Hannah Bonam-Young

Independent, confident, and not held back by her disability, Winnifred McNulty has been determined to prove to herself and others that she can do anything without needing anyone. That all changes when Win meets Bo at a Halloween party, a charming boy in a pirate costume who has more in common with her than she realises. Bonding over the fact that they both have a visible disability, Win and Bo develop an electrifying connection with each other that they just can't ignore. After a one-night stand leaves Win with the biggest decision of her life, Bo is more than happy to join her in sharing this new experience - on the condition that they remain strictly friends. Win and Bo embark on a journey together, discovering more about themselves than they thought they knew. But the chemistry between them is unavoidable, and the plan they put in place soon gets thrown into question as feelings begin to surface.

A Novel

Out on a Limb

Safe to say that this book has gone right to the top of my favourite of Hannah Bonam-Young books. It was such a sweet, funny and emotional book all rolled into one full of amazing disability representation. This really is one of the most heartwarming strangers to lovers’ books that I have read and will properly ever read. 

Win and Bo meet on Halloween at a mutual friend’s party. They hit it off as they’re wearing matching costumes and one thing leads to another… this is a very casual one-time thing until weeks later when Win discovers she’s carrying a little souvenir from that night. A girl with an underdeveloped hand and a man with a missing limb. And even with a mutual understanding, it was their incredible banter and attraction that had them making a baby that evening.

This author did an amazing job at bringing these 2 characters to life and seeing the connection between the 2 of them grow over the stages of the pregnancy both Bo and Winnie have overcome so many hurdles while maintaining a wonderful outlook on life. And somehow these two become each other's biggest champion. Encouraging one another to be better, happier and above all; themselves.

Ian Brakspear

Safe to say that this book has gone right to the top of my favourite of Hannah Bonam-Young books. It was such a sweet, funny and emotional book all rolled into one full of amazing disability representation. This really is one of the most heartwarming strangers to lovers’ books that I have read and will properly ever read. 

Win and Bo meet on Halloween at a mutual friend’s party. They hit it off as they’re wearing matching costumes and one thing leads to another… this is a very casual one-time thing until weeks later when Win discovers she’s carrying a little souvenir from that night. A girl with an underdeveloped hand and a man with a missing limb. And even with a mutual understanding, it was their incredible banter and attraction that had them making a baby that evening.

 

This author did an amazing job at bringing these 2 characters to life and seeing the connection between the 2 of them grow over the stages of the pregnancy both Bo and Winnie have overcome so many hurdles while maintaining a wonderful outlook on life. And somehow these two become each other's biggest champion. Encouraging one another to be better, happier and above all; themselves.

This story was absolutely joyful. The main characters are funny, heartfelt, and actually communicate like adults! I loved the ending and felt like the epilogue really ties it all together nicely.  

Alissa 

This was cute. I love a good golden retriever love interest. I also loved the setting as well; gotta love a good Snow White cottage.

Sarah Campbell

first pregnancy trope 🫢 and i really liked it hehe, very cute read, i wish Bo had sommeeeee flaws bc he’s little too perfect 

debbie <3

✨And, like my mother, I’m far too softhearted. Often too eager to see the best in people. Too attached to leave when I should. Too scared of being alone.

✨It’s not that I dislike my body, or my stomach in particular. It’s just that I find there’s less risk of insecurity spiking the more I act as if I don’t have a body at all.

✨“So… do we—do we get married?” “What?” I jump back. “No! What? Why would we get married? We don’t even know each other!” He sits straighter, blowing out a breath. “Sorry, I’m not sure what came over me just then.” “The ghost of your great-grandfather, evidently,” I say.

✨I miss feeling young and carefree and naïve. I wasted so much of that time wishing I was older. Waiting impatiently to get out and live my own life. But that never really happened. I just got older. And now look at me. Nothing to show for it.

✨“Lovely to meet you all! Kick dragon ass! Escape the dungeons and whatnot!” I shout, jogging to my bedroom before Caleb’s death glare strikes me down. You know, with his musical magic and all.

✨“Yeah, I think I would. I know the timing isn’t exactly ideal, but if you lined up every other person in the world who I could’ve had a baby with, I’d choose you again. You’re going to be a fantastic mom, Win.”

✨It’s so much easier to communicate insecurities when you don’t need to communicate them at all. Isn’t that all we ever want? To be seen and heard? Validated, even when we’re not able to ask for it.

✨I stop myself again. Sometimes… things are just good things. I could spend my whole life waiting for the other shoe to drop, or I could begin training myself to expect the best. Embrace gratitude and drop the skepticism.

✨“I love you, Win. I love you so much it makes me feel like I’ve hated everything else in my life up until now. Nothing compares to what I feel for you. Not even close.”

✨I brush my hand over Bo’s hair and onto his cheek. Reveling in the simple notion that he is real. That someone could love me this much. Choose to fill me up instead of pour me out. Build a fire to keep me warm instead of burn me out. Sometimes, it feels like saying I love you isn’t enough. Not when my whole life has changed because of this man. Bo loves me for free. No expectations. No demands. Not a single ounce of selfishness.

✨“You are my soul’s purpose, Win. To know you, to love you, to build a family with you, to spend every day taking care of you, to watch you shine and get all the good things you deserve out of this life.”

✨“August Sarah Durand, you know it hurts your father when we keep math from him.”

Mariaaa

✨And, like my mother, I’m far too softhearted. Often too eager to see the best in people. Too attached to leave when I should. Too scared of being alone.

✨It’s not that I dislike my body, or my stomach in particular. It’s just that I find there’s less risk of insecurity spiking the more I act as if I don’t have a body at all.

✨“So… do we—do we get married?” “What?” I jump back. “No! What? Why would we get married? We don’t even know each other!” He sits straighter, blowing out a breath. “Sorry, I’m not sure what came over me just then.” “The ghost of your great-grandfather, evidently,” I say.

✨I miss feeling young and carefree and naïve. I wasted so much of that time wishing I was older. Waiting impatiently to get out and live my own life. But that never really happened. I just got older. And now look at me. Nothing to show for it.

✨“Lovely to meet you all! Kick dragon ass! Escape the dungeons and whatnot!” I shout, jogging to my bedroom before Caleb’s death glare strikes me down. You know, with his musical magic and all.

✨“Yeah, I think I would. I know the timing isn’t exactly ideal, but if you lined up every other person in the world who I could’ve had a baby with, I’d choose you again. You’re going to be a fantastic mom, Win.”

✨It’s so much easier to communicate insecurities when you don’t need to communicate them at all. Isn’t that all we ever want? To be seen and heard? Validated, even when we’re not able to ask for it.

✨I stop myself again. Sometimes… things are just good things. I could spend my whole life waiting for the other shoe to drop, or I could begin training myself to expect the best. Embrace gratitude and drop the skepticism.

✨“I love you, Win. I love you so much it makes me feel like I’ve hated everything else in my life up until now. Nothing compares to what I feel for you. Not even close.”

✨I brush my hand over Bo’s hair and onto his cheek. Reveling in the simple notion that he is real. That someone could love me this much. Choose to fill me up instead of pour me out. Build a fire to keep me warm instead of burn me out. Sometimes, it feels like saying I love you isn’t enough. Not when my whole life has changed because of this man. Bo loves me for free. No expectations. No demands. Not a single ounce of selfishness.

✨“You are my soul’s purpose, Win. To know you, to love you, to build a family with you, to spend every day taking care of you, to watch you shine and get all the good things you deserve out of this life.”

✨“August Sarah Durand, you know it hurts your father when we keep math from him.”

Mel 

This book was so sweet and beautiful. ILY Bo Duran 🫶🏾

Moradeyo

Ellie M.

Kindly check the TWs of Out on A Limb before reading. 

This is an absolutely hilarious adult romantic comedy about two strangers accidentally falling in love along the way of having a baby together. I am a sucker for the pregnancy trope and this was exactly what I needed. Bo and Winnie are one of the bestest, most adorable MCs i’ve read in contemporary romance this year. Helena Bonam-Young knows her way through a romcom and she’s managed to accentuate longing and passion between two people who agreed to only be friends. Reading this felt so instrinsically intimate, and at the same time it delves into great physical disability rep, periods of grief, and traversed through emotional trauma, as well as recovery. Not only that, but this book is strongly all for women having full autonomy of their bodies and reproductive health and for that, I truly admire the writing. Furthermore, I’ve noticed this book has an uncanny ability to make a reader feel when everything finally falls into the right place at the right time. I could vouch for a number of books who feel like a Taylor Swift song and this was totally it! I wouldn’t mind a Bo in my life. My heart just felt so full as I read this. Despite the initial attraction between our two leads, there was no rushed romance but all fun and sweet moments. 

Oh and the smut was chef’s kiss <3

P.S. I got slightly turned off after a brief mentioning of Velaris, which is a fictional place set in a popular book series written by a zionist.

aleksandra

3.5/5

Society if men like Bo existed:

 ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ 

No, but seriously now, it was a pretty good book with the most satisfying ending and characters that were impossible not to like. Some of the scenes that were supposed to be "the funny ones" weren't exactly my type of humor, but I still had fun reading this story. I'm not a huge fan of books with accidental pregnancy, but this one was a very pleasant surprise. Bo's point of view would definitely increase my rating if it existed, but I think I could easily recommend this book to anyone.

Anastasia Jack

How fitting that I finished this book on August’s birthday! This was such a sweet read and I loved the disability rep. Also shout out to the Canadian tidbits in this book. The way I died when Bo turned out to be a Waterloo grad bc that definitely tracks.

Out on a Limb A Novel

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