AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
In Talia Hibbert’s newest rom-com, the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.
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Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she … and more!
Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong. So she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It’s time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she’s not entirely sure how…
Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.
Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore… and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.
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Source: NetGalley; ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
I wish my review could be one line: “This is a bloody good book, read it!”, but I should probably elaborate.
I have experienced so much joy in reading about the Brown sisters but I was not prepared to fall so head over heels for Eve Brown and her beautiful, genuine soul. She hardly has it all together – at least by her family’s standards – and she’s hardly got a clue as to what she wants to do, so when her family holds an intervention to set her straight, she literally runs away. She gets on the road and in her complete haze, ends up in a cute little village, sees a wanted ad for a chef at a bed and breakfast and pops on in for an impromptu interview. The interviewer, Jacob is aghast that Eve would show up unprepared and not dressed for the occasion (she is in a graphic tee and her hair is an unnatural color of purple). No prospective employer would take an interviewee who shows up like that seriously, so he sends her off, and only a few minutes later he gets hit by her car. Now he’s SOL and desperately needs someone to help him at the B&B and Eve feels she must stay and help. This is a temporary arrangement. TEMPORARY, she reminds herself.
The start of this story is so bonkers and it so perfectly sets up the cheeky and fiery dynamic between Eve and Jacob. She is the sunshine and roses to his grumpy, rigid persona. She’s always challenging him and they’re constantly verbally dueling or aggravating each other. It’s all done with the best humor and sarcasm which made me so, so happy! Eve settles in to her role delightfully at the B&B and even the moody Jacob can’t deny how positively radiant and vibrant she is, making his guests feel welcome and comfortable. As with the previous two Brown Sisters books, AYAEB is another own voices story with Eve and Jacob both being on the autism spectrum. Jacob has learned he had it at a younger age and how to manage it while Eve hasn’t figured it out yet. I found this discovery like a lightbulb going on because I obliviously operated under the assumption that autism is always diagnosed early in childhood. I never gave it a second thought that diagnosis could happen later in life and that this could drastically impact the person’s quality of life. Once again, Talia Hibbert educated me and set me off to do my own mini research on it. She doesn’t beat the info into the reader’s brain but rather simply shows it through the characters’ growing awareness. This is why despite their different temperaments that Jacob and Eve click because there’s something deep below the surface that they inevitably recognize in each other. And oh my gosh, they are totally hot together! It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about a fictional couple and of course, it’d be a Talia Hibbert book!
How many ways can I say this? Reading any of these Brown Sisters books is a joyous experience and I think AYAEB has to be my favorite of the trilogy. Everything about it pushed all the right buttons for me — the humor, wit, Eve and Jacob’s chemistry, the setting… Eve herself is instantly likable and I just want to be besties with her. And her family makes an appearance – all of them so bizarre and off the rails sometimes – but so uniquely themselves. I’ve had a blast reading this series and Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the icing on the gingerbread (read it, you’ll get it)!
~ Bel
I was having a stressful month and couldn’t click with any of the books I was reading. I decided to ignore ARC deadlines and just read what book spoke to me. Act Your Age, Eve Brown was that book and it helped break me out of my book slump.
I’ve absolutely adored every Talia Hibbert I’ve read and this book was the perfect end to the Brown Sisters series. Eve is very different than her two older sisters. She’s impulsive and unpredictable. She’s floats through life, trying to find a career that keeps her interest and that she can succeed it. The book starts with her parents deciding to draw the line on her flinty behavior. Eve sets off in a huff and ends up on the doorstep of Jacob Wayne. He owns a bed and breakfast and is looking for a new cook. Adventures ensue as Eve accidentally breaks Jacob’s arm and ends up staying on as his cook. Eve and Jacob are complete opposites from each other and yet, as the story progresses, you see how well they work together. Honestly, this book has everything I wanted from the end of this series, which is one of my favorites. Talia creates characters with such emotion and depth. It’s honestly simply pleasure to read her books. This book was exactly what I needed in a difficult time and that makes me love it even more.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by this author and…IT WAS INCREDIBLE! I haven’t laughed this much while reading in quite some time. I literally gave this book an extra star for how much I laughed.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third book in the Brown Sisters series. From her constant consumption of music to her direct yet heartfelt view of the world and others, I loved everything about Eve. I love how she charmed her way straight into Jacob’s resistant heart. I enjoyed “watching” as their relationship evolved. I found the characters and the situations incredibly realistic and, for the most part, relatable. I’m truly glad that I stumbled onto this book. I had no clue what to expect but got more than I could have hoped for. While there were a couple of things that bothered me but, there was nothing that took away from the story. The world created was wonderful and I found myself slipping into it as I read. I am just about finished with the first book of the series Get A Life, Chloe Brown and will then start the second Take A Hint, Dani Brown. After this book, I am truly a fan.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley and the author, Talia Hibbert.
After reading Take a Hint, Dani Brown last year, I didn’t think that Talia Hibbert could outdo the amazingness of Dani and Zaf. Looks like I’m the clown because Eve’s story blew me away.
Now, if you haven’t read the other two books prior to reading Eve Brown, you won’t miss out on any major details. The previous two books focus on the older two sisters and how they ended up with their partners. Both Chloe and Dani do make a cameo in this book, but this book is still 100% enjoyable without the background info. That being said, I HIGHLY recommend both books.
Eve Brown is the youngest of the Brown sisters, and unlike her older sisters, she hasn’t figured out her career path and still lives at home (which she is happy with). However, when her parents tell her to either get a job and move out or risk losing her trust fund, Eve heads to the country where she comes across a B&B hiring a chef (a position that she’s not qualified for). The owner (Jacob Wayne) immediately clashes with her personality and turns her away. Eve proceeds to accidentally hit Jacob with her car putting him in the position to need her help since he’s left with a broken arm. As the two of them spend more time together, the chemistry between is undeniable.
From the moment that Eve literally barreled into Jacob at the B&B, I was so enamored with these two. The banter between them was absolutely top notch. Eve is very much the spontaneous and go with the flow type of personality that refuses to be contained. Jacob is the non-nonsense rule follower that is out to prove his worth since he literally came from nothing. The two of them were different in almost every way, but their chemistry and passion together was infectious. Their relationship just felt so authentic and was easy to get wrapped up.
And the steam between these two? OMG. I thought the first two books were steamy. Y’all, this book gets all the steam and eggplant ratings. I wasn’t ready!!!
I also want to comment on the way that autism is addressed and portrayed in this book because Talia is out here debunking the harmful stereotypes that are typically on page. Here we see two characters on the spectrum that exhibit different behavior, struggles, and ways to cope. Furthermore, there’s no judgment or assumptions made, and at no point do you feel like these characters being autistic makes either of them lesser. They are whole and thriving, and THAT is something that we need more of!
Honestly, this is a book that I will be rereading because it’s that good.
I could gush about this book all day, but I’ll just end with pick this one up. It is an incredible read and deserves all the love and praise.
Thank you Avon Book for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Wow! This was my favorite Talia Hibbert book yet. I was nervous at the beginning of this book, because Eve Brown was the definition of a hot mess–but that was kind of the point. This book is about Eve’s journey and understanding herself and her capabilities. By halfway through the book, I felt so bad for judging Eve at the beginning of the book. Hibbert did such an amazing job of exploring both main character’s backstories and histories and how they influence who they are as adults. It’s just so beautifully done. And I can’t finish this review without mentioning that this book is HOT, and it’s done very well.
I listened to this book on audio–thank you to Libro.fm for my free copy–and I don’t do a lot of steamy books on audio. I’m always paranoid other people can hear me! The narrator for this book was objectively fantastic. She did a truly excellent job voicing multiple characters, handling intimate scenes, and just generally being a stellar voice actress. Some narrators can be robotic, and that was not the case here. I still maintain I’m not sure I prefer to do open door romance on audio, but I enjoyed this one.
I should note that there’s a LOT of swearing in this book. And not just in intimate moments. The male lead drops the f bomb pretty much constantly, and while the British accent made it sound classier on audio, it’s just something to keep in mind if you’re listening around the house.
5 stars – 9/10
CW/TW: autism-related ableism, parental neglect (past)
Full review now on Booktrib.com
This one was so funny and so delightful! (Check out the review, then go buy the book. You will love it!)
I loved this book so much. To be honest, I’m sad that the series is over because I loved all the sisters and their stories and feel like I have some great friends in them.
Eve and Jacob are hilarious together and their start point was just unexpected but so good to predict what’s next to happen with them.
I loved the banter and the families and friends dynamics, all the real feelings and emotions and that moment when they decided to take that once in a life time change at happily ever after.
A great series that many romance readers will enjoy.
4.5 read!
This is such a sweet and adorable story that will make you smile and sigh blissfully ! The grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers tropes are so well done here, it’s funny, heartwarming, and sexy, and you will get to witness an amazing character growth for both main characters.
Eve Brown grew up in a loving family with a privileged life and a financial safety net. But she tends to give up easily every time she faces challenges and always doubts her own capabilities. When she is confronted with her parents’ latest disappointment, she leaves the house and stumbles upon a BnB in another town, where she jumps into a spontaneous interview for their chef position! After being turned away because of her lack of professionalism, she literally runs over the owner with her car . And now, she has no choice but to stay and help him prepare for the big upcoming event in town.
Jacob Wayne is the owner of the BnB. He’s autistic and suffers abandonment issue from his childhood. But behind his perpetual grumpiness, Jacob is a sweet and thoughtful man, just a big giant cinnamon roll. I love the way Ms Hibbert puts two flawed characters together, lets them discover what’s beneath the other person’s façade, and also allows them to grow individually. They learn to trust each other, to believe in themselves, and to appreciate the special traits that other people may overlook. Towards the end, you’ll be totally convinced that they are just perfect for each other .
There are not so much plot and action going on in this book, so it seems to be a bit slow, and there are some repetitive monologues. But if you’re looking for an adorable couple who could charm your socks off and make you laugh out loud from their inner quirky thoughts, this feel-good book is for you! Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series of the Brown sisters, and I’d happily recommend it .
*Special thanks to Avon Books for gifting me the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
It’s official I love all the Brown Sisters!
Eve Brown is a free spirit who is a little different and that often makes her seem immature. Jacob Wayne is a stuffy B&B owner who struggles with abandonment issues. So of course there is no way they are compatible, except they so are!
I loved Jacob’s self awareness about himself and his Autism and that he was very sensitive to Eve and her feelings. It was so wonderful to watch Eve grow and come into herself and be unafraid to say what she wants and needs.
And the sexy times?! Whoa! I’m so here for the normalization of using toys!
I’m so sad to the see the series end but I’m hoping for Mont and his sisters to pop up again!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown was absolutely wonderful! It was hilariously snarky, heartfelt, emotional, and so, so sexy! The enemies to lovers vibe was done so well and I loved how Eve and Jacob went toe to toe and gave as good as they got. They were so adorably and unapologetically themselves with each other and saw through all the bluster and barbs to see the vulnerable human underneath. I laughed so hard while reading and listening to this one and didn’t want to ever put it down. The narration by Ione Butler was incredible again and her comedic timing was perfection. She delivered all the snark with ease and oh my did she nail those sexy times. *fans self*
I am always a fan of the no nonsense starchy hero (thank you to my good friend Jessica for that perfect term) who is an absolute cinnamon roll underneath. Jacob and Eve were the quintessential grump + sunshine, but also so much more. My heart hurt for them as they revealed their pasts and fears and it made complete sense why they made the decisions that they did. The ending left me smiling ear to ear, but also a little sad that it was over. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books in The Brown Sisters series and loved seeing Chloe, Red, Dani, and Zaf again. Special shoutout to Gigi for being the absolute best and stealing the show every time she was on the page.
I’m hopeful that this won’t be the last time we see them. I loved Alex, Tessa, and Eric (Mont) so much and would love to see a series for the Montrose siblings in the future. Talia Hibbert is fast becoming one of my favorite authors and I can’t recommend this book (and series) enough!
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5+ stars
Story 5 stars
CW: childhood neglect and anti autistic ableism
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*
Talia Hibbert has been on both my and Queen J’s “to-read” list for a while. When I got notification that I would be receiving a copy of Act Your Age, Eve Brown, I mildly panicked. I hadn’t read the previous in the series, Get a Life, Chloe Brown nor Take a Hint, Dani Brown. Read a series out of order?
Who do you think you are talking to? Not this list-making, anal retentive Queen.
And so I quickly binged Chloe and Dani. And I enjoyed them, but I didn’t really fall in love with Chloe or Dani as characters.
But Eve…oh Eve and her Jacob are one of the best things I’ve read in 2021 thus far. This story just made me so happy. It brought about so many emotions: happiness, laughter, sadness, a tinge of obsession.
The author did such a wonderful job describing autism and how it can present so differently. It’s no surprise I love characters that are neurodiverent, so a grumpy Hero that also is a little different? My kryptonite.
Act Your Age was such a happy and joyful book, even when it’s discussing difficult and emotional topics. One of, if not the best book I’ve read in 2021 thus far.
This is my first book by this author. I know my review is not going to do this book justice. Lord I laughed so hard at this. I really needed it. This was sooo cute and just perfect. Such a lovely story that I wasn’t sure about at first. Eve and Jacob my new favorite couple!!! I love that Jacob isn’t your typical hero. I love his quirks. Eve a chocolate BBW . I love her body positivity. The description of the bed and breakfast was so well done. I’ve never been to one but now I want to. Such great secondary characters like Montrose and his sisters. I skipped books 1 & 2, but I’m going to have to backtrack. I got this from Netgalley. I’m so glad I tried it out. I will definitely read more from this author. I highly recommend this book. I love the overall theme of this book.
Eve Brown has had a hard time deciding on a career and sticking to it. It seems that nothing she does goes right so why bother trying anymore. When her parents withhold support and tell her to get her life in order Eve is unsure of what to do. She gets in her car and just starts driving and ends up at a B&
B. Somehow she gets the job as the cook and finds gthat she and the owner do not get along. I loved this book! Eve is a wonderful, funny, and chaotic character that you can’t help but fall in love with. It’s a great fun read! Just proves that when you put you mind to it you can do anything! I highly recommend this book