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kellyskubic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Emotional abuse
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
Chloe Brown is not happy with the life that she has as a result of her chronic illness and she is determined to change that by making a list and ticking off every experience on said list. Chloe's journey is fun and light-hearted but also emotional and intense. Talia Hibbert has successfully written this book and created these characters and their experiences for people to identify with and relate to. I cannot wait to continue my way through the Brown Sisters trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
carina_dreamer's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
• I gave it 5🌟 for emotional reasons, but if I analyse it, maybe a 4🌟75 for two reasons.
• Illnesses aren't my type of topic, I always cry. Fibromyalgia was a safer bet and I was curious to know how they would describe chronic pain. To me, it seemed realistic, from the care needed to the different degrees of pain and symptoms.
• The way Chloe faced the list she made throughout the book had good development. Made me think.
• Red seeming like a bad boy but actually being such a sweet man was a nice surprise. His character had nice and interesting aspects to it like his attitude facing his art after doubting himself and also how he felt after a very toxic past relationship.
• I really liked the sisters (I'm going to read their books) and the grandma (I want to adopt the progressive lady as my own grandmother)
• The banter between Chloe and Red was so nice, with sarcasm and flirting, love it 😍. The romance was so thoughtful and sexy, one of those you think "too good to be true". We read to dream, right? The 🌶️ is great, I got 🥵 and they weren't even kissing.
• The only things I had to point out were: it would be more interesting if Red's life and his problems weren't solved so quickly, his mother and therapy; and the book should have two more chapters to solve their traumas suitably. Chap. 21 was so well written but solved quickly.
• The book is perfect for those who want to start diversifying the authors they read and include more protagonists of colour. A very good rom-com with 🌶️ that I recommend.
• Illnesses aren't my type of topic, I always cry. Fibromyalgia was a safer bet and I was curious to know how they would describe chronic pain. To me, it seemed realistic, from the care needed to the different degrees of pain and symptoms.
• The way Chloe faced the list she made throughout the book had good development. Made me think.
• Red seeming like a bad boy but actually being such a sweet man was a nice surprise. His character had nice and interesting aspects to it like his attitude facing his art after doubting himself and also how he felt after a very toxic past relationship.
• I really liked the sisters (I'm going to read their books) and the grandma (I want to adopt the progressive lady as my own grandmother)
• The banter between Chloe and Red was so nice, with sarcasm and flirting, love it 😍. The romance was so thoughtful and sexy, one of those you think "too good to be true". We read to dream, right? The 🌶️ is great, I got 🥵 and they weren't even kissing.
• The only things I had to point out were: it would be more interesting if Red's life and his problems weren't solved so quickly, his mother and therapy; and the book should have two more chapters to solve their traumas suitably. Chap. 21 was so well written but solved quickly.
• The book is perfect for those who want to start diversifying the authors they read and include more protagonists of colour. A very good rom-com with 🌶️ that I recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Minor: Drug use and Car accident
danaslitlist's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
This has been on my TBR for quite some time, but always managed to get pushed further down the list for one reason or another. Until I found it available in audio format through my library and I quickly snatched it up. My only regret is that I wish I had read it sooner.
Chloe Brown is the eldest three sisters and the stereotype for most eldest daughters; a perfectionist, incredibly thorough and reliable, if not a bit closed off (well, a lot closed off....).
Red is a hardworking, kind hearted, fix it Felix type both in the personal lives of those around him but also professionally as an apartment super. A relationship blossoms in a subgenre of enemies to lovers as they begin to rely on one another. The characters are so loveable even in their not so shining moments, because you understand where they are coming from and the reasons behind their responses.
But my biggest reason for loving this book alongside the spice and utter hilarious dialogue is disability representation.
Disability representation in books is few and far between with proper representation even less common. More often than not I find myself rolling my eyes at the inspiration porn that follows the character or at the fully offensive portrayal of the disability. It's even less often that I see disability in romance media where the disabled character is one of the two love interests.
So when I started reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown not knowing that Chloe was disabled and I was presented with a gift. Talia Hibbert beautifully described what is like living in a disabled body I nearly cried. To see Chloe having made peace with her body while at the same time not glossing over the real difficulties she faces daily, to see that she has a family who understands and as the book progresses, to see Red easily accommodate Chloe's needs without question was representation that I've so desperately craved in books and was surprised to receive here.
I could gush over the representation for hours; about how we see Chloe's different coping mechanisms, where we are shown how isolating it can to be disabled because it's "too hard" for others to be around, to her frustration and fear that she may be left behind and even more. I will leave it here by saying thank you to Ms. Hibbert. Thank you for giving me a disabled woman who is a full person on her own and whose disability is apart of who she is unapologetically. Thank you for allowing me to see myself reflected in your romance novel. Thank you.
Chloe Brown is the eldest three sisters and the stereotype for most eldest daughters; a perfectionist, incredibly thorough and reliable, if not a bit closed off (well, a lot closed off....).
Red is a hardworking, kind hearted, fix it Felix type both in the personal lives of those around him but also professionally as an apartment super. A relationship blossoms in a subgenre of enemies to lovers as they begin to rely on one another. The characters are so loveable even in their not so shining moments, because you understand where they are coming from and the reasons behind their responses.
But my biggest reason for loving this book alongside the spice and utter hilarious dialogue is disability representation.
Disability representation in books is few and far between with proper representation even less common. More often than not I find myself rolling my eyes at the inspiration porn that follows the character or at the fully offensive portrayal of the disability. It's even less often that I see disability in romance media where the disabled character is one of the two love interests.
So when I started reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown not knowing that Chloe was disabled and I was presented with a gift. Talia Hibbert beautifully described what is like living in a disabled body I nearly cried. To see Chloe having made peace with her body while at the same time not glossing over the real difficulties she faces daily, to see that she has a family who understands and as the book progresses, to see Red easily accommodate Chloe's needs without question was representation that I've so desperately craved in books and was surprised to receive here.
I could gush over the representation for hours; about how we see Chloe's different coping mechanisms, where we are shown how isolating it can to be disabled because it's "too hard" for others to be around, to her frustration and fear that she may be left behind and even more. I will leave it here by saying thank you to Ms. Hibbert. Thank you for giving me a disabled woman who is a full person on her own and whose disability is apart of who she is unapologetically. Thank you for allowing me to see myself reflected in your romance novel. Thank you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit and Drug use
Minor: Domestic abuse
The abuse is not shown on page and is not perpetrated by the lead characters (it's discussed while talking about past relationships) which I think is important to note!hannahwhiteyy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book was a gem of representation, diversity, and humour. Chloe and Red have a special place in my heart <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Cursing
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Car accident, Ableism, Alcohol, and Stalking
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
annahamburger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Ableism
Moderate: Gaslighting and Drug use
someonelikeblue's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Ableism, Alcohol, Cursing, Abandonment, and Car accident
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Mental illness
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
I've heard nothing but rave reviews for the Brown Sisters trilogy all over bookstagram, and it did not disappoint! Chloe's near death experience sets her on a mission to make herself more interesting. She's felt held back by her fibromyalgia for years, allowing her constant discomfort and the unpredictability of her pain to dictate much of her life for years. But no more! She's made a list and everything!
I loved the role reversal of the grumpy (Chloe) / sunshine (Red) trope. Chloe's brusque attitude was so relatable--let's be real, when someone is in pain, their fuse is short and their attitude tends to come across as terse. Red is too good for this world, but he's got his own demons to tackle and he's working on it. Helping Chloe work through her list helps him recognize what he's been holding himself back from too.
He had some of the best lines in the book, in my opinion, and not just his worship of Chloe's thick thighs! When he cooked her stir-fry after realizing she hadn't eaten most of the day, "I'm doing it for you because that's how people should behave. They should fill in each other's gaps. Don't think about it too hard." Like YES! That's what relationships are all about! Give and take, being each other's support when they need it.
And when he knew he fucked up, "I know the difference between torture and growing pains." Just UGH, how perfect could he be?? Telling Chloe he recognized they're both imperfect people, but that together they can be perfectly imperfect and grow into better people together. Be still my heart! I can't wait to get glimpses of their happiness as we get the scoop on Dani and Eve in the sequels!
I loved the role reversal of the grumpy (Chloe) / sunshine (Red) trope. Chloe's brusque attitude was so relatable--let's be real, when someone is in pain, their fuse is short and their attitude tends to come across as terse. Red is too good for this world, but he's got his own demons to tackle and he's working on it. Helping Chloe work through her list helps him recognize what he's been holding himself back from too.
He had some of the best lines in the book, in my opinion, and not just his worship of Chloe's thick thighs! When he cooked her stir-fry after realizing she hadn't eaten most of the day, "I'm doing it for you because that's how people should behave. They should fill in each other's gaps. Don't think about it too hard." Like YES! That's what relationships are all about! Give and take, being each other's support when they need it.
And when he knew he fucked up, "I know the difference between torture and growing pains." Just UGH, how perfect could he be?? Telling Chloe he recognized they're both imperfect people, but that together they can be perfectly imperfect and grow into better people together. Be still my heart! I can't wait to get glimpses of their happiness as we get the scoop on Dani and Eve in the sequels!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
emily_mh'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
4.5
This was a delight!! I LOVED Chloe and Red’s dynamic; I could really feel their chemistry and pining, and their narrative voices were really distinct. Chloe’s perspective meant a lot to me as a chronically ill person as she was intensely relatable. I’ve docked a half star because I didn’t like how the third act breakup was executed. I did, however, LOVE the reconciliation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Ableism, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content, Murder, Violence, Cancer, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Racism, Vomit, Bullying, Gun violence, Body horror, Self harm, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Excrement, and Emotional abuse
Major warning for chronic pain. Minor warnings for fainting/dizziness, earthquake, capital punishment, volcano, self-injury, and disownment.