People Watching can be a shock for someone who has become such a fast and furious fan of Hannah Bonam-Young’s love stories.
Out on a Limb is an epic romance that navigates a surprise pregnancy — a storyline that we typically loathe — with endearing leads and a blanket of warm interactions. The sequel novel, Out of the Woods, is an extension of those romantic successes. Unfortunately, People Watching works against everything positive we seek out in Bonam-Young’s writing and in the romance genre itself.
To the point that it becomes a struggle to finish this novel in a positive headspace.
The first red flag enters with Milo Kablukov, one-half of the book’s romantic pairing. Prudence “Prue” Welch presents such a strong curtain-raiser, introducing the reader to the quaint town of Baysville and the upsetting realities of caring for a parent with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. So, it is frustrating to have Milo’s first run-in with Prue clash so violently with the tone she set for their meet-cute.
His dialogue is reminiscent of the way book boyfriends spoke in older romantic works when accountability for problematic “bad boy” behaviour was not as prevalent. His flirtatious banter comes off as disrespectful and way too strong for their first meeting.
If a man approached any woman on the street and said what Milo does to Prue, it would rarely lead to the bedroom. Milo comes off as a potential predator at the beginning of this novel, and that’s not a vibe any reader wants to catch from a feel-good romance.
“With tears in my eyes, I smile up at the moon. Because I, Prudence Welch, against all odds, have fallen in love. Love waltzed into my tiny town, found my very doorstep, let himself in, and miraculously managed to find me in a home I’ve never left.”
― Hannah Bonam-Young, People Watching
Milo does mellow out, but there’s not a ton to latch onto with his bravado-first persona beyond his unresolved backstory and those steamy bedroom skills.
And that’s unfortunately the second red flag that People Watching presents. This book is so ridiculously steamy — but so are lots of other romances. That’s not the problem. It becomes an issue when sex replaces character development or when all developments boil down to intimacy in the bedroom. There has to be more to the spice of a relationship than the smut.
One too many times, Prue’s character and development are reduced to her virginity. Additionally, this book centres on an inexperienced woman leaning on an overly experienced man to love her. It starts Prue and Milo on uneven footing, and if not handled correctly, those cracks in their partnership can turn into a crater. That uneven power dynamic and the flippant approach to consent are a cold bucket of water to these steamy sex scenes.
All of this culminates in characters that are underdeveloped and oversold as a plausible match.
All that feedback aside, there is beauty in this writing as there is with all of Bonam-Young’s work. Some of the quotes uttered are so profound they’ll bring you to your knees, and the small-town Ontario setting is a keeper. This book is in no way the worst romance novel you will read. It has its flaws, but there is a beauty to this story that speaks louder to some readers than others. You may come away from this novel with an appreciation for what its spicy love story has to offer.
Unfortunately, for others, the superficial and uncomfortable spectacles of People Watching will make finishing this book a challenge.
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