Scan barcode
annamay1021's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity
mighty_lizard_queen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Stalking
Minor: Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Grief
carina_dreamer's review against another edition
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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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 5โญ.
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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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 ๐ฅต which I love.
๐ 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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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 5โญ.
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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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 ๐ฅต which I love.
๐ 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
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
mabellene'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming
lovetlr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Death of parent
theemangomami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was in a reading slump before I read this book. When I got the notification that it was available to borrow (I used the Libby app to read this book and most books), I knew that this would be a nice quick read thatโs easy to finish. Iโve read the first book in the series so I can happily report that this isnโt a case of an author rewriting the same book over and over and just slapping new names on the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
chl0b1'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
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual content
zadsavage's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Taliah Hibbert gets it right every time! I love Dani and Zafir. This is everything I want out of a rom-com: fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, an MMC who falls first, and the best banter. Iโve read so many amazing books in 2023 and this has quickly risen to the top of the list!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Fatphobia