Scan barcode
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was one of the swooniest romances that I think I’ve ever read. I had all of these giddy, happy, swoony feelings floating around in my brain and I literally had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading Take A Hint. It was just so sweet and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Dani and Zaf were so sweet and lovely and swoony. I loved that they were both so gone for each other (even before the fake dating) and how their fake dating made them realize that they might be more than just friends. I also really enjoyed both Dani and Zaf’s inner monologues! They were hilarious and relatable on so many levels. I just really loved them. Anyway, this is getting five stars and I’m so excited for Eve’s book! 😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, and Death
Death of a sibling should also be taggedmj_86's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥.
The second in the Brown Sisters standalone trilogy focuses on Dani Brown, whose number one priority is her career. Love and romance? That's not even on her list of things to achieve in life.
It took me awhile to like Dani's character, but I really loved her focus and intelligence. She's ambitious when it comes to her career but cynical when it comes to love. I really felt Sorcha's frustration with her. Dani definitely made me want to yell out the title of this book to her a couple of times.
Zaf stole my heart from the moment we find out he, a former pro rugby player, reads romance novels 🤍 He has a grumpy exterior but deep down is gentle, sweet, and attentive, especially when it comes to Dani. His grief was so raw and heartbreaking and I thought the way Talia handled his fears and anxieties was well done.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.
Just like in Get a Life, Talia knows how to create spicy romantic tension. The build up was just so good 🔥🔥 I appreciated that she also emphasized the importance of validating all types of feelings, that being vulnerable is not at all a weakness, and that a person shouldn't change who they are in order to make a relationship work.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦.
Highly recommend this if you like:
🔮fake dating
🏉friends to lovers
🔮anxiety rep
🏉banter and chemistry
🔮he falls first
The second in the Brown Sisters standalone trilogy focuses on Dani Brown, whose number one priority is her career. Love and romance? That's not even on her list of things to achieve in life.
It took me awhile to like Dani's character, but I really loved her focus and intelligence. She's ambitious when it comes to her career but cynical when it comes to love. I really felt Sorcha's frustration with her. Dani definitely made me want to yell out the title of this book to her a couple of times.
Zaf stole my heart from the moment we find out he, a former pro rugby player, reads romance novels 🤍 He has a grumpy exterior but deep down is gentle, sweet, and attentive, especially when it comes to Dani. His grief was so raw and heartbreaking and I thought the way Talia handled his fears and anxieties was well done.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.
Just like in Get a Life, Talia knows how to create spicy romantic tension. The build up was just so good 🔥🔥 I appreciated that she also emphasized the importance of validating all types of feelings, that being vulnerable is not at all a weakness, and that a person shouldn't change who they are in order to make a relationship work.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦.
Highly recommend this if you like:
🔮fake dating
🏉friends to lovers
🔮anxiety rep
🏉banter and chemistry
🔮he falls first
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Body shaming
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
immdanii's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Grief
auteaandtales's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another fantastic read by Talia Hibbert. The chemistry between Zaf and Dani was SO, so good. The banter?! I loved them.
Firstly, one of my favourite things in romance books is when each love interest is developed as a full individual. They feel fully formed, as people, rather than something that only exists as one half of a relationship. This is probably helped by this people dual-POV (which I don’t normally like, but I did like in this). Zaf has his own family dynamics and it felt so whole, it had those things I always imagine close families do where they have inside jokes and their own banter. His relationship with his niece, Fatima, in particular was incredibly wholesome. Zaf’s best friend was involved in the story, too, which I loved. Dani was the same, of course, as this series focuses on each one of the Brown sisters so their dynamic is centric to the story. It also involved Dani’s best friend, and an ex-girlfriend. There was a lot of their characters already fleshed out, which for me always adds to the romance and makes it that much better.
Dani is so confident, but still had underlying insecurities, and Zaf is a hopeless romantic that struggles with anxiety. It was layered, and I love the way that anxiety was handled as someone who has anxiety themselves. I felt like they balanced each other out so well, they complimented each other and fit very well together. The banter and the chemistry between them was all the more improved because of it.
There was also so much love, kindness and supportive friendship/family in the background, and within the relationship itself. It felt like reading a warm hug.
The effortless diversity was a plus, as well, and I can never go wrong with fake dating.
A++, another masterpiece on romance that I know will stay with me for a while.
Firstly, one of my favourite things in romance books is when each love interest is developed as a full individual. They feel fully formed, as people, rather than something that only exists as one half of a relationship. This is probably helped by this people dual-POV (which I don’t normally like, but I did like in this). Zaf has his own family dynamics and it felt so whole, it had those things I always imagine close families do where they have inside jokes and their own banter. His relationship with his niece, Fatima, in particular was incredibly wholesome. Zaf’s best friend was involved in the story, too, which I loved. Dani was the same, of course, as this series focuses on each one of the Brown sisters so their dynamic is centric to the story. It also involved Dani’s best friend, and an ex-girlfriend. There was a lot of their characters already fleshed out, which for me always adds to the romance and makes it that much better.
Dani is so confident, but still had underlying insecurities, and Zaf is a hopeless romantic that struggles with anxiety. It was layered, and I love the way that anxiety was handled as someone who has anxiety themselves. I felt like they balanced each other out so well, they complimented each other and fit very well together. The banter and the chemistry between them was all the more improved because of it.
There was also so much love, kindness and supportive friendship/family in the background, and within the relationship itself. It felt like reading a warm hug.
The effortless diversity was a plus, as well, and I can never go wrong with fake dating.
A++, another masterpiece on romance that I know will stay with me for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, and Car accident
caelinsullivan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, and Misogyny
carina_dreamer's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Once again, the books in this trilogy win me over! They aren't flawless, but the connection I get with them makes me always cross over to the top score.
📚 This time we get to follow the middle sister, Danika Brown, she is the wildest of the three. She's a college professor, a bisexual plus-size black woman, sassy and a pro in the "friends with benefits".
If in the 1st, Chloe follows a list of out-the-box things she should do, here Dani will ask the help of a goddess to get a new partner in bed. That was a funny and interesting contrast to the older sister.
The goddess led her directly to the arms of the college's grumpy security guard, Zafir, and the incident of the heroic princess carry would get them both in the spotlight.
🏈 In book 1, I wanted more backstory regarding Red and his family, plus, I disliked the rushed 3rd act break-up and its resolution. Nonetheless, I gave it 5⭐.
In book 2, the plot focused more on Zafir and his family than on the Brown sisters (I was a bit sad, but not displeased). The hard topic of anxiety and grief was his, so it needed more focus. Thank goodness, the author also improved in terms of the 3rd act's struggles. It was also quick (Bestie didn't like that again when we had our book club discussion), but I felt like it accomplished the goal of apologising in a way that would swoon the hopeless romantic in question.
📚 I suffer from anxiety and I think Talia showcased it delicately and consciously. There were examples from both characters of overthinking, panic attacks, trauma responses, imposter syndrome, hesitation out of fear, etc. And also coping mechanisms and support. The stages of grief and battle to overcome the loss and mental damage were done very well.
🏈 It was a fake dating, they needed to flaunt their relationship for social media frenzy and gossip, but in terms of actual romance, it was more of a slow burn. As usual, the author describes the tension between them very 🥵 which I love.
📚 Would've liked some footnotes translating the language Zaf and his family spoke together. That absence didn't let me understand the little representation it showed of their origins and religion.
📚 This time we get to follow the middle sister, Danika Brown, she is the wildest of the three. She's a college professor, a bisexual plus-size black woman, sassy and a pro in the "friends with benefits".
If in the 1st, Chloe follows a list of out-the-box things she should do, here Dani will ask the help of a goddess to get a new partner in bed. That was a funny and interesting contrast to the older sister.
The goddess led her directly to the arms of the college's grumpy security guard, Zafir, and the incident of the heroic princess carry would get them both in the spotlight.
🏈 In book 1, I wanted more backstory regarding Red and his family, plus, I disliked the rushed 3rd act break-up and its resolution. Nonetheless, I gave it 5⭐.
In book 2, the plot focused more on Zafir and his family than on the Brown sisters (I was a bit sad, but not displeased). The hard topic of anxiety and grief was his, so it needed more focus. Thank goodness, the author also improved in terms of the 3rd act's struggles. It was also quick (Bestie didn't like that again when we had our book club discussion), but I felt like it accomplished the goal of apologising in a way that would swoon the hopeless romantic in question.
📚 I suffer from anxiety and I think Talia showcased it delicately and consciously. There were examples from both characters of overthinking, panic attacks, trauma responses, imposter syndrome, hesitation out of fear, etc. And also coping mechanisms and support. The stages of grief and battle to overcome the loss and mental damage were done very well.
🏈 It was a fake dating, they needed to flaunt their relationship for social media frenzy and gossip, but in terms of actual romance, it was more of a slow burn. As usual, the author describes the tension between them very 🥵 which I love.
📚 Would've liked some footnotes translating the language Zaf and his family spoke together. That absence didn't let me understand the little representation it showed of their origins and religion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Gaslighting and Car accident
pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Does Talia Hibbert ever disappoint? She continues to be an author whose books I always am on the hunt for when I step into a book store.
I absolutely loved the depictions of grief, how it's a never ending process, and anxiety, where your
know something, but your brain constantly catastrophizes it to an inescapable point anyway.
I absolutely loved the depictions of grief, how it's a never ending process, and anxiety, where your
know something, but your brain constantly catastrophizes it to an inescapable point anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Death, Stalking, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
anna_readssbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love that thing where she believed she was difficult to love but he loved her like it was breathing
Also zafir the man you are???????damnnnnn
Also zafir the man you are???????damnnnnn
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death