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A review by winter_is_reading
Bear, Otter and the Kid by TJ Klune
4.0
4.4 stars for the series. It’s TJ Klune’s first work, so it’s not his best but it’s pretty dang great.
There’s 4 books in series, with Books 1 2 and 4 from Bear’s perspective and Book 3 from the Kid’s. It’s in the same universe as the At First Sight series, which happens in tandem with some crossovers.
Book 1 takes place across 4 years as Bear learns to juggle being brother and stand-in parent to the Kid, all while reconciling his feelings towards Otter.
But after that, Books 2-4 explores their stories throughout the next 20+ years. That’s what made this series really memorable to me. You see how brotherhood, found family, abuse recovery, and love evolves (and stays the same) as the world turns and turns.
Seeing how love and family look after 5 years, 10 years, 20 years is powerful. It shows that our stories are worth telling beyond the quick romance of our youth. It shows that love is a dynamic, flexing thing, and how cherishing someone looks after so much time has passed.
I loved it, and will be thinking about it for a long time, especially Book 4.
I think it’s my second favorite of Klune’s work, right after Green Creek. It can get a little silly, and the references are a little dated, but it’s still good.
3/5 spice
There’s 4 books in series, with Books 1 2 and 4 from Bear’s perspective and Book 3 from the Kid’s. It’s in the same universe as the At First Sight series, which happens in tandem with some crossovers.
Book 1 takes place across 4 years as Bear learns to juggle being brother and stand-in parent to the Kid, all while reconciling his feelings towards Otter.
But after that, Books 2-4 explores their stories throughout the next 20+ years. That’s what made this series really memorable to me. You see how brotherhood, found family, abuse recovery, and love evolves (and stays the same) as the world turns and turns.
Seeing how love and family look after 5 years, 10 years, 20 years is powerful. It shows that our stories are worth telling beyond the quick romance of our youth. It shows that love is a dynamic, flexing thing, and how cherishing someone looks after so much time has passed.
I loved it, and will be thinking about it for a long time, especially Book 4.
I think it’s my second favorite of Klune’s work, right after Green Creek. It can get a little silly, and the references are a little dated, but it’s still good.
3/5 spice