Member Reviews
This book was pretty gosh darn cute. Let's just put that out there.
The characters are entertaining and highly likable. They are flawed and real and fun and sweet and just plain fun to read about.
Also, diversity! Look at the cover again and bask in its multiracial, body positive glory! We need more books like this on our shelves!
But, back to the story.
This book started out so perfectly that I knew I was going to love it.
And then, because the world sucks, I started losing focus. I've been a year-long reading slump and this book just could not survive. I was still into the story, finishing it in one night, but it just wasn't the same. This should have easily been a four-star book for me. But alas, the reading slump got the best of me.
That said, reading slump aside, this book wasn't perfect.
I personally would have liked to see more of Red's life story. He had such a sad story and it would have been so interesting to get a deeper look into it, rather than just having been told about it. Same with Chloe. We are told of how people have judged her due to her illness but we are never really shown. I would have liked to get a first-hand look at how they lived before having met.
Overall, I liked it. I also really do recommend. Despite my rating (curse you reading slump!!) it was a really cute novel that I think many of you will enjoy.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I love when romance is about so much more than just romance and this book is about Chloe and Red's romance but it is also about chronic illness. Chloe lives with a chronic illness and the book depicts what that is like in a way that made me understand Chloe and what her struggles were . She is introverted and has conversations in her head, she keeps her armor up to avoid painful situations. Red has his own issues, too. Together these two unlikely characters forge a connection. Chloe and Ray were well developed characters, the tension was sizzling and I learned so much about living with chronic illness--I loved this book!!
I loved the fact that Chloe was both snootily funny and vulnerable. I’ve already purchased it for the library and am excited to recommend it
I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! First of all, a heroine with chronic pain and describing how living with chronic pain! This is not often written about in romance and many people live with this. I loved how Talia Hibbert wrote a heroine with chronic pain! Chloe's journey in the story is impacted by her pain, but in an empowering way. Chloe does start the story by withdrawing from the world, but she changes the course of her life after an incident in the beginning of the story. Chloe and Red had great chemistry and I love a great enemies to lovers story.
It's so important that romance continues to have inclusive stories for every reader and Talia Hibbert does a great job with this story. Chloe is relatable even to those who don't experience chronic pain and her drive to push herself to 'get a life" is a relatable ideal. Many people have seen their lives become stagnant and decided to change the course of their life.
This story is well written and I really enjoyed reading it and I look forward to having it in the store to share with readers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Chloe was a fantastic character that didn't let her chronic illness hinder her confidence in herself. She was bold and determined to live life on her own terms. Of course there were side affects with living with an illness that didn't always allow her to live exactly how she wanted. There were times when she would rather be rude and curt than to show others her weaknesses. That's where I felt Red was perfect for her.
While Red's issues were no less important, he managed to find a way to eventually see beyond Chloe's cold front and family background. On the outside, she was exactly the type of woman he never wanted to be with again. So it was nice seeing them slowly let each other in and open up about the things they've had to deal with in the past, and how it has led their hearts to become gun-shy. The things that Red went through in his previous relationship were interesting to read about because it's not an issue that gets a lot of light in romance novels (even though it's a lot more common than many assume). I appreciated that perspective, and it made me appreciated Chloe's handling of it in the end when she realizes she triggered him.
I also loved Chloe's sisters, Dani and Eve. They were funny and had unique personalities that let me know I wouldn't mind reading books about them. I'm happy that Dani will be the next in line in the series. And Red's friend Vikram was also a nice inclusion. He was very supportive of Red, and knew him well enough to notice when he was starting to slowly heal. I loved the scene when he just quietly watched Red finally get consumed by his art again, and then let him know how happy he was for him in the end. I would love to see more supportive male characters like this in romance novels.
Overall, I thought this was a well-written book with great representation of various perspectives.
5 ENORMOUS STARS!!!
Have you ever started a book and even just a couple of pages in, you just know it’s going to be a perfect fit?!?! Get a Life, Chloe Brown grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the last page! I haven’t read Talia Hibbert prior, but I am thoroughly impressed! I read a lot of romance and it’s been a long time since I’ve read a romance novel that beautifully combines humor, genuineness, sweetness and depth! The characters were well-developed and so darn endearing! You will love them so much you won’t want to say good-bye...ever!!! Get a Life, Chloe Brown is most definitely a 2019 favorite for me!! I have already put Talia Hibbert’s prior novels on my TBR list and I cannot wait to delve into them!
Get a Life, Chloe Brown was pretty much perfection in my eyes. It has everything a good romance needs - characters with depth, a believable plot. an adorable cat, and some unbearably hot sex scenes. My love for Chloe and Redford knows no bounds. They are goals.
Chloe is a ray of sunshine. I'm so happy that we're getting more representation in our romances these days, as it was so enlightening to read about her struggles with an auto-immune disorder since I have so many friends who are going through the same thing. It gives readers like me who don't deal with pain every day a great look into their lives and how we can help. Or back the f off. And if you look so many reviews on Goodreads, you'll see that people who are also chronically ill like Chloe are overjoyed to see themselves on the page. Representation. Matters. But it wasn't just that perspective that made Chloe special. Her resilience, her sense of humor, her style, and her tough exterior/gooey center completely charmed me.
And don't even get me started on Red. What a man. I would ride on the back of his motorbike any day. And if that sounds like a euphemism, so be it. He was caring without being overbearing, sexy as all get out, and an artist to boot. And his dirty talk? Oof, it is on POINT. The chemistry between Chloe and Red was palpable and the sexual tension throughout the book will make readers squirm in the best possible way. Talia Hibbert is writing some of the best sex scenes out there. This was my first book by her, but now that I know she's a sex scene master, you know I will be seeking out more.
In other hands, this could have been a book about "damaged" people healing each other but instead, it's a book about two beautiful souls finding joy together and opening themselves up to more in their lives. Red can't make Chloe well, obviously, but he can help round out the edges - support her, be there when she needs it, and let her stand on her own two feet when she needs that - and Chloe can do the same for him as he continues his healing. It's a wonderfully supportive relationship that doesn't promise perfection but ends up being perfect all the same.
Such a cute British rom-com! A quirky Black main character with a chronic illness and a tattooed white love interest healing after emotional abuse. I love the representation in this book and I love reading about characters that come from different backgrounds, fall in in love, and share their life experiences. It took a little while for the characters to warm up to each other as Chloe comes across as a stuck up brat due to misunderstandings but the banter and humor make the journey to romance so fun.
This book feels like the modern lovechild of Jane Austen and Bridget Jones -- but sexy! I loved Chloe. She was such a vibrant and vivid character, and I really loved the depiction of her life with fibromyalgia. I appreciated that the goal wasn't for Red to cure her pain -- or even think he could -- just with love. The characters and the story were so sharply observed. Talia Hibbert is a masterful writer. I can't wait for what's next!
When Chloe Brown has a near death experience, she decides to make a plan to start experiencing life and not to hold herself back due to concerns related the chronic pain from fibromyalgia. So, she moves out of her family's mansion and into an apartment of her own and mets Redford Brown, the building superintendent, and she can't stop thinking about him and his annoying ways. The thing is, Red can't stop thinking about her either. Both Chloe and Red are recovering from traumas that have left them changed and scared, but together they start to live again in this wonderfully touching, hilarious and steamy romance. Fans of the The Bride Test and Intercepted should give this a try!
Get a Life, Chloe Brown was an adorable romance novel. Our MC is chronically ill and doesn't let that define her. I loved seeing a romance novel from her perspective. She's also a fat black girl and I loved that. She was everything we don't normally get to see in a romance novel and I want more stories like this. Our LI is also getting over an abusive relationship and I was really happy to see this twist on the traditional. We hardly ever get to see a male being the one who was abused. This romance was swoonworthy and everything I want in a good romance novel, while also emploring minorities and circumstances we never get to see. I think anyone would be happy to pick this one up.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
I AM HERE FOR THIS BOOK! I had heard that Talia Hibbert was going to be writing a romance featuring a heroine living with a chronic illness and was immediately intrigued. When I saw it pop up on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it early and completely devoured it! Main character Chloe is a body positive WOC in tech living with an invisible illness and chronic pain who has a penchant for lists. Our hero, Red, is a ginger coveralls-wearing, motorcycle-riding artist who can fix stuff. Sign me up!
Hibbert wrote about the experience of living and dealing with chronic illness beautifully. It was refreshing to see a woman's pain be believed and taken seriously right off the bat by the hero. I related so hard to Chloe and found myself nodding and smiling throughout this book. I am so happy to see this kind of representation in romance. More, please! This was only my second read by Hibbert but I can see her quickly becoming a favorite. I can't wait to read and rec more from her in the future!
I really enjoyed this book. I've been a fan of Talia Hibbert, but this is the first book that she wrote for an actual publishing house so I wasn't sure what to expect.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown is a romantic comedy that also addresses some very serious life issues such as living with a disability, dealing with depression, etc. The humor is great. I always love the quirkiness of Hibbert's characters. While they are always unique, they are also believable and relatable. I think Hibbert does a great job of providing a diverse cast of characters, that really work well together. I love the relationships that she showcases, not just between our main characters Chloe and Red, but also with their friends and family.
I loved the character development throughout the story. Chloe and Red are both complex characters and in the beginning I really questioned their behavior. But the more that you got to know the characters through out the book, you get a really good understanding of who they are and why they think and act the way that they do. I really enjoyed the way the characters communicated with each other and worked through their issues in this book instead of the massive misunderstanding in some books that can be solved by a simple conversation. I also really loved the way the characters described each other. I think Hibbert has a great way of painting a picture with words, you really get to understand how the characters see each other. That also contributes to her ability to write really great love scenes.
Overall I thought Get a Life, Chloe Brown was wonderful and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Very easy to get hooked on this lovable, romantic beach read! There is plenty of sweeping romance expected of the genre, which is why I was initially intrigued. However, as soon as I flipped to page one: I was hooked on the author's descriptive writing and portrayals of her characters. Hibbert brings Chloe Brown (and a dreamboat in artsy, protective Red) to life as two strong individuals with even stronger (and fiery) chemistry as their relationship develops and blossoms into something beautiful, emotional, and even quite steamy in this realistic, contemporary novel.
What this book gets right is its oh-so-important representation. Many times, readers often see the same types of protagonists and it's refreshingly honest to see a book focus on a character that is more reminiscent of reality in Chloe Brown. Brown as a body positive POC, who is living with a disability (without letting any of that faze her) is exactly the type of representation we need in books more to accurately reflect the people we are.
I absolutely adored this book and definitely plan to re-read. So darn cute.
This was such a delightful read and is definitely one of my favorite books from this year. Chloe and Red are both so lovable and emotionally intelligent and articulate. Hibbert writes about disability in such a nuanced way; Chloe is not to be pitied, nor does the story make you feel as if it was absolutely amazing that she was able to find love despite her disability. Rather, Chloe is a woman living with chronic pain who falls in love. End of story. We NEED more of this type of representation in the media--representation that simultaneously paints a realistic portrait of living with invisible illness while also normalizing their presence in our pop culture and love stories. Red is so earnest, you couldn't help but fall in love with him falling in love.
I highlighted so many lovely passages in this book. This will definitely be something I recommend on my account.
This book blew me away! GAH! What an exceptional story.
I adored Chloe Brown. And don't get me started on Red. Gah! What a dreamboat. I could totally relate to the narrator.
The writing was exceptional. I laughed out loud and maybe teared up just a little. :) This is my first book by Talia Hibbert but won't be my last!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have been sitting on this review for a few days because I am not sure if I can properly articulate how much I loved this book. It was my 3rd Talia Hibbert and I loved the other two I read, so I had high high high expectations for this one. and of course, it did not disappoint.
It was written fantastically. The characters were amazing. They are quirky and different but realistic too. The chemistry was off the charts, goodness gracious me. It was funny and adorable and sexy and interesting and emotional and just all the feelings. The banter was so so good, the development of their relationship and the rest of the story was paced so perfectly. I
This book was just so.freaking.GOOD. I wish I was better with the words. Basically, I highly recommend. I loved every single moment. I already want to re-read it. Love love love. One of my top reads from this year for sure.
I’m a little speechless because this book y’all...it’s one of the best I’ve read this year. If you read a lot of romance (like I do), coming across a novel with a disabled POC body positive female lead is like finding a unicorn. The author did an INCREDIBLE job discussing the effects of fibromyalgia and the lived experience of those who struggle with it, in addition to a number of heavy topics, with such grace and respect. This is my first Talia Hibbert novel, but I can assure you it will not be my last. These are the romances and stories we need-those that mirror true lives of people (particularly those in the margins) and this book did that so beautifully. I will be uptalking this one at my library so much that they’ll probably beg me to stop-but I don’t care.
Love this one! Very very good story. You will fall in love with the characters quickly. Told in an amazing voice that sucks you in till the last page.