This book was so cute. I loved how fast you flew through it because of how short the chapters were. It made you not want to put down the book. It is one of my favourite books I’ve read so far this year.
The only thing is I felt when it got to about the 70% mark it did get a little bit rushed. Otherwise I really enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read from this author again !!

I never thought much about hedgehogs until now. What a cute story. I found the start to be a bit slow. I picked it up and put it down a few times. But then it picked up. It dealt with some deeper issues which I liked. Overall it was a solid read.

I loved all the storylines. It was entertaining and easy to understand. Sooo many emotions with this book. A great read.

If you’re looking for a book that follows character development in a neighborhood, this pretty much hits all those points. Bit of a slow start that read a little heavy, but it started to pick up at about 30%. I breezed through from there and couldn’t put it down. A lot of heavy topics but Kitty meshed them into the story without weighing down the pacing, which was perfect. Ending was a little too clean and too happy happy, but that’s okay.

Recommend!

This was a cute, easy read. The characters were relatable enough to imagine they could be your neighbors, and their stories all felt believable and easy to connect with.

I really appreciated the differences in life circumstances and the character development that helped the reader to become invested in each of their individual storylines. I also enjoyed that the story was based around nature and wildlife conservation.

For me the book was good to start, slow for the middle, and then it picked up and went fast. I really enjoyed how interesting things got in the last third of the book, but I wished it came sooner and gradually instead of all at once.

Overall I'd recommend this for someone looking for something easy to read and relatable.

Who knew hedgehogs could be the center of an entire neighborhood drama? It was a unique story element that nicely tied all the lives together in a common thread. I loved the use of multiple narrators to help get all the stories and perspectives, and I thought Jess was really well written. Through her, you can see the ugly, honest truth that sometimes comes with motherhood, and that made her so relatable. The ending was all a bit too tidy for me, but it was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book!

I love books that transport us into small towns and give us complex characters that we aren't sure whether to root for or against. The main characters of the book have complicated relationships with each other as they work together to create the project of a hedgehog highway (aka a connected series of yards with habitats and lawn maintenance more suitable for the little animals). There are several main characters, but none of them get lost in the shuffle and the author balances the storylines that are most important very well while dealing with an ensemble cast of characters. If you're not a fan of a lot of characters (and character development) I wouldn't recommend the book because it does really more heavily on character than plot.

However, I do think most people who pick up this book will like it. There's a lot of humanity in the way the characters are written and I like that none of them are 100% good or bad. Just like the hedgehogs, people are also complex - adorable but sharp. My favorite parts of the book centered around Jess, Ryan, and Frances, but the other parts are still enjoyable to read and I also left with a greater appreciation for hedgehogs.

5/5 for solid character development and very few negatives (got through this one very fast).

I love the cover of this book, but that's about it. For some reason, the opening chapter didn't keep my interest at all. I couldn't get past the hedgehogs. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I will try this again another time.

This was a pleasantly surprising read. I never knew exactly where the story was headed next, but it was also overall comfortably predictable. Prickly Company was a very easy read, with characters you hated and characters you rooted for and all the feelings that come with both. While I was reading, I felt like there were chapters where nothing really happened. However, by the time I finished, I realized what a whirlwind this book was. This book truly had everything happening! I also learned a lot about hedgehogs. If you’re looking for a cozy book that will entertain you, this is it!

I love a book where the characters revolve around the theme of community connection/disconnection and this one did not disappoint! It’s like a Melrose Place conglomerate of unlikely friends (and some enemies). You will not only root for the hedgehogs and come to love the diverse set of characters, but you will leave feeling like you believe in humanity again. I loved that she chose a character with a disability and I appreciated the differences between the characters she painted. Most are from differing stages of life, with varying backstories and life choices. If you like your books tied up with a sense of completion, this book is for you, This book reminded me of Clare Pooley’s works- The Authenticity Project and Ivona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my review.

Like others have said this was extremely unexpected for sure. It was cute, frustrating at times, definitely had my jaw drop at one particle part that I had a feeling happened with Frances. But all in all, a very nice breath of fresh air. Not the type of book I would normally pick up and read but I read this and it kept me hooked. My favorite character by far was Ryan. He to me felt like the glue to this community. I related to his feelings a lot. The vibe was almost desperate housewives in my opinion but with hedgehogs. Very very interesting read, with an ending that didn’t leave me with questions.

I liked it!

3 Reasons to read Prickly Company by Kitty Johnson:
1. Hedgehogs! And others British details, phrases like Christ on a Bike and the contraction d'you.
2. If you enjoy a very interconnected, small web of characters with A LOT going on you'll love this book.
3. Kitty Johnson has a knack for writing about heavy topics in a light way. You find yourself reflecting deeply while breezing through this read.

Happy Reading!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

Hedgehogs, humor, and hope. What other ‘h’ words could you possibly want in a book?

Prickly Company was a delightful read with complex characters and a lovable setting in Hilltop Place. I didn’t think I would ever enjoy a book that began with hedgehogs, “pooey shoes”, and a dead cat, but Prickly Company was charming and well-done right off the bat. Not to mention, I learned the adorable fact that baby hedgehogs are called hoglets.

The story follows a mass of characters such as Jess and Michael Crawford with the ups and downs of adopting a toddler alongside their daughter Stella, struggling newly wheelchair-bound Ryan Tindall and his stern mother Irene, hedgehog loving Frances, and Tara and her wild daughter Hermie.

All the residents of Hilltop Place make this book a great jumble of interconnected stories. The characters are complex and relatable all at once. I did find that the middle of the book started to feel utterly hopeless and but some happy endings solved that ‘problem’. My biggest critique is that the plot got a little lost in between all the problems of all the different characters. Otherwise, it was generally an enjoyable read!

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. I am looking forward to other books by this author.

A very pleasant, cozy read! While it took me a little bit to get into, I felt the pacing picked up about 1/3rd of the way through. The character subplots were unique yet relatable, and I really enjoyed how Kitty intertwined the stories of the neighbors, especially Jess and Ryan. Overall an easy ready to pick up every night, but not one that I was losing sleep to finish.

First, thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book focuses heavily on character development so that has to be your thing if you want to read this book. I do like that and that's why I enjoyed this book! The characters were all quite different and had their own stories and struggles to tell and get through. As another reviewer said, it feels a bit like you're watching your neighbours in the street. Overall, I thought this was well done and makes for a fun and easy read!

thankyou netgalley for the arc. all opinions are my own and are totally honest and unbiased!

OKAY THIS WAS SO SWEET AND GRIPPING AMD HEARTWARMING AND HILARIOUSLY FUNNY. Kitty Johnson nailed it!! you say it and this book has it!!🤭❤️😩

A nice story about campaigning in a little British street, easy reading story. Relatable characters.

This was a compassionate story about love, friendship, complicated lives, set against the backdrop of campaigning and saving the environment... I enjoyed it and would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Not my favorite--I felt like the plot was meandering and slow. However, I could see this being a big win for fans of The Joy Luck Club and family dramas.

Jess's and Tara's story arc were by far the most interesting!