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justanotherreaderofwords's review
emotional
inspiring
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
Danika Brown and Zafir definitely grew as the book went along. It was interesting to see both their characters grow!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
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
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.
📚 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
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
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 that’s easy to finish. I’ve read the first book in the series so I can happily report that this isn’t 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
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
sage_alexandra's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Car accident