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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
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ด๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ญ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ซ๐ฐ๐บ ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ. ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ข๐ท๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ.
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 ๐ค 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.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฃ๐ช๐ฐ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ญ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ณ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐บ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต.
Just like in Get a Life, Talia knows how to create spicy romantic tension. The build up was just so good ๐ฅ๐ฅ 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.
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ, ๐ช๐ต'๐ด ๐ด๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต'๐ด ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ, ๐ช๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ.
Highly recommend this if you like:
๐ฎfake dating
๐friends to lovers
๐ฎanxiety rep
๐banter and chemistry
๐ฎhe 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 ๐ค 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.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฃ๐ช๐ฐ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ญ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ณ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐บ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต.
Just like in Get a Life, Talia knows how to create spicy romantic tension. The build up was just so good ๐ฅ๐ฅ 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.
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ, ๐ช๐ต'๐ด ๐ด๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต'๐ด ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ, ๐ช๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ.
Highly recommend this if you like:
๐ฎfake dating
๐friends to lovers
๐ฎanxiety rep
๐banter and chemistry
๐ฎhe falls first
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Body shaming
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
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
lrose02's review
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
This author has gotten me hooked. I swear somehow thereโs crack in the pages. Somehow she manages to write compelling, passionate romance with none of the cringe. On top of making diverse characters and handling topics like anxiety and grief perfectly. This book definitely feels spicier than the first, with so much more tension. I never thought I was a fan of fake dating before but honestly this author could make me like a lot of tropes I didnโt fancy before. I love how with both book one and this book, she included a snippet of the future so it didnโt just end. These couples arenโt just together in the plot. It definitely is more character than plot but there is still stuff going on, with Zafโs charity and itโs expansion along with Daniโs panel. Also itโs nice that heโs the emotional intelligent one for once while sheโs the more closed off one. Just brilliant, as usual
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
softboiledegg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Panic attacks/disorders
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 donโt 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. Zafโs 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 Daniโs 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 donโt 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. Zafโs 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 Daniโs 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
sophiesometimesreads's review
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
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
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