March 18, 2024
Bonam-Young packs her diverting sequel to Next of Kin full of pop-culture references and witty banter. Twenty-somethings Elaine and Mattheus meet at a New Year’s Eve party hosted by mutual friends. Both self-described “anxious extroverts,” their attraction is intense and their connection is easy to see. They spend the night making each other laugh before sharing a tender midnight kiss. Despite this meet-cute, a relationship would never work—Matt is a serial monogamist while Lane is commitment averse. Though attraction lingers, they decide to keep things strictly platonic: “He started calling me ‘kid’ shortly after our kiss and has even noogied me once,” Lane explains (“The universal gesture of the friend zone”). When Lane impulse-buys a school bus hoping to convert it into a home on wheels, she recruits handyman Matt to help with the renovations, bringing the two closer. Things heat up further when Lane needs a date to her sister’s wedding and turns to Matt, who has always found it impossible to say no to her. The personable Zillenial characters and fast-paced plot make this friends-to-lovers romance sing. It’s an ideal comfort read. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary.