🤎 Pru, looks like a cinnamon roll, would kill you
🤍Milo, looks like he could kill you, actually is a cinnamon roll
🤎 never left her hometown, take care of mom
🤍 nomad, trauma with parents
🤎 teacher x student in 🌶️
🤍 russian dirty talk
🤎 pinterest fall girly aesthetic

Once again, Hannah has done it. I will gobble everything she writes

A cute idea with great potential! I feel like there was a lot of trauma happening all at once, just piling on and just not enough time to really delve into the characters and their growth.

I have enjoyed Hannah’s Previous books a lot so I was excited for this one.
Because of that, this one fell flat for me.

It took about 25% for me to get into the story and then I got pulled back out soon after.
It felt quite childish at points, I was envisioning them to be 18 I won’t lie, it felt icky for me when reading certain scenes.
There’s a lot happening at once
Prue was lacking some character substance??
There was potential but too many layers and not enough depth in a way.
Cute and sentimental moments just missing a little something for me

So all in all it seems this one wasn’t my cup of tea but I see how others will enjoy it more and I will obviously continue to read Hannah’s writing in the future!
Thank you for the arc

Love this author!!!! The cover is cute and perfect for fall. Prue is cute and Milo is hot! Perfect combination of family drama and spice. Really enjoy dual POV and the Canadian references.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for an advanced readers copy of this book.

I don't have enough stars to give this book -- ALL THE STARS IN THE WORLD.

Hannah Bonam-Young is an immediate read for me. Her books are so well crafted that you feel like you're in the story with the characters. Milo and Prue were just the cutest and I adored their story. (Can't wait for the next one - which is painfully obviously coming.) The family dynamics worked so well and felt so... true.

-NOTES-
Bi MMC, artist, has loads of tattoos (ugh, so hot.)
Chapter 3: already emotional
Warning: Alzheimer's (😞)
Chapter 5: tears (already. I'm toast.)
Chapter 7: TENSION - so hot.
MMC is self-trauma-aware
Chapter 14: Nik’s (MMC brother) speakerphone call to Milo in the shop with Prue - hilarious

📚Trope(s): Virgin FMC, Family Trauma, Small Town, He falls first
⭐️Plot: 5/5
🔥Chemistry: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 4/5

4.5 stars — Tender, Thoughtful, and Beautifully Written

People Watching is a quietly powerful story that sneaks up on your heart. Hannah Bonam-Young delivers a tender, introspective romance filled with emotional nuance, authentic characters, and beautifully subtle writing. The slow-burn connection between the leads felt incredibly real, and the exploration of grief, vulnerability, and self-discovery was handled with such care. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you finish—comforting, cathartic, and deeply human. A gem of a read.

I'm sorry to say this was a DNF for me at 26%. I'm sad about that because I liked Out of the Woods and Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young...they had their faults but both relationships were very full-hearted and the men were sweet and devoted. This book rubbed me the wrong way right from the start, when Milo and Prudence met and couldn't stop sexually objectifying each other. I don't think it's romantic when characters think about doing things to each other before they have even had one real conversation. When a guy is overly flirtatious and suggestive despite the girl's obvious distaste, that is a big no-no for me. I slammed the book shut (so to speak) when Milo and Prudence had their first meetup and he leaned in to kiss her. That's an ick I can't get over. Even though I know the author will flesh out the characters some more, I can tell based on her other writing that she is ramping up to a lot of spice. I don't have it in me to read that much spice. OoaL was already too intense. So, I'm sorry to say I had to put a pin in this. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

I'll read anything HBY writes and I mean that with everything in me. And she did not disappoint. Miles, I love you. You're so hot. Pru, in a lot of ways, I probably am you, but I also love you and want to see you flourish. Exploring the ideas of running vs cementing yourself in place and finding a happy medium in between. We should explore and spread our wings, not staying rooted in one place by expectations, but also we can't run from our problems either. I loved this. Will read it 100 more times.

HBY’S BEST WORK!!!!! I said what I said!!!! Prue and Milo are so special. Their relationship and sweet and tender and HOT HOT HOT and beautiful patient and vulnerable with the signature HBY humor mixed in. I love this little town and all its people and Milo and Prue’s individual journeys and relationships as well as their journey together. This book is a masterclass in romance, banter, and human connection. I think about it every day.

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.
_

"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).