First published 2022
Chloe discovers her birth mother gave birth to another baby. She volunteers to become the infant's guardian, but Child Protective Services rejects her application due to insufficient income. The agency offers an alternative through their new program that allows two prospective guardians to combine households and qualify together. Warren enters the picture as her potential partner. He works as a mechanic's apprentice and wants custody of his deaf teenage brother. Warren arrives late to their first meeting with loud music playing from his car. Chloe decides immediately that partnering with him will create problems. Despite their personality differences, both agree to share living space so they can care for their siblings. Chloe learns to handle newborn responsibilities while Warren manages his brother's needs. She discovers Warren possesses gentler qualities beneath his rough exterior. They share more common ground than either initially recognized. Their arrangement transforms from obligation into something that feels organic and comfortable. The loneliness each felt before begins to fade. Physical attraction develops between them and grows stronger over time. They must decide whether pursuing romance justifies potentially losing the custody arrangements they both fought to achieve.
Genres: family, romance, contemporary, adoption, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
278 pages · Paperback · Hannah Bonam-Young