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A review by allygator
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
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
boy howdy do i love a romance novel that isn't just about cookie cutter white people. i'm trying to diversify the romance that i read (even though i still love emily henry and christina lauren, their characters all look the same lol) and this is such a great rom com to get started on that journey. i adored the representation in this book -- it felt so genuine and authentic and not forced at all. in particular, the chronic illness rep here was miles beyond what i've read recently. it didn't shy away from the hard parts of living with chronic pain, but it also showed the joy that can be found on good days. chloe was relatable because she felt everything that real people feel, the good and the bad. red is a perfect partner for her because he doesn't expect her to push away her pain for him, he just meets her where she's at. he's so sympathetic and soft and i hate him for making dating artists seem like a great idea (lol).
the only thing that holds this back from a perfect 5 stars for me is the conflict that leads to the inevitable third act breakup. my biggest pet peeve in romance novels is when the central conflict is something that could have been solved with literally one minute of communication, and this one was the epitome of that. i was so frustrated with the way that chloe refused to explain herself and how quick red jumped to conclusions. i forgive them, because their responses are based in their past relationship traumas, but it was an upsettingly simple issue that was drawn out to have chapters of breakup-related drama.
that aside, though, i adored this book and i cannot wait to pick up the rest of the brown sisters trilogy
the only thing that holds this back from a perfect 5 stars for me is the conflict that leads to the inevitable third act breakup. my biggest pet peeve in romance novels is when the central conflict is something that could have been solved with literally one minute of communication, and this one was the epitome of that. i was so frustrated with the way that chloe refused to explain herself and how quick red jumped to conclusions. i forgive them, because their responses are based in their past relationship traumas, but it was an upsettingly simple issue that was drawn out to have chapters of breakup-related drama.
that aside, though, i adored this book and i cannot wait to pick up the rest of the brown sisters trilogy