Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert (British)
369 Pages
Publisher: Avon Books on November 5, 2019
Type: Fiction
Genre: Romance
Book 1 of 3 in The Brown Sisters Trilogy
Dates Read: March 11 – March 12, 2022
Main Characters
Chloe Brown – Main Character, struggles with Fibromyalgia
Redford Morgan aka Red – Flat (Apartment) Superintendent
Dani – Middle sister, Ph.D Candidate, shaved head, wears black outfits
Eve – Youngest Sister, the fun one
Gigi – (Not the typicaly) Grandmother
I picked up this book on a whim. I was in Barnes & Noble looking for a puzzle book (got to keep the brain sharp). After having walked around the store at least 3 times looking for the book, I ended up in the Romance section. This is a section I usually ignore as I’m not big on romance novels. I prefer cozy mysteries. As I’m mozying through the section, there’s a table with some romance novels highlighted on it. I circle the table and say no thanks and keep moving. After finding the puzzle books I wanted, I headed back to the romance section. It kept calling my name for some reason. I headed back over to the table, read the summary of a few books, and decided to pick up a couple (four), one of them being Get A Life, Chloe Brown.
A few days later, I started reading the book to my surprise, I couldn’t put it down. It was that good and dare I say, it was cute. I read the book in less than 24 hours. It’s been a long time since I read a book like that.
Summary
The book starts off on a Tuesday morning, which as Chloe says, is the most cursed day of the week for her. She is walking and is nearly killed by a speeding Range Rover driven by a drunk driver. I guess she was right about the cursed day. After surviving the near-death experience and reliving her life in her mind, Chloe decides to “get a life”, hence the title. To help her complete this feat, she creates a list.
1. Move out (check)
2. Enjoy a drunken night out
3. Ride a motorbike (motorcycle to us in the states)
4. Go camping
5. Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex
6. Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage
7. Do something bad (check)
Chloe completed the first item with ease. In doing so, we meet Redford Morgan, the flat’s sexy, red-haired tattooed creative superintendent. Chloe and Red cannot stand each other. Chloe thinks Red is a pain and Red thinks Chloe is a snobby rich girl. Their forces collide when Red help rescue Chloe from a tree. Upon saving her, they make a deal. Red will help her with her Life list and Chloe will help him with his webpage.
As the story progresses, we learn more about why these two have not only given up on love but also why they stereotyped each other the way they did; Red, because of his rich, snotty ex Pippa, who treated him horribly, and was quite abusive. Chloe distrusted people because of her fibromyalgia, which everyone outside of her family thought she was faking. Together they tackle the list and the website in comical fashion, while also navigating their undeniable feelings for one another.
My Review
I personally enjoyed this book. I typically have a rough time getting through contemporary romance novels because the characters seem forced and the writing seems mechanical, like they are just going through the motions. This book was so much better. I devoured it. It took me on a love journey. We really got to know the characters and as such I felt what they felt. They were developed so well, that I (the reader) was poised to understand why they were the way they were. I loved how quirky Chloe was especially with her idiosyncrasies. It felt like Talia wrote a bit of herself in Chloe. Hell, I saw a bit of myself in her. Red was quiet likable and geniunely nice, but there was a time or two where you had to roll your eyes at his thoughts and wring his neck for the stupid things he did.
The plot/theme was not original by any means. I mean a romance novel where frenemies become a couple isn’t new (just watch Hallmark Channel), but the way Talia writes this hilarious romantic comedy, one almost wishes Red and Chloe stayed friendly enemies because the chemistry is just that good! They bring out the best in each other and are each other’s person. I even love the nickname Red gave to Chloe. It was evidenced when Red said “I can cook and right now you can’t. So I’m doing it for you because that’s how people should behave; they should fill in each other’s gaps.” Damn. This made my heart sing and made me realize I need a man just like him. Red is “chef’s kiss”. Have I mentioned how much I love him?
Of course, this book has to break your heart so that it can repair it and give us the ending we want, which was, of course, Red and Chloe in each other’s arms navigating their future. This book showed us two people who not only learned to love who they were by themselves but also when they were with each other.
I think this is a great book, especially for people who are trying to get into the romance genre. It’s not the typical gushy romance book (aka read that as trashy romance novel). This novel made me laugh, made me tear up, and made me love the author. Now a few noteworthy memos, there are a few sections of the book that are a bit raunchy so be aware. These sections are not for kids. It also touches on abusive relationships and living with chronic pain, both of which the author touches on in her author’s note. So just be aware.
Rating
Favorite Quotes
“Where is your patience?” “Same place I left my shame”
“Sweet?! Clearly, you barely know him.” “Which is why I’m not yet pregnant with his babies. What’s your excuse.”
“I can cook and right now you can’t. So I’m doing it for you because that’s how people should behave; they should fill in each other’s gaps.”
“Don’t mumble, darling. Nice big voice. Repeat after me: “I want to ride you like a stallion.”
“Your lights were on. My lights were on. Do you know how windows work?”
Links
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Life-Chloe-Brown-Novel-ebook/dp/B07KWHP3CG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=get+a+life+chloe+brown+book&qid=1654705676&sprefix=get+a+life%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/get-a-life-chloe-brown-talia-hibbert/1129941473?ean=9780062941206
You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.
-Dr. Seuss