Book Review: "Get a Life, Chloe Brown" by Talia Hibbert
“Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert
Synopsis:
Rating (out of 5): 4
Trigger warnings: chronic pain
Review: I will totally cop to the fact that this is a book I wouldn’t have picked up but for Book of the Month Club*, and I am surprisingly glad that I did. I thought this was going to be just a run of the mill romance, but the story of Chloe and Red was so much more than that. Chloe Brown is a wealthy English girl with chronic pain (fibromyalgia) trying to stop being scared of everything in her attempt to “get a life,” and Red is the very attractive superintendent in her new building who is broken in his own way. The chapters alternate between their two points of view, which isn’t my favorite literary conceit, but it worked in this instance. I liked getting a peek into each of their minds, and it added a great deal to the story.
This story was a totally predictable love story, on one level: Red and Chloe hate each other, they bicker, they start to work together, and they fall in love, with misunderstandings along the way. On the other level, it’s an incredible character study of two people, learning to get over their personal fears in different ways. I wanted to give both of these folks a big hug and a cuppa tea - just be the friend they need. That, to me, is the heart of this book; these two broken individuals finding what they need in the world: a person to understand them.
Admittedly, I do not have a chronic pain disorder (though I do have much more respect for those who do after reading this book), but I saw a lot of myself in Chloe. Like her, I internalize a lot, I don’t want to have regrets about how I lived my life, but I am also kind of a chicken (both physically and emotionally). It feels appropriate that I’m actually writing this review, sitting in my hotel room in London, on my first solo vacation ever. I underlined a lot of sentences in this book, but one stands out to me a few days later: “It couldn’t be that simple or lovely. It never was, for Chloe.” That’s a mindset we both share, and while she overcomes it in the narrative, I am still working on that in real life. If only everything could be so easily wrapped up with a happy ending?
The auxiliary characters in the book were also great comic relief. I especially loved Chloe’s grandmother and sisters, who made me smile every tie they appeared in the story. Talia Hibbert says that she wants to write stories for those that don’t often see themselves in literature, and I think she accomplishes that here. I love that Chloe isn’t perfect, and I love that Red isn’t either. She’s aiming for “sexy diverse romance,” and to me, she gets it right here.
I read lots on bookstagram about how the love scenes were especially steamy, and yes, they were, but they weren’t as prolific as other people made it sound. If that’s not something you love, they are easily skipped over — in fact, there are only three fairly explicit episodes that I can recall off the top of my head. Please don’t let that turn you off from this story (double entendre totally intended).
All in all, it’s a love story about loving yourself, because that’s what is really needed to love someone else completely. And if you get to have steamy sex with a motorcycle-riding artist along the way, why not take advantage of that opportunity?
TL;DR: A steamy romance combined with a surprisingly touching love story — I saw a lot of myself in both Chloe and Red, and I will always be a fan of stories where I can insert myself. (again, entendre intended).
*You guys know that we are big fans of BOTM over here - I wanted to share the details again, in case you haven’t. Your first book is less than $10, and after that, you get the choice of a brand new release (or sometimes an early release) for less than $15. If you’re a big reader, it’s an easy choice! Plus, who doesn’t love getting mail?
If you liked this, try these:
“The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory (okay, any of her books would do, this one is just my favorite)
If you click on one of the links in this article and make a purchase, She’s Full of Lit may receive a small commission. It doesn’t add anything to your price — we promise! Thanks so much for your support.
