I received a free copy of Next of Kin from NetGalley. Hamilton writes a sad, funny, and at times uncomfortable book about her family. She doesn't hide from the truth. In some areas, I could see myself in her. In others, I questioned her choices. But she shows us what it's like to be human and how complicated that and being part of a family can be.

It was always going to be a tall order for Gabrielle Hamilton to produce another book to follow _Blood, Bones, and Butter_, her food-centric initial memoir, which I devoured eagerly when it came out. This is also a memoir by Gabrielle Hamilton, but a very different one; in this book, she explores the history and the various dysfunctions and dissolutions of her family history, centered around the death by suicide of one of her older brothers. No member of the family is ultimately unscathed by the various complicated and troublesome relationships among them. Hamilton’s tone in discussing her family is often somewhat removed and matter-of-fact, and some of the many twists and turns of her own life amidst the story of her family are mentioned yet given somewhat short shrift. Life is messy, and this story is, too….it’s not a bad read, but it suffers in the inevitable comparison to the author’s food-related writing, which in my recollection sang far more clearly.

Next of Kin

To say Gabrielle Hamilton has a dysfunctional family of origin would be an understatement. When her parents split up, she and her brother had to fend for themselves at the ages of twelve and fifteen. The middle brother lived like a vagrant for decades until he killed himself. Her oldest brother died too young because he neglected a treatable health condition. Her older sister married Gabrielle’s boyfriend. She becomes estranged from both parents.

In spite of all this, Gabrielle becomes a successful restaurant owner and food writer as well as a mother to two boys. Parts of this book are hard to read, but as a whole it is an engrossing memoir.

I received a free copy of, Next of Kin, by Gabrielle Hamilton, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Gabrielle Hamilton is a chef and author, I have honestly never heard of her before reading this book. This is a memoir about her pretty dysfunctional family. This book was sad to me, not the nicest people in the world, but every family has their own problems.

Coming from a messy but smaller family, I got a lot out of reading this memoir. I found the chaos and humor relatable. The author’s writing style and intellect were very worth reading for me.

I requested Next of Kin from NetGalley solely because I thought I might enjoy a memoir written by a chef, but I knew nothing about Gabrielle Hamilton. I should have started with her first memoir, Blood, Bones & Butter as that one was more becoming a chef and opening her restaurant. The best way I can describe this book is that it is sharp, unsentimental, but not very cohesive. It is more meandering and introspective, at times to the point of feeling closed off. I might know a little bit more about Hamilton after reading Next of Kin but not much.

The themes—family (chosen and otherwise), aging, duty, and estrangement—are compelling, and there are moving moments, particularly when Hamilton explores the unspoken bonds and emotional labor that come with caring for someone out of obligation rather than affection. Still, I found the pacing slow, and at times the narrative felt stuck in its own head, circling the same emotional territory without offering new insight. I admired the honesty, but I also felt like I was being kept at arm’s length.

One moment that especially stayed with me involved the death of one of Hamilton’s siblings by suicide. Their father’s reaction—"Well, if you have to lose one, at least it's the one you liked least"—was staggering. Hamilton’s response, “I had known, of course I had, that we were ranked,” is chilling in its quiet acceptance. I can’t begin to understand what it would be like to grow up in a family like that. My own experience with family offers no frame of reference for that kind of hierarchy or cruelty, and I found myself wondering what kind of people her parents really were.

That said, Hamilton’s prose is often incisive, and readers who enjoy character-driven, reflective nonfiction might find more to appreciate here than I did. A worthwhile but uneven read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on October 14, 2025.

'Next of Kin' gets 5 stars from my, which is fairly rare. I loved this book, and Hamilton tells the story of her family without holding anything back. She lays bare all her family foibles and quirks, good and bad. I rarely give 5 stars, and I can't recall the last memoir/non fiction book I gave 5 to. Her family is fascinating, and I would have loved the story even if it was fictitious. These people are perfect characters for a work of fiction. I was absolutely amazed at all Gabi's father was able to 'accomplish' and how he seemed to bounce back after career failures/changes. He really was a master of 'putting on a good front', and I am sure he was enchanting to be around, even if some of these things came at a cost to his family. Gabi's mother was definitely a character from another era, and I am sure she had a fascinating childhood; she should have a book of her own. It's amazing that Gabi was able to raise herself and go on to find great success, while still showing compassion and love for her family members. She would have every excuse for just going off the rails, as some of her parents did, mother included. Overall, I loved this book and will recommend it to friends. Great job Gabi!

What a book. Family drama, so real, so common nowadays. Well written.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. A very relatable memoir, I was captivated by the chaos and drama of one family. Many parts are relatable and it really drew me in. I felt like I journeyed through every event in this book, and the narration made this book so hard to put down.

Gutting, revealing and gorgeously written. If you loved the sumptuous, juicy prose of Blood, Bones and Butter you will love this. Hamilton leaves no stone unturned when it comes to her family, no secret hidden. It's one thing to write a shockingly honest and wide open memoir about your brother's suicide and your troubled family's collapse; it's another to execute it in such finely written and achingly beautiful prose. Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy.