Found Family, Healing, and Love: A Review of Next of Kin

Chloe, a graphic designer, was having a normal day, grocery shopping, when she received a call that changed her life. Her birth mother has given birth to a baby, unexpectedly. And now she has given Chloe an option. Either she takes the baby in as her own or lets her go to a foster home.

Being in and out of the system, Chloe knows how it feels, and she does not want her sister to go through it. But how can she take care of the baby when the CPS finds her financial situation not suitable? And as fate has it, she is presented with options here as well. She can either come up with enough money by the time the second inspection is to take place, or she can team up with another struggling guardian.  

Blurb: A Journey to Found Family

When people-pleasing Chloe learns that her birth mother has unexpectedly had another baby, she doesn’t hesitate to become a next of kin guardian. But when she fails to pass Child Protective Services’ financial evaluation, she is faced with a choice: see her baby sister placed in foster care or participate in CPS’ new initiative, TeamUp.

Enter Warren, a surly mechanic’s apprentice attempting to get custody of his deaf fifteen-year-old brother after failing CPS’ housing evaluation. The two strangers immediately clash but agree to live together until Warren can find housing elsewhere and Chloe can further grow her freelance career.

As their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren both realise that they’re far more similar than they could have imagined. What started as forced begins to feel natural—and far less lonely. Chemistry soon intensifies beyond what either of them can stand, but they must each decide if what burns between them is worth risking their arrangement and, ultimately, the well-being of their siblings.

With banter, heart, and steam that will have the reader blushing, Next of Kin is a true underdog story of two young adults redefining what family can look like.

Enter Warren, a mechanic’s apprentice, in need of housing so he can bring home his fifteen-year-old deaf brother from a foster home. Warren has tried his best to bring his brother home to him as soon as possible, but the CPS thinks his 1 BHK apartment is not suitable.

Stuck in the same crunch as Chloe and being equally desperate to bring his sibling back home, he was presented with the same options. But his choice was clear. Anything to bring his brother home, so obviously he chose the latter.

Characters

Warren couldn’t care less who he needs to live with. It’s just a temporary arrangement anyway, and the last thing he wants is either him or his brother to get attached. His goal is clear. Share the apartment with Chloe until her re-examination by the CPS, and he is to secure a new house for himself and his brother.  

Chloe was okay with it, living as strangers, keeping out of each other’s business. Things started getting hard. As it is not a lie when people say it takes a village to raise a baby.

Chloe had never felt a sense of belonging before, but with her sister, she does. She has vowed to never let anything change that. But she felt it again, strongly, by a certain someone living under the same roof. Someone who is not interested.

Vibe of Found Family Romance

Their journey begins with playful banter, shifts to the awkwardness of strangers sharing a space, grows into friendship, and eventually blossoms into love.

Chloe and Warren have both been in the system and know how it works. Which makes both of them desperate to make their situation work despite their initial disagreements. Knowing what’s at stake also makes them cautious about entertaining their attraction to each other. But all restrictions fall apart in the face of love.

Slowly, through helping each other around the house, while running errands, and while helping take care of the baby. They did not realise when their feeling started blossoming from a small spark of attraction to a full-blown fire.

Let’s talk spice

The book contains a dash of open-door spice with a praise kink. All of you who love being appreciated behind the doors, you’ll love Warren in bed.

In my opinion, the book does not contain spice, in its literal sense, you could call it a dash of smut. Which is understandable, as Next of Kin is a feel-good romance. One that will lift you on your bad days and leave a smile on your face.

The Takeaway

I love the book. Would recommend a hundred percent. I loved the concept of found family portrayed in the story. How two people scorned by their parents and system find a family in each other and their loved ones. Those who had only themselves to rely on found someone to trust, to love, to call their own.

They were looking for a family, a family where they could belong without any conditions. And found so in the most unexpected way.

⭐ 4.8/5 stars: Would recommend!!