The hopeful readers group discussion

Hi All Laura and I are reading this in three installments of 8 chapters starting today - 26/03.

Feel free to join in and share your thoughts with us on what you think of it in the discussion here. Or if you've already read it, share your thoughts on the book with us at the end :O)

Well I've just finished ch4, it took a couple chapters to grab me as I sort of forced myself through but it's getting interesting now. I feel Chloes rather relatable in her grump and sarcasm, I think that's what I have a bad habit of with jokes sounding too serious. Red is adorable and I already love him too, his an artist and so sweet to everyone despite himself he can't help wanting to help people.

Their first few meetings were hilarious to hear about from Chloe, also makes sense how they view each other considering some of Reds history and Chloes struggles. I also fine the cat great and such a fun, lovely scene which leads onto the getting somewhere good now with progress. Can't wait to see where it goes from here, its not what I was expecting but then again I haven't looked at it properly since adding to my tbr. But I'm enjoying it so far xx

Hey Laura

I've read the first 8 chapters, I agree it was a slow burn start after a good intro it dipped a little and took a little too long to get to the interaction between Chloe and Red. Chloe is an interesting character, I love that she's unapologetically grumpy and chooses not to be defined by her illness. As yet I'm not feeling as if I'm connecting all that much with Red, character wise and he doesn't have the physical or emotional characteristics that I find attractive in a book boyfriend. That said the interactions they've had from the cat up the tree scene, to their ride on his motorbike and the fabulous email conversation is showing potential for more chemistry and romance. All in all it's exceptionally well written, but then I expect nothing less from Talia Hibbert.

At the moment I'm vacillating between 3 and 4 stars based on what i've read so far.

Hey,

Just finished ch8, I'm glad you thought so too as I feared I was being too harsh. I agree too, I really relate with Chloe in the grumpy sense although her way of handling her illness an d strength is wonderful to see. Aww I actually find Red really attractive with the motorbike, the tats and his size... However he does seem a bit too much of a people pleaser to me, although it's somewhat understandable with the glimpses into his past. In hoping we get to see more of his confidence with his artwork and interactions with Chloe shine through.

Reds really sweet and I enjoy the sarcasm and banter between the two of them so much. I really enjoy the growth of friendship and exploring list, without the whole relationship side hitting straight away. Despite their obvious attraction for each other, it's good to see both their sides of the situation and how they view it. The emails were so fun and Smudge is great. Both of them have their own issues and history to get through, which I feel they shall go through together on this list and I cant wait to see more of their journey. Its really starting to grab my attention now, to see more of Red and Chloes adventures.

Im feeling you on the 3/4 Stars at the moment, I'm hoping the rest is going to tip it into a 4 for me with how things are going so far. The writing is lovely and very relatable, full of humor but also serious it flows rather well. I've not read any of her other books, but definately be having a look now.

Okay so I've read up to the end of chapter 16. It's definitely gotten a little steamier, though the focus is obviously mostly on the growing feelings between Chloe and Red and I feel the balance of steaminess and sweetness isn't quite right and the steamy scenes feel a little shoehorned in, but then again maybe that's because in their own way both Red and Chloe are socially stunted in their unique ways.

I'm beginning to warm up a little more to Red, but as I said before he doesn't make me swoon. I prefer a little more assertive, dark, intense, damaged and brooding in my heroes. Long red haired, sensitive artists just don't float my boat. I am enjoying the glimpses we're starting to get into his emotional cracks and that it is a positive display of what it is to be masculine, which is so often lacking in a lot of mainstream romance.

Still hovering around 3.5 to 4 star, don't think it's going to be a 5 star read like the other novel I read by her Merry Inkmas was - that's a definite recommendation if you fancy checking out more of her work.

I think I'm going to read on and finish it tonight, but will hold off sharing my thoughts until you've finished :O)

Oh I've just finished Ch 16 and when you said extra steam, wow yeah that was interesting... certainly different. Thinking the exact same thing the flow and pace is a bit off here and there, going form serious to relaxed rather quick along with the steam scenes/mentions coming out of nowhere. Although your idea does make sense and somewhat fitting to these two, considering what they've both been through in past relationships and both still trying to figure their life's out.

I'm rather enjoying their little adventures that let us see glimpses into both of them and overcoming their struggles. Red helping Chloe with her list and in return she's helping him with his website. But it's not ever just that, they bring out a lot of care and feels and strength in each other that I adore. Really enjoyed the nightclub and gallery trip, which allowed them both to grow closer and realise things in their life's.

Hmm I think I'm starting to like guys like Red more often these days, he's just rather unique and kind of nice to see no the typical tall dark and handsome type. Although those are hot as heck too xx

I'm still not really sure between 3/4, as like I said one minute I'm really into it and enjoying then the next it's like I'm pushed out of the story because the tone and flow just isn't very consistant. I shall have to give that one a look, as while I am finding a struggle with the balance in some points the overall writing is incredible. It's got humour, chemistry, serious tones and lovely development with some interesting plot lines.

Oh hope it's good! I plan to finish it tomorrow I'm hoping to push it into the 4 bracket, but we shall see how things progress.

Just finished it and I went with 4stars overall, the last half really took it for me, I fell into their relationship and loved the development so much. I enjoyed how uniqu, interesting and different these were two as leads. Also while this is a romance I liked how explored their pasts and we get to see them both kind of moving into a better future, learning from each other and their adventures. It really got me and I liked how the lists ended up for the last part, it was so soft and sweet. The ending was pure perfection too. I'm excited for the next one with Dani now xx

Thank you for suggesting this one, I'd probably have left it a while if not for this 😊

Hey Laura, glad you enjoyed it and it met your expectations. In the end I went with a 4 star review as well, though I felt it didn't have the same power as other neurodiverse character driven romances like Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient, but was a pretty solid novel. I would have liked it if Hibbert would have explored Red's back story in a little more detail earlier, it felt a little rushed and wasn't explored enough to give his eventual breakdown and need for therapy the necessary space to breathe and allow the reader to empathise with him. Instead he has to understand his issues and 'fix things' with Chloe, and Chloe doesn't have to face up to her own part in their break up as much as perhaps she should have done. All in all I felt it had a lot of potential, but was a little bit uneven. It would have been better if the balance between Red and Chloe's issues were more evenly explored, or just one of them being the one with issues and the other coming to terms with it.

Oh I can see what you mean in that but I didn't feel that way I thought both were explored quite equily, just that Chloe were a lot more visible with her fibromyalgia and the pain while Reds were more in his head and history. I feel we got to see them both grow rather well throughout, while Chloe had already made the list and decision to move forward early on so it felt we were with her struggles more. While Red was still figuring his out and hiding from them, it took a bit of a push to get to the point where he finally decided he needed to get help and move forward.

With the breakup I definately felt with you for the uneven way it was handled, yet at the same time I rather appreciated that it took in the fact that they are both messy and not great at communicating. He let his fear and panic hit him, before he could hear her out while she let her fear and hurt at being left behind make her decision. So it kind of made sense to me in a messed up way and I rather liked Reds little gifts and things, Chloe needed a push to accept herself in the way others see her and I really liked that with her family and through Red. How she tells him that his always so sweet to her, but is he ever that nice to himself and just the different realisations.

Overall I agree the balance in this book was generally off in a lot of ways, yet due to the characters it somehow fit in a strange way. Then again I've not read The Kiss Quotient yet so I might think differently once look at other books.