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The Brown Sisters #2
Zrozum to, Dani Brown
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2020)Danika Brown dobrze wie, czego chce: sukcesu zawodowego, renomy w akademickich kręgach i raz na jakiś czas udanego seksu, żeby odrobinę się odstresować. Ale miłość? Już to przerabiała i wystarczy. Bycie z kimś parą w najlepszym wypadku pochłania zbyt wiele uwagi, w najgorszym zaś jest prawdziwym utrapieniem. Gdy potężny, tajemniczy ochroniarz Zafir Ansari ratuje Dani z opresji podczas nieudanych ćwiczeń przeciwpożarowych, jest to dla niej wyraźny znak: doktorantce Dani i byłemu rugbiście Zafowi pisane jest przespanie się ze sobą.
Jednak nim zdąży mu to wyjaśnić, nagranie z heroicznej akcji ratunkowej staje się viralem. Nagle pół internetu żyje hasztagiem #DoktorkaRugbisty, a Zaf błaga Dani, żeby zaczęła trochę udawać dla dobra sprawy. Okazuje się bowiem, że prowadzonym przez niego charytatywnym zajęciom sportowym dla dzieciaków przydałoby się trochę rozgłosu. Kłamać, żeby pomagać dzieciom? Żaden problem! Plan Dani jest prosty: udawać związek, gdy inni patrzą, a za kulisami uwieść Zafa. Kłopot w tym, że naburmuszony Zaf jest niepoprawnym romantykiem. W dodatku obrał sobie za cel skruszenie chłodnego realizmu Dani.
Czy Dani w końcu zrozumie, co wszechświat chce jej powiedzieć?
Jednak nim zdąży mu to wyjaśnić, nagranie z heroicznej akcji ratunkowej staje się viralem. Nagle pół internetu żyje hasztagiem #DoktorkaRugbisty, a Zaf błaga Dani, żeby zaczęła trochę udawać dla dobra sprawy. Okazuje się bowiem, że prowadzonym przez niego charytatywnym zajęciom sportowym dla dzieciaków przydałoby się trochę rozgłosu. Kłamać, żeby pomagać dzieciom? Żaden problem! Plan Dani jest prosty: udawać związek, gdy inni patrzą, a za kulisami uwieść Zafa. Kłopot w tym, że naburmuszony Zaf jest niepoprawnym romantykiem. W dodatku obrał sobie za cel skruszenie chłodnego realizmu Dani.
Czy Dani w końcu zrozumie, co wszechświat chce jej powiedzieć?
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2020
3242 people are currently reading
157737 people want to read
About the author
Talia Hibbert
28 books34.3k followersTalia Hibbert is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author whose books are available in 15 languages.
Best known for her Brown Sisters series, Talia writes spicy, inclusive romance novels starring complicated characters who make readers feel seen. Talia's debut romantasy will hit shelves in Summer 2026.
A typically cantankerous Brit, Talia's hobbies include chugging cups of tea, eating too many biscuits, and complaining bitterly about the weather.
Best known for her Brown Sisters series, Talia writes spicy, inclusive romance novels starring complicated characters who make readers feel seen. Talia's debut romantasy will hit shelves in Summer 2026.
A typically cantankerous Brit, Talia's hobbies include chugging cups of tea, eating too many biscuits, and complaining bitterly about the weather.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,692 reviews
September 17, 2020
Talia Hibbert is consistent with bringing us yet another cute romance story that’s great for a comfort read. I really dig the dynamic of the jaded, anti-romance female character paired with the sentimental, romance-loving male character. I enjoyed the smut, banter, and moments of compassion that the characters have for each other. Mental health struggles and anxiety were a large part of how they dealt with the world and relationships, so I appreciated seeing how kind and patient they were with each other as they figured things out together. The third act conflict is also a little bit better compared to Chloe Brown, since it didn’t come out of nowhere and give me whiplash this time around.
August 19, 2020
If you ever want to feel unbearably sunny about the world, read this fake-dating-to-lovers love story between a Black, bisexual PhD student who is unstoppably allergic to commitment and a Muslim Pakistani-British ex-rugby player who reads romance novels and dreams of his own Happily Ever After. It'll make you feel like your whole body is smiling.
October 21, 2025
This book is addictive! Sooooo sweet! I’m mumbling “sweet and swoon” words like a sacred mantra for at least 45 minutes, and I cannot stop! Ladies and gentlemen: we officially have one of the dearest, sweetest, and hottest book couples, and we’re introduced to the best, charming, sexy, romantic, Alpha book boyfriend, Zafir (meaning of his name is victor, successful, and triumphant one! Well, I may declare he triumphantly stole the most readers’ hearts!)
I still have regrets to give 4 stars to Chloe and Red’s story because it was one of my romantic reads of last year. So I’m so adamant not to make some mistake again and starting my review by giving five opposites attract, sizzling chemistry, entertaining, quirky romantic, intellectually ravishing, blazing, hot, and cutest-sweetest five gazillion stars!
We’ve met Dani (her name is Slavic and means “Morning star”! Even though our character is an insomniac and night owl, she knows how to be shiny and energetic in the mornings thanks to Zaf’s uneaten protein bars!) at the first book, and since I adored her sarcastic, witty, entertaining banter with her sisters and her quirky, likable antics, I was so excited to read her own book. In this book, we start learning more about her career-driven moods and her ambition to gain professional success.
As an academician, she is really a workaholic, and she doesn’t do relationships because she tells everyone it is a distraction to prevent her from keeping her eye on the ball and working for her career-oriented aims. But of course, she keeps lying to herself because her first serious relationship broke her heart into smithereens, and she thinks she’s emotionally cold and awkward, so she doesn’t have anything to give anyone and cannot change her emotionally disabled situation.
Till she meets the tempting security guard/ex-rugby star Zafir Ansari working at her school, befriending her. Zafir looks intimidating, giving off “I’m going to kill you in the middle of the night and get away with your corpse without anyone noticing” looks, but don’t be fooled by his gorgeous Hulk appearance. He is so delicately sweet, kind, nice, and protective. He does anything for his family, and the guy actually reads romance novels and enjoys them.
When the fire drill at her workplace goes wrong, Dani finds herself trapped in the elevator. Luckily, Zafir finds out Dani didn’t leave the school and comes back for her. He saves his milady, holding her in his big and muscular arms, and they find themselves as social media’s hottest topic with this unplanned but sexy and romantic rescue attempt!
Zafir starts getting fundraising offers for his sports charity for kids. But to get more social awareness, he needs to be photographed and tagged with his girlfriend. (Yes, everyone thinks he’s dating Dani!) So he kindly asks Dani to pretend to be a couple for the great cause (he only thinks about the future of kids, right?). Dani accepts the offer. But both of them find out: they’re playing with fire. Zafir is romantic, possessive, and he still tries to face his traumatic loss of his brother and father. And Dani is emotionally disturbed, refusing to face her feelings, but as long as they spend more time and get to know each other, they find out they cannot stop falling for each other!
During my read, I laughed a lot, I sighed a lot, and my eyes filled with tears. I think I loved Zafir more than Dani. I silently prayed and hoped Dani doesn’t break his heart! Normally, it should be the opposite, but we have the best book-boyfriend material in this book. You cannot help yourself not to root and chant for Zaf!
Talia Hibbert did it again and wrote another fantastic Brown Sisters’ book. But this is also a tormenting experience because we need to wait a year to read the third one!
Overall: I TRULY, DEEPLY, HOPELESSLY LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
So much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers/Avon for sharing my most anticipated romance book’s ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
I still have regrets to give 4 stars to Chloe and Red’s story because it was one of my romantic reads of last year. So I’m so adamant not to make some mistake again and starting my review by giving five opposites attract, sizzling chemistry, entertaining, quirky romantic, intellectually ravishing, blazing, hot, and cutest-sweetest five gazillion stars!
We’ve met Dani (her name is Slavic and means “Morning star”! Even though our character is an insomniac and night owl, she knows how to be shiny and energetic in the mornings thanks to Zaf’s uneaten protein bars!) at the first book, and since I adored her sarcastic, witty, entertaining banter with her sisters and her quirky, likable antics, I was so excited to read her own book. In this book, we start learning more about her career-driven moods and her ambition to gain professional success.
As an academician, she is really a workaholic, and she doesn’t do relationships because she tells everyone it is a distraction to prevent her from keeping her eye on the ball and working for her career-oriented aims. But of course, she keeps lying to herself because her first serious relationship broke her heart into smithereens, and she thinks she’s emotionally cold and awkward, so she doesn’t have anything to give anyone and cannot change her emotionally disabled situation.
Till she meets the tempting security guard/ex-rugby star Zafir Ansari working at her school, befriending her. Zafir looks intimidating, giving off “I’m going to kill you in the middle of the night and get away with your corpse without anyone noticing” looks, but don’t be fooled by his gorgeous Hulk appearance. He is so delicately sweet, kind, nice, and protective. He does anything for his family, and the guy actually reads romance novels and enjoys them.
When the fire drill at her workplace goes wrong, Dani finds herself trapped in the elevator. Luckily, Zafir finds out Dani didn’t leave the school and comes back for her. He saves his milady, holding her in his big and muscular arms, and they find themselves as social media’s hottest topic with this unplanned but sexy and romantic rescue attempt!
Zafir starts getting fundraising offers for his sports charity for kids. But to get more social awareness, he needs to be photographed and tagged with his girlfriend. (Yes, everyone thinks he’s dating Dani!) So he kindly asks Dani to pretend to be a couple for the great cause (he only thinks about the future of kids, right?). Dani accepts the offer. But both of them find out: they’re playing with fire. Zafir is romantic, possessive, and he still tries to face his traumatic loss of his brother and father. And Dani is emotionally disturbed, refusing to face her feelings, but as long as they spend more time and get to know each other, they find out they cannot stop falling for each other!
During my read, I laughed a lot, I sighed a lot, and my eyes filled with tears. I think I loved Zafir more than Dani. I silently prayed and hoped Dani doesn’t break his heart! Normally, it should be the opposite, but we have the best book-boyfriend material in this book. You cannot help yourself not to root and chant for Zaf!
Talia Hibbert did it again and wrote another fantastic Brown Sisters’ book. But this is also a tormenting experience because we need to wait a year to read the third one!
Overall: I TRULY, DEEPLY, HOPELESSLY LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
So much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers/Avon for sharing my most anticipated romance book’s ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
December 13, 2020
fanfuckingtastic. truly perfect in every way.
November 3, 2022
Help! I’ve fallen [prey to my fairly high expectations and been brutally disappointed] and I can’t get up!
This is me attempting to start out this review in a Fun Way, in the hopes that so much as one moment of my experience with this book can be Fun, because reading it was...not.
I hope the hint Dani Brown is taking is to stay far away from this review, because I do not, unfortunately, have many nice things to say.
In fact, let’s get the few things I liked out of the way now so we can get on with our pity party:
The dialogue was sometimes cute.
More importantly, Talia Hibbert's effortlessly diverse and representative characters were on display once again. That's a big one. And while this particular book didn't work for me, its predecessor very much did, and I will not for one second be giving up on this series or this author. Or romance, which seems to be the only genre I am able to actually read in this godawful year. GIVE ME LAUGHS AND LOVE.
Anyway.
Onto the main event of my reviews: me complaining.
I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE THIS SO MUCH AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT.
I liked the first book so much that I spent most of my review of it discussing cookies, and very little time on the book itself at all, which is basically the highest compliment I can pay!!!
Unfortunately the sequel does not make me think of cookies at all.
Except for that thing when you take a big bite of what you think is an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie (one of the best kinds) and instead you are dealt the killing blow of an unexpected raisin.
That’s actually a very apt description of what reading this was like for me. Looks like cookies ARE a helpful literary criticism tactic AFTER ALL.
This was just such a bummer to read. It was so, so repetitive, and it focused on so many things I didn’t care about, and I felt like the entire romance was telling not showing, and in the end I just didn’t...FEEL anything.
A huge snoozefest, ultimately.
Also, the sentence structure that goes like this: “[prounoun] was all ____ and ____ and ____” was used about infinity times and now it’s ruined for me forever. (Example: She was all creamy skin and lush thighs. He was all exposed hair and thick muscle. I was all sadness and cynicism, as per usual.)
But other than that!
Bottom line: :(
-------------------
pre-review
do you ever spend most of a book feeling slightly...off, and not being able to figure out why, and then suddenly you realize the author has a specific language tic they can't stop using and it ruins an already mediocre reading experience?
also, how do you turn that feature off in your brain?
review to come / 2 stars
-------------------
tbr review
is there a way i can just automatically add every book about fake dating to my tbr? asking for a friend
This is me attempting to start out this review in a Fun Way, in the hopes that so much as one moment of my experience with this book can be Fun, because reading it was...not.
I hope the hint Dani Brown is taking is to stay far away from this review, because I do not, unfortunately, have many nice things to say.
In fact, let’s get the few things I liked out of the way now so we can get on with our pity party:
The dialogue was sometimes cute.
More importantly, Talia Hibbert's effortlessly diverse and representative characters were on display once again. That's a big one. And while this particular book didn't work for me, its predecessor very much did, and I will not for one second be giving up on this series or this author. Or romance, which seems to be the only genre I am able to actually read in this godawful year. GIVE ME LAUGHS AND LOVE.
Anyway.
Onto the main event of my reviews: me complaining.
I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE THIS SO MUCH AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT.
I liked the first book so much that I spent most of my review of it discussing cookies, and very little time on the book itself at all, which is basically the highest compliment I can pay!!!
Unfortunately the sequel does not make me think of cookies at all.
Except for that thing when you take a big bite of what you think is an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie (one of the best kinds) and instead you are dealt the killing blow of an unexpected raisin.
That’s actually a very apt description of what reading this was like for me. Looks like cookies ARE a helpful literary criticism tactic AFTER ALL.
This was just such a bummer to read. It was so, so repetitive, and it focused on so many things I didn’t care about, and I felt like the entire romance was telling not showing, and in the end I just didn’t...FEEL anything.
A huge snoozefest, ultimately.
Also, the sentence structure that goes like this: “[prounoun] was all ____ and ____ and ____” was used about infinity times and now it’s ruined for me forever. (Example: She was all creamy skin and lush thighs. He was all exposed hair and thick muscle. I was all sadness and cynicism, as per usual.)
But other than that!
Bottom line: :(
-------------------
pre-review
do you ever spend most of a book feeling slightly...off, and not being able to figure out why, and then suddenly you realize the author has a specific language tic they can't stop using and it ruins an already mediocre reading experience?
also, how do you turn that feature off in your brain?
review to come / 2 stars
-------------------
tbr review
is there a way i can just automatically add every book about fake dating to my tbr? asking for a friend
July 21, 2025
this was just everything. it was so funny, romantic & sexy while also tackling important issues like anxiety and dealing with the death of loved ones. the characters dani and zafir are both so well developed and so loveable, and their chemistry was THROUGH THE ROOF! i truly loved this book so so much.
pre-order this book if you love adult romance and the fake dating trope!!! it comes out 23rd june
Thank you so much to Avon Books for providing me with an ARC!
pre-order this book if you love adult romance and the fake dating trope!!! it comes out 23rd june
Thank you so much to Avon Books for providing me with an ARC!
October 12, 2020
Talia Hibbert INVENTED romance with this book, Zafir and Danika have changed my life lowkey. Never have I ever read a story so full of pure love and adoration on every page. I will now go cry and lament my forever alone status ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽
GO READ THIS NOW
Full Review:
Take a Hint, Dani Brown follows our emotionally constipated protagonist Danika, a hardworking Phd student and the romance loving, muslim security guard, Zafir, who works in the building where she teaches. They serve us some strong Jim and Pam vibes in the beginning with typical office flirtation but everything changes when a video of Zaf carrying Dani to safety goes viral on twitter. Zaf wants to use his new found internet fame to launch his mental health nonprofit and what better way to milk the attention than fake date his work crush? Throw in a little friends with benefits action and what could possibly go wrong?
This book is to die for, every single page made me cackle with laughter and these characters made me swoon so hard. Zaf is one of the best romance heroes I’ve ever read about he’s so sweet, so caring and so so soft. The small ways he takes care of Danika made me want to cry with happiness. And Dani, I related to this protagonist so hardcore. A hardworking black bisexual academic prone to working herself into the ground? Yup, that’s me. Beyond that I related so much to Dani’s fear of being in love and how that fear causes her to suppress her emotions so deep that even she has issues properly realizing what emotions she’s feeling.
This book made me cry many a happy tear and I cannot recommend it enough if you want a fun, sexy and beautiful diverse romance add it to your tbr
GO READ THIS NOW
Full Review:
Take a Hint, Dani Brown follows our emotionally constipated protagonist Danika, a hardworking Phd student and the romance loving, muslim security guard, Zafir, who works in the building where she teaches. They serve us some strong Jim and Pam vibes in the beginning with typical office flirtation but everything changes when a video of Zaf carrying Dani to safety goes viral on twitter. Zaf wants to use his new found internet fame to launch his mental health nonprofit and what better way to milk the attention than fake date his work crush? Throw in a little friends with benefits action and what could possibly go wrong?
This book is to die for, every single page made me cackle with laughter and these characters made me swoon so hard. Zaf is one of the best romance heroes I’ve ever read about he’s so sweet, so caring and so so soft. The small ways he takes care of Danika made me want to cry with happiness. And Dani, I related to this protagonist so hardcore. A hardworking black bisexual academic prone to working herself into the ground? Yup, that’s me. Beyond that I related so much to Dani’s fear of being in love and how that fear causes her to suppress her emotions so deep that even she has issues properly realizing what emotions she’s feeling.
This book made me cry many a happy tear and I cannot recommend it enough if you want a fun, sexy and beautiful diverse romance add it to your tbr
Read
February 10, 2021I was a bit hesitant going into this because while I did enjoy Get a Life, Chloe Brown, I felt like I was missing something because I didn't seem to like it quite as much as everyone else seemed to, but I think it was just a matter of personal preference with romance tropes because this book was so great! I loved the fake dating aspect, but I'd also never read a book with a friends with benefits situation and that was a lot of fun! I thought the characters were fantastic and I felt their chemistry immediately. Talia Hibbert is such a great writer, I laughed out loud multiple times but also was so taken with the adorable moments, the book just had a little bit of everything. Now I'm definitely excited to read about the last, and youngest, Brown sister this spring!
June 16, 2020
The author's heart is probably in the right place, but as a Muslim I feel offended that the male love interest engages in extramarital sex. I know Goodreads is pretty much exclusively an Anglo-American community, and adultery isn't a big deal to you, but that isn't the case with Muslims. I don't see the point of writing about a Muslim character if you're going to pigeonhole us in your Western cookie cutter perception of relationships. While non-practicing Muslims do exist, writing about a Muslim character who has a lifestyle similar to yours undermines the whole point of representation.
June 21, 2021
“I felt like my world had already ended unhappily, but every book I read about someone who’d been through the worst and found happiness anyway seemed to say the opposite. Like my story didn’t need to be over if I didn’t want it to. Like, if I could just be strong enough to reclaim my emotions, and to work through them, maybe I’d be okay again.”
Reread and I can’t even tell you how happy this book, this series makes me. All thanks to Talia Hibbert and her wonderfully engaging characters that shine through her writing.
———————————
“This love business is absolutely nonsensical.”
I’m high on emotions so you might want to trust me, or not trust me for that matter, when I say this book was perrrrfect. Fuckin great!
Talia Hibbert really has me out here believing that these fictional men she creates exist. So I’m going to roll with this delusion.
I laughed out out countless of times. These characters and their inner dialogue took me on a whirlwind. It irritated me to no end how stupid they were about their emotions, but understandably so. I still wanted to knock them out every other page. But I adored them.
I desperately want them in my life. 😭
On paper, you’d think Dani and Zafir are complete opposites, but you take the time to uncover their layers, these two made complete sense.
I loved the way this book challenged social gender construct, looked at how living with anxiety can affect your life, dismantling the misconceptions surrounding romance novels and explored vulnerability that was masked.
Talia Hibbert’s writing gets better and better with each book and I so appreciate the work and heart she puts in in creating a story like this.
Side note: I’d really, really like a book on Sorcha.
Reread and I can’t even tell you how happy this book, this series makes me. All thanks to Talia Hibbert and her wonderfully engaging characters that shine through her writing.
———————————
“This love business is absolutely nonsensical.”
I’m high on emotions so you might want to trust me, or not trust me for that matter, when I say this book was perrrrfect. Fuckin great!
Talia Hibbert really has me out here believing that these fictional men she creates exist. So I’m going to roll with this delusion.
I laughed out out countless of times. These characters and their inner dialogue took me on a whirlwind. It irritated me to no end how stupid they were about their emotions, but understandably so. I still wanted to knock them out every other page. But I adored them.
I desperately want them in my life. 😭
On paper, you’d think Dani and Zafir are complete opposites, but you take the time to uncover their layers, these two made complete sense.
I loved the way this book challenged social gender construct, looked at how living with anxiety can affect your life, dismantling the misconceptions surrounding romance novels and explored vulnerability that was masked.
Talia Hibbert’s writing gets better and better with each book and I so appreciate the work and heart she puts in in creating a story like this.
Side note: I’d really, really like a book on Sorcha.
June 10, 2020
Hello this is a new all-time favorite rom-com and I AM OBSESSED. The chemistry between Dani and Zaf was off the charts and my heart IS SO DAMN FULL after finishing this beauty. Y'all know I loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown but somehow this one blew that one out of the water and was EVEN BETTER. Seriously, I am obsessed and this will officially be added into the rotation of rom-coms I re-read whenever I need a pick me up bc it was perfect. 10/10 do recommend!!!!!
August 18, 2020
i love dani brown so much and zaf is truly my king
review to come!
review to come!
Read
September 3, 2024y'all weren't kidding when you kept saying these books were great, I'm going to be in withdrawal for weeks
July 6, 2020
This has all the ingredients of a great romance and I loved the main character's bluntness and the love interest's anxiety rep, but I'm just not a big fan of the fake dating trope. this book even poked fun at the fact that it's something that only happens in fiction but not in real life, but it still followed a pretty typical and predictable format, so it was less cheeky than I would've hoped. still, this had a lot of great quotes and made me laugh out loud and was quite cute. Definitely worth continuing the series if you've read book one!
March 31, 2024
Reasons to love this book:
1. The king of all romance tropes - fake date and fall in bed/love, whatever comes first
2. Hero who's basically a golden retriever in a human body - Zafir Ansari, sweetest (fake) boyfriend and ardent romance reader, built like Thor but a total cinnamon roll
3. Decent diverse representation with none of the stereotypes - Muslim, poc and bisexual protagonists
4. Rolling-on-the-floor-laugh-your-ass-off banter and ready-to-climb-each-other-any-minute-even-with-clothes-on, gives-you-hot-flashes kind of scorching chemistry.
5. Realistic portrayal of mental health issues. Anxiety and panic attacks that don't go away because the person is in "lurveeee" and everything is magically hunky dory!
6. DANIKA FUCKING BROWN
Hotshot academician, part time witch and full time sass queen, socially inept smartass who's sure to make you smile like crazy.
So yeah, I'm gonna need another star for this awwwesome book!
1. The king of all romance tropes - fake date and fall in bed/love, whatever comes first
2. Hero who's basically a golden retriever in a human body - Zafir Ansari, sweetest (fake) boyfriend and ardent romance reader, built like Thor but a total cinnamon roll
3. Decent diverse representation with none of the stereotypes - Muslim, poc and bisexual protagonists
4. Rolling-on-the-floor-laugh-your-ass-off banter and ready-to-climb-each-other-any-minute-even-with-clothes-on, gives-you-hot-flashes kind of scorching chemistry.
5. Realistic portrayal of mental health issues. Anxiety and panic attacks that don't go away because the person is in "lurveeee" and everything is magically hunky dory!
6. DANIKA FUCKING BROWN
Hotshot academician, part time witch and full time sass queen, socially inept smartass who's sure to make you smile like crazy.
So yeah, I'm gonna need another star for this awwwesome book!
February 22, 2021
4.5 stars
Last year I read Get a Life Chloe Brown, and while I liked it a lot it was one of those books where I didn’t quite get the hype. This book… I totally get the hype. I absolutely LOVED Take a Hint Dani Brown. Zaf and Dani were both fantastic characters and I enjoyed reading this so much.
Dani Brown is career driven and doesn't want a relationship. Zafir and Dani are friends, but when he rescues her from an elevator and the whole thing ends up on line, things change. Zaf is an ex-Rugby player and they find they could both benefit from fake dating. Even though it is fairly obvious right away that Zaf would love to have more than Dani.
Dani is interested in Zaf. Interested in sleeping with him. But with time, she sees he makes her happy, makes her life easier, and never makes her feel bad for being busy with work and school. Zaf is super supportive and the sweetest hero ever. I couldn't have loved him more. I also liked Dani's character a lot. She knew what she wanted and I can always appreciate that.
I love the friends to lovers/fake dating troupe and this one did both of those so well. Talia Hibbert is an uber talented author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her, especially more of the Brown sisters.
Last year I read Get a Life Chloe Brown, and while I liked it a lot it was one of those books where I didn’t quite get the hype. This book… I totally get the hype. I absolutely LOVED Take a Hint Dani Brown. Zaf and Dani were both fantastic characters and I enjoyed reading this so much.
Dani Brown is career driven and doesn't want a relationship. Zafir and Dani are friends, but when he rescues her from an elevator and the whole thing ends up on line, things change. Zaf is an ex-Rugby player and they find they could both benefit from fake dating. Even though it is fairly obvious right away that Zaf would love to have more than Dani.
Dani is interested in Zaf. Interested in sleeping with him. But with time, she sees he makes her happy, makes her life easier, and never makes her feel bad for being busy with work and school. Zaf is super supportive and the sweetest hero ever. I couldn't have loved him more. I also liked Dani's character a lot. She knew what she wanted and I can always appreciate that.
I love the friends to lovers/fake dating troupe and this one did both of those so well. Talia Hibbert is an uber talented author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her, especially more of the Brown sisters.
June 14, 2020
4.5 stars
TW: death of a parent & sibling; panic attacks
This was a delight. This is a fake-dating romance featuring a fat, Black, bisexual witch and a Muslim ex-rugby player with anxiety. I find Talia Hibbert’s books to be laugh out loud funny, with a rom-com movie flavor. The sex scenes and sexual language continue to be over the top, but I’m able to forgive it more in her writing because her writing doesn’t take itself too seriously. I also appreciate, having now read two of her books, that the conflict between the couple is always short lived and they talk about their feelings way more than many romance books I’ve read to avoid overly relying on the miscommunication trope. I will be continuing to read the books she puts out in the Brown Sisters series.
TW: death of a parent & sibling; panic attacks
This was a delight. This is a fake-dating romance featuring a fat, Black, bisexual witch and a Muslim ex-rugby player with anxiety. I find Talia Hibbert’s books to be laugh out loud funny, with a rom-com movie flavor. The sex scenes and sexual language continue to be over the top, but I’m able to forgive it more in her writing because her writing doesn’t take itself too seriously. I also appreciate, having now read two of her books, that the conflict between the couple is always short lived and they talk about their feelings way more than many romance books I’ve read to avoid overly relying on the miscommunication trope. I will be continuing to read the books she puts out in the Brown Sisters series.
September 24, 2021
4 stars 🌟
It’s no surprise that this was cuteness-overload at its finest✨ The anxiety rep was done well in my opinion. The beginning was a ᵗᵃᵈ bit slow for me and just like book 1: Get a life, Chloe Brown , this book was....too happy and cheery for my taste?—like sunshine/rainbow type of vibe. Idk maybe i was just not in the mood for it at that time or maybe i’ve been corrupted and tainted by too many dark/taboo romances 🤷🏻♀️ BUT... that certainly didn’t stop Ms Talia Hibbert from throwing ‘cock’, ‘cunt’ and ‘pussy’ into the mix.
For someone who’s very familiar w those words in her romances, this one actually got me blushing and shoOk yallll😳 i guess i just didn’t expect such carnal words to be used in here lol. Especially from our soft boi, Zaf.
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Zaf and Dani were both lovable and relatable characters; Zaf being sweet, attentive and enjoys smutty romance, Dani being guarded and super cautious w her heart—couldn’t ask for a better dynamic. I really liked seeing Zaf teach Dani how to express her feelings and be more vulnerable.
Zaf was definitely full of surprises bc he literally had me from
that 180 degree change when he’s all worked up 🥵 oof
𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐏:
I honestly don’t know how to comment on this bc i know not all muslims share the same opinion on certain subjects and we don’t necessarily practice the same thing bc of diff cultures and all, buuut i’m sure we can all unanimously agree on what’s ‘haram’ and what’s not. (at least the basics, right?¿)
➪
Ok so this one particular scene had me cackling bc it seemed like Talia Hibbert just threw the ‘haram’ word just for the sake of ✨muslim rep✨ then dusted her hands and called it a day 😂
me:
so Zaf’s dead brother bothered to invade his mind and comment that it’s haram to lie but not on Zaf wanting to know the parts of Dani that aren’t on display??😂😂😂
me: brotha Zain, where you at?? this is the best time to get inside his head and remind him what he’s doing is haram 😂🤣
—lying really be nothing compared to tHAT lol
Anyway, i just thought of sharing my reaction to that scene since it was kinda cringey imo
"Major or minor, if something keeps you human when pressure makes you feel like a volcano, hold on to that thing by whatever means necessary."
It’s no surprise that this was cuteness-overload at its finest✨ The anxiety rep was done well in my opinion. The beginning was a ᵗᵃᵈ bit slow for me and just like book 1: Get a life, Chloe Brown , this book was....too happy and cheery for my taste?—like sunshine/rainbow type of vibe. Idk maybe i was just not in the mood for it at that time or maybe i’ve been corrupted and tainted by too many dark/taboo romances 🤷🏻♀️ BUT... that certainly didn’t stop Ms Talia Hibbert from throwing ‘cock’, ‘cunt’ and ‘pussy’ into the mix.
For someone who’s very familiar w those words in her romances, this one actually got me blushing and shoOk yallll😳 i guess i just didn’t expect such carnal words to be used in here lol. Especially from our soft boi, Zaf.
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Zaf and Dani were both lovable and relatable characters; Zaf being sweet, attentive and enjoys smutty romance, Dani being guarded and super cautious w her heart—couldn’t ask for a better dynamic. I really liked seeing Zaf teach Dani how to express her feelings and be more vulnerable.
Zaf was definitely full of surprises bc he literally had me from
that 180 degree change when he’s all worked up 🥵 oof
𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐏:
I honestly don’t know how to comment on this bc i know not all muslims share the same opinion on certain subjects and we don’t necessarily practice the same thing bc of diff cultures and all, buuut i’m sure we can all unanimously agree on what’s ‘haram’ and what’s not. (at least the basics, right?¿)
➪
𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺, /hɑːˈrɑːm/
adjective
forbidden or proscribed by Islamic law. (so pretty much like something ‘sinful’?¿ whatever)
Ok so this one particular scene had me cackling bc it seemed like Talia Hibbert just threw the ‘haram’ word just for the sake of ✨muslim rep✨ then dusted her hands and called it a day 😂
' “I’m not trying to say you’re wrong,” he added quickly, squeezing her hip. “You know what you’re doing, Dan. And I respect your choices. I’m just . . . wondering.” I want to know the parts of you that aren’t on display. '
Zain’s voice rang through his head, full of stifled laughter. Lying is haram, little brother. '
me:
so Zaf’s dead brother bothered to invade his mind and comment that it’s haram to lie but not on Zaf wanting to know the parts of Dani that aren’t on display??😂😂😂
' Zaf’s palms slid up over her rounded belly, and then his thumbs caressed the sensitive undersides of her breasts.
“Christ,” she groaned, pleasure igniting over her skin.
“Like that?” Their gazes held as he stroked his thumbs over her tight, needy nipples. '
me: brotha Zain, where you at?? this is the best time to get inside his head and remind him what he’s doing is haram 😂🤣
—lying really be nothing compared to tHAT lol
Anyway, i just thought of sharing my reaction to that scene since it was kinda cringey imo
June 27, 2020
I think I enjoyed this one even more than Chloe Brown which I didn't think would be possible. This book is sooooo adorable and I love Dani's character so much. She's Black, she's British and she's bisexual!!! And there's fake dating in this book!!!! Which is one of my favorite tropes.
I related to Dani's character so much when she would talk about her reason for why she doesn't date and she doesn't think she would make a good girlfriend and she prioritizes her career and her family and other things like wow I just related to her so much and I felt like I was being called out this entire book hahaha.
Zaf is her love interest and he's also incredibly soft and adorable like Red from the first book. Their romance is so so cute and I love that they are fake dating at the start of this after a video of them goes viral, ahhh it's just so fun to read.
I can't wait for the third book with the younger sister Eve! I love these Brown sister so so much.
I related to Dani's character so much when she would talk about her reason for why she doesn't date and she doesn't think she would make a good girlfriend and she prioritizes her career and her family and other things like wow I just related to her so much and I felt like I was being called out this entire book hahaha.
Zaf is her love interest and he's also incredibly soft and adorable like Red from the first book. Their romance is so so cute and I love that they are fake dating at the start of this after a video of them goes viral, ahhh it's just so fun to read.
I can't wait for the third book with the younger sister Eve! I love these Brown sister so so much.
June 23, 2020
Published today! 23/6/20
#1) Get a life, Chloe Brown ★★★★★
#2) Take a hint, Dani Brown ★★★★
A cute, diverse, emotional and very steamy friends to lovers romance with fake dating
Danika Brown, a clever, witty workaholic doesn't do romance, she's too focussed on her academic career, and has been burnt in the past. She just wants a friends with benefits type situation. When her sexy friend Zafir Ansari, a sensitive, brooding, romantic former rugby player rescues her from a disastrous fire drill, it goes viral, and they embark on a fake relationship to boost Zafir's rugby charity. Will their plan work? Or will it lead to more?!
I absolutely loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown, so no one is more disappointed than me, that I didn't love this one quite as much! This isn't a bad book, it's a great book, but the first book set the bar so high, that I don't think this follow up could ever quite hit the same high as that! Chloe's book was just so good, that despite this being a strong book, it just didn't measure up! Despite me not enjoying it as much as GALCB, it had many strengths, and was well written, covering important issues like anxiety, depression, panic attacks and grieving over the loss of a close family member in a sensitive manner. Talia Hibbert again gives a trigger warning for this at the start of the book, which I love, and feel more authors should do.
Ms Hibbert always writes such diverse characters, and she has outdone herself here, having two characters who on paper seem complete opposites. Zaf is a British Pakistani hulk of a man, who looks grumpy and menacing, but has a heart of gold. Dani, is a black, bisexual, curvy PHD student, who dabbles in witchcraft! They have different ethnicities, economic backgrounds and sexualities, but none of these were a big deal, or in any way crucial to the plot, it was just how it was! I love how this author writes realistic characters, who we can relate to, its empowering! Both the main characters were complex, rounded people with flaws, and I loved them, especially Zaf ❤️
I loved both of the families, Dani and her sisters, Chloe and Eve, plus Gigi, and Zaf with his mum, Kiran and Fluffy! They were all so supportive of each other! I just want to hang out with all of them!
The friendships were amazing! Dani with Sorcha, and Zaf with Jamal. Zaf and Jamal reminded me of Red and Vik in the first book, and I loved how they provided emotional support for each other.
The witty dialogue and banter was *chefs kiss* and it made me laugh.
I enjoyed how Zaf was a sensitive, intelligent, vulnerable romantic man! You don't see that a lot in romance, especially with male sports stars. He was open about his anxiety and grief, about loving romance books, and about wanting his own happy ending. He was so patient with Dani, and really supportive of her, he treated her really well, which just made me fall in love with him! I also liked how Dani was a socially awkward, cynical female with a guarded heart, who struggled with her emotions and feelings, and was slow to open up to people. It was like a role reversal! Together they did make a good pair, they balanced each other out and encouraged each other to be themselves. It was a reoccurring theme throughout the book, that you shouldn't try to change your partner, but accept them as they are.
Dani also struggled with her life/work balance, and with the pressure of academia, which many people can relate to. Her focus was admirable, but this book reminded us that we should have outside interests, and take care of ourselves too.
So yes, there was a lot to love about this book, but I did have some issues! Firstly, the plot kind of stalled in the middle of the book. There wasn't enough drama, and the pace slowed down due to many internal monologues. We knew from the start that Dani didn't do relationships, but I felt like I was being beaten over the head with it, as it was repeated over and over in both character's heads.
There was also too much telling, and not enough showing, and I wished we got more of both character's history and background.
Also, whereas GALCB had heavy topics like this one, it was dealt with differently, using humour and cuteness, which made it so uplifting! TAHDB felt heavier, and not as upbeat. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it was just different.
To be honest, all the hashtags at the start of each chapter kind of irritated me, but that's because I'm old ha ha! But #couplegoals and #Dr Rugbae made me cringe hard!
Now for the level of steaminess.. I remember the first book being steamy, but this took the levels of hot to the next level, in that I felt like I was reading porn! It felt a bit too much for me, I prefer the sexual tension leading up to a couple getting together, and this had A LOT of sex. No one else seemed to mind this though, so maybe it's just me?! Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for so many explicit sex scenes?!
And what's with all the men reading romance in books at the moment?! Its like some trend, I've seen three books with it in now 😂 Is it not enough that Zaf is the perfect man, helping at risks kids deal with their emotions and with toxic masculinity?! *Swoons*
So although this was a heart warming story, with many strengths, it wasn't the follow up that I was dreaming of. I think I built it up too much in my head after loving the first so completely! I still thought it was written brilliantly though, and will still anticipate and definitely read Eve's book!
Many thanks to Jessica Lyons @ HarperCollins and Edelweiss for my digital ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh my gawd I got a flippin' ARC!!!! I needed this so much, and cant wait to read it!
#1) Get a life, Chloe Brown ★★★★★
#2) Take a hint, Dani Brown ★★★★
A cute, diverse, emotional and very steamy friends to lovers romance with fake dating
Danika Brown, a clever, witty workaholic doesn't do romance, she's too focussed on her academic career, and has been burnt in the past. She just wants a friends with benefits type situation. When her sexy friend Zafir Ansari, a sensitive, brooding, romantic former rugby player rescues her from a disastrous fire drill, it goes viral, and they embark on a fake relationship to boost Zafir's rugby charity. Will their plan work? Or will it lead to more?!
I absolutely loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown, so no one is more disappointed than me, that I didn't love this one quite as much! This isn't a bad book, it's a great book, but the first book set the bar so high, that I don't think this follow up could ever quite hit the same high as that! Chloe's book was just so good, that despite this being a strong book, it just didn't measure up! Despite me not enjoying it as much as GALCB, it had many strengths, and was well written, covering important issues like anxiety, depression, panic attacks and grieving over the loss of a close family member in a sensitive manner. Talia Hibbert again gives a trigger warning for this at the start of the book, which I love, and feel more authors should do.
Ms Hibbert always writes such diverse characters, and she has outdone herself here, having two characters who on paper seem complete opposites. Zaf is a British Pakistani hulk of a man, who looks grumpy and menacing, but has a heart of gold. Dani, is a black, bisexual, curvy PHD student, who dabbles in witchcraft! They have different ethnicities, economic backgrounds and sexualities, but none of these were a big deal, or in any way crucial to the plot, it was just how it was! I love how this author writes realistic characters, who we can relate to, its empowering! Both the main characters were complex, rounded people with flaws, and I loved them, especially Zaf ❤️
I loved both of the families, Dani and her sisters, Chloe and Eve, plus Gigi, and Zaf with his mum, Kiran and Fluffy! They were all so supportive of each other! I just want to hang out with all of them!
The friendships were amazing! Dani with Sorcha, and Zaf with Jamal. Zaf and Jamal reminded me of Red and Vik in the first book, and I loved how they provided emotional support for each other.
The witty dialogue and banter was *chefs kiss* and it made me laugh.
I enjoyed how Zaf was a sensitive, intelligent, vulnerable romantic man! You don't see that a lot in romance, especially with male sports stars. He was open about his anxiety and grief, about loving romance books, and about wanting his own happy ending. He was so patient with Dani, and really supportive of her, he treated her really well, which just made me fall in love with him! I also liked how Dani was a socially awkward, cynical female with a guarded heart, who struggled with her emotions and feelings, and was slow to open up to people. It was like a role reversal! Together they did make a good pair, they balanced each other out and encouraged each other to be themselves. It was a reoccurring theme throughout the book, that you shouldn't try to change your partner, but accept them as they are.
Dani also struggled with her life/work balance, and with the pressure of academia, which many people can relate to. Her focus was admirable, but this book reminded us that we should have outside interests, and take care of ourselves too.
So yes, there was a lot to love about this book, but I did have some issues! Firstly, the plot kind of stalled in the middle of the book. There wasn't enough drama, and the pace slowed down due to many internal monologues. We knew from the start that Dani didn't do relationships, but I felt like I was being beaten over the head with it, as it was repeated over and over in both character's heads.
There was also too much telling, and not enough showing, and I wished we got more of both character's history and background.
Also, whereas GALCB had heavy topics like this one, it was dealt with differently, using humour and cuteness, which made it so uplifting! TAHDB felt heavier, and not as upbeat. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it was just different.
To be honest, all the hashtags at the start of each chapter kind of irritated me, but that's because I'm old ha ha! But #couplegoals and #Dr Rugbae made me cringe hard!
Now for the level of steaminess.. I remember the first book being steamy, but this took the levels of hot to the next level, in that I felt like I was reading porn! It felt a bit too much for me, I prefer the sexual tension leading up to a couple getting together, and this had A LOT of sex. No one else seemed to mind this though, so maybe it's just me?! Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for so many explicit sex scenes?!
And what's with all the men reading romance in books at the moment?! Its like some trend, I've seen three books with it in now 😂 Is it not enough that Zaf is the perfect man, helping at risks kids deal with their emotions and with toxic masculinity?! *Swoons*
So although this was a heart warming story, with many strengths, it wasn't the follow up that I was dreaming of. I think I built it up too much in my head after loving the first so completely! I still thought it was written brilliantly though, and will still anticipate and definitely read Eve's book!
Many thanks to Jessica Lyons @ HarperCollins and Edelweiss for my digital ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh my gawd I got a flippin' ARC!!!! I needed this so much, and cant wait to read it!
October 27, 2020
Caution: Rated R for 🔥🔥🔥
I didn’t have high hopes for this book, after reading the prequel Chloe Brown. 😬 But I was pleasantly surprised! 👏👏👏 I really liked the chemistry between these two and actually found the steamy scenes actually pretty hot!! ☺️ And these two still kept that chemistry going even after the hookup.... I loved their dates at work- soooo cute! Dani was a great character, who knew her flaws and owned them. ❤️📚
I didn’t have high hopes for this book, after reading the prequel Chloe Brown. 😬 But I was pleasantly surprised! 👏👏👏 I really liked the chemistry between these two and actually found the steamy scenes actually pretty hot!! ☺️ And these two still kept that chemistry going even after the hookup.... I loved their dates at work- soooo cute! Dani was a great character, who knew her flaws and owned them. ❤️📚
March 9, 2021
SO. FREAKING. CUTE. Why are these books so good they make me want to cry? AHHH.
February 18, 2023
What could be more relatable than a hyper-independent workaholic girl and an emotionally open relationship-loving golden retriever boy? I mean, at least for me lmao. I adored this, Dani’s journey is one I related to in a lot of ways and their chemistry was phenomenal. I loved his backstory & I loved the way this ended. I literally can’t recommend this enough & am so happy I finally picked it up
June 28, 2020
This was so sweet with a lot of diversity, swoon worthy sweet caring hero who reads romance books, sarcastic witty heroine who cares so much about her work and avoids relationships, and a fake dating trope. I couldn’t ask for more!!
I loved how Zafir’s anxiety was shown in this book. It was tackled with so much care! I loved how sassy they both were and how they both truly know, support, and care for each other. I loved the ending of this book and how the grand gesture was done by Dani! It was so fitting for them and so adorable!! Usually I don’t really care about epilogues, but this one was so freakin cute! I loved Chloe’s book more, but I still enjoyed this one a lot.
I loved how Zafir’s anxiety was shown in this book. It was tackled with so much care! I loved how sassy they both were and how they both truly know, support, and care for each other. I loved the ending of this book and how the grand gesture was done by Dani! It was so fitting for them and so adorable!! Usually I don’t really care about epilogues, but this one was so freakin cute! I loved Chloe’s book more, but I still enjoyed this one a lot.
June 25, 2020
Gah this was 1000% adorable and I am obsessed with Zafir. What a soft, precious guy!
June 19, 2020
I'm a HUGE Talia Hibbert fan and I adored Get a Life, Chloe Brown (listened to it in audio and it was perfection), but though I enjoyed Take a Hint, Dani Brown, it felt lackluster in comparison to the first in the series.
I'm a huge sucker for a fake dating trope, and add in a former rugby player who loves romance books(!), and I'm sold. I really liked everything about Zafir and how real and vulnerable he felt as a character. I was very, very swoony for him.
Dani was more of a struggle for me. I liked her nerdy side and her dedication to her research, but her commitment issues felt... tiresome for me by the end. It took forever for her to admit her feelings, and I grew tired of waiting for her to get there. I understand why she felt the way that she did, but it felt myself skimming and wanting them to just communicate.
I also am not the biggest fan of social media-based plotline, and I found the overall story arc to be a bit thin. Both characters were well-developed and the side characters were endlessly interesting, I just felt like nothing much happened in the story.
I'm hoping for even better from the third in the series, and I might have to go back to listening in audio because the narrator really made this series come alive for me, British accents and all.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I'm a huge sucker for a fake dating trope, and add in a former rugby player who loves romance books(!), and I'm sold. I really liked everything about Zafir and how real and vulnerable he felt as a character. I was very, very swoony for him.
Dani was more of a struggle for me. I liked her nerdy side and her dedication to her research, but her commitment issues felt... tiresome for me by the end. It took forever for her to admit her feelings, and I grew tired of waiting for her to get there. I understand why she felt the way that she did, but it felt myself skimming and wanting them to just communicate.
I also am not the biggest fan of social media-based plotline, and I found the overall story arc to be a bit thin. Both characters were well-developed and the side characters were endlessly interesting, I just felt like nothing much happened in the story.
I'm hoping for even better from the third in the series, and I might have to go back to listening in audio because the narrator really made this series come alive for me, British accents and all.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
July 2, 2020
i cant decide if i love this more than the first book or just as much? Zaf is my dream guy!! muscular, grumpy and loves smutty romance. This book had me giggling while i listened to the audiobook because Zaf and Dani are so funny. The smut could’ve been better ngl but i think i just didn’t enjoy it because that’s the kind of love making Zaf does and not because it was bad or anything.
I loved that Dani was bi and you watched her struggle with not wanting be in a relationship where as you seen Zaf basically pine after Dani but he also had a fear that she just wouldn’t be into him as well as his fear of social media because of what happened to him in the past. Talia never fails in the smut department.
Also, i highly recommend listening to the audiobook because the accent makes you fall in love with the characters even more.
I loved that Dani was bi and you watched her struggle with not wanting be in a relationship where as you seen Zaf basically pine after Dani but he also had a fear that she just wouldn’t be into him as well as his fear of social media because of what happened to him in the past. Talia never fails in the smut department.
Also, i highly recommend listening to the audiobook because the accent makes you fall in love with the characters even more.
June 23, 2020
#1 Get a Life, Chloe Brown ★★★★★
#2 Take a Hint, Dani Brown ★★★★★
#3 Act Your Age, Eve Brown
What an absolutely sickening display. Romance clearly melted the brains of sensible women. Dani was horribly glad she had nothing to do with it.
Friends, I truly can't even begin to tell you how incredible it felt to dive back into the world of the Brown sisters. I love this trio so much I can barely stand myself, and more than that, I adore every word I've ever read of Talia's writing and this was no exception. This story is angsty, hilarious, sweet, and full of utterly delicious pining and slow-building, steamy warmth and I could not get enough! The character development is flawless and we truly get to see so much growth from both Dani and Zaf. Whether it was Dani learning to overcome her past hurts and trust herself, or Zaf finding a way to heal and accept his grief, I was cheering them both on so hard and grinning like a goofball every time either of them reached a new milestone.
"Then what's the murder glare for?" With complete seriousness, he told her, "This is just my face. I have a murder face."
While the writing is delightful and the characters are all absolutely fantastic, the star of the show for me was the hero. When I was introduced to Talia's writing in A Girl Like Her a few years back, I adored its hero Evan Miller so much that I became convinced no romance hero could ever beat him in my eyes, and I've held that opinion solidly true until today, but... I think Zafir Ansari might be my new favorite romance hero of all time. This former rugby player is a gentle giant with a heart of pure gold, and his dedication to seeking out his very own Happily Ever After despite all the turmoil he's been through? My heart aches to think of it. I mean, the man literally became a lover of romance books because he was so devastated by a family loss, he needed guaranteed HEAs in his stories, and frankly, that's so relatable and soft and beautiful. Plus, the anxiety representation in his character? Everything. I literally cried a few times just over how angsty and pining he was and how badly I wanted to see him happy. ♥ Oh, AND he teaches classes for teen boys about overcoming toxic masculinity. I'm telling y'all, we stan Zafir Ansari for life in this house.
She detected a faint note of wonder in his voice that made her want to squish his cheeks and kiss his forehead. Fortunately, he wasn't in the room, so she was saved from the horror of actually following that impulse.
Don't get me wrong, though; while Zaf was the shining light for me, I adored Danika, too. She isn't my favorite of Talia's heroines (that one's still a toss-up between Ruth Kabbah and Dani's older sister Chloe), but she was certainly fun, and I loved the fact that she was a practicing witch! I related so much to every scene that touched upon her faith and practice, and having never seen a modern witch in a romance book before, I ate it right up. Of course, Dani could be a bit cruel to my sweet Zaf at times, but without spoiling anything, trust me when I say our lovely lady impressed me to no end with how far she progressed.
"All right," Redford called from the hallway. "If the guy I'm supposed to kill is that big fucker from the video, we'll need an airtight plan."
And of course, I couldn't review this book without giving a shout-out to all of the ridiculously lovable side characters. Not only do we get a few quality scenes with Chloe and Redford (who I have missed tremendously), but we also get new insight into Eve's character, and I truly can't wait to spend more time with her in book 3. She's so hilarious and quirky and I already know I'm going to adore her. Plus, there are Dani and Zaf's respective best friends, Sorcha and Jamal, and Zaf's family members (who made me emotional every single time they were on the page, if that tells you anything about how trash I am for the entire Ansari family at this point). Talia excels at writing these perfect side characters that are so fleshed-out and lovable that they always make me want more time with them.
I'm a coward. I'm lost. I'm addicted to being around you and I don't know what I'll do when it stops. Maybe it shouldn't stop.
There's honestly so much more I could rave about (like the late-night phone calls, the sweet bliss of best-friends-turned-lovers, and how damn supportive Zaf is of every single one of Dani's multitude of big dreams), but I'll cut myself short here and just tell you that, whether you're new to romance or a huge fan of the genre, you can't afford to miss The Brown Sisters series. It's sweet, sexy, hilarious, warm, comforting, and effortlessly diverse (just check the representation listings below!). I adored every word on every page and can't wait for the finale to release next year.
✨ Representation: Danika Brown is Black, plus-size, bisexual, and a witch; Zafir Ansari is Pakistani, Muslim, and has anxiety; multiple side characters are queer, POC (Black or Pakistani), plus-size, and/or disabled
✨ Content warnings for:
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Avon for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 3, 2021
This book! I like Get A Life, Chloe Brown BUT this one definitely has potential to be my favorite. Not only did I resonate with Danika, but the cuteness between her and Zaf was definitely everything that I could have asked for in a romance. 4.5 Stars
Take A Hint, Dani Brown focuses on the relationship between Danika Brown, a PhD student and Zaf an ex-rugby player. Built on a fake dating relationship gone viral turned friends with benefits, the romance between these two was explosive, dynamic and absolutely beautiful to watch unfold. While I’m not the biggest fan of Hibbert’s writing, I must say that her character development is absolutely flawless. Her ability to mold characters that are relatable, diverse, and charming is completely and totally impeccable. One of the key things that I look for in contemporary romances is the ability for the characters to balance each other out. Dani is extremely focused on her career and refuses to make time for relationships outside of friends with benefits. As a reader, I respected that and completely understood where she was coming from, but I can’t tell you how happy I was that she met her match in Zaf. Hands down, Zaf is probably one of the most likeable heroes that I’ve read in a romance book. Dealing with a great deal of familial related turmoil, Zaf pushes through his adversity to find the romance that he wants in a partner. There’s an instant attraction to Dani not just physically, but also emotionally. It was endearing and beautiful to know that regardless of the pain he experiences Zaf was willing to love again. He taught Dani that she was worthy of love and a real chance at a relationship. Their banter and chemistry seeped through the pages. Readers are aware that there’s going to be an HEA, but watching these two go through the journey of getting there was *chef’s kiss.* There is great mental health representation. Zaf struggles with anxiety as well as depression related to specific familial events and the way that Hibbert explores this and has both Zaf and Dani confront it face on was great.
Another aspect of this book that was well done was the development of side characters. I noticed the relationship between the Brown sisters in Get A Life, Chloe Brown; however, this book did an excellent job of including friends and family on both sides that were supportive, loving, and caring towards the main characters. It made the book feel more dynamic and interesting. And the steamy scenes. If there is one thing about Hibbert does well it’s her ability to write a good steamy scene. Overall, I really enjoyed this one more than I even enjoyed the first book. I’m excited to see what Hibbert will end up doing with the third book.
Take A Hint, Dani Brown focuses on the relationship between Danika Brown, a PhD student and Zaf an ex-rugby player. Built on a fake dating relationship gone viral turned friends with benefits, the romance between these two was explosive, dynamic and absolutely beautiful to watch unfold. While I’m not the biggest fan of Hibbert’s writing, I must say that her character development is absolutely flawless. Her ability to mold characters that are relatable, diverse, and charming is completely and totally impeccable. One of the key things that I look for in contemporary romances is the ability for the characters to balance each other out. Dani is extremely focused on her career and refuses to make time for relationships outside of friends with benefits. As a reader, I respected that and completely understood where she was coming from, but I can’t tell you how happy I was that she met her match in Zaf. Hands down, Zaf is probably one of the most likeable heroes that I’ve read in a romance book. Dealing with a great deal of familial related turmoil, Zaf pushes through his adversity to find the romance that he wants in a partner. There’s an instant attraction to Dani not just physically, but also emotionally. It was endearing and beautiful to know that regardless of the pain he experiences Zaf was willing to love again. He taught Dani that she was worthy of love and a real chance at a relationship. Their banter and chemistry seeped through the pages. Readers are aware that there’s going to be an HEA, but watching these two go through the journey of getting there was *chef’s kiss.* There is great mental health representation. Zaf struggles with anxiety as well as depression related to specific familial events and the way that Hibbert explores this and has both Zaf and Dani confront it face on was great.
Another aspect of this book that was well done was the development of side characters. I noticed the relationship between the Brown sisters in Get A Life, Chloe Brown; however, this book did an excellent job of including friends and family on both sides that were supportive, loving, and caring towards the main characters. It made the book feel more dynamic and interesting. And the steamy scenes. If there is one thing about Hibbert does well it’s her ability to write a good steamy scene. Overall, I really enjoyed this one more than I even enjoyed the first book. I’m excited to see what Hibbert will end up doing with the third book.
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