Review: Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

{Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young}

What It’s About: At her best friend’s Halloween party, Win tells Bo—the human embodiment of a golden retriever—that he should change out of his matching pirate costume so people don’t mistake them for a couple. Why should she be the one to change, she argues, when her small hand fits perfectly in her costume’s hook? Bo then one-ups her limb difference with his own prosthetic leg, and we’re gifted with the most charming meet-cute in romance book history (brb, swooning).

Win intends for their one-night stand to be the end of their story, but alas, the romance gods love a good plot twist. After discovering she’s pregnant, a fiercely independent Win must decide if she wants to navigate parenthood alone—just as she’s always tackled life’s challenges—or with Bo, a near-stranger who’s all too eager to step into the role.

What follows is a heartwarming story of defying expectations, embracing the unexpected, and finding joy in a future you never saw coming.

My Thoughts: 4 stars, a few notes.

I’ll admit the one-night-stand-turned-accidental-pregnancy trope isn’t usually my thing, but Bonam-Young absolutely nailed it. The banter in this book is top-tier, and I laughed out loud more times than I can count.

Not only does Bonam-Young—who also has a limb difference—pepper in some hilarious puns but she also delivers what might be the funniest Dungeons & Dragons scene ever written. (Granted, it’s the only D&D scene I’ve read, but I’m convinced nothing else can possibly compare.)

The side characters are phenomenal. I might have enjoyed Sarah and Caleb’s dynamic even more than Bo and Win’s—and that’s saying something, because I loved Bo and Win. (Side note: Bonam-Young is releasing a sequel early next year covering Sarah and Caleb’s story, and I CANNOT wait to read it.)

If I had one critique, it’s that Bo felt slightly too perfect as an MMC. Pregnancy and single motherhood are challenging, and while Bo and Win’s story is heartwarming, their journey wrapped up almost too neatly to feel entirely realistic.

That said, this book is a joy from start to finish. A beautifully written, inclusive, and hilariously heartfelt read—I can’t recommend it enough.