decline broke my heart, but it was also breathtakingly beautiful to see how the entire family, even the neighbors, came together to support her. It showed the very best of humanity and left me in tears more than once.

As for the story itself, I was completely hooked. I loved the spice in this book — it was fun, real, and added so much emotional depth to their connection. This was also the first time I have ever loved a third act breakup. It felt so genuine, so earned, and it made their reunion even sweeter. Their separate struggles made their love story feel even more perfect, as if they were always meant to find each other when they did.

And honestly, I need a whole paragraph just to scream about Milo. A gorgeous bisexual man with tattoos, a soft heart, and this chaotic charm? I need ten more books with him immediately. Hannah Bonham-Young, please give us more stories in this world. I am not ready to let go.

This book will be absolutely perfect to cozy up with during the fall. Be prepared to cry, fall head over heels, and never look at small-town love stories the same way again.

I really enjoyed Bonam-Young's portrayal of emotions in this story, both mine and the characters'. I also liked the main female character's self-discovery throughout the book. I was easily drawn to her feelings for the new guy in town. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Out on a limb is one of my favorite romances and Bonam-Young will always be an author I continue to read. The love story between the family and their community is what made this one special. Anyone who has been a caretaker to a loved one will resonate with the emotions our characters are going through.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶 / 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

I was excited to pick this one up (that cover!!), and while I did enjoy the read, there were some elements that fell a little flat for me.

Prudence (Prue) loves her introverted life in her small town. She takes care of her mother living with Alzheimer's, works with her father at her family's gas station, and writes poetry. She doesn't want her world to change, but her father fears she's been pushed into a tiny box without exploring what she truly wants from life.

Milo Kablukov, a self-described nomadic slut, temporarily moves in next door to help out his brother (Prue's neighbor) set up a brewery. When Milo and Prue meet, sparks fly instantly. As they spend more time together, they begin to question what exactly they want out of life, and what they're willing to risk.

Personally, insta-love books always feel a little bit forced to me, especially when it feels more insta-lust than anything. And while the spice was spicing and enjoyable, I definitely wanted more of an emotional connection for Prue and Milo explored. I loved Prue and I loved the way she stood up for herself throughout the book with Milo and her family - she knew herself and what she wanted. I wanted a little bit more development from Milo - maybe it feels like there is more to learn about his family and that's to come in later books, but I felt like we moved on very quickly from his childhood and relationship with his siblings.

Regardless, this book is still enjoyable and I am really looking forward to the next book, People Pleasing.

Thank you to Dell and Penguin Random House for this advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A captivating, heartwarming romance that’s not just about chemistry, but about the courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone and face what’s next. Prue’s quiet, introverted life meets Milo’s free-spirited energy in the best way possible, and the evolution of their relationship is utterly beautiful. This book is emotional, sexy, and a perfect reminder that sometimes, the biggest adventure is letting someone in.

WOW. I went in a bit skeptical but by the end I wanted 100 more pages. The chemistry was insane! I tend to shy away from instalove dynamics but this one felt so grounded and real. Loved the two protagonists and was rooting for them the whole way through. A pleasure to read, definitely a romance I’d recommend!

If the sense of place in Carley Fortune’s novels (an apparent and abiding love of small town life) had a baby with the cozy fall vibes of season 1 of Gilmore Girls, it would look something like this novel.

I could practically HEAR the leaves cracking under my boots and smell the first hints of chill on the air.

The romance didn’t hit as hard for me as some of her others have, but I was in it by the end. I really really loved both the FMC and the MMC individually, and felt like this was a really good set up for more novels set in this world.

I adored Out on a Limb, but Bonham-Young has truly created something fantastic here. The writing is incredible - simple descriptions feel like lines of Prue's poetry. The character development is top-notch and it felt real and authentic.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this copy!

If Hannah Bonam-Young writes it, it is guaranteed that I will read it. Once again she has created characters and a story that her reader can relate to and will love. I will be honest and say that I was crying by the end of chapter 2. I appreciated the way HBY portrayed caring for a family member with Early Onset Alzheimer's and the struggles that go with that. Alzheimer's is something that is close to my heart as my Grandpa had it and HBY handles it with care.

Our MMC is Milo and I have to say I immediately loved his character. You can see the flaws, but also the amazing things about him. He is not only a wanderer, but a pleasant surprise. Our FMC is Prudence (Prue) and it was her story that I related to in such a strong way. She is a fantastic example of someone who loves deeply and would do anything for those she loves. It's a small town romance that packs an emotional punch.

These two people, flaws and all, embark on a journey for discovery. Though it is initially Prue who is on the path to discovery, Milo realizes maybe he is too.

Tropes and Triggers:
*Lessons in Intimacy
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*TW: Early Onset Alzheimers
*TW: Emotional/Physical Abuse (off page-ish)

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Ballantine | Dell for the arc, all opinions are my own.