Next of Kin

Next of Kin explores the many and varied dynamics that constitute a family. Primarily through Chloe’s changing relationships with her parents (birth and adoptive), friends, and housemates, the novel shows how families are made, broken, and maintained. Merriam-Webster defines family in a few ways, the first being “the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children” (“Family.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary). The dictionary expands this definition with “any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family,” and Next of Kin acknowledges and challenges these definitions. Throughout Chloe’s life, she moved through several family units—from a single-parent situation with her birth mom to the traditional two-parent home with her adoptive parents to the initially forced partnership between her and Warren. Chloe’s time with her adoptive parents most closely resembles Merriam-Webster’s primary definition, but those years taught Chloe to hide herself and minimize who she is, showing that the traditional family structure is not necessarily a healthy one. Chloe’s life with her birth mom was characterized by neglect and upheaval, which also calls into question the primary definition of family by showing that becoming a parent does not automatically equate to caring for one’s children.