Cover of People Pleasing by Hannah Bonam-Young

People Pleasing

by Hannah Bonam-Young

2026

A sexy and emotional romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Out on a Limb and People Watching about two childhood friends reconnecting, healing from their past, and falling for the people they've become. Nadia Kablukov does not want to go home, and neither does her brother Milo. But when their eldest sibling, Nik, calls in his emergency favor and enlists their help with opening his new brewery, they both head back, dreading the memories of their difficult childhood. For Nadia, this means facing her former next-door neighbor, her once best friend, and first love - Aleks. Nadia knew Aleks was going to be around - he is Nik's business partner, after all - but seeing Aleks standing on her brother's front porch, all handsome and smiley, she realises her feelings for him are not entirely gone. Aleks longs for simpler days, when Nadia was only a stone's throw away and life was less overwhelming. So, when she offers to help him with a project at the brewery, he's eager to accept. Despite the time and distance between them, Nadia and Aleks find themselves falling back into old routines. Aleks is still able to see through Nadia's hardened exterior and she's still able to get him out of his ruminating thoughts like no one else can. As feelings resurface and grow to an unmanageable point, they're faced with reality: Nadia has never considered moving back home and Aleks has never considered leaving. So giving in to anything more between them will only cause more pain when it's time to say goodbye again, right?

Friends to LoversSecond Chance
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
Your rating:

About This Book

People Pleasing is a novel by Hannah Bonam-Young, first published in 2026 by Bedford Square Publishers. Readers can expect friends to lovers, second chance.

At a glance

Trope
Friends to Lovers
Published
2026

Where to read or listen

Get People Pleasing by Hannah Bonam-Young

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • When childhood friends Nadia and Aleks reunite to help open a brewery, they must confront their lingering feelings and the painful reality that their lives are moving in opposite directions.
  • Readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven second chance romances
  • Fans of childhood friends-to-lovers stories
  • Introspective
  • Features Friends to Lovers
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Friends to LoversSecond Chance RomanceForced Proximity

Relationship Dynamics

Childhood friendsFirst loves

Details

Type: Contemporary Romance

Pairing: unknown

Power balance: Equal

Slow BurnVery strong (75 out of 100)
Relationship TensionVery strong (75 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyVery strong (75 out of 100)
Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

Moderate comfort.

AngstVery strong (75 out of 100)
ComfortStrong (50 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityVery strong (75 out of 100)
Pacing: medium
Tone:EmotionalIntrospective
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Explicitness: unknown
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven second chance romancesFans of childhood friends-to-lovers stories

Reading mood

IntrospectiveEmotional

Recommended audience: Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Nadia and her brother Milo return home at their brother Nik's request to assist with his new brewery venture. This homecoming forces Nadia to confront her past, specifically her neighbor and first love, Aleks. As they spend time together on a project at the brewery, they slip back into their old, comfortable dynamic, but the underlying tension of their conflicting futures—Nadia's desire to stay away and Aleks's commitment to their hometown—threatens to break them once again.

Central Conflict

Nadia and Aleks find their feelings for one another resurfacing, but they are held back by the reality that they have fundamentally different goals regarding whether to remain in or leave their hometown.

Setting

Hometown, brewery

Strengths

  • Established history between leads
  • Compelling emotional conflict regarding long-term life goals
Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  3. 3

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  4. 4

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  5. 5

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  6. 6

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
October 13, 2026
Confidence:
Moderate confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

HB

Hannah Bonam-Young

0 books
Be the first follower
Reader Reviews

What Readers Say

No reviews yet

Be the first to share what you thought of this book.

Publication Details

Publisher
Bedford Square Publishers
Published
2026
Language
English
ISBN-13
9781835014547
ISBN-10
1835014542
ASIN
B0G5WN7QB9

People Pleasing: quick answers

Who wrote People Pleasing?
People Pleasing was written by Hannah Bonam-Young.
When was People Pleasing published?
People Pleasing was first published in 2026 by Bedford Square Publishers.

Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.

This is my book — sign in

Where to read or listen

Get People Pleasing by Hannah Bonam-Young

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Want more books like this?

Let Lyra help you discover lesbian romance books that match your exact mood, favorite tropes, and reading style.