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iridescentdreams's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Grief
dreareads_'s review against another edition
emotional
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
I won't lie, for a second there I though Ms Talia Hibbert was going to get me to give a romance book 5 stars lol
I mean I was kind of obsessed with Danika and Zafir. Tbh I want more love interests like Zafir because he was precious. And I have never related more to an iconic, bisexual, academically stressed queen like I did to Danika.
Tbh I enjoyed it quite a bit, but just as with most contemporary romance book I read I was bored for the last 50 pages or so. The moment the story gets too emotional/happy I kind of always check out.. But that is mainly a me problem not a book problem....
I mean I was kind of obsessed with Danika and Zafir. Tbh I want more love interests like Zafir because he was precious. And I have never related more to an iconic, bisexual, academically stressed queen like I did to Danika.
Tbh I enjoyed it quite a bit, but just as with most contemporary romance book I read I was bored for the last 50 pages or so. The moment the story gets too emotional/happy I kind of always check out.. But that is mainly a me problem not a book problem....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
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
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
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
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
theverycraftyvegan'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
5.0
I have loved this series by Talia Hibbert! Dani and Zaf were the perfect mismatched couple with Zaf loving too easily and Dani’s heart being walled up and untouchable. And the ending of this one had me swooning!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, and Body shaming
cady_sass's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
I am really really enjoying the brown sisters! I do find that Talia Hibbert writes smut in a way I don’t particularly enjoy, but I love her characters so much. She does such a fantastic job of writing a diverse cast and integrating mental health representation and truly unique personalities!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Death
emmacartlidge's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
lex_is_bookish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Slavery, Misogyny, and Body shaming