Member Reviews

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

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This book was made up of so many lovely characters who were all experiencing their own struggles in life. I loved the way their lives were interconnected.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

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I was looking forward to reading this. However, I may have picked the wrong time to start it- and after repeated attempts many months, I was never able to get past that first impression. Long story short, I started this as my first attempt to read after the loss of my beloved 22 year old cat, I was still quite raw, and not ready to be confronted with the death of a cat in a story, much less one handled so glibly (as if it’s merely a source of quirky humor?) and repeatedly. So this may have informed my reception of the story as a whole, but I found the rest dramatic and stressful and just not for me.

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Kitty Johnson employed multiple POVs while regaling us with her tale Prickly Company. The focus on Hedgehogs was incredibly unique and I found myself fascinated about the little critters as the rest of the story unfolded.

I am constantly dreaming of living in the type of community and neighborhood that feels like a bunch of friends and family moved in beside each other and doing life together. This book is exactly that (with hedgehogs).

I truly had no idea what to expect with this book and am so thankful to have requested it.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this surprisingly entertaining work!

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This was a quirky and delightful read with a heartfelt message about community, friendship and wildlife conservation. Although I did find parts of it rather charming, I don't know that I will necessarily remember it in a couple of months.

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It was a cute book! I really enjoyed it and got through it at a good pace. I think some of the characters weren't as fleshed out as others, but that's just due to the size of the book. If it was longer, that may have been different, but it was definitely hard to get attached to some of them. I think the Jess/Michael (who can kick rocks) breakdown seemed out of the blue, so I do wish the relationship was a bit more fleshed out to explain how they got to the situation, because the end seemed a bit rushed? Another 50 pages or so, probably would have been useful. Overall, it was cute, good message, great read.

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A small community filled with friendship, feuds, romance, secrets and a few laughs. This is a book that will brighten your day. It is filled with quirky characters, is funny and fun, has a bit of suspense and intrigue as well it is charming and entertaining. I just had so much fun reading this book.

Love the characters, the story, the writing and the hedgehogs. A must read to lift you up and keep you smiling.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

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I really appreciated this book for all of the rep in had. Especially in terms of mental health. I noticed that the representation was done well and added some much-needed depth to the story.

Give me all of the cute hedgehog moments and facts! It definitely kept the book from getting too heavy and added some learning moments to an otherwise cute story. The analogy of hedgehog life to human life was a unique concept to read about that was very thought-provoking.

Each storyline included added value to the book as a whole. It kept everything well-balanced. The level of interconnectedness felt realistic which is rare in books these days.

Overall I recommend this book for its unique premise, well-written analogies, and mix of lighter and heavy moments.

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Thank you to the publisher and author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I appreciated the charm and whimsy of this novel. I found the focus on hedgehogs to be unique and peaked my interest in learning more about them IRL. The multiple POV method was not my favorite but I hung with it because of the humor and feel-good nature of this book.

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"Prickly Company" by Kitty Johnson is likely a charming and heartwarming novel that delves into the lives of characters who, despite their tough exteriors, find solace and connection in unexpected places. The title suggests that the story may revolve around individuals who are a bit guarded or difficult to get close to—perhaps due to past hurts or their personalities—but who slowly open up to one another as the narrative progresses.

Johnson’s writing is probably filled with wit and empathy, creating characters who are relatable and complex, with layers that are gradually revealed as the story unfolds. The novel might explore themes such as friendship, healing, and the importance of community, showing how even the most "prickly" individuals can find companionship and understanding when they allow others in.

"Prickly Company" is likely a feel-good read that balances humor with heartfelt moments, making it a perfect choice for readers who enjoy stories about personal growth, relationships, and the unlikely bonds that form between people who initially seem worlds apart. It’s a novel that celebrates the idea that no one is truly an island and that even the toughest among us need connection and support.

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Thank you for my earc of this book. I liked the premise but just didn’t get with the characters, dmso I DNF

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Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I really enjoyed Five Winters, so this shouldn't have lingered on my TBR as it did. Although I initially found the hedgehog stuff quite jarring, I quickly became invested in the characters and the story. Johnson captures the different characters well, although I felt there were too many threads for all of them to be adequately explored. However, the book was enjoyable and I am looking forward to reading more by Johnson.

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I cannot get into this book at all :( So sad to DNF at only 7%. I see some positive character development potential and sweet friendships to come but it's not keeping me reading.

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I enjoyed the freshness of this book and the sweet community that intertwined through the pages. I don’t always love multiple POVs but enjoyed it here.

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Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.

Even though this book is kind of slow, I didn't get bored at all. I grew feelings for those characters, mainly Jess, Ryan, and Frances. I think Tara's romance part isn't necessary, but that's fine. And Francess surprised me so much at the end.

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I didn't care for this story at all...I don't know whether it was satire or serious, but it just wasn't for me.

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Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.
The pacing on this book is on the slower side and is one of the most character driven books I have read in a while. I did find all of the hedgehog talk a bit random but the characters are well developed and well rounded.

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Prickly Company is a cute easy read. You’ll join the neighborhood of Hilltop Place as the residents band together to create a hedgehog highway, connecting their backyards to make a more friendly hedgehog habitat. The mission takes the residents from friendly strangers that may wave in the driveway to loyal friends (and lovers too). The narration moves between several characters, each with their distinct viewpoint. This allows the reader to understand their doubts, fears and those negative voices we hear in our heads. Prickly Company is a character driven story of overcoming and accepting life’s challenges and finding human redemption in new relationships.

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I loved the characters and I loved their growth. The premise with the hedgehogs is sweet and unique!

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