If the sense of place in Carley Fortune’s novels (an apparent and abiding love of small town life) had a baby with the cozy fall vibes of season 1 of Gilmore Girls, it would look something like this novel.

I could practically HEAR the leaves cracking under my boots and smell the first hints of chill on the air.

The romance didn’t hit as hard for me as some of her others have, but I was in it by the end. I really really loved both the FMC and the MMC individually, and felt like this was a really good set up for more novels set in this world.

I adored Out on a Limb, but Bonham-Young has truly created something fantastic here. The writing is incredible - simple descriptions feel like lines of Prue's poetry. The character development is top-notch and it felt real and authentic.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this copy!

If Hannah Bonam-Young writes it, it is guaranteed that I will read it. Once again she has created characters and a story that her reader can relate to and will love. I will be honest and say that I was crying by the end of chapter 2. I appreciated the way HBY portrayed caring for a family member with Early Onset Alzheimer's and the struggles that go with that. Alzheimer's is something that is close to my heart as my Grandpa had it and HBY handles it with care.

Our MMC is Milo and I have to say I immediately loved his character. You can see the flaws, but also the amazing things about him. He is not only a wanderer, but a pleasant surprise. Our FMC is Prudence (Prue) and it was her story that I related to in such a strong way. She is a fantastic example of someone who loves deeply and would do anything for those she loves. It's a small town romance that packs an emotional punch.

These two people, flaws and all, embark on a journey for discovery. Though it is initially Prue who is on the path to discovery, Milo realizes maybe he is too.

Tropes and Triggers:
*Lessons in Intimacy
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*TW: Early Onset Alzheimers
*TW: Emotional/Physical Abuse (off page-ish)

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Ballantine | Dell for the arc, all opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

If anyone can get me out of a reading slump, it’s HBY! As always, I love her characters, her stories, and the worlds that she builds. Just absolutely full to the brim with feeling. In particular, Prue and Milo [and even the less flushed out characters, like Milo’s siblings (please tell me book two is about Nadia 😭)] are so human. They are flawed and scared but ultimately don’t let those aspects keep them from falling for each other or challenging these fears (though I wish so badly that Milo could have ended up in therapy by the end like PLEASE). I think I just wish that there was more. More backstory, more time, more INFORMATION. As attached as I was to these characters, I would have loved there to have been more time spent with Milo and his siblings, Julia’s time as a teacher with Milo, etc. to help that attachment grow stronger. In general, just a little more showing rather than telling.

Overall though, I am like a moth to a flame with this woman. If she writes it, I will read it.

I just finished the first daft of this book and I cannot express how deeply I love these characters, this story, and the families we are folded into. Hannah’s first venture into duel POV and wow. perfection, actual perfection. I do not want to give too much away but the vulnerability that comes with letting yourself go home and stay weighs so heavy on me personally, and Hannah captured it perfectly. Some of us are on a hairpin trigger, ready to run at the drop of a hat. It can seem adventurous and it can be - but there is a courage that exists in the ability to stay. It is brave to plant roots and dig into your people.

As always, Hannah Bonam-Young knocked it out of the park with People Watching.
No surprise there—but it’s still such a joy to pick up one of her books and know it’s going to be sweet, emotional, heartwarming, funny, and just… lovely. Milo and Prue’s story was all of that, and as usual, my heart feels full to the brim with all the feelings.

Prue and Milo are both delightful—kind, imperfect, beautifully human—and I loved every second of getting to know them and watching their story unfold.

I wish you could all read this book right now, but in the meantime, let this be your official warning: get your hands on it as soon as you possibly can. (That’s September 9th, in case you’re wondering.)

loved meeting Prue and milo . Loved that they were connected by her mom. loved milo's family and would love to see Nadia story. Loved that the siblings are trying to help each other and that Prue and milo found love. 1st time reading this author and will read more if they are like milo and prue.

sat and read this in one sitting. my life is irrevocably changed, i have loved every subsequent hannah bonam-young release more than the last and the steamy lessons in this book??!??? clutching my pearls and ‘erthang. i DO wish we had a smidge more time to develop them emotionally but it was still indeed a romp!!

Milo and Prue were fantastic characters to follow through this book, and they deserve every star I'm giving them--but I wanted more with this. Milo's background was often explained in vague terms without giving the full picture. I wanted to see their relationship overall develop more because as it stands, this was rather insta-lovey.

On a more personal reading level, this may not have been the book for me; I'm quite tired of the "inexperienced girl who's desperate to no longer be inexperienced and conscripts a very sexually adventurous many to change that for her." The way that was approached brought nothing new to the table.

Overall, 3.5 rounded up.

Hannah Bonam-Young delivers another heartwarming romance filled with slow-burn tension, and all the cozy vibes. The characters are lovable, and the chemistry is undeniable. Perfect for fans of heartfelt romance, this one’s a must-read!

As always with Bannah Bonam-Young books I have a hard time putting just how much I love these stories, characters, and settings. Baysville was such a cozy, heartwarming, and overall lovely town that I hope to one day visit the actual place it was based on just to experience that atmosphere. Having dealt with the caretaking of family members in my late teens to early 20’s I was able to relate to Prue on a deeply personal level and also found myself having a lot in common with Milo as well. People Watching is by far one of the most well written romances I have ever read and the spice was just *chef’s kiss* and it was glorious.

This was really sweet. HBY has such a tender voice when it comes to love stories it just feels like a warm hug when you read one of her books. I love that it was set in Muskoka, represent! I loved Milo and Prue and it did just feel like a lot of their connection was written in the stars. It felt like instant intrigue and it was nice that they both had things to work through before committing. I do wish Milos issues with his parents were more touched on. I feel like crumbs were dropped but never fully dealt with, though I think it could have also been part of the set up for the next book which I am so excited for. I think Prue's mom was dealt with the perfect amount for a rom-com. I found in books like “Say You'll Remember Me” it was too much and made it a really heavy read. It was a good balance of mutual respect and love and a joy to read.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley. I was so excited when I got approved for this ARC!

If HYB writes it, I will read it. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors and was so thrilled to get two of her books this year!

Milo and Prue. How could you not love them from the first chapter?

Milo- an artist, nomadic wanderer, getting away from his chaotic past and just always searching.

Prue- she has had to deal with a lot in her 24 years. She put her life on hold to become a caretaker for her mom, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and a dad who was diagnosed with cancer. She has become isolated in her life and scared to put herself out there and start living.

Milo comes to Prue’s small town to help his brother with his kids and open his bar. Milo meets Prue on day one. They are instantly drawn together, though Prue fights it and Milo, well, it’s insta love for him. Milo is convinced he should keep a distance between them because he has no plans to stay but can’t. He's a moth to her light.
Milo sees Prue’s mom and quickly realizes that she was his favorite art teacher. She had taken him under her wing and they had a special connection. Which continues during her good days.

On her birthday, sitting on the dock with a couple of beers, they start to play truth or dare. Milo learns she’s a virgin and Prue wants him to teach her. The lessons begin…..

This might be my favorite of her books. I loved it so much.
Two lost souls who are each other's missing puzzle piece. Milo’s closure from his past, the reconnection with his family, and the lost boy finding his home and his place.
Prue finally experiencing a life that she had only dreamed of, the adventure without leaving, finally feeling completely seen and being at peace.

Him having her tattoo, her having his painting 🥰🥰

A refreshing look at a romance story with firsts for both: Prue has never been in a relationship, and Milo has never committed to one, he’s always been more of a player than boyfriend material. Because they approach their time together with newness, curiosity, and an innocent exploration, it feels like something the reader gets to discover anew as well. A great book with endearing supporting characters, this feels like a real Love Story.

Hannah has mastered the art of drawing readers in. Every single book of hers I’ve read grabs my attention right from the start. I love that because I find myself invested in her characters, especially in this case where we have Prue, who is caring for a parent with early onset Alzheimer’s, and Milo who comes with his own baggage.

Another thing she excels in is witty, thoughtful dialogue. I enjoyed the conversations Milo and Prue had with each other. I also enjoyed the spice. lol. But I do wish we got to see more character growth, especially from Milo. Therapy, maybe? Something that would show he was working through his issues so the ending felt less rushed.

I found that certain parts of the story leaned into telling instead of showing and if we got more from those moments, this would be an easy 5 stars. But overall, I still enjoyed this read. Thank you for the ARC!

I gotta say, the cover was what drew me in. And I’d seen so many rave reviews of the author’s prior books. I just wish this did more for me. I really liked Milo, but the insta-love he had for Prue turned me off a lot and her being “perfect” when doing physical things for the first time made me cringe. I did like the connection they had through her mom though. And I wish we could’ve delved more into his past and getting through that with his siblings.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I had such high hopes for People Watching but it sadly fell flat for me. 2.5 stars, maybe 3?

Although it is such a cute story and the characters, town, and families are so loveable and sweet I feel like it lacked so much depth that could've really made it extra special. It started so strong but it felt like it fell away from that original strength. It's such a lovely story and premise but I found the conflict between Prue/Milo and her dad's diagnosis so predictable and disappointing.

The insta-love between Milo and Prue despite the hardships and personal struggles they were going through was so sweet but that was kind of it. Just sweet. I wanted more tension and more growth for them rather than the almost instant gratification they got. Yes, they had their struggle but it was singular when I think in reality there would've been many.

It's overall a cute read and I'm excited to have it in store. I think it'll deservedly do well, it just wasn't a personal favourite.

THE WAY I AM 1000% CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL REMAIN MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2025 😭🫶🏻

this book was love at first sight with me twice, once when i saw the stunning covers and secondly after the first chapter. i dont remember the last time i have been THIS sucked into a story from start to finish!!! am i surprised by any of my feelings towards this book? NO not one bit bc mrs. HBY can actually do no wrong. i am constantly wowed by the way hannah takes such delicate real life issues and makes them into such beautiful stories of people falling in love despite all of the conflict they deal with day to day!!!

milo kablukov my most favorite bi chaotic disaster ive ever had the utmost pleasure of reading, words cannot even begin to describe the chokehold this man has me in 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ milo could punch me in the throat and id literally thank him. without a doubt the sweetest and funniest mmc i have read in like ever. the growth that milo went through during this book was stunning to day the least. this man was so convinced he was this awful human being but was quite literally the best???? the way he constantly shows up for the people in his life despite believing that he does the exact opposite, ugh what a man!!!!!

prudence welch you beautiful welsh witch i could not be more obsessed with her if i tried. i absolutely love how relatable HBY characters are, especially the women. while i read to escape the horrors of reality i absolutely love when i get to sit down with a book where the fmc feels like shes in my head and i get to watch her come out on the other side of whatever issues shes going through. prue feels like a big warm hug from your favorite person. its quite literally no wonder why mr. commitment issues fell head over heels bc i would do the same 😭

this book was HOT, everything about it. their wit and banter, the way 99% of their conversations felt like foreplay was insane for me. like its a slow burn, the spice doesnt even start until a little after 40% in and i felt like every other convo was leaving me hot and bothered 😂 these spicy lessons i think were hands down my favorite ive ever read and for once its because of the mmc!!!! LIKEEEEE the constant consent, his being vocal (WE LOVE SLUTTY LITTLE WHIMPERING MOMENTS), the coaching, the begging, etc!!!! I DEVOURED AND DIEDDDDDD DEAD R I P ME

there were so many layers to this book like the most beautiful onion 🧅

and i will be that person that if you didnt like this book youre simply just wrong!!! i make the rules!!!!

i already cant wait to read this book like how soon is too soon before i pick this up again???? i cant wait to get my hands on the audio of this and when i do prepare to be sick of me bc the way im going to listen to this at least once a month after i do oh lord

Hannah Bonam-Young does it again with this heartwarming love story. I love these characters and the small town vibes. The way Milo is able to open Prue up and show her love is both heartwarming and super sexy! The caregiver part of this story is very well thought out and I enjoyed the dynamic between the parents and Prue and Milo and his siblings. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll get worked up from the spicy scenes! ❤️

It's official. I absolutely adore Hannah Bonam-Young. I was 1 page in, literally just the dedication, and I thought I was going to cry. I loved our characters, their challenges, and really resonated with their needs. Bonam-Young approaches childhood trauma as well as the experience of caring for an ill loved one with subtlety and grace. This is a wonderful book for late bloomers who need to be reminded that the only timeline they need to follow is the one they want. Additionally, this is my formal request to Ms. Bonam-Young to craft me my own personal Milo, please and thank you. The only reason this was not five stars for me is because I felt like it could have been a little longer. There were some things that I wish we could have explored more between our main characters and I would have loved to have spent more time getting to know them. That being said, this is a fun read for a late summer/early fall beach trip or for hopeless romantics who adore charming characters. Keep your eyes peeled for this release on Sept. 9th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing this ARC. It was an absolute treat!