Take a Hint, Dani Brown: A Novel (The Brown Sisters, 2)

5 STARS I received a review copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review Have you ever started a book, and just known from the beginning that this was going to be a new favorite? Because that’s what happened with me and this book. I read Get a Life, Chloe Brown in the beginning of the year, and immediately added Take a Hint, Dani Brown to my TBR without even reading the synopsis. I loved Chloe Brown enough that just by seeing the cover of Dani Brown I was sure I was going to love it. And I was right! Before I give some more details about what this book is about, let me just say that this book is perfect for all the trope lovers out there. Because essentially this book has friends to lovers and fake dating all wrapped with some steamy times. It follows Dani Brown who asks the universe for a sign to point her in the direction of her next friend-with-benefits. When a video goes viral of her super hot security friend, Zafir, rescuing her from a building, they decide to pretend to date to help Zafir get more publicity for the organization he runs that uses rugby to get boys to tap into their emotions in order to help dismantle toxic masculinity. Of course, things don’t stay platonic for long! Now one of the first things that I noticed about this book was that it’s laugh out loud funny! I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss, and 10% in I was enjoying myself so much that I pre-ordered a physical copy for myself right then and there! I think I knew even then that this book…

Yes, hello, I’d like Talia Hibbert to write all fictional men from now on, that is all. Thank you. Honestly that could be my entire review for “Take a Hint, Dani Brown”, but I promise to go into more depth. The Brown Sisters books do not have to be read in order, each a delicious little standalone, and Dani’s book was no different. I did start with “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” as my first introduction into this author and the Brown sisters, and I fell HARD for these fierce women, and the author’s fun writing style that still packs a punch when it comes to mental health and recovering from past trauma. We focus on Danika Brown in this book, a dedicated PhD student who has sworn off all romance in favor of friends with benefits and focusing solely on her research. Then, after an emergency drill gone wrong, decides to enter into a fake relationship with the big, sensitive, ex-rugby player turned security guard, Zafir, in order to use the publicity from that failed drill to help his charity, in which he teaches young boys healthy ways to deal with their emotions (I’m already swooning for Zafir at this point). Of course, Dani doesn’t want anything from Zafir other than sexual release, but romance novel addict Zafir struggles the whole time with not falling head over heels for Dani. This book was lovely in all ways, but after reading Chloe’s story, my expectations were set very high for Danika… While I fell in love with Zafir early on, it took me a little while longer to really love…

Take a Hint, Dani Brown was absolutely wonderful with an amazing romance and delightful characters. Danika Brown knows what she wants out of life and love is absolutely not on that list. But a friend-with benefits? That’s right up her alley, so Dani asks the universe for the perfect person and she’s led to security guard Zafir Ansari. But before Dani can work on seducing him, a video of Zaf rescuing Dani during a fire drill gone wrong goes viral. With the publicity working wonders for Zaf’s sports charity, he begs Dani to play along and pretend to date him. Dani agrees with the hope of seducing Zaf in the meantime, but her potential friend-with-benefits turns out to be a hopeless romantic. Suddenly her plan just got a lot harder and when Zaf begins to work his way into her heart, Dani wonders what exactly the universe had in mind when it sent her Zaf? Dani is a confident woman who knows what she wants out of life and intends to get it. I loved that Dani knew her own mind and wasn’t willing to settle for anything less than what she wanted. Dani does have a poor outlook on love as it’s never worked out for her in the past. After learning Dani’s history, her reaction to love made sense and I could see why she avoids it. Dani is a bit of a workaholic and her dedication to her work definitely led to her personal life suffering. Her family is fantastic and I love the relationship she has with her sisters. Dani, Chloe, and Eve are all so wonderfully supportive of each other and I…

Ok so I didn’t really like this book at first as it touches on some themes that aren’t my comfort zone. The language is also quite vulgar which is fine and normal for many people, but makes me think the author should expand her vocabulary. F words and sexually explicit content aside, this book is has some cute moments. I laughed out loud several times and thought the ending was quite nice. The ending was so good that it saved the book for me. Danika Brown doesn’t do relationships or commitment. But she does beg the universe for a “friend with benefits” to keep her entertained. She is very involved with her work and school and just wants the be able to have a regular sexual tussle without all of the “feelings” involved. So when her friend Zaf rescues her from an elevator and they are mistaken fir a couple, she doesn’t immediately reject the idea of Zaf being her fake boyfriend - you know for publicity for him... Anyway Zaf can’t hide his feelings for Danika and tries his best to follow her silly rules, but you can’t always control the heart.

I’ve been waiting for this book since I read Chloe Brown last year, which ended up being in my top 5 reads of 2019. And I must say the wait is totally worth it, and I believe Dani Brown will make my list this year ❤️. It’s fake relationship with adorableness overload, witty banter, and sweetness that could give you toothache 🥰. It’s also portraying mental health issues and how our beloved MCs have learned to cope with them with the support from their family and friends, and from each other... Meet Zafir Ansari: The grumpy, growly former rugby player who gives out supervillain energy 😂! But don’t let that vibe fool you, because he’s a hopeless romantic who reads romance novels and knows how to cook!!! If that’s not convincing enough, he pines after her so much that I bet you can smell a whole 🌲 forest! And I’m trash for pining heroes 🙈! Danika Brown is bold, motivated, intelligent, and passionate about her PhD research work. She would strive to achieve her goals no matter what. After being emotionally scarred from previous relationship failures, Dani decides to avoid romance, stay away from commitment, and shut off her feelings. An incident on campus pushes them to arrange a fake relationship while being friends with benefits 😂. But the lines start to blur fast, and Zaf’s love for Dani is getting so intense that you could feel it leap out of the page 🥰. How does Dani take all of these feelings and deal with hers at the same time? I absolutely adore their love story!…