This book has everything you want in a romcom: emotional ups and downs, gradual but deep individual character development as well as a strong main character connection, STEAM and a lot of funny moments. The laugh out loud, snort kind of funny!
The friendship and banter between Dani and Zaf was so believable and their chemistry was even more so! I adored them both and really love how Talia explored them, gradually opening up their issues and traits as they got to know one another better. They grow as one to grow together and it was a seamless transition. #couplegoals indeed.
I cannot review without focussing solely on Dani. She is a powerful, successful, straight talking female and she is quite possibly one of my favourite female leads of this year. Of course no one is perfect (romcoms need a hitch right) but she is honest, secure about who she is with both her looks and personality and loves herself. She was inspiring- every woman should be like Danika Brown!
Moving on, this book also explores friendships, family dynamics, addresses a tonne of current issues (such as mental health, loss, social media impact and presence) and more importantly breaks ALL the stereotypes...Well many you could think of. I genuinely cannot rave about this enough. Talia Hibbert is a literary Queen.

I said I was done with romance novels for now, but since I got this ARC I thought I would give it a read, and I’m so pleased I did! Take a Hint, Dani Brown is bigger and better than its prequel, which is usually the opposite of what is said of second books. I loved the characters of Danika and Zafir, particularly Danika (I mean, she’s fat, black, bisexual and a PhD student, which is pretty much me in September - I forgot how wonderful it is to read a book with a protagonist you can actually identify with!) If you loved Get a Hint, Chloe Brown then you’ll love this novel too. Be prepared to fall head over heels yet again for two amazing characters and a cute as heck love story.

Another great read from Talia! She writes the Brown sisters just so well.

I would recommend reading Get a Life Chloe Brown before hand however this can easily be read as a stand alone.

I knew I was going to love this the minute I picked it up! The fake dating trope is one of my all time favourites and the chemistry between Zaf and Dani was *chef’s kiss*

I hope you are ready to swoon over this book because the hero Zafir is something a bit special. I knew immediately he was going to sell this book, this story line. That’s not to say Dani Brown isn’t a great character, but she’s a contradiction of sharp corners and loyalty; she took some getting to know, to like.

Dani Brown was an academic chasing a PhD (that certainly resonated with me) and pretty career focused. She was only in the market for friends with benefits of any gender. Considering her and Zafir had been friends for some time, stepping it up was almost natural, if it wasn’t for Dani’s rules of engagement. Dani was a curvy, strong and intelligent woman but she knew she didn’t connect emotionally as well to people, so beyond her family she seemed to stop trying. I enjoyed seeing her character grow.

Zafir, Zafir, Zafir…a big, kind, ex-Rugby star, romance-reading, beta-male with anxiety. How could that combination not float my boat? He was considerate, thoughtful and a big bag of lust combined with affection over Dani. The dialogue and inner monologue were perfection and chuckle-inducing.

“Good morning,” he purred, his eyes landing on Dani’s chest like tit-seeking missiles.

Despite Zaf’s niceness towards Dani, he was gruff and grumpy looking. There was a whole back story to Zaf that was deep and engaging. His mental health issues were well written and he was that kind of character that just pulled you in.

“This is just my face. I have a murder face.”

“Honestly, Zafir, you’re so grumpy you could create your own storm clouds.”

The second book in this series had a story just as engaging as the first. These sisters are different, unique and so funny. There were cameo moments for Chloe and Red that made me a little gooey. And Eve…I just know her book is going to be hilarious.

Go get your moves on for TAKE A HINT, DANI BROWN. Talia Hibbert just writes these women with a realness and wit that you cannot resist.

I absolutely devoured this book in the space of a day, fake dating is one book trope that just absolutely gets me every single time! Before picking up this book, I hadn't actually ready any other Hibbert books (including the previous Brown sister novel), but I will be sure to pick some up soon. Whilst the tale of Dani Brown, a successful career driven woman with no desire for romantic partnership, and brooding, happily ever after seeking, Zafir Ansari is not unpredictable in this genre, it is remarkably fresh and honest. Almost every character we met in the book was likeable, whilst the inner fears and issues that both Dani and Zaf were working through never felt forced or unrealistic. These are elements that are super important for me in books such as these - i'm not reading it expecting it to change the world, but I do want to see something people can understand and relate to which is exactly what the book did. Whilst being cute and sexy (those sex scenes!!) the book does tackle some very important issues, which again felt super natural to the story and were addressed in a respectful manner.
This book is a sweet read that well represented diverse characters and the many different aspects and attitudes in life and dating in the modern world.

I loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown so much that I was worried this would disappoint me, it didn’t!
Talia Hibbert has such an amazing way of portraying things, and as someone with generalised anxiety disorder, I’m so thankful for that.
Zafir was a brilliant representation of someone with anxiety. People are always shocked to hear I’m anxious and struggle with depression, more so that I use medication to manage it. I thought it was fantastic that Hibbert didn’t portray Zafir as a recluse who can’t manage day to day life but as someone successful, someone who seems “normal” whatever normal is. Because I often get “you don’t SOUND depressed” “you don’t LOOK anxious” etc etc. Or “but you work?”
Hibbert portrayed that someone with anxiety, and someone who’s struggled with depression can live a normal day to day life, but that doesn’t mean that their anxiety won’t suffocate them from time to time and cause them to have a panic attack in the street!
The only thing that bothered me is how similar Zaf and Red were in terms of speech. I rarely hear people calling their partners “sweetheart” or “love” but they both do and I found that a bit too similar/coincidental!
I love the Brown sisters’ so I knew I’d love seeing more of Dani’s character, and I’m SO excited for Eve’s story.
An absolutely brilliant, steamy, lovely rom com!

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks so much as always to Netgalley for sending this to me!

Is there anyone among us who didn’t fall in love with the Brown family? Get A Life, Chloe Brown was all over the internet when it came out last year, so I was really excited for the sequel with its gorgeous sunny cover – and I think Talia Hibbert might have outdone herself with this one. Chloe Brown was heartfelt, funny and tender, but this one takes us to new depths and tackles some very poignant issues with so much dignity, whilst also sticking to the series’ funny and sexy roots.

Talia Hibbert has such an amazing writing style. I feel like I could pick her books out of a line-up easily, because while they’re all very different, she has this really warm, funny delivery that shines through in her writing style. These books nudge you in the ribs and tease you – in both a sweet way and a sexy way.
Another thing I loved about this was the characters. I really love how Talia Hibbert’s male leads aren’t afraid to be sensitive – Zafir is soft and kind and I wanted to give him a huge hug. The side characters really shone in this one, particularly his niece Fatima – she was funny and bubbly and completely stole the show. I feel like we got to know the characters on Zaf’s side of things better than Dani’s, but I really enjoyed the glimpses we got into their lives.

I also want to give a shoutout to the m/f bi rep, which I feel like we need more of – as much as I love f/f, a large number of bi people do end up in relationships with someone of a different gender and it’s important to represent that, especially when this book leans into the only m/f dynamic I will accept: the kind where the man is in total awe of his partner and worships the ground she walks on, as he flipping well should.
In terms of the plot, I did feel the premise itself and a lot of the conflict was a bit flimsy. I love fake dating – who doesn’t – but lately I’ve found that the popularity of the trope has resulted in it being watered down a bit in some cases. Especially in contemporary romances, I feel that the characters often decide to fake date for kind of implausible reasons and that was definitely the case here. Don’t get me wrong, it was cute and I loved their relationship – I just felt that maybe the fake dating wasn’t really necessary in this instance and felt a little bit contrived. In addition to this, the conflict frustrated me to no end. Dani’s whole deal is that she’s a commitment-phobe, which I get, but I feel like it fell into the trap some romance novels have where the conflict just doesn’t feel sustainable? A huge structural thing with romance is that it tends to go “couple meets > couple falls in love > couple breaks up for some reason that we all know won’t last > couple gets back together and lives happily ever after” and the break-up is usually what makes or breaks a book for me (pun intended.) If the break-up feels contrived, I get frustrated and I wish we just hadn’t bothered to go there, and that was how I felt about this one. I definitely enjoyed the ride because of the characters, but Dani had some low moments for me where she tested my patience. Zafir, on the other hand, is an angel and can do no wrong, and is a strong contender for best romance novel hero EVER. Strong, sexy, AND emotionally literate?? Who is he?

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was fun, heartfelt and sexy. In terms of the plot itself there were some weaknesses in my opinion, but the characters were strong enough to carry the book on their backs until the end.

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book as I didn't love Get a Life Chloe Brown as much as most people, but I enjoyed this one a lot more. I was much more invested in the building romance and liked both protagonists a lot

We follow Dani Brown, PhD student and sister of Chloe Brown, who has gotten into the habit of bringing a coffee to the security guard of her building, (platonically of course). After a fire alarm sees Dani trapped in the lift of the building Zaf guards, and ends with him carrying her out of said non-burning building...a romantic scene filmed by hundreds of student, a fake dating situation ensues

The fact that Dani is an on-page bisexual woman makes my heart sing. I can recall one other bisexual female protagonist that I've read before, and I desperately need more of these angels in my life. I also loved her area of study and that she was a PhD student, as a recent masters graduate I could relate to her studies and the uni environment

I also LOVED the love interest Zaf, what a babe. He's a tough-looking, rugby guy on the outside but a sensitive troubled soul on the outside who reads romance books. I just wanted to hug him. He suffers with anxiety and depression, and talks and thinks openly about it, and I thought mental health was discussed so well in this book

The one negative for me was how long it took for the first sex scene, we were about 60% in before it happened but it was worth it when it finally did happen

If you’re in need of a quick, sassy, steamy read then look no further as it is this (would also recommend you check out book one - Get a Life, Chloe Brown although it can be read stand alone). Talia Hibbert is a breath of fresh air with her quirky and stubborn characters, easy to read narrative and entertaining plots.

Dani Brown is smart and strong willed. She knows what she wants and what she wants is Zafir Ansari, the hot rugby player-built security man of the building where she works. The good news is Zafir wants Dani just as much. The only problem is Zafir is a hopeless romantic and Dani Brown does not let herself get attached which is why, when the two decide to have a fake relationship to help Zafir’s social media presence, things can only go wrong!

I really enjoyed Hibbert’s take on the fake relationship trope, it ticked all my boxes for a super easy read. After devouring Chloe Brown a couple of months ago I was well prepared for Hibbert’s easy-going writing style and somewhat … erm … descriptive sexual encounters *blush* - I definitely made sure to read this one where it couldn’t be read over my shoulder!

When not describing the sexual tension between her two characters, Hibbert gives an accurate representation for Chronic Illness and Mental Health issues in her books - Zafir suffers with anxiety and this resurfaces when he starts being recognised on social media which in today’s society is so relevant. Hibbert uses Zafir’s anxiety carefully and not without poise but also with a certain level of knowledge that I can appreciate. She doesn’t beat around the bush in describing how anxiety makes you feel and how it can be triggered by the smallest of events or thoughts which also becomes relevant to Dani, when she reveals how her past has shaped her personality.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown is straight on to my must read summer novels and I eagerly await Hibbert’s next instalment in the Brown Sisters series!

I LOVED book one in this series and honestly before starting this I was wondering how anything could live up to it. It turns out that this second book in the series was just as incredible as the first, and everything I loved about Chloe's book was mirrored in this one. It was diverse, steamy, heartwarming, and had me laughing out loud at times.

Every character in this book was so endearing and likeable. I feel like sometimes I struggle to connect with characters with commitment issues because they can come across as a little standoffish, but that wasn't the case with Dani's character. I loved how she was both a strong, determined career-driven woman, but at the same time clearly had some vulnerabilities that made her so relatable. Zaf was just the sweetest character and I loved how his struggles with anxiety were portrayed. I definitely fell in love with him a little! Side note: As a PhD student myself, I feel like I need to mention how impressed I was with the representation of UK higher education in this book.

This book has solidified Talia Hibbert as a new favourite author and I'm so unbelievably excited for Eve's book now!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book for review on NetGalley*

This book is wonderfully well written, warmly humorous right from the start. I really enjoyed it, it's the first of the Brown sisters books I've read but it won't be the last.

The story follows the development of the relationship between Danika and Zafir, who on the face of it don't have a lot in common. Dani is a hard working, bisexual student who wants hook ups, not relationships. Zaf, former pro rugby player who suffers from anxiety and loves romance books, on the other hand, is looking for love. They start to fake date, to help publicity for Zaf's charity, while enjoying no strings sex. Of course it's obvious they will end up together, and I really enjoyed the way their relationship progressed

The loving relationships between not just Dani and Zaf, but them and their family and friends give the novel heart to balance the humour. I really enjoyed the time I spent with these characters and highly recommend this book.

This is the second book in The Brown Sisters series following Dani, a PhD student who always tends to put her work before her relationships and is just wanting something casual with no strings attached, whereas Zafir is the opposite, always reading romance novels and wants a serious relationship. Zafir is an ex-pro rugby player and when the two are pictured together they become an internet trend that starts to help out Zafir's charity, so the two agree to start fake dating.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown dealt with some serious issues such as the tragic loss of family members and anxiety. I felt that Talia did this well and it was nice to read a book that dealt with real issues. Furthermore, I felt that Zafir and Dani were very well-developed characters which I felt connected to throughout. I read the book so fast because I wanted to know what happened to the two! The book was a really fast, fun, and uplifting read! There was lots of banter between the two that I just loved reading, I found it hard to put the book down.
It was also great to read about the other Brown sisters, especially seeing Chloe and Red together! I love the relationships the sisters have together and even Dani's relationship with Gigi her grandmother. Another side character I loved was Fatima, Zaf's niece, the witty conversations the two had always made me laugh.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, it is a quick, sexy, funny read filled with romance and great banter, as well as characters dealing with some more serious issues! I think I even enjoyed this book more than the first and I can't wait to follow the next Brown sister's story!

These Brown sisters are so much fun. First it was Chloe and this time it’s younger sister Danika. I had such a good time with Dani and Zafir. A friends to lovers romance that also has a comedic feel to it thanks to Dani and Zafir’s interactions but certainly also the interactions of the Brown sisters and grandmother Gigi.
Dani is into witchcraft and ask her Goddess to send her sign as to who should be her next f**kbuddy. Cue Zafir and his kindhearted and romantic soul who seeks love and relationship which is the total opposite of Dani who only needs sex and not the strings that comes along with a relationship.
Zafir is a true romantic who reads books and loves his family. He’s infatuated with Dani and she only sees him as a good friend she’s having sex with. That slowly changes and I really enjoyed that progress where it evolved into more. Their chemistry is spot on and dialogue funny as heck.
As much as I adored Dani I absolutely fell in love with Zafir. A man who’s experienced a traumatic loss that’s has had a lasting effect on him. Especially mentally. He’s used that loss and turned it into something good. A foundation. A place to help people.
Dani goes through a relationship growth while she’s “seeing” Zafir. He makes her want to try again. To be together with another person and to love wholeheartedly.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown was such a joy to read and I’m very excited about Eve’s book. These Brown sisters have something special about them.

4 Tackle It Stars

ARC received in exchange for an honest review ❤️

Take a Hint, Dani Brown is the second book in Talia Hibbert's Brown Sister series which started with Get a Life, Chloe Brown. In this installment we follow middle sister Danika, a hard working bisexual PhD student who has an aversion to any kind of commitment beyond a casual hookup. Enter Zafir, ex rugby pro and lover of romance novels. When the two end up as unlikely Internet trending #couplegoals following a fire drill at the University building they both work in, the pair strike up a deal - fake dating in return for exposure for Zaf's charity, and a bit of casual sex thrown in. At no point are either of them allowed to fall in love.

I love the writing style for these novels. Talia Hibbert creates an effortless amount of wit and humour in her novels that read so well from the page. I mean, the very first line in this mentions Danika having honey on her tit and it continues from their. It's full of banter between the two characters too, with a charm and affection between them that is difficult to pull off. Danika is a carefree, bisexual nerd who loves studying and is passionate about her work. She gets excited about symposiums and meeting her idol within the field. She's also incredibly guarded from being hurt in the past. She's vulnerable and awkward in romantic settings, perhaps a bit too blunt and too afraid to show how she really feels in case she gets hurt again. Zafir, by comparison, is highly romantic with anxiety issues. He's a lot more open about his emotions, having suffered from some awful experiences in his past. The two shouldn't gel well, but they do. The chemistry is palpable from the get go, with plenty of flirty chat, teasing and sexual tension. It's my kind of relationship, and I connected well with the pair of them.

In terms of secondary characters, I feel they are better developed here than in Chloe's book. We have Zafir's extended family - including sister in law Karin, neice Fatima (or Fluffy) and best friend Jamal. All of them share a special bond with Zaf, and it was nice to spend time exploring this close familial side to his personality. As usual, I also loved the scenes with the other Brown sisters - although I do think they weren't used enough here, but it was nice to see Chloe and Red again, and catch more of a glimpse into Eve's life in preparation for her book.

The plot, as expected, is predictable. You know going in what the outcome will be - but I think that's part of the charm. Also, at want point this goes all 'meta' as Zafir explains why he lives romance novels so much, pointing out that it helps his anxiety because there are no surprises and you're guaranteed a happy ending. I loved that discussion. So many people hate on romance novels without really examining the benefits of the escapism they grant. As an 'own voices' reader, I also appreciated the anxiety representation and thought it was handled well. That's another thing I love about Talia Hibbert - she isn't afraid to jump into diversifying her books and exploring multiple different types of people and issues while still managing to present them in a positive, highly researched and well thought out manner.

I will say that the more 'sexy' scenes weren't really doing it for me. I'm not a lover of really explicit fun times in books, and I did find myself cringing at times. If that's your thing, great - the descriptions here are incredibly graphic and hard going, but they're just not my thing. I like a more subtle touch, as opposed to descriptions of bodily organs and what they are doing at all times.

Wonderful diversity, highly charged and interesting characters and a whole dollop of humour and hijinx. If you loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown I think you'll love this even more. Highly recommend if you can cope with the sex scenes.

Loved this book!

Dani works at the university, where Zaf is a security guard. After he rescues her during a fire alarm the video of him carrying her out of the building goes viral. Neithter of them is happy about this, but when Zaf finds out it is helping his charity, he ends up fake dating Dani to keep the profile going. She agrees as she thinks this is the sign from the universe that she asked for. He wants for ever, and she wants a fling, so will they have a future together?

Looking forward to the next book in this series.

This was a perfect choice to bring a little happiness into my reading list and has left me feeling so much lighter and optimistic. I can't wait to read about the final Brown sister next year.

This is the second book in the 'Brown Sisters' series but could be read alone. Though I highly recommend reading the first as it was really good! This is a great followup that is sexy and funny with a good dollop of character development! Perfect for a summer read!

This was a lovely follow up book to 'Get a Life, Chloe Brown' and would also work brilliantly on its own. Danika is a strong, smart and brilliant woman who is terrified of letting someone in only for them to hurt her. So many people can relate to that.

Unfortunalty, we don't all have the universe sending us romantic, former pro rugby players that teach kids about emotional health and can lift us like he is Superman. This is why the rest of us read romance novels.

It is time to have a closer look at the life of the second Brown sister, Dani.

Dani is a Ph.D student focused on her work who doesn't want a relationship, the only thing she is interested in is finding a friend with benefits arrangement.
After becoming overnight half of a relationship hashtag all over the university, she things she found the perfect person to have this arrangement with.

Zaf is a former rugby player, he is working as a security guard to the same building as Dani. His favourite pastime is reading romance novels, he has never expected to be famous again, especially as a relationship goal that is.

But faking a relationship with Dani can help bring attention to his charity which helps kids with anxiety. As a bonus, he can spend more time with Dani, who has captured his attention since he first saw her.

Dani is a driven woman who thinks that a relationship will only slow her down. Zaf is a romantic heart who is looking for a happy ending. Those two seem very different, but once the fake dating begins so does the fun.

The fake dating was delicious, I loved the moments where they were wondering what was fake and what not. Zaf was absolutely amazing. His love for romance novels was something that we had in common. The story was full of funny lines which had me laughing so many times. They had incredible chemistry which is only multipled with the clever banter those two share.

I thought it was very enjoyable to see how Cloe and Red were doing. I am excited to see Eve have her story told next.

I received an arc from Little, Brown Book Group & Piatkus through Netgalley

I must say I may not be the target audience for this book, but it was still enjoyable. Sexy and funny, Dani is a great heroine and this is quite a romp. I haven't read Ms Hibbert's other books but I gather some if the characters gave appeared in earlier works. Certainly fun but maybe don't let your granny borrow it ;)