OMG this book is absolutely incredible and I adored every single second of it!!

The characters are so wonderfully written and so diverse and just incredible. There is so much depth to everyone and I LOVED Jacob and Eve as the main couple. I mean, we got enemies to lovers as well as close proximity and sunshine and grump with these two, legitimately what more could you want. I can't comment on the autism rep in this book as I am not an own voices reviewer for that, but I did appreciate how nicely it was woven into the story and just there. It wasn't forced or sidelined but it was present and done incredible well. And I adored the family dynamic the Browns have because they all care about each other so much and you can really tell that in the way they interact, I am kind of jealous.

The plot and the romance were just absolutely brilliant! I liked how it took Eve and Jacob a little while to get tougher but omg when they did it was incredible and so sweet and they are just the best couple ever. I relay liked how the third act conflict was handled as well because it didn't come out of nowhere, it had actually been built up throughout the book, and it was handled very skilfuly. I just loved this book so much and instantly want to reread it so that I can relive this gorgeous book.

The writing is something else as well. Talia Hibbert really knows how to write a romance! I was laughing and almost crying at some points and happy at others and this book just took me on a rollercoaster. I cannot wait to see what else she comes out with because they are going to be fantastic. I am just in awe because Talia Hibbert is just such an incredible writer and I know that my standards for romance book just went up to a whole new level lol.

I think I jumped on the bandwagon with this one, having seen the first two books in the series all over Bookstagram, so when this one came up on here, I thought it would be a fun read to have at hand.

Unfortunately this one didn’t live up to the hype for me. It was a sweet enough read but I found it so very predictable and just never got sucked into the story. The characters were fun, and I loved that the author focuses so much on diversity. Here we have two protagonists who are both on the autistic spectrum, one of whom is also brown, round, with stretch marks and plenty of cute quirks (while the guy is physically perfect, of course... 🤨). I do appreciate reading about such non-conformist characters. And, as expected, there was plenty of steam 🔥 — some of which had me blushing!

Another thing that irked me was that I never got a feeling for the setting. A big point was made about it being set in the Lake District, which is easily one of the most beautiful areas in the UK but I never got a sense of location. Even the B&B didn’t really come across as such — there were barely any interactions with guests and considering that Eve and Jacob had to be up at the crack of dawn every single day to serve breakfast, there was a LOT of nighttime action — when did they sleep? I know these are only minor things but they bugged me and took away from my reading experience…

Regardless of my own small grievances, I’m sure that fans of the series will enjoy this third instalment of the Brown-sisters saga and will be happy to see the rest of the family popping up throughout the book.

Rating - 3.5/5

TW: past child abandonment

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that the Brown sisters are some of my favourite characters in romance. Their stories just always know how to put a smile on my face, to feel all the feels and to laugh out loud. Eve is no different.

This was a fun and lighthearted read with some important topics covered throughout. I was already a laughing mess not even 5% into this book. I found the dialogue and the banter so effortless and funny. I love Eve as a character. She is spunky and such a delight to read about. Jacob compliments her sunshine personality with his grumpiness perfectly. I loved their interactions with one another so much.

The setting of this book was just so cute. I would have loved to see more of the small town outside of the B&B. I did love the inclusion of music to the story and I’ll be putting Eve’s playlist on repeat this weekend!

This book is so important because of its representation of autism and their relationships with others and the world around them. I loved reading from both Jacob and Eve’s perspectives and I loved the scene where Eve does research on Autism herself to figure out her own feelings and behaviours.

I do think, however, that the romance moved way too fast for me in this book. I’m not a fan of insta love and would have enjoyed more of a slow burn romance, considering the forced proximity trope being introduced as well. There was definitely a few missed opportunities for these characters to interact with one another. I also felt like the pond scene with the ducks went on forever and took way too long to conclude. I also would have loved to see more of the planning behind the Gingerbread festival (like we see in The Switch by Beth O’Leary).

The smut in this book was really great. Talia Hibbert definitely has a way with words and I appreciate that the first smutty scene is something a bit different to what we are used to seeing in contemporary romance books. I do feel, however, that the characters were talking way too much during the smutty scenes. I don’t mind some talking or dirty talk but the dialogue in those scenes pulled me out of it quite a bit.

I also felt like the conflict wasn’t what I thought it would be and I felt it didn’t really have an impact on me at all. I was expecting the conflict to surround Jacob’s parents and not Eve’s work situation. It made the ending less satisfying and I feel like it lacked the vulnerability I’ve come to expect from Hibbert’s characters. I also felt a little pissed off with the side characters we all know and love. They felt way too meddling and it’s just something I don’t like reading.

Overall, this was the perfect read for me this week and I am so excited to see what Talia Hibbert comes up with next. She is definitely becoming one of my favourite romance authors of all time.

Headlines:
Neurodivergent rep
Steam
Bad driving
Sisterhood
Did I mention steam?

There’s something just so easy about sinking into a series where you know something about the characters and The Brown Sisters is a series that has really floated my boat from the start. As with the other Brown sisters, Eve was wholly individual but also quirky, confident and yet not.

The story started with a blow-up, an escape and a bang as Eve found herself in the Lake District which was pretty fun but <enter side left> came Jake. Abrupt, grumpy, perfectionist and with a hard shell, Jake’s character had to be unravelled and Eve was certainly up to the task.

This story had elements of the ridiculous (just as life is sometimes) and the combination of Eve and Jake interacting and at odds with each other brought much humour, me sniggering and dialogue that you just couldn’t make up. I can’t deny that when the family came together in the story I had moments of cosily settling in, seeing these sisters and their partners together.

The representation in this book felt genuine, not forced. The story repped neurodivergent characteristic and body positive behaviour with sloganed T-shirts. All these things for the win. I would be interested in finding some neurodivergent #ownvoices reviews to check how this felt on reading.

Overall, Act Your Age, Eve Brown was a pleasurable read with intense heat and the wit I’ve come to know Talia Hibbert for. These books go on the re-read pile.

Thank you Piatkus, Little Brown for the early review copy.

Eve Brown is, in her own words, a hot mess. she flits from one career to the next and frustrates her friends and family. But Eve has never quite found the right thing for her. After an argument with her parents, Eve gets in the car and drives, ending up in a village in the Lake District. She spontaneously decides to apply for the position of chef at a B&B she passes but finds the owner obnoxious and, when the interview is over, gets in her car to leave......only she sort of accidentally....runs said owner over with her car when he runs after her to offer her the job. Guilted into helping run the B&B alongside the injured owner, Jacob, Eve starts to realise that this might be just what she was looking for in a career, even she didn't know it....and Jacob might be just the man.

Okay, a few things to mention before I even get into the book in the main, The author includes a note at the start of this book with warnings about what could be potentially sensitive topics for some people. I really liked that. Plus she's only gone and added a playlist! And someone only went and made it on Spotify! Thanks helpful person! Eve is big into her music and I gave this a listen between reads.

I really enjoyed this book, the dialogue between the leads was just great. I mean I screenshot loads of bits and could probably just list example after example but I'll restrain myself. Here's one though:

"Interesting. And here I had you for a runner."
"A runner?" she repeated with all the righteous outrage of a woman who had totally been moments away from running. "Never."

Oh okay, one more:

"Is that your way of saying you've been a judgmental prick?" she asked. "Gosh, I hope so. Say sorry next. You can do it."
"Piss Off."
"There he is."

It just made me smile throughout.

Eve and Jacob seem so totally different at first, but as they get to know each other, it becomes clear that they're more alike than they (and we) first thought. The supporting characters are great too, particularly Mont and the twins, and you can't help but wonder, given that there are no Brown sisters left now, that Talia Hibbert might revisit these guys for future books.

There are some parts of the book that are....steamy, so if you're not too keen on that in your romance books, then be warned. Though if you've read the previous books in the series you should be familiar with what you're likely to get.

Overall, this was really lovely, with witty banter and great characters so if you're looking for a contemporary romance with a big dash of humour, this is for you.

Though at first I worried it would be my least favourite of The Brown Sisters series, , Eve Brown quickly lived up to the expectations set up by her older sisters. And if it wasn’t Eve herself, it was definitely the chemistry between her and Jacob.

I adore the no-nonsense writing of Talia Hibbert. She manages to portray people in relationships without unnecessary or unrealistic drama. The set up for a romcom can be predictable but where other authors waste time setting up unrealistic scenarios, Hibbert thoughtfully crafts the world where misunderstandings and surprises are a natural part of narrative - not a convenient plot to fit the romance form. I also really appreciated the tone in which the topic of characters on autistic spectrum was approached - from referencing reliable resources to the way the characters discussed it in a book.

On top of it all, there is something comforting and familiar about reading a book series. Particularly where we follow the sisters who always have each other’s backs. Talia Hibbert is an excellent writer that created funny, independent and realistic characters. While I’m sad to have concluded my Brown Sisters journey, I think it’s a timeless series I’d happily re-read.

Unfortunately I cannot connect to this book at all.

As a fantasy reader I have read some pretty unrealistic things and I've been okay with them but out of these 3 books in the series, this one has the worst beginning, the most unbelievable and unrealistic setting and even if it's talking about something serious and important, I can't stand the characters to actually get to the point of the story. I know there will be development further on in the story but judging from the first two books and how silly their conflicts before the end of the books were, I honestly don't see a point in continuing, unfortunately.

I'm rating this 3 stars however because I didn't finish the book but am required to rate it anyway.

I am gutted this is the last Brown sister in the trilogy I wish there were more. Fingers crossed there will be more to come from Talia Hibbert!!

Act your age Eve Brown is centred around the youngest Brown sister, if you are picking up this book first then I suggest you stop and go back and read "get a life" Chloe Brown then "take the hint" Dani Brown then and only then start this one. So Eve has been living off her rich family and has gone from one business to another and so on. Her parents have had enough of her and tell her fo find a job and find somewhere to live. If she does only after a year will her parents re instate her 'allowance'. Eve stumbles across a b&b with a vacancy and a hot but annoying boss. The rest is hilarious!

Eve is such a loveable character, I would say out of all the sisters she us my favourite she is one hot mess!! But it's clear as the book progresses that maybe Eve has an undiagnosed disorder, which helps explain her behaviour to the reader.
Her inner thoughts are so funny and her general personality is so funny I can't even explain how much I laughed and cried with laughter tears! Plus the general way that she speaks to others is so cut throat and blunt and I just love that about her!

I felt so invested in her almost coming of anger journey and I wanted her to learn more about herself through her new ventures. Unlike the first two books we font spend much time with her and her sisters but they are mentioned (hence why I recommend starting from book 1). It's great to watch her grow throughout the story.

Then we have Jacob the B&B owner he like Eve is super blunt however he is aware that he is ob the spectrum and knows his disorder. Yet he doesn't care he is who he is and that's what I love about him. Now I thought Eve was funny then I met Jacob and he has to be one of the funniest characters I have ever had the pleasure to read. His inner voice is so funny and I couldn't stop laughing! I love that both he and Eve although blunt both still use a filter. But the two of them ofcourse have a spark which makes the story even better.

I am not one for over the top romance and that's why I love the way Talia writes because it's believable romance with every day hung outs that regular people have. Plus the comedy side makes it even better. This would make a great film!

I highly recommend this series! It's so good! Eve is a loveable adorable and believable character and you will find yourself rooting for her. Plus chuck Jacob in the mix you have yourself a fantastic, witty well written novel. If you love a good romcom look no further and if like me you've followed the series you won't be disappointed! Easy 5 stars 🌟

Thank you to netgalley, piaktus publishers and Talia Hibbert for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

'Act Your Age Eve Brown' is the third book in the Brown sisters series, following Eve Brown who is told by her parents that she must get a job and 'grow up'. She then meets Jacob Wayne, who owns a B&B and hits him with her car (by accident) which leads to her helping him run the B&B and living in his spare bedroom.

I loved 'Act Your Age Eve Brown' so much and I already want to reread it!! Everything about this book was pure perfection. I love Eve so much, she is one of my favourite characters of all time and I just want to be friends with her. The chemistry between Eve and Jacob was everything and I loved seeing them fall for each other. They had so much chemistry as soon as they met and the sex scenes were excellent. Everything about this book reminded me of how much I love the romance genre.

There are not enough words to describe how amazing this book is but if you love romance or any of the other books in this series, then you should definitely check this one out as it is the perfect conclusion to the Brown sister series.

I am so sad that this series is over and I have to say goodbye to Chloe, Dani, Eve, Red, Zaf and Jacob but I can't wait to reread this series all over again and I can't wait to read all of Talia Hibbert's books in the future because I have loved every single book I have read of hers.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The third Brown sisters’ book is HERE!! An exciting day for all the romance lovers on booksta. I’m not even a romance reader but I have loved and binge read all 3 of these books.
Even Brown is a hot mess, and no matter how hard she tries to do right, everything always seems to go horribly wrong. After many failed attempts at starting a career, she tries to grow up and prove to herself that she can do it. John Wayne is always in control, and is one of those super organised people who runs a B&B. After a disastrous interview which ended with Eve accidentally hitting him with her car, she somehow gets a job as the chef there. Obviously, this is a romance so you can see where the story goes – but its so exciting seeing their relationship change from enemies and complete opposites so something that is adorable.
As always with these books the diversity and disability representation is fab! Both protagonists in this are autistic and Talia definitely put a lot of thought into this aspect of the book. I did laugh out loud several times – and smile like an idiot at the happy ending. This book was entertaining, heart warming and such a feel-good read. I love how relatable these books are (and realistic), and I definitely see a lot of myself in Eve.
As a couple they compliment each other so well, and balance each other out. Urm also the Steamy scene in this was on another level compared to the other two books – I WAS NOT READY! It was honestly deligtful read!
I received this as an ARC but HAD to get a physical copy of this!!! Go get this now!!!! (or the first one in the series ‘Get a Life, Chloe Brown’).

This is the third book in the Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert, and it is just as heart-warming and funny as the others. I read the books in quick succession, and although they share very similar structures and the storyline is predictable - the story is enjoyable and the characters loveable. If you're looking for a feel-good romance novel, I would definitely recommend this book!

As a fan of Talia Hibbert and a BIG fan of the other Brown sisters, I had very high hopes for this book, and I must say that they were really and truly met with Act Your Age Eve Brown. Eve Brown is perhaps even my favourite of the sisters.

Act Your Age Eve Brown is a truly hilarious and heartwarming romance (I think a staple style for Hibbert); it follows down on her luck (and self-esteem) Eve Brown and her clash with grumpy hottie B&B manager Jacob Wayne. What ensues is hilariosity, romance but also self-discovery.

I truly enjoy the way Hibbert writes; her characters feel so real and yet so warm and relatable. I think out of the three Brown sisters, Eve was the most relatable and hence why I hold a very dear and special sot spot for this utter legend in my heart. Only the very best of characters get one of those.

(minor spoiler?)
One thing about this books is that I am infinitely curious about the tales of the Montrose's especially those HILARIOUS twins

All in all, a true five out of five. The romance was perfect, as was the banter (as were the steamy scenes).
My only complaint is that I am now gagging to read whatever Talia Hibbert will cook up next!

This book was frickin’ adorable. Hands down my favourite in the series! I really enjoyed the first book featuring the eldest sister but I wasn’t entirely bowled over by the second one (although I did love Zafir), but my gosh this one was just amazing!

I always knew I would love Eve, right from the first time we met her in Chloe Brown and she kept getting her sayings mixed up. She is just such a wonderfully fun character and I was rooting for her right from the start.

The premise of this book is one I think will be relatable to a lot of people out there! Eve is essentially kicked out of her home because she is considered ‘flighty’ by everyone, and her parents get tired of her constant messing up. She is someone who has never been able to hold down a proper job, has started up businesses but then never seen them through. The reasoning behind her lacklustre effort is a very emotional one and I loved the way Hibbert explored Eve’s insecurities through it, slowly revealing why Eve had no enthusiasm towards pursuing any sort of career. Her growth throughout was incredible and you will definitely find yourself wanting her to succeed.

Then we have our hero, Jacob. *sigh* He was so lovely, I actually saw a lot of myself in him in the way he keeps himself closed off to others. He has a lot of pent up insecurities as well, his fear of rejection really affects his behaviour and way of living and I will admit freely that some of his conversations with Eve about his abandonment issues had me tearing up. As soon as Eve entered his life, with her brand of chaos and kindness, it becomes very easy and clear to see why he’d decide to give love another chance and fall for her.

Hibbert’s ability to balance the romance and the character growth always amazes me. These two have some absolutely flaming hot chemistry and the way they interact is hilarious, but they also both continuously support one another and that is what ultimately made me fall for them as a couple.

This is a book that will have you laughing one moment, and then crying the next, all within the same chapter. It’s a serious talent and one of the main reasons I will keep coming back for more. I cannot wait until Hibbert releases a new series and I am so sad that this will be my last foray with the Brown sisters! (Well, until I reread them in the future haha).

A fantastic end to one of the best romantic comedy series out there, this book is at times hilarious, at others deeply moving, and one that will have you rooting for this fierce, independent yet flawed heroine to get her fierce, independent, equally flawed hero!

It’s official, I’m joining the Talia Hibbert bandwagon! Or at least the Eve Brown bandwagon.

Eve has been cut off by her parents and told to find a job and, essentially, grow up. After (literally) stumbling into a chef interview she meets Jacob, her complete opposite. Immediately clashing, they get off on the wrong foot. But after Eve (accidentally) runs him over, she stays to help him run his B&B.

Originally I was unsure if I wanted to pick this up because I was underwhelmed with the previous books in this series but the glimpses of Eve we’ve already seen and the sneak peak I got at the end of Dani Brown made me desperate for her full story. This is easily the best book of the series. Both these characters are super adorable and just so hilariously charming.

We have a grumpy hero & sunshine heroine, sort of opposites attract but the growth of these two overcoming their assumptions about each just did all the things for me. They had hilarious banter, and really bounced off each other perfectly. Since they’re working together, we also get a lot of forced proximity (which is just a personal favourite).

Did I wish the final misunderstanding hadn’t been so needlessly dramatic? Yes. Did I think the reconciliation was needlessly cheesy? Yes. But I loved these characters so much by that point, that I was just so proud of both of them and how they got there in the end.

**Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.**

*I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both the NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK!

I absolutely loved the previous two books (Get A Life, Chloe Brown and Take A Hint, Dani Brown) in The Brown Sisters series and Act Your Age, Eve Brown didn't disappoint. This was such a wonderful and delightful book!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown follows the youngest Brown sister, Eve, who seeks to prove how grown up she can be by getting and keeping a job without her family's help at the instance of her worried parents. Enter Jacob Wayne, a B&B owner who is contacting interviews for an open chef position that Eve stumbles across in her quest to find stable employment. After an interview, Eve accidentally mows Jacob down with her car! In order to atone for the accident - and for the injuries she caused - Eve agrees to help Jacob run his B&B while he recovers.

This was such a cute and fun romance, with a character dynamic that I absolutely adored. Eve is a chaotic character, loud and boisterous, whilst Jacob is orderly, calm and grumpy. It was such a fun dynamic and these characters really balanced each other out well. It really was a well-developed 'opposites attract' romance. It was sexy at times too!

Like with the other books in the series, I always feel like the author does such a good job at representation and diversity in their books. There is (own voices) autism representation with both of the main protagonists. Autism, as well as mental-health, abandonment issues and identity are all explored in a way that is both touching, educational and comprehensible. These characters and their struggles never once felt tokenistic or like a caricature.

I'm honestly so sad that this is the conclusion of The Brown Sisters trilogy! This was such a lovely book and the entire series has been so enjoyable. I really look forward to exploring more of the author's past works and seeing what they release in the future!

"It's fast, and it's ridiculous, but it's true. It's you."

Thank you to Piatkus and Little, Brown for sending me this ARC in exchange for review. Any quotes used may not be representative of the final edition.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the final instalment of the Brown Sisters trilogy, and it was truly everything I could have asked for. I read Take A Hint, Dani Brown last summer and fell in love with Talia Hibbert and her romance writing, and so this was definitely on my radar going into 2021. It's a wonderful tale of Eve and Jacob, two people who are in equal measures incredibly opposite, and incredibly similar.

Eve was such a fun character, and I fell in love with her immediately. At the beginning of the book, her parents force her to finally take charge of her life and settle down into one career, after spending her days flitting from one business idea to another, never quite finding where she fits in. I found her to be very relatable in this aspect, as it's so common a feeling to feel so lost and unsure of the future. Her sense of humour was one of my favourite things about Eve in this book, I think she is such a universally likeable character, with such charm that it's impossible to not want the best for her. Jacob was also a fantastic character and love interest for Eve. He is the owner of a B&B in the Lake District, struggling to find a new chef under his strict requirements for the type of person he's looking for. Jacob is autistic (as is Eve), and I think the representation in this book was really well done. It felt realistic and respectful, and it wasn't made to feel like autism is a flaw in either of the characters, which I really appreciated.

Jacob's relationship with Eve was so much fun, and I found myself laughing out loud countless times (I'm looking at you, M'Baku) reading their interactions with one another. They are so different in their personalities, particularly at the start of the book, and watching them clash and have little spats was just a lot of fun. Their feud has this childish, playground feel to it, kind of like two schoolchildren acting out towards each other because they have a crush they won't admit to. It felt kind of pure and sweet in this regard, and it made me root for them from the very beginning. As they come to spend time with one another, their relationship develops so organically, that it doesn't feel rushed or too fast despite them only knowing each other for a fairly short amount of time. Because they already have this chemistry, it feels like they've been together for years, which I think is a testament to Hibbert's ability to write such good romances. I think Eve and Jacob are one of my favourite couples I've read about in a long time. The balance of their little arguments, their inside jokes, the sexual chemistry, and wholesome bonding moments was just perfect, and their relationship felt really well-rounded.

The setting of the book also did a lot for me. Being set in a remote area like the Lake District made it feel so cosy and warm, it was really my perfect setting for a book I know will become a comfort book for me. One of the main plotlines of the book is the upcoming gingerbread festival. Yes, you read that correctly, a gingerbread festival. I challenge you to tell me with complete honesty that that doesn't sound like the purest, most old fashioned, classically English thing you've ever heard. The book just has this wholesome feel to it that I just loved, and would highly recommend for a comforting read.

I don't really know what else to say, other than reiterating that this book is one of the best romances I've read in a long time. I read it so quickly and was so sad to see it end, I cannot recommend it enough. If you're looking for something that is guaranteed to give you the most wholesome, warm feelings, but also make you laugh out loud, this is honestly the perfect book.

Like with all the books in this series, Talia opens up with a content warning which I’m always so pleased to see. She then shares with us a playlist of songs which make an appearance throughout the story and I loved this little added extra!

The story begins with Eve discussing her preference for journalling as opposed to a dated diary, due to it’s carefree and wild nature. I totally agree, but also this scene nailed Eve and her personality down to a tee. Eve is the sunshine character personified. She wears slogan tees, reads Captain America fanfiction, throws caution to the wind, is loud, boisterous and pure chaos. And she’s plus size which we LOVE to see.

"She was smiling at him, which Jacob found infinitely suspicious."

Having been unable to find a career or passion she truly loves and thrives in, and being somewhat spoiled by her family, her parents resort to an ultimatum: stick in a steady job for one year, and we’ll reinstate your trust fund. Thrown by this sudden chance in circumstance, she hops in her car, drives to a small village and comes across a job advert for a chef’s position at a local B&B. Where she meets… Jacob.

Where Eve is like a storm in a teacup, Jacob is cool and controlled, regimented in his routine, weighing up the pros and cons of each situation. He comes across Eve for the first time when she turns up unannounced for a job interview at his B&B. Utterly thrown by her carefree manner and growing increasingly frustrated and flustered, the two have a not so fortunate first impression of one another. And what could make matters worse? Oh perhaps just that Eve proceeds to run Jacob over.

"Because the moment Jacob left the safety of the pavement, the car’s lights flicked on, and the car itself jerked backward. Directly into him. Hard. Trust Eve fxxxing Brown."

With Jacob’s arm in a cast he desperately needs help at the B&B, not just with the day to day runnings but also the upcoming Gingerbread Festival. So, Eve takes on a full time position and moves into the B&B shortly after their meet-cute.

From day one, I absolutely loved Eve and Jacob’s relationship. Despite how easily they got under one another’s skin, with lots of witty and sly quips from both parties, this truly was the perfect opposites attract romance. Within a number of days the two fell into a routine, Jacob becoming increasingly flustered and disarmed around Eve, while she found a sort of stability and peace. And their undeniable attraction to each other really just pissed them off more.

For two such confident and powerful people, they really do turn into fumbling messes around each other and it was SO CUTE. One of my favourite romance tropes is the calm and collected character being thrown by the most mundane of actions from the love interest, in this case closing something with a bop of her hip.

“You,” he croaked, squeezing his eyes shut. This—woman—this lilac and orange—female—this—destroyer of fxxxing worlds."

Now as much as this was cute, ohhhhhh boy was it also hot. The smutty scenes in this book were absolutely 10/10. As with all of the books in this series, the sex scenes don’t take over the plot and there are only a handful scattered throughout, but wow the ones that are there? *fans self* This was a super sex positive read as they explored a healthy sexual relationship, and I loved seeing Jacob, usually so put together, absolutely fall apart with Eve in this way. It was HOT. I am a simp for Jacob Wayne basically, no further comment at this time.

I loved that even with they started to develop a romantic relationship, the banter and the back and forth didn’t stop. Although this book only spanned a short while, the character development, both alone and as a couple, was so well done it felt like they could have known each other for months.

"Eve smiled, a real smile—the bright, sunshine one that lit up entire rooms, possibly entire worlds. He felt a bit dazed. As a concussed man who’d only just woken up, it probably wasn’t safe for him to be exposed to such things."

Both characters are canonically autistic too, which is own voices representation, and while I can’t comment on the accuracy it seems to be handled really well and not something just included as a plot device. The characters talk about their different experiences, with Eve only having a recent diagnosis, and I was so pleased to see the mutual understanding between the two. Eve recognised what was important to Jacob and she respected that, it eventually becoming important to her too. It was the same with Jacob; he might approach things in a completely different manner than Eve but he never belittled her for this.

While the setting of this book is relatively low key, with the majority of the story being set within the B&B, it never felt dull or restricted. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments which if you’ve read any of Talia’s other books you know she delivers with huge success, including the duck pond scene. Featuring a classic rom-com trope and the sarcastic banter that only Eve and Jacob can provide, it was impeccable.

“Fxxx . . . off . . . awful woman.” She laughed. She laughed. For God’s sake, Jacob was going to push her out of a bloody window."

Our fave Brown sisters and their partners return for this book and I was so happy to have a glimpse into their lives and how things have changed since their own books. I miss them so much already and I think I’m definitely overdue a re-read of Chloe Brown! Eve’s parents, her pansexual grandmother and her gran’s partner also make an appearance and I just love their whole dynamic. We’re also introduced to Jacob’s best friend Mont and his two sisters, who I believe will be featured in Talia’s next planned series!

Personally I love a happy ever after, and Talia always delivers them with perfection. We have another huge romantic gesture between Eve and Jacob but as usual it didn’t feel cheesy or over-exaggerated, it just felt right for the characters. I really did love how the pair apologised to each other for any hurt they may have caused and I felt this conversation was so powerful and important to the plot and the character development.

"His lips tilted at the corner into something that was almost—a smile. A smile like slow-dripping honey beneath the summer sun. She faltered, a little bit stunned. Jacob made ice look good, but apparently, he made warmth look even better. Oh dear."

Act your Age, Eve Brown* was a perfect contemporary romance for me. It was diverse, featured two independently strong and interesting characters with sizzling chemistry, super steamy sex offset with tender moments, laugh out loud scenes and a sex positive and believable relationship. This book was the piece of escapism I needed with absolutely NO MENTION of any pandemic at all. If that doesn’t encourage you to read it, then I don’t know what will.

Eve Brown is walking chaos. There's no other way to describe her. But she’s determined to grow up and prove herself. She’s determined to feel like she’s good at something. And she’s determined to get a job at a small B&B in the Lake District. With bright purple braids and an air of anarchy, Eve sets out on a voyage of growth and self-discovery, even if it means working for the very frosty Jacob Wayne.

Talia Hibbert’s writing is truly a source of joy. And her comedic timing shines in Act Your Age, Eve Brown. While I found Chloe’s story to be the most moving, Dani’s to have the most personality, Eve’s story has the most hilarity. Through this trilogy, Hibbert had given the third Brown sister her own voice of independence and poise, even if she is literally a tornado of a woman.

The dynamic between Eve and Jacob is brilliantly playful from the beginning. However, I went into this book thinking it would have some real enemies-to-lovers magic, but that element was lacking for me. Eve and Jacob didn’t hate each other enough to be nemeses as the premise suggests, they just have different personalities. Still, as they have opposing dispositions, there’s lots of room for humour and entertainment in their mishaps and conversations. The back-and-forth between the two is full of wit and dry comedy which adds to the slow-burning tension building through each chapter.

There is autism representation through the character of Jacob, although I can’t personally speak on how accurate it is. Still, he’s never portrayed as a caricature or tool for amusement, which I really like. His personality also compliments Eve’s very well, showing that opposites can attract, match, and bloom. ASD in both men and women, as well as mental health, abandonment and identity are all explored in a way that is both moving and comprehensible.

The Lakes was the perfect backdrop to this book. It wonderfully contrasts with Eve and her bright purple braids, and it also gives the story a small town feel. The romance was on occasion too steamy for me, but that didn’t stop the read being a dreamy escape. I also love the book’s focus on self-confidence and perfection. Eve is constantly learning to turn in herself and her talents, and her development alongside Jacob makes for an inspiring and refreshing journey.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown may still be my favourite of the three, but The Brown Sisters series on the whole is superbly charming. Hibbert knows how to craft modern love stories with interesting and diverse characters, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC for review!

i LOVED this one so much, i think my favourite of all three brown sister books. i did not want it, or this series, to end. i read this book in a couple of stretches in one day, and got absolutely lost in the dreamy world of skybriar and the saccharine sweet sort-of enemies-to-lovers relationship that jacob and eve had!

talia's characters are always so well-developed, which isn't necessarily a given in romance books. each sister has their own voice, and i love that we get to see the male perspective in these books as well. every book in this series has been laugh out loud funny, with well timed quips and sarcasm that never feel overwhelming or like they're trying too hard!

i thought, as was the case with chloe's book, that the disability rep in this was so well handled. i'm not on the spectrum, so i can't really comment on the portrayal, but to someone who maybe didn't understand a lot about the autistic spectrum before, this book does a really good job of explaining it in a thoughtful way. jacob and eve were never treated as caricatures for their perceived differences, and whilst it was a big part of the story it was never a blocker or treated as unmanageable in their relationship. i think where talia hibbert particularly excels is in writing such inclusive characters, with an obvious breadth of research, and not making any of it feel tokenistic or like a parody. i like that this book explored autism from two angles to show that hey, not everybody on the autistic spectrum will look and act the same.

this book was sweet, funny, educational and just the right amount of steamy to not be toooo overwhelming!! i devoured it and i'm so sad to see this wonderful romance series come to an end - but so excited to see what talia puts out next!

I have really enjoyed this trilogy and this latest instalment was no exception. It follows Eve Brown, the youngest of the three sisters. This book, like the others, has great representation throughout and this one was a really fun and cute read. I personally think the first book is by far the best but have had great fun reading them all and would certainly recommend them.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.