What an unexpectedly fun read this was! Kitty Johnson is a new author to me. Prickly Company’s book summary sounded intriguing, and I loved the book cover. So going in I didn’t know what to expect, but this book exceeded those expectations.

Prickly Company opens talking about hedgehogs. A totally unique and interesting opening (side note: I had no clue they do live in the wild in certain countries). The novel reveals the various characters living on a certain street, and the different issues they are all dealing with.

Each character was interesting and felt very real and developed. The author really balanced emotional issues while remaining a heartfelt book with depth. Also, the hedgehogs are actually important and have an impact on every neighbor’s life that lives on that street.

4.5 rounded up. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Kitty Johnson, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

Kitty Johnson invites us to be voyeurs in the unique lives of neighbors who show that you have no idea of what goes on right next door.

Also the hedgehog portion was my favorite as It's something I would do.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this fantastic ARC.

Plot: This story involves a neighborhood full of “prickly” people and “prickly” hedgehogs. As for the people, the story centers around a group of neighbors who are each going through their own adversities: a couple who has struggled with secondary infertility who has adopted a little boy and is struggling to develop a connection / maintain their connection with their 4 year old, a newly disabled war reporter, a rough-around-the edges promiscuous single mom, and a widowed older woman passionate about saving the community’s endangered hedgehogs by creating a hedgehog highway in the neighborhood.

Review: Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and I’ve never read a story done quite like this. The author covered tough topics not often covered in literature in a way where you felt strongly for all of the characters, but it never felt so overwhelming where I had to put the book down. The neighborhood drama may have felt a bit over the top at times, but not so much that it was off putting. I liked that the author balanced the hedgehog storyline with the others so thoughtfully. I truly didn’t want to put this book down, it was fantastic. I absolutely will be reading more from this author.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a while - it made me smile, chuckle, and tear up, and at time my stomach was in knots as I felt for the characters. This is a truly special story that everyone should read.

4.5🌟

PRICKLY COMPANY by Kitty Johnson was a warm and realistic view of formerly distant neighbors learning to live with one another and face challenging problems together, as they struggle with life situations such as a very rocky adoption, the wild garden that drives a perfectionist crazy but which the owner adores (as do the charming hedgehogs), and outsiders threaten the place they call home.. I loved getting to know the people, houses, landscape, and creatures of Hilltop Place through the well-plotted, richly characterized story woven by Johnson. Actions and reactions felt plausible and genuine -- and the compassionate, wise gaze of the author made them come to life so vividly I wanted to brew a cup of tea and top it off with whiskey and talk with them. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Both heatwarming and poignant, funny and insightful, Prickly Company is a surprising gift of a book. Innovative storytelling paired with an incredible ensamble cast lured me in from the first page, and held me in its grip until the very end. The narrative use of hedgehogs was at once effective, unexpected, and wonderful.

Though the book features an entire neighborhood of characters, they were all exceptionally well drawn and real, and their lives intersected in unexpected but believable ways. I thoroughly enjoyed switching between the multiple POVs and seeing how each person's story affected several others. And yet, despite there being multiple storylines, the story as a whole felt coherent and wholesome—and utterly satisfying.

Kitty Johnson brings her signature humor to this story, as well as her signature prowess at lighthearted exploration of difficult themes. Ultimately, it's a cozy and heartwarming read that will leave you with a smile on your face long after you've finished reading.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

what an adorable little story. we don't have hedgehogs outside of zoos in NY, or maybe in the east coast, so it was cool to learn something about them. frances was my favorite character, somewhat of a hedgehog protector. i really liked seeing how all the characters were connected somehow.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters or the story. That is the reason I didn’t finish this one. I just wasn’t enjoying it.

I hope others love this one but it wasn’t for me.

The book has an intriguing premise and offers a compelling narrative, particularly in the subplot about adoption. Jess's struggle with her lack of maternal feelings towards her adopted son, Toby, and how this affects her relationship with her biological daughter, Stella, is handled with great sensitivity by the author. The characters are portrayed realistically, with flaws that make them relatable, despite their sometimes immoral actions. Notably, Tara's affair with a married man and the impact on her daughter, Hermie, adds depth to the story. Other notable storylines include Ryan's struggle with paralysis after a landmine accident and Frances's efforts to build a hedgehog highway. The author skillfully intertwines these diverse narratives, enhanced by enjoyable hedgehog analogies and facts, creating a cohesive and memorable book.

I liked the concept of this book when reading the synopsis but unfortunately it was not for me. I do think this book would definitely be a great read for someone else and appreciate the authors style of writing. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC, wishing you all the best for the publication of this book.

Thanks lake union publishing and NetGalley for this ARC


This warmly written taken starts with Frances who assembles a committee to save the hedgehogs in her community. What follows is a warmly wrttiten story of an interesting group of people who are diverse and sometimes pricklier than the hedgehogs they are saving . But ultimately despite the feuds, and some deeply buried secrets that come to light - it is about friendships , joy, love and community .( and the hapless hedgehogs they are saving )

I liked Kitty Johnson’s style of writing and will definitely look out for Five Winters and her other books

This book gave me Maeve Binchy vibes in the best way.

You get to know the characters as multifaceted people with flaws and strengths and feel like you’ve met real people by the end.

The story kicks off with one neighbor in a community feeling passionately about supporting the local hedgehogs. And as the neighbors all do their thing we get to weave in and out of each neighbor’s life learning more about what them and their struggles.

I'm unfortunately DNF'ing this book at 31%. Whilst the writing itself is beautiful, I'm personally finding the development of the story a bit too slow for my liking. The concept itself sounded interesting and I'm disappointed that I discovered this book isn't for me. From what I have seen so far, the characters appear to be diverse with well formed personalities.

I have a weak spot for contemporaries that include animals as well as stories with a community vibe, so I was immediately intrigued by Prickly Company. I loved the sound of Hilltop Place with its neighbors as well as the focus on the hedgehogs... Can we all agree just how cute those little creatures are?! Anyhow, I've been looking forward to tackle this story, as I've been in the mood for an uplifting and fun contemporary. Sadly, Prickly Company doesn't fit that description at all for me though, and I can't say I was a fan of what I found instead.

First what I did work for me in Prickly Company. I love a good animal POV, and as a result I did truly enjoy the chapters written from the POV of the hedgehogs living at Hilltop Place. It was interesting to learn a little more about them through the facts mentioned, and I liked how they played a role in the plot in general. I kind of wish the story would have spent more time with them, because it was without doubt the part of the story I enjoyed most. The rest... Well, let's just say that the book and me didn't get along.

Part of the issue probably has a lot to do with the fact that I was expecting a fun, feel-good and uplifting contemporary, and this story is anything but. Instead, we get drama stacking up on more drama, and there isn't much relief to be found along the way. Ever tried cooking pasta with a bunch of friends, only to discover that every single one had salted the water and the result was inedible? Well, that is what felt like happened in Prickly Company; so much drama thrown in that the result was truly unpalatable.

Every single character has their issues and negativity, and just when you think you have reached the limit, yet another bombshell is revealed. Seriously, my eyebrows worked overtime while reading this story, as it just wasn't credible anymore to have that much drama going on on the same street. To make things worse, you get full drama during 70-80% of the book, and then the plot does a full 180 and suddenly it's happily ever afters for everyone. Apart from the fact that it's just not credible or realistic, it almost felt like I was reading the ending of a completely different story instead. Disjointed indeed!

The plot uses a multiple POV structure, and we switch between the different neighbors of Hilltop Place. In a way this structure helped a little, because it ment spending less time with each character at a time. The thing is... The majority of the characters in play are considerably unlikeable, and it felt like a chore having to spend time with them. There was so much negativity going on (including the dreaded cheating/love triangle trope), and I think that the only reason that I kept reading was because I was curious to see just how much of a trainwreck it was going to be for me. Newsflash: without doubt fatal.

All in all, there is no doubt that Prickly Company wasn't the book for me, and definitely don't expect a fun and uplifting story if you decide to read it. If you don't mind an overdose of drama and mainly unlikeable characters, you will probably enjoy it a lot better though! Most people seem to do so, so it might just be my fickle reading mood acting up again.

I liked the title of this book, I'm a big hedgehog lover but I didn't find this book exciting enough to keep me interested. I found it too slow paced, very descriptive and the characters were a bit 'flat' A bit too nice for me.

A wonderfully unexpected read! I did left this on my TBR shelf for along time since I didn't really know what to expect. A fun, beautifully flawed cast of characters that you'll fall in love with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to an early copy!

This book exceeded my expectations; it was both emotional and heartwarming, and the characters were so loveably flawed in their own individual ways. I was totally engaged throughout and I was thrilled that everybody got their own happy ever after endings 💛

Prickly Company by Kitty Johnson is a feel-good story about how protecting wild hedgehogs in the UK brings a community of unlikely friends together. While it is firmly footed in the literary fiction genre, Johnson incorporates true facts about wild hedgehogs and the pursuit to protect them that she gleaned from her own experience. The characters each have unique and diverse attributes and stories that have alienated them in some way. There is Jess, a mom who after miscarrying and trying for a second child, adopts a one-year-old son with her husband. There is Ryan, a journalist and absentee father until a land mine took his ability to walk and gave him PTSD. There is Frances, an older woman who has given up on love and companionship after an abusive marriage. There is Tara, a single mom whose boyfriend is married, and comes in and out whenever he pleases. Through the connection these neighbors find in making hedgehog highways in their backyards, they learn to find connection, friendship, and sometimes even love in places they would not have otherwise expected.

As enjoyable as a read as Prickly Company, the pacing felt unbalanced. While the first 60% of the book gave a good look into the lives of the characters as they experienced everyday life with the hedgehog project, the last 40% felt rushed and overly dramatic. Rather than a weaving of character and plot development throughout the book, it felt split into two sections, first character and then plot. By the end, the unfolding drama felt far-fetched but ultimately did not take away from the coziness and enjoyment of the story as a whole. I would recommend this book if you liked A Man Called Ove, the Sweet Magnolia series, or books with a happy ending.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

I really enjoyed this super cute feel good book. All of the characters had depth and I enjoyed them all.

Thank you to netgally for an advanced copy. My opinion is my own.

I honestly don’t know why I couldn’t connect with this book, especially since the description and presence of hedgehogs drew my attention to it. I guess because maybe it seems a bit uneven, having a very strong and emotionally moving first half and rather weak second. The introduction to the characters, their stories, emotional state and relationships, as well as the hedgehogs, made the beginning very interesting. It was moving, it was funny and sad, it was smart and surprising, raw and full of life. The way Johnson writes is absolutely incredible. I wish the storyline power lasted until the end of the novel, because in my opinion it’s missing the same energy and creativity levels.
I really appreciated the different age of characters, the disability representation, adoption being a part of a motherhood journey and all the things that helped building the community there in Hilltop. It was very inspiring to read.

3.5⭐️rounded up!

Spoilers ahead!

I just adore this author. I did like Five Winters better but I still really liked this one. A fairly simple plot with not so simple characters. I loved the “all knowing narrator” parts with the hedgehog information. I just kept imagining Julie Andrews speaking those parts, 😂.

The cheesiest part about the book was the way that literally all the characters just all switched partners like it was such a normal thing, it was a little comical. It was silly that a bunch of people that all live in the same neighborhood are all equally unhappy with their lives but that’s ok! Just do some swap-a-roos and we’ll all live happily ever after! 😂 because of this, I’ll say the first half of this book was much better than the second half…

But I honestly didn’t even mind the cheesiness. Because I love this author’s writing style. She just has this soothing way of storytelling that makes you so involved in the story even when it’s a bit ridiculous at times. She also really makes me laugh. It might just be that I’m really drawn to British humor, but the woman can really make me chuckle out loud. This book will evoke a lot in the reader. One second I was rolling my eyes and the next I was tearing up but no matter my reactions, I kept needing to read.

Overall, this book was so unique and once again, I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Thank you to Kitty Johnson, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest review.