Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert | Book Review
- dessimalakov
- Sep 10, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
Navigating Romance in the Age of Viral Fame
Author: Talia Hibbert
Publication Date: June, 23rd 2020
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1
Official Description:
USA Today bestselling 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 —and Zaf is #DrRugbae 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?
Warning: This article might contain spoilers!
Take a Hint, Dani Brown Talia Hibbert
My Thoughts
I wanted to love "Take a Hint, Dani Brown," I really did. But for whatever reason, it just didn't reel me in the way I hoped it would. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book by any means. It has its funny moments, and both Dani and Zaf are very likeable protagonists with a sweet romance. But something was missing for me.
I'm the type of reader who, when truly hooked, will sacrifice sleep to finish a book in one sitting. The fact that I could easily put this one down and "forget" about it for days speaks volumes about how it failed to captivate me completely.
That being said, there were aspects I genuinely appreciated. I liked that both protagonists had depth to their character. Dani is this incredibly interesting woman, a self-proclaimed "nerd", doctor-in-waiting who is studying the "evolution of misogynoir post-chattel slavery", a woman who is incredibly free with her sexuality, who loves spirituality and exudes confidence. Zaf, on the other hand, is this broad and tall bear of a man, former NFL player, a man who loves romance novels and who is not embarrassed about it (I have never met that kind of man), a kind and attentive man who has a strong sense of morale. They are both quirky AND they like each other?
Zaf's attentiveness and understanding of Dani's relationship fears were beautifully portrayed. He gets her on a level that's refreshing to see in romance novels. His ability to anchor her without pushing or taking her hesitation personally was a highlight of their dynamic.
But then there's this thing that sometimes annoys me about romance novels. Everything is just too perfect. Zaf is this ideal guy who's perfectly in love with Dani, accepting all her imperfections. And then we hit the classic romance novel obstacle. Just when everything's going swimmingly, Dani pulls away because she can't believe Zaf truly loves her. It felt a bit forced and unrealistic to me.
I get it, Dani has trust issues from past relationships. But instead of developing this storyline or giving us more context earlier in the book, it's comes out during the obstacle and is resolved almost immediately. One day Dani's freaking out, the next she's all-in? Come on. When someone consistently shows and tells you they love you, do you just step back for the sake of drama? It would've been more believable if her insecurities were triggered by a misunderstanding or during a period of separation.
In the end, while "Take a Hint, Dani Brown" has its merits, it fell short of being the unputdownable read I was hoping for. It's a decent romance, but it lacks that special something that would elevate it to a truly memorable story.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown Talia Hibbert
Disclaimer: I have added an affiliate link for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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