Take a Hint, Dani Brown: A Novel

The Brown Sisters, Book 2

By: Talia Hibbert

Narrated by: Ione Butler

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's Summary

One of Oprah Magazine's 21 Romance Novels That Are Set to Be the Best of 2020

USA Today best-selling author Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him "rescuing" her from their office building goes viral....

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits - someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When big, brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it's an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and former rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact to him, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Suddenly, half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae - and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse? Dani's plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf is secretly a hopeless romantic - and he's determined to corrupt Dani's stone-cold realism. Before long, he's tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his...um, thighs.

The easy lay Dani dreamed of is now more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

"Talia Hibbert is a rockstar! Her writing is smart, funny, and sexy...." (Meg Cabot, number one New York Times best-selling author of the Little Bridge Island and Princess Diaries series) 

©2020 Talia Hibbert (P)2020 HarperAudio

Looking forward to book three

This book was a cute read. There was something missing for me but ultimately  did enjoy it. The author is talented, I'm just not sure I'm a fan of the situationship turned relationship because rarely do situationships ever end in monogamous relationships. I never warmed up to Dani. Her first introduction to me is being a witch, but I never got a clear view of what she practiced religiously. As a Black Caribbean Latinx person, I recognized Oshun being mentioned but her belief system seemed so linear and one-dimensional, I would expect this by white ppl interpreting african pagan religions but not a black woman. The fact the most she'd ever ask for from Oshun was to get laid felt like she was making fun of it. Dani was so masculine, she didn't have any feminine traits. As a reformed hyper masculine woman due to what I'd been cultured to be, I wonder why light skinned, biracial or non-black/non-dark skinned women are never encouraged to be women who "don't need men". She was amazing as a character but a little weak as a heroine. Her hero consistently gave gave gave but she rarely reciprocated even the smallest of things(like compliments or reassurance)even the ones that took little effort. I understand this is a trope being turned on its head; Dani is wealthy and alpha-female and anti-commitment but she had very few traits that softened her. A man in this situation wouldn't deserve his love interest so I don't think she deserves her hero Zafir. I love brown men in interracial. I think I'm disappointed that many of the brown men I've been reading as of recent weeks are a little boring. Zafir was a non-practicing Muslim and a cinnamon roll but much of what was adorable about him made him feel like financially he couldn't compete with Dani. I had to wonder whether this is the reason she never reassured him because he wasn't impressive in comparison to her so she reminded me of Molly from Insecure. She didn't really want to put in work she just wanted when her time was free to have a loyal partner. Zahir was soft, I wish he'd had more Alpha traits but romance works better when the characters are opposite so I get it. Many of the things he did didn't seem realistic for a cis/het man. I'm all for challenging stereotypes but at times it felt like it was trying to be too feministy(I like feminist topics brought up but this one tackled too many). I also wished that all the characters he was close to who were practicing Muslims wouldn't have had Westernized names, especially because not every PoC needs a nickname easier to pronounce. The narrator is pretty good and I commend her for finding a Black British narrator. I think as an American, I was already lost in translation for things, so I would've loved it if the name dropping of celebrity names would've featured more British Black women instead of American ones, because it would've forced me to learn and research celebrities I don't know as well. At times it read too witty, and the banter was good but often never led anywhere since it took so long to get them in the sheets for me. I wish for as long as it took, that they would've at least gone on dates or hangouts that weren't booty calls. I never felt like they really knew each other outside of what they liked in the bedroom. Situationships rarely become deeper than that so while there's a desire for it, both parties rarely want more than what they're getting and because they did little to learn about each other, I wasn't sure it was this developed romance it's marketed to be. Overall I think Zafir's mental health was handled well. He experienced panic attacks, had anxiety, suffered from depression and I didn't feel like it was too much. Dani wasn't my cup of tea but I loved that she was bi and chubby. I wish the descriptions had painted better pictures of them but she's not as descriptive as some authors I also read so maybe I'm just spoiled by certain authors. It had a HEA so I'm obliged to give it at least a 3. I wish it would have at least been a 4 for me =/

Second book or Talia Hibbert

I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to read this book. As soon as i started it i was loving it i mean a man that loves reading romance books hell yeah sign me up! Also talks about anxiety is this book which im so grateful for because there isnt much books about it or even showed in guys. Im glad she wrote about it and did it justice. Also Hes a major cinnamon roll i loved it. Dani was so funny and confident like yas girl. The steamy scenes though were woah lol i was like listening to it while walking and blushing! Anyway i loved this book and definitely will read rest of her books when she comes out with more. Lastly i just loved when Red and Chloe showed up hehe. Made my heart swooon.

Not as Good as the 1st Brown Sister Book

I was so excited for this come out. I had listened to and fell in love with the first book in this series Get a Life Chloe Brown which I've listened to 5 times. The story was unique, sweet, and funny AND the narration was some of the best I've ever heard. The Chloe Brown narrator had distinct voices for the main characters that truly brought them to life. Unfortunately the narration for Take a Hint, Dani Brown was a HUGE LET DOWN, You couldn't hear the distinction between the characters voices. I kept having to rewind to confirm who was talking and it distracted me from the story. And the story was simply read -rather than performed- by the narrator. The performance aspect is what makes or sadly breaks an audio book experience. I love, love, love Talia Hibbert. She again wrote a compelling story, but the narration ruined it me. HUGE BUMMER.

Thought this would be a cure romp, turned out to be soft core porn.

I love rom coms by English authors, but the graphic sex scenes took be by surprise. It is a Harlequin romance in rom com clothing.

Really great love story. Worth the credit!

Very cute and unique love story. I really connected with the characters and was invested in their story. I think the author is quite talented and really has a nack for weaving a story and keeping it uniquely interesting that it keeps you wanting to know more. I'm just disappointed that she chose to use the "F-bomb" the entire story. I mean 5 mins could not pass without the word F@#k and this is like a 10 hr book!! What I mean to say is that the excessive use of the word didn't make the story more engaging or believable...it just took me out of the moment and became a distraction. It is the only reason I took a star off. You're a talented author don't be lazy with your talent by resorting to the excessive use of a curse word. You're better than that!

Kicks down your metaphorical knickers drawer

Be careful when judging this book by its cover; the cozy, sweet rom-com I expected almost rubbed me wrong with all the Fx, twats, and brash banter in the very first chapter. Don’t get me wrong; this was remarkably sweet for such a mouthy book. Did the summary say this was a British contemporary romance? The narrator’s accent threw me too. But, once I reset my expectations and settled in, I very much liked this book and will add this author to my reading list. What kind of romance is this? Contemporary fresh, with sassy and woke dialogue and characters, narrated with British diction that mostly works (I love how classy it sounds when they say “for foox sake” but my American ears cringe at the pronunciation of words like aluminum.) This book gives good trash talking banter and two explicit sex scenes (plus weirdly often use of the word “precum” throughout). There’s traditional romance tropes: he’s the famous, hunky former hockey player and she’s the slightly plump, emotionally awkward, book loving teacher. Then the author mixes things up a bit: he’s the hopeless romantic who actually reads romance books and she’s “queen of the one time flings.” Then the author gets right to the cutting edge: he’s a not-so practicing Muslim with anxiety issues and she’s a black, bisexual practicing witch who honors Oshun, goddess of love and has conversations with the universe. And yet, this story felt natural and not weird, preachy, or contrived. In the end, this book managed to be both the warm, fuzzy rom-com I wanted based on the cover and the bangers n trash-talking good time I never saw coming.

Be favorite author!

Love the fresh and witty writing style of Talia Hibbert. Can’t wait to read more of her books.

Enjoyable

Enjoyable read, but The narrator's voice was a little annoying at first. the storyline was great and I truly enjoyed the characters. I think I will try to read the others.

Fun and entertaining

I enjoyed this book. Definitely a fun read and a wonderfully quirky love story that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

good sequel

This book made me laugh and smile. The narrator has a lovely voice as well. You can really hear the emotion in her voice. I really like the individuality this author gives her characters. each story is uniquely it's own and she really allows those stories to be told without rehashing the same problems. I'm excited for the next book in this series!