Review: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

[This is an adult novel]

CW: anxiety, depression, death of a loved one and sex scenes.

A new Brown sister has taken the stage in this new novel. This time we follow the witty Danika Brown. Younger sister to Chloe Brown (who was the main character in "Get a Life, Chloe Brown"). She is completely done with romantic relationships. They haven't worked out in the past and they won't work out in the future. So instead, she decides to wish for a friend-with-benefit who won't fall in love with her.

When she gets trapped inside an elevator, during a fire drill, she is rescued by security guard, Zafir Ansari. Her rescue was filmed and shared through Social Media with the hashtag #DrRugbae. After the two realise they have become a viral sensation, they decide to roll with it. Zaf's sports charity for kids gains exposure because of this.

However a fake relationship is harder than Dani expected. Was this new friend-with-benefit to good to be true?

This was a buddy read with @plantednbooks, @thepaperbackbruncher, @imreading_lala, @ruisreading, @bluescapebooks, @joleemichele, @jackieandherbooks, @introtoeclecticism, and @readingwithnani.

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ (4)

“Perhaps they were best friends. How cute.”

This was my first adult novel and I was a little hesitant to read it at first. Even though there was (and is) so much buzz around the Brown sisters books. English is not my first language and I often wonder if my vocabulary is broad enough to understand adult novels.

When a group of friends wanted to do a big buddy read and read this book, I got very excited! It was my chance to step out of my comfort zone that is YA and try out an adult book.

I'm glad I did.

“There she is, the one who puts the moon to shame.”

Take a Hint, Dani Brown did not disappoint! Talia Hibbert is a comedic genius in my eyes. She has made me laugh - no, snort - so much.

You see a lot of stories about a man being less romantic than a woman, so it's nice to see it the other way around! Zaf and Dani are an iconic duo and you can't tell me otherwise

The fake dating trope is a popular one. A lot of books incorporate this trope. That makes it harder to write an original story. But Hibbert managed to keep it fresh (and funny of course).

I haven't read the other Brown sisters books, but I definitely will! If they are half as funny, I'm in for a treat!

“The world wasn’t split into unhappy endings and happily ever afters. There were blessings everywhere and a thousand shades of joy all around him.”

I also really appreciated the discussion of mental health in this book. Especially it being a man with mental health problems. I feel like books don't discuss mental health amongst men enough.

Personally it's also been nice to see how Zaf deals with his anxiety. Everyone deals with it in their own way.

“What are you doing, Danika?” “Being beautiful for my people.”

The relationship between the two is very real. It isn't perfect like they show you in movies. It's chaotic and complicated, but they try to make it work, because "they are just fake dating".

Also, I definitely have a book crush on Zaf and Dani.

I think this was a perfect book to introduce me to adult novels.

“Lucky for Zaf, he was used to shoving unreasonable worries away, so he drop-kicked those ideas into the sun and moved on.”

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