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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This book was so surprising in the best possible way. It is a perfect example of assuming a book will be one way and then it blows you away. I cannot say enough how much I loved this book. I am an avid romance reader and was not expecting so much out of this book and I’m so grateful for this book. Jacob and Eve are completely different type of hero/heroine and it was perfection. The way they learned each other and didn’t judge or try to make each other change was amazing. This story was inspiring and beautiful and I wish I could read it again for the first time. Talia Hibbert is an outstanding author and I can’t believe this is the first book of hers I read. Every page was engaging, funny, sweet and a little heartbreaking at times but in the most amazing way. This is an absolute must read. Can I give it more than 5 stars cuz I would.
Wow! Wow! Wow! I know I’m late to the party with this book, but better late than never because this book was brilliantly fantastic!!! Talia has the ability to write sensual, sexy, funny, beautiful, hot, achingly tender emotions all in one book, and succeed at all of them!
When I read the back cover, I didn’t actually believe Eve hits Jacob with her car, but alas she does! And, boy is he grumpy, although to be fair, he’s just grumpy in general. Eve is this kind of flighty, doesn’t know what she wants to do with herself woman whose family is fed up with her flighty-ness.
BUT, but that is merely on the surface for both of these gorgeous characters, and what is underneath, for both of them, is the belief that they simply aren’t good enough. Good enough for meaningful friendships, good enough for their parents to want them as is, good enough for romantic love… Talia manages to convey these wounds in big ways and the most subtle, yet stinging moments. I go back and forth with who I love more, Eve or Jacob, I mean the wounds he has from his past, UGH!!!!
What unfolds as these two work together and get to know each other is like a brilliant star-filled sky romance, a huge bursting of love for each other romance. AND, more importantly for themselves!!! To see each of them slowly come to love themselves for who they are is magical, and I wish we could all see ourselves this way, that we are fabulous just the way we are. Brilliant, stunning, quirky, lovely, sensual, perfectly layered romance!! I need Talia to write ALL the books!!! Another book that deserves TEN stars!!!
Finally got to meet the final Brown sister, and Eve, much like her sisters, was absolutely delightful! Sh was vibrant and such a refreshing character. Loved her in every way. Same goes with her LI, Jacob. They really complemented each other.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love the conflict near the end. It felt a bit off from the rest of the book.
Read this book if you enjoy: witty banter, creative swears, diverse characters, laugh out loud moments, strong family bonds, sweet & sexy romance, and stories with lots and lots of heart. Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the complete package.
Funny, sexy, and so, so touching. I adored Jacob and Eve, with all of their hurts and layers and fears. I haven’t seen a more perfect couple on the page in ages. Loved every second of this book!
I have received this review copy for free. My opinions are my own.
Content warnings: Childhood neglect (mentioned), anti-autistic ableism, ableism, internalized ableism.
I didn’t know how much I needed this book. Which was a lot, it turned out. Act Your Age, Eve Brown is an adult romcom that not only lets autistic characters be themselves, but it also lets them be in the spotlight and be happy. The thing is, there are so little autistic characters in the media, and a lot of them are just tools for the character arc of a neurotypical character, or are written from the neurotypical gaze. To find and read a book that is just so soft and happy and normal made me cry with joy.
Eve Brown is an eccentric young woman and the youngest of the Brown sisters. She has tried all types of things, whether it’s theater school or being a wedding planner entrepeneur, everything seems to be failing. When her parents tell her to get it together and act like the adult she is, she goes for a drive and finds a job opening at a Bed & Breakfast in the town she ended up driving to. The interview is a disaster, the B&B owner is really not her type of person and she goes to leave. But then she hits the B&B owner with her car.
With the B&B understaffed, Eve filled to the brim with guilt and the owner, Jacob Wayne, hurt because of her, she decided to help out temporarily. Quickly though, she learns she is actually very good at her job and enjoys doing it, and Jacob even starts to warm up to her.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown has a beautifully chaotic main character in her mid-twenties that just tries to figure out her life. The premise of the book feels so mundane and normal, but still special and I absolutely adored reading about it. Talia Hibbert really managed to write this in such a way that it was exciting and interesting, but also soft and raw, without needing to add something extraordinary or a plot point to shake things up. A lot of contemporary novels try to have such a over complicated plot or it’s a scenario that’s possible, but just very unlikely, but this book just embraced the normalcy, finding it’s strength there. Talia Hibbert’s writes diverse characters where they can be themselves unconditionally and do what other characters have always done: be happy, find love, have sex, make mistakes, all of it, and with each book I read by her hand, that message becomes stronger and I have absolutely fallen in love it.
Something I loved about the autism representation in this book is that it showed that autism really is a spectrum. Both main characters are autistic and they are both really similar and completely different. They partially show the same traits and needs, but they individually showed all different sides of autism. On top of this, Eve mentioned that she her sisters are probably autistic too and having read the other two Brown Sisters-books, she is most likely right.
I didn’t see myself fully in either characters, which is a good thing as no autistic person is the same. I related to Eve and Jacob alot, both in ways that our experiences and traits match, but also in things that I don’t usually think about for myself or in context with autism. The details and care in this book are amazing and I am so glad that it exists in a popular series like this, making autistic characters (and disabled characters in general) in books more mainstream.
I highly recommend this series, as it shows marginalized characters in a positive, happy and sexy light. The beauty of this series is that you can read all three books in order, but you can also read them separately. So if you just want to read about Eve Brown right now, you can do that and visit the other books later.
Romance really is not my genre, but the way Talia Hibbert writes them is just the best and they have made it on my auto-buy list from now on!
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
4.25*
We have the final instalment of the Brown Sisters! It was a delight to follow along Evie’s misadventures (even though Dani’s book is still my favourite!).
Eve has had an easy life, but not so easy as it might seem at first sight… She feels very much at drift, and it’s hard for her to fit in – only copying and mirroring social interactions is she able to try and connect with people. But not the right people! Her “friends” keep her around for help, but that’s about it.
When Eve’s family decide for her that she needs to stop living of her trust fund, she feels frustrated as she knows that she doesn’t do that on a whim, or on purpose, things just…don’t work out for her. And Eve realizes that she doesn’t really know who she is, or what she wants. And she ends up LITERALLY hit the person who will help her with that.
Meet Jacob, the owner of a B&B whose goal is to make sure people have a home away from home. When he meets Eve, who sings, and is a bit much, he doesn’t really know how to behave. He’s attracted to her, but at the same she pushes some of his buttons, and in the beginning, it’s slightly hard for him to cope with it.
Their relationship was very cute and adorable, and even though I thought it could have had a bit more interaction with high and lows, I did enjoy it.
On that note, I did feel the end was a bit… quick, I would say? Not the resolution, the “problem”. I get why they behaved the way they did, but I felt that Eve would have been different, she would have pushed Jacob right away, and maybe that would have been worse than what happened, but that’s just what felt a bit off for me.
I liked seeing Eve at the B&B, and discovering what really made her happy, but I would have liked to see some things happening between her and the guest, instead of just being told that Jacob noticed this and it made him and them happy.
Also, I liked seeing all the characters from the previous books, but again, I felt like the reactions that lead to the “problem” was a bit much… The sisters and their respective boyfriends are rational people, and the message they got from Eve didn’t have any HUGE triggers to make them do what they did. The guys say to just call Eve, but the sisters go full on PROTECTIVE MODE for their baby sister Eve (which denotes a bit how they still think of her, even though she is a grown woman – which they admit (isn’t it great when that happens?)!!!
This was such a fun book, with main characters who are Autistic (as I’m not, I will not comment on that depiction, as I don’t feel like I’m in a place where I could or should do it), and secondary characters that just made you laugh and helped the story going.
Talia Hibbert is great at giving her characters particular traits that are very visible with their behaviours, like the fact that Eve absolutely loves music, but we don’t just see her listening to it – she quotes music, sings, and hums, amongst other little things.
Anyway, I loved Eve, loved Jacob, and I can’t wait to read the spin-off series with all the other characters from Skybriar, the little town where his B&B is located.
Talia Hibbert
The Brown sisters are some of my favorite heroines in contemporary romance – so witty and complex and real! And Eve’s story, third in the series, does not disappoint. Get ready for some seriously steamy scenes, along with satisfying character arcs that will have you cheering and chuckling and humming along.
Lovely!
I *might* have liked Eve’s story the best? Maybe? Or maybe it’s just that I read it last and so she has the greater share of my sympathy…but really, GAH! this book just killed me with its cuteness and love. Though I do have to say that after two books of her sister correcting all of her mis-used words (which, okay, were pretty funny at the time) it was lovely that Jacob just took them in stride. Just like Jacob (eventually, once her existence, purple hair, and loud t-shirts stopped freaking him out) too her in stride. As Eve took all of Jacob’s so-called “differences” in stride. Obviously, these two were made for each other…and it didn’t take them too long to figure it out, either.
Just the perfect amount of reading-a-Talia Hibbert-book time 😉
I am so, so sad that this is the last of the Brown sisters–but am 100% looking forward to whatever Ms Tibbert has in store for us next! I cannot wait <3
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator did a lovely job of reading this one. If you're an audiobook reader, I definitely recommend--the authentic British accent really adds to the reading experience 🙂
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
LOVE this entire series. LOVE.
Lovely
Eve Brown’s story was a perfect way to close out The Brown Sisters Series. This book pulled me in and had me in my feels from the first chapter. I NEEDED to go on this journey with Eve. And what an adventure of self discovery it was for Eve and Jacob!
Jacob’s intense nature was blatantly evident. His sense of decorum and structure was instantly assaulted by Eve’s impromptu job inquiry. Also, by her love of loud colors, sarcastic T-shirts, and beautiful smile. Her very presence appeared to bring out his spikey armor. The fact that both Jacob and Eve had a tendency to be observant, really made the dialogue and banter fun. I laughed and became giddy from their interactions.
Although Eve and Jacob approached life in differing manners, they both shared a fear of being rejected. As their work relationship progressed, their walls started to lower and glimpses of recognition ignited. There was an awareness and trust that built. They learned to be themselves with one another instead of the versions of themselves they put on for the world.
Now let’s talk about the intense sexual energy these two threw at one another. Oh my! The intense glances and not so subtle ogling were heat inducing. When they finally gave into the pull of attraction, my panties went up in flames. Their direct, open communication about consent and want was a thing of beauty. No inhibitions, just truth and orgasms.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown was a delight to read! I loved everything about prickly, grumpy Jacob and charming, caring Eve. Bonus, the entire Brown family made an appearance which showcased their tight knit bond and unconventional brand of love.
Gah! Everything about Act Your Age, Eve Brown is absolutely charming. I loved Get A Life, Chloe Brown and then read Take A Hint, Dani Brown and thought, Wow! I love this one even more! But this latest and last Brown sister… !!! I am in love! OMG! Eve and Jacob are just Perfect! The whole book is filled with wonderful characters, wicked and witty banter, and STEAM! The chemistry between Eve and Jacob is so intense. And meltingly delicious.
The two main stars, and their oddball friends and family make this such a fun adventure. And so kind. And wholesome. And ideal-world. I’d love to just live in this book! And Jacob and Eve are both so deep, and wise, and witty, and wonderful.
I could not love this book any more. And I definitely cannot recommend it enough!
Eve had been my favourite character in this series since she first graced the page. Even knowing that, I’ll admit, I was worried her book wouldn’t live up to expectations in my head.
To which I have to ring the shame bell at past Caryn for ever daring to be trepidatious.
Eve’s book was everything I ever could have hoped for, and so much more. I’d say this is my favourite book in the trilogy. It was definitely the funniest! I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. It also had just as much emotional depth as it’s predecessors. So much so, that I’m starting to think that Hibbert needs to include a complimentary packet of tissues with every purchase.
I’m actually really sad our time with my beloved Brown sisters has come to a close. I’m so grateful to have these books in my life. I feel like I want to hand this series to all aspiring romcom authors and say “this is how you do it”.
I enjoyed this book. It was clever and fun. The characters were lovable and and the romance swoon worthy and cute. The chemistry and humor are bubbly and effervescent. I loved it!! This is my frank, freely posted review.
This is such a satisfying finale to the Brown sisters’ stories.
I fell so in love with Eve and Jacob — how neither of them have given up on finding a life that works for them in spite of their past experiences with the world not letting them fit in, and with family who can sometimes love in ways that aren’t helpful.
Jacob and Eve as separate characters are such a joy to get to know, and as a pair they have crackling good chemistry and banter as they have fun together and push each other.
Why yes, I did cry four (or possibly more) times while reading this. This book was brilliant and wonderful and even better than I could have hoped for. I. Fucking. Love. Eve. I love everything about her. I love her kindness and her willingness to give and her openness and her sense of humor and I love her growth in this book more than I can possibly say. I also loved Jacob and how much he fought his attraction to Eve and her chaos and possible unprofessionalism. I laughed through this whole book, I cheered, and clearly I cried. A perfect end to my very favorite series.
These sisters!! All the stars
What an unexpected delight! I indulged in page after charming page of Act Your Age, Eve Brown and came away a supremely satisfied reader.
I am drawn to quirky, perceptive, and witty characters, so it was only natural for me to instantly adore Eve and Jacob. Eve is cheerful and flighty. After a series of failed career choices, she finds herself on a journey of self-actualization. Jacob is very orderly, awkward, and grumpy. He wrestles with trust issues and hiring Eve to help run his Bed & Breakfast is the last thing he expects to do.
Jacob and Eve are two very different oddballs, but they respect their differences without trying to change each other. I enjoyed their yin-yang dynamics as well as their enemies to friends turned lovers relationship progression.
I’m new to the Brown Sisters series and to Talia Hibbert’s writing so I had no idea just how laugh-out-loud funny this story would be. It’s the extremely hot sexy times that most caught me off guard, though. Turns out that Jacob is very naughty indeed! I found myself chuckling, breaking out my fan, and swooning — all in the same scene.
This entertaining story was a win for me. I need to go back and read the first two books about the other Brown sisters.
I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read and review.
Quintessential Hibbert—sweet and tart in perfect proportion. A lovely slow burn romance between a chaotic ray of sunshine and an orderly grump, both of whom are on the spectrum. Loved it.
Full review at BookPage: https://bookpage.com/reviews/26037-talia-hibbert-act-your-age-eve-brown-romance#.YEgKul1Kg6A
I’ve so loved this series, and while this book didn’t hit me quite the way the other 2 did, I still enjoyed it, and I’m glad I got to know Eve and Jacob.
Eve Brown is a hot mess. She is the baby of the family and she’s gotten away with a whole lot. Every time she tries something new, it ultimately blows up in her face. So she’s basically stopped trying. After yet another quickly abandoned career attempt, her parents lay down the law. They are going to temporarily cut off her trust fund payments. They expect her to get and keep a job for a year, and she has to move out on her own within 3 months. She leaves home in a fit of upset and drives all the way up to the lake district, where she finds a sign on a B&B for chef interviews. She hopes to charm her way into the job, like she has so many things in her life, even though she’s in no way prepared for a job interview. But, she didn’t count on Jacob.
Jacob Wayne likes everything just so. He’s always in control, and everything at his B&B runs to his precise specifications. When Eve rolls in like a hurricane, he is appalled. He’s rude, and has no interest in hiring her. But his friend Mont makes him realize, he doesn’t really have a choice, as he’s out of time to find a chef before a very important festival he’s booked. So, he goes out to talk to her, but before he can, she accidentally backs into him with her car! He breaks his wrist and has a concussion, so she stays to help him out, though he’s still big mad about it. But, slowly, they both realize how great she is at the job, and he finds that all the wild things about her don’t actually bother him after all.
Eve and Jacob had excellent banter, and it was a very thin line between love and hate type of situation between them. Their chemistry was obvious, and I enjoyed watching them fall for each other without realizing it. But, they both had big issues they carried with them throughout their lives, and they let those past issues and failures affect their current lives, and their futures, in myriad ways. They each had to learn how to stop defaulting to past behaviors, and figure out better ways of doing things, which of course, isn’t easy.
Eve’s sisters were a delight as always. I loved both of their books so much, and I always like seeing them and their awesome heroes again. Their grandmother Gigi was also a hoot, as always. Jacob’s best friend Mont, and his two sisters Tessa & Alex were lovely too, and I can’t wait to get to know more about them in the next series!
Eve had to realize the ways in which her family infantilized her, and enabled her to keep acting in a childish way. Once she did that, and stood up for herself with them, I believed she had really hit a turning point, which was wonderful. Jacob had to stop letting his fears of abandonment, and other issues from his childhood color his life. Once he realized he wasn’t giving Eve his trust completely, and how he needed to go about fixing that, I believed in the change in him too.
Ultimately, these 2 people were perfect for each other, and it was at times lovely and fun, or painful and heartbreaking, watching them figure it out. Even though this book was just as well written as the first two, something didn’t quite click with me in the same way, and that’s ok. I’m sure that there will be plenty of people who click with this book the best of the three, and I’m thrilled for everyone to get the chance to find out.
I would definitely recommend this book, and this entire series, to anyone who loves uniquely competent heroines, and the heroes who love them. These sisters have my heart.