The last thing Chloe expects is to get a call that her birth mother has had another child, even more, she has requested Chloe care for her and become her guardian. When Chloe fails to pass the CPS financial portion of her evaluation, her case worker suggests she participate in a new program, TeamUp, which pairs two guardians who need help in passing the evaluation. Warren has passed the housing aspect of his CPS evaluation. He is attempting to get custody of his 15-year-old brother. The four of them move in together to help meet CPS’s demands. As Chloe and Warren get to know each other, they start to realize they have similarities they didn’t think possible. There is obvious chemistry, but Chloe worries her involvement with Warren could impact her chances of having her sister live with her permanently. They must decide if acting on the chemistry is worth the risk to both siblings. 

 

This is an interesting premise for a book, and I have never read anything like it before. It explores the world of adoption and fostering as well as complex relationships with families and the children’s aid system. Warren and Chloe have been impacted by the choices of their parents and need to do their own work to become better and healthier people. Watching this growth in them, especially Chloe was wonderful. 

 

I liked watching the relationship develop between Warren and Chloe. They cared for each other and each of the children they were caring for so much. I loved Warren’s care for Chloe by offering small kindnesses, like lending her his car or holding the baby when Chloe needed a minute. Chloe has a lot going on, and she has struggled with her relationship with both her birth mother and adoptive parents. We get to see her healthily explore those issues. Warren encourages her to continue working on her self-confidence, building her up. Neither Warren nor Chloe is perfect, and the author does a great job of writing the “messy parts” as much as the beautiful love they share. 

 

Hannah Bonam-Young handled the painful topics in this book with care. There were tough issues tackled throughout, please check trigger warnings if needed. This book is wrought with emotion and is a great read from a unique perspective. This was my first by this author, but will not be my last! 

 

 

read if you like: forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine