Take a Hint, Dani Brown Review

Author: Talia Hibbert
Published On: June 23, 2020
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Fiction, Romance, New Adult
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Synopsis:

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 brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now 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’s 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.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is 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?

“This love business is absolutely nonsensical.”

Did someone say…another Danika?? Two Danika’s in one year? Count me in! *Reference: Crescent City by SJM*

I read Chloe Brown, took a book-long break to read Bryson Keller *still swooning*, and then picked up Dani Brown. I was hoping to love it as much as I loved the first, but sadly, that just didn’t happen.

Things I liked:

• Dani! She was so funny, and I loved her dialogue and her one-liners that made me just crack up. I loved how she was unapologetically herself – even with previous relationship trauma, she still wasn’t willing to back down on what she liked and wanted out of life, and I really respected and admired that!
• Zaf, of course: His anxiety rep isn’t something that you see in the typical new adult romcom, so it was refreshing to see it here! His plotline regarding masculinity and helping young boys to accept and properly handle their emotions was awesome, and something that I enjoyed reading about. He was also just such a sweetheart, I adored him!
• Snark & dialogue: Talia Hibbert just has such a way with dialogue. She shapes the funniest one-liners, but also can just as well write a sweet conversation. I like how Dani & Zaf bounced off each other and were able to keep things light and snarky while also building a serious relationship at the same time!
• The start of relationship! I loved how we started off with a pre-established relationship between these two characters. I could feel the tension from the get-go, and got to pine with Zaf and muddle around with Dani as they worked out their ~confusing~ feelings for one another. I connected with the pair of them a ton because of this!

Things I disliked:

• Fake dating?? I’m surprised. I think I’m just burnt out of it, and it’s a trope that I found too overdone. It’s so predictable! There’s really only two outcomes to a fake dating situation, and you tend to see the happy ending most often (not that I’m complaining – just super predictable!).
• (Potential spoilers!) Dani’s commitment issues: At first, I was totally okay with watching Dani waffle with her feelings for Zaf and her reluctance to engage in another serious relationship. By the end, I was over it. It was so tiresome! I felt like it took forever for Dani to finally get over her issues so we could progress to the next part of the story.

I did like this one, and will definitely plan to read Eve’s book when it comes out next year! I recommend this one to anyone and everyone, though I myself was a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, I think it was a light & fun read and am excited to see what Talia puts out next!!

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