Get a Life, Chloe Brown: A Novel (The Brown Sisters, 1)

I don’t read a lot of romantic comedies, or just romance books in general. I’m trying to change that because these books always tend to be easy to read and, usually, enjoyable. “Get a Life Chloe Brown” blew every mild expectation I had for this genre out of the water. Take a gorgeously big and lush heroine with a chronic illness and pair her with an artist who has lost part of his art coming out of an abusive situation, and what you are left with is an unapologetically sweet, tender, and swoony romance story of two people who genuinely want to take care of the other. The sarcastic voice and narration of this book had me laughing as much as it had me smiling at all those “aww” moments. And don’t get me started on how much I enjoyed Chloe’s conversations with the cat! I really cannot say enough good things about this book quite honestly, but I’m going to try.I think one of the things I loved most about Chloe, and the author’s portrayal of her, was that the character never questioned why anyone found her attractive. As a bigger girl myself, this is something I struggle with, and the fact that Chloe never questioned Red’s attraction, that she simply accepted it, was beautiful and so incredibly special to me. It was really refreshing to have a bigger character not be self-conscious about their appearance, or have other characters question it, either. All things considered, this was a rather small element of the story and the character, but it was still something I really appreciated, so I thought it was worth sharing.But back to the story: I thought Hibbert did a wonderful job setting up her characters quickly and in such a way that within two chapters I already felt like I knew them heart and soul. Each was distinct, and Chloe’s sisters and Red’s mom are just as vibrant as Chloe and Red themselves. This is my first introduction to this author’s work, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the sarcastic voice and just the sheer fun these characters have when teasing each other… You can tell that the author had a wonderful time writing this story, as that joy bleeds through onto the page. The way the author, and therefore her characters, handle mental and physical health and past traumas was done incredibly well. Neither character is out to fix the other like some home improvement project; they each are fine alone, but recognize they can be better together and I love LOVE to see that. Also, can we talk about the character banter in this book? Because it was perfection. That is all.I liked this book almost from the moment I picked it up, and that didn’t change as I got deeper into the story. I loved this book more and more with each chapter! The only thing I didn’t like is more of a personal taste, and that’s using certain words during sex… You know the ones! I’m just not a fan of dirty talk in general, but that didn’t even really take away from the build up to those sexy scenes, so it turned out fine in the end, but if you’re like me and get a little cringy with that language, be forewarned. But after reading this book, I immediately got the next in the series even though Chloe and Red aren’t the focus, but Chloe’s sister Dani instead. I loved this author’s writing and these sisters that much! How can I not with the ultra-satisfying ending that Hibbert gave us in this super fun romance? Which is why this easily gets 5 stars from me, and I can’t wait to read more about the Brown sisters!

The storyChloe is walking down the road one day when a drunk driver nearly takes her out. As her life flashes before her eyes, she realises how boring her life is and makes a list to fix this. Moving out is the first step, but living life with chronic pain is an ongoing challenge. When Chloe meets Red, the kind building superintendent, the sparks fly, but she still ends up asking him to help her with her list.My thoughtsI have had this book on my TBR list for ages, and finally got around to reading it. I loved how it opened my eyes to living with chronic pain, covered the choices we make in life to be brave in life and love, and not to make assumptions about others. Red’s thoughts make this story special. I love how amazed he is by Chloe, without her even realising how he feels about her. My favourite is when he realises he just wants to make her happy ❤️ It’s beautiful.

This has some really nice, lyrical writing, lovely characters, and some spicy scenes as well. I will admit I kind of skimmed the very last part- tired of the cliché misunderstanding/break up/get back together thing.I will definitely read more of Talia’s books, though I have to be in the right mood for this sort of sweet+spicy combo.

Definitely loved this book! I’ve read the second as well so far and now I’m about to by the third. Love this author!!

A fun story of love, self awareness and determination and ultimately preservance. Made me laugh out load at times. Enjoyable read!

Absolutely amazing read! Love Talia Hibbert. The way she brings Chloe & Red to life is fantastic. Beautifully written, very very real. As a fibro patient, it felt I was living vicariously through Chloe. The trilogy is just superb.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown was an absolute delight and everything I look for in a contemporary romance.Chloe Brown is ready to finally get a life after almost dying and realizing how boring her life is. Being chronically ill might mean she has to take things slower, but she’s not going to let it stop her from completing the seven items on her “Get a Life” list. But in order to complete her list, she’s going to need help and she knows just the man to help her. Redford ‘Red’ Morgan, the superintendent of her building, rides a motorcycle, is covered in tattoos, and is sexier than sin. But as Chloe and Red work on her list, Chloe learns there’s more to Red than meets the eye and she finds herself falling for the man beneath his rough exterior.Chloe is chronically ill and it definitely takes a toll in a variety of ways although Chloe has found ways to cope with most of it. I liked how Chloe knew her own limits and wasn’t afraid to communicate them. Her experience with people dropping her because of her illnesses was devastating and it definitely helped show why she reacted to situations the way she did. As a whole, Chloe’s family is incredibly supportive and I loved how much they were all there for Chloe when she needed them. Her sisters, Dani and Eve, in particular are fantastic characters and I loved Chloe’s relationship with them.Red is simply one of the sweetest men in existence and I loved him wholeheartedly. Red was previously in a relationship with a wealthy society girl that was abusive and ended badly. His ex whittled down his self esteem and made him feel like he wasn’t good enough for anyone. When we meet Red he’s definitely struggling and his art is affected as a result of the situation which only compounded his issues. It was hard reading how much Red was still affected by what happened to him and I definitely think the author nailed things when it comes to his character.Chloe and Red’s relationship starts out antagonistic, but once they move past that, their relationship is wonderful with tons of banter and great chemistry. Their physical chemistry is amazing and there are some incredibly sexy scenes between the two. Red is understanding of Chloe’s illnesses and he never questions that she knows what she’s doing when it comes to handling them. I appreciated that he trusted her judgement and didn’t try to interject with his own opinions. I think my favorite thing about their relationship was how willing they were to admit when they’re wrong. Any time either of them screwed up, they apologized and they actually meant it. It was nice to see the pair take responsibility for how they messed up and working towards making sure it didn’t happen in the future.The idea of Chloe’s ‘Get a Life’ list was very interesting and I was definitely curious to see how checking off some of the boxes would play out. I liked that the list evolved and how Chloe didn’t force herself to stick to specific tasks if she found herself not enjoying them. The scenes of Chloe and Red working through the list were a lot of fun and I loved their journey to complete it.Overall I loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown and I’m looking forward to reading Take a Hint, Dani Brown when it releases this summer. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantastic contemporary romance.

Romance is a genre I’m continuing to explore and continuing to enjoy, so when I saw Get a Life, Chloe Brown everywhere last year I knew it was only a matter of time before I got to it. Not only because Talia Hibbert is a Black author and, when I look at the romance genre, I tend to find myself gravitating towards the work of a lot of authors who look like me and I want to avoid only reading voices like mine, but because in Chloe Brown we have a heroine who isn’t slim and I am here for some chubby rep in romance.Chloe lives with fibromyalgia, which means her life thus far has been very safe just to stop herself from living in agony. Her situation hasn’t been helped by ex-friends and an ex-partner who distanced themselves from her when she began to live with chronic pain, meaning her closest friends now are her two younger sisters, Dani and Eve.After she’s almost hit by a car her life flashes before her eyes—and she realises just how boring it seems. So Chloe writes her ‘Get a Life’ list, which includes moving out of the family home, only to end up roping the cute superintendent of her block of flats, Red, into her plans.The biggest surprise for me when I opened this book is that it’s set in the UK! I genuinely thought this was an American story – though if I’d taken a moment to look at Talia Hibbert’s bio I would have realised she’s British herself – and it was such a pleasant surprise to see British colloquialisms in a contemporary romance novel. Even more pleasant? It’s not set in London. What a breath of fresh air.Hibbert’s writing is so easy and enjoyable. This book was exactly what I needed when I picked it up, in fact these days I often find myself turning to the romance genre when I feel a little down, and if you can feel yourself edging towards a slump I’d recommend giving this book a try. Not only is it very cute, while also touching on some more serious issues, but by introducing us to Chloe’s sisters we know there are at least two more romances from this family to come, and I’m definitely interested in checking them out.It’s refreshing to see a heroine with chronic pain at the centre of a romance novel, and also refreshing to see a hero who has been in an abusive relationship in the past; when we talk about domestic abuse we often, understandably, focus on the abuse that women suffer, but while it’s something that doesn’t happen to men as often, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen at all. I really appreciate the way Hibbert normalised everything. Domestic abuse towards anyone is never something we should consider ‘normal’, of course, but I respected that Hibbert included a man with an abusive past relationship who was never judged by any of the other characters for being the victim, because the fault lies with his ex-partner—as it rightly should.Once Chloe and Red get over their initial dislike of each other, their romance is very sweet. I loved having a plus size character in Chloe who’s size is never the focus at all – her being self-conscious or people judging her for her size literally never come up, so, again, I loved that Hibbert normalised how plus size people can also be sexy and desirable – and how thoughtful Red is in regards to her chronic pain, without ever patronising her, is just plain lovely.For me, though, they were declaring their love for each other a little too quickly. Maybe it’s not what readers want on the whole, but I’d love to see more romance novels ending with people starting an exciting new relationship without the need for them to declare their undying love for each other. Having said that, I did love that Hibbert made a point of both Chloe and Red acknowledging that of course they could survive without each other—they just don’t want to. Some couples in romance books can seem unhealthily dependent on each other, so I loved that that wasn’t the case here.Get a Life, Chloe Brown is a cute, quick contemporary romance that’s definitely worth your time – especially if you’re in need of a pick-me-up – and I’m looking forward to trying more of Hibbert’s work!

This book made me laugh and cry for lots of different reasons the main female character has a chronic illness the same as I myself have and to read such a warm funny and honest story of fear and love was just beautiful for me the fact that she was disabled but was still written as a vital and sexual person made my day . The male character was so good for her yes he had his own issues but he accepted Chloe fully once he got to know the real her he didn't see her illness as a hindrance he just got on with being with her . I loved there banter and I loved both there families it was funny and poignant and I can't wait for the next book thank you talia hibbert for writing such an amazing story with someone I could really identify with and telling reader what living with fibromyalgia and the issue that being is really like the good and the bad and showing just how vital and real people like myself and others with invisible illnesses are. This book made me feel seen and also filled my heart

Having an illness, no matter what that is, and living with it is hard. Yet, during these hard times you realize who's that someone that truly loves you because they stick by you, no matter what.Chloe had love only from her family. Her friends and even fiance ditched her, as soon as she was diagnosed with chronic pains, which made life miserable, sometimes. But when she almost has an accident, she realizes that she hasn't truly lived, so she sits down and writes a to-do list because life's too short and nothing - not even an illness - should stop you from doing whatever you want.She gets out of her comfort for these, so I applaud her. Granted, it took a bit for me to warm up to Chloe because, at first, she came off a bit b*tchy, but once the author peeled back those layers, as the story evolved, there was no way for me not to warm up to her.Plus, it's enemies-to-lovers and I'm all for it. Because Chloe can't stand Red, Red can't stand Chloe, yet they gradually become friends, then lovers. And let me tell you, this was the type of slow burn I loved. It wasn't dragged out, for the sake of it, so the book could have more word count, but because it was necessary for the characters to fall in love. You don't just fall in love, when you've previously been in an abusive relationship, or when you're left, high and dry, because of something you can't control.The author did an awesome job and I can't wait for the final Brown sister's book. 5 stars.

When Chloe Brown is almost killed by a car when she is innocently walking up the street, the incident acts as a beacon of truth for her - she needs to get a life, and stop watching it pass her by. So Chloe moves into her own place, and immediately riles up the building superintendent Red. However, as the two get to know each other and Red helps Chloe with her list, sparks begin to fly.This was a very enjoyable read, and I loved both the characters of Red and Chloe and finding out about everything they have both been going through and watching them fall in love with each other. One of the major things in this book is the fact that Chloe suffers from fibromyalgia and chronic pain, and some days even moving out of bed is pure exhaustion for her. I have someone very dear to me who has suffered in the same way, and I really liked how Chloe's illness was represented in this book, so I can only imagine how gratifying it would be for someone who also deals with an invisible illness every day.The romance in this was steamy and there was so denying the chemisty. I did think it felt a bit too long before the two actually got down and dirty, and it felt like there was so many chemistry-laden scenes between them before that and as a reader, I felt sexually frustrated on behalf of them both! While I loved Red's story about his abusive relationship (and how important it is to show that women can be abusive too, and men, especially big, strong men like Red, can be emotionally and physically abused just as easily as a woman) and that he struggled with emotional and anxiety issues, the 'break up' between them was a little bit infuriating.Knowing that Chloe's sisters have their own books out now too also made me excited every time they were in a scene as I loved seeing how Talia built these two big women up and I can't wait for their own love stories.There was nothing about this I really disliked it. It was just one of those case where for whatever reason, it just didn't blow me out of the water. But I still really liked it and will continue on!

@Taliahibbert is a new author for us. We were lucky to receive an ARC of ‘Take A Hint, Dani Brown’ which is out next week on the 23rd of June. While these novels can be read as standalones I wanted to read this one first as it’s the first in the series.⁣ ⁣‘Get a life, Chloe Brown’, as the title suggests is all about Chloe Brown taking back control of her own life. Living with a chronic illness has made Chloe a shell of her former self, always worrying that she might fall short of expectations of her peers and friends. She writes a bucket lists of random experiences to help her get back on track, living life to the fullest.⁣ ⁣I had listened to a couple of reviews on booktube about Dani’s book and was expecting to like it but I have to admit I loved it! As always going in to a new author I’m not sure if I’ll take a while to settle into the style or flow but for me with this book it was love at first word. I immediately took to Chloe. She’s a very relatable character and I found it very easy to read her point of view. I was thrilled to discover that the other main character – Red – also narrates throughout – I do enjoy a dual POV.⁣ ⁣I found this to be a real page turner and every so often I’d check to see how much I had left and although I seemed to be flying through the story I was always pleased to see I hadn’t read as much as I’d thought!⁣ ⁣This has everything you could ask for – romance, comedy and a substantial serving of steamy scenes. Alongside all of that the author tackles chronic illness, body positivity and mental health issues.⁣ ⁣I can’t wait to get stuck into the next book!