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tillie__'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Sexual content
mepereyra6's review
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
literarypenguin's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Talia Hibbert gives us the second exciting addition to the Brown Sisters trilogy, this book follows Danika Brown after wishing for a new no strings attached relationship ends up being saved from an elevator by her grumpy campus security guard friend Zafir. Soon the rescue is public knowledge and everyone starts speculating that they are dating. For each of their benefits they continue the ruse, letting people believe they really are dating. Though in fake dating things are never as simple especially when very real feelings come into play.
I adored the relationship between Dani & Zafir, how sweet their friendship is before leading into an even sweeter romance. At first it seems like the two of them are so different but as you read more you begin to see that they may be more similar then you first thought. I loved the dynamic between the jaded anti romance woman with the hopeless romantic big gruff guy! It was so cute and the chemistry they had was off the charts! The banter was very entertaining and I liked how they could tease each other and hit back with a witty comment.
One thing I really appreciated was Zafir's willingness to talk about mental health and to help other young men to talk about their feelings and struggles. That was so refreshing to see a male character be so open to talking about mental health and wanting to help others with it as well. Zafir's own mental health struggles with depression and anxiety was very well portrayed and it was fantastic to see a character in a book that was going through those illnesses like so many other people go through every day. I liked Zafir's love for his family especially his bond with his niece. I thought it was so cool how he was a good uncle to her.
Dani's bisexuality was another thing I liked, how even though she was beginning to be involved with a man she still is attracted to woman. She was still involved with women in the past. How anyone who identifys with whatever identity feels right to them can still be validated and have their identity not be questioned. Also Dani's interest in spiritualism was another interesting part of her character along with her friendship with her friend. Her bond with her sisters was so heartwarming and how her sisters could see through her act to who she was. That bond was a thing I adored from the first and I am happy to see it once again here!
As with the last book there is a conflict in the third act, this one is more believable then the last one. It resolved itself quickly and in a more realistic way which I appreciated. I have to say I enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the last book to see where the trilogy takes me!
I adored the relationship between Dani & Zafir, how sweet their friendship is before leading into an even sweeter romance. At first it seems like the two of them are so different but as you read more you begin to see that they may be more similar then you first thought. I loved the dynamic between the jaded anti romance woman with the hopeless romantic big gruff guy! It was so cute and the chemistry they had was off the charts! The banter was very entertaining and I liked how they could tease each other and hit back with a witty comment.
One thing I really appreciated was Zafir's willingness to talk about mental health and to help other young men to talk about their feelings and struggles. That was so refreshing to see a male character be so open to talking about mental health and wanting to help others with it as well. Zafir's own mental health struggles with depression and anxiety was very well portrayed and it was fantastic to see a character in a book that was going through those illnesses like so many other people go through every day. I liked Zafir's love for his family especially his bond with his niece. I thought it was so cool how he was a good uncle to her.
Dani's bisexuality was another thing I liked, how even though she was beginning to be involved with a man she still is attracted to woman. She was still involved with women in the past. How anyone who identifys with whatever identity feels right to them can still be validated and have their identity not be questioned. Also Dani's interest in spiritualism was another interesting part of her character along with her friendship with her friend. Her bond with her sisters was so heartwarming and how her sisters could see through her act to who she was. That bond was a thing I adored from the first and I am happy to see it once again here!
As with the last book there is a conflict in the third act, this one is more believable then the last one. It resolved itself quickly and in a more realistic way which I appreciated. I have to say I enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the last book to see where the trilogy takes me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
mj_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
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
The sex scenes and fantasies were so extremely long and also badly written. They weren’t sexy at all and came of as horny teen virgins vs adults with past relationships sexual and romantic . Also I didn’t feel like the book knew how to have the male character attracted to the woman without being really obvious “well this would be wrong if he wasn’t the romance lead” which is just lazy and bad writing and made me uncomfortable as a woman reading it. Like the sex aspect was so bad in both scenes and pacing and writing for published piece it made me think of various fanfics I’ve thought were better despite being hobby writing. Also i thought the book was far too long winded esp given the bad dirty talk and sex aspect I was really eager for it to be over which is never what you want for a book along side wishing you Liked it when you just don’t. I also didn’t like how often Zaf a man of color was threatening others physically even if in defense of someone (and again it also seemed really immature for an adult man in the 21st Century it act like that) or even if reference to his athleticism or taken by desire etc how often the book described him as feral, it made me uncomfortable as someone who’s parents aren’t the same race. I also found the book overly heavy hand and wordy when it could have easily been more concise and subtle instead of bordering on repetitive and predictable vs foreshadowing.
Positive: I like how hibbert treats side characters and uses them to flesh out the world they’re writing, the main characters and the side characters themselves. I like how all the women are 3D and funny while keeping them existing in their own life’s even as they support either main character they’re primarily attached to. I loved that Jo got an apology u was worried she wouldn’t.
Positive: I like how hibbert treats side characters and uses them to flesh out the world they’re writing, the main characters and the side characters themselves. I like how all the women are 3D and funny while keeping them existing in their own life’s even as they support either main character they’re primarily attached to. I loved that Jo got an apology u was worried she wouldn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship
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
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
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
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
I didn't know if this one could best out the last but somehow Talia Hibbert has done it again, and even better than before! Dani and Zafir are wonderful characters, both individually and as a couple, and I loved their growth throughout this story. I was kicking, giggling, screaming through the whole book, I absolutely loved it. The romance denial may have gotten a little old by the end if it wasn't so damn relatable, as someone who has also written off romantic feelings as completely a result of being "besties".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
kendal_reads's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders