Named one of the Best Romances of 2020 by Apple, Kirkus, PW, Washington Post, NPR, BookPage, OprahMag, EW, Insider, Buzzfeed, Bustle, and Amazon!
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 … 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, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Little Bridge Island and Princess Diaries series
Featured in OprahMag, Bustle, Parade, PopSugar, New York Post, Essence, Travel & Leisure, Ms. Magazine, TheSkimm, Betches, Shondaland, Buzzfeed and more…
more
Absolutely loved this one!
Absolutely loved! Talia Hibbert was not exaggerating when she described Zaf, her latest hero, in her last author newsletter. That man is all that, and more!
(He reads romance! And coaches rugby teams on how to take care of their mental health! And actually pays attention to Dani when she talks–and remembers what she says! Plus, he reads her academic articles! I could go on and on and on, but really–read it for yourself. Once you do, let the Zaf-gushing commence. Trust me, it’s inevitable.)
Honestly, from her descriptions of them Dani’s previous romantic partners were all seriously lacking. But even if they had been more…average? I hesitate to say “normal”…OMG, they would have paled in comparison to the significant other that Zaf is, and has clearly always was meant to be. Dani wasn’t a slouch in this department either–for all of her I can’t do relationships and I’m just in it for the Os protestations, the way she took a single mention from Zaf about panic attacks as a reason read up on them, and then was an absolute rock star when he then had one in front of her? I mean, good grief. These two. They were almost too much.
(Yet, not. Because this book could have gone on for another 400+ pages and I would be here for it.)
I really enjoyed Chloe’s book ( Get a Life, Chloe Brown ) and I’m sure Eve’s book will be perfectly lovely…but goodness. Dani and Zaf will stay in my memory as one of *those* couples for a good long time, I am sure.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Let’s hear it for inclusive reads that celebrate individuality with style, humour and aplomb!
Take a Hint, Dani Brown is the sophomore novel in The Brown Sister’s series, and in keeping with the family tradition, Dani is a unapologetic whirlwind of sass and intelligence. Unlike the adage “All work and no play..”
Dani’s PhD does not stop her from satisfying her penchant for exactly that. She has no desire to enter a relationship, but seeks the help of intervention in deciding upon who her next friend with benefits should be.
Zafir Ansari has admired Dani from afar, he appreciates a great woman when he sees one and his interactions with her are the highlight of his day. He daren’t dream of ever being able land a woman like Dani but the power of social media and #DrRugbae has other plans for them.
Zaf has a history of his own and his journey to now security guard is paved with grief and some regret. He battles anxiety but even with his struggles he seeks a position of betterment for himself and others like him. He is a wonderful man and for all his grumpiness incredibly sweet.
Dani and Zaf’s friendship was awash with hilarious banter but also genuine care for one another. The move into a physical relationship seemed like a seamless one and I cheered from the stands as their thoughts belied just how deeply their affections ran. They were hugely supportive of one another and I enjoyed witnessing the unfolding of their relationship.
We are two for two with the Brown Sisters and I am not so patiently waiting for Talia to bring on the first lady, Eve!
This book is fabulous. I adore both Dani and Zaf individually and together. It’s a fake dating trope, where, after a mishap, everyone believes they are dating, and thanks to a little social media magic (despite Zaf’s reluctance due to a bunch of significant concerns regarding his privacy AND his own mental health), they have a chance to use some publicity for the charity that Zaf started.
The chemistry between them is both lovely and hot. They have a wonderful “opposites attract” vibe with Zaf being the romance-reading, careful but hopeful romantic and Dani as the commitment-leary, driven, slightly cynical academic.
They each had amazing arcs, with Zaf’s involving learning to live with grief and manage it (because you do never truly “get over it” and it does always effect your life in some way, for good or bad) and figure out how to be kinder to himself over his own mental health issues as well. And Dani’s arc is about, realizing her own worth and all that she deserves (which is a little Zaf too), and getting a bit out of her own way. The way this all was develop was super well done and the end was so satisfying, I just loved it.
A sweet, hot, swoony rom-com with an alpha heroine and a romance novel-loving hero!
Honestly, I knew I was going to love this book. Get a Life, Chloe Brown was my top read of 2019 and I couldn’t wait for her sister’s book. Add in a fake relationship and an ultimate cinnamon bun hero and I was sold! This was an adorable and heartfelt read and I loved every minute of it!
Zaf is 100% my new book boyfriend! He loves Dani so deeply and completely and it’s just adorable! They have this flirty friendship thing going on in the beginning of the book and then move to a pretend relationship when he literally carries her from a building and they go viral on social media! He has anxiety and needs to learn to let go and Dani, even with her crazy, work-focused self, is great for that. They just fit together so well. I can’t recommend this book enough!
Yessss! This looks great.
A strong female lead falls for a cranky ex-rugby star in this fake dating romance. A wonderfully fun and diverse read!
This is my first novel by Talia and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! It went on my list of fave reads of 2020 and a 5-star! You know how picky I am assigning those two classifications to a book, so yes, this book was that good!
“Oshun, I need a regular source of orgasms.”
One of my top three favorite tropes is fake-relationship, and even better when they’re already friends! This trope came about when there’s a drill happening where Danika works and she ends up being stuck in an elevator. Zaf, the security guard managing this drill notices Dani never made it out. He goes in all macho-man, acting as if this was a real thing. He saves her from being stuck and proceeds to pick her up bridal-style and carry her out of the building. What they don’t know is they’re being recorded, and soon after, they go viral.
“She found herself wanting to kiss the broad curve of his nose. In a purely abstract manner, of course. In reality, Dani would never do something so pointless. Faces were for sitting on, not for kissing.”
Dani is dead-set on no relationships. From her experience, she’s a robot, incapable of loving, tending and caring for someone else. So this fake-relationship which could possibly come with orgasms is just what she needs. What she didn’t count on was how understanding, loving, and accepting Zaf is.
“When you ask me things like that, Danika, it makes me think someone hasn’t treated you right.”
I adored Zaf so freaking much! He had me swooning throughout the entire novel. I think what helps is that he reads romance novels (I’m such a sucker for men who read them and aren’t ashamed of admitting it) because he totally knew what he was doing. Zaf melted my heart. He has such a caring nature. He even has an organization called Tackle It to help young kids. Zaf is also special in my eyes. He shows so much vulnerability throughout the story, sharing his grief and anxiety. Even with his own stuff to deal with, he’s still patient with Danika and supports her.
When the video goes viral, Zaf’s family sees this as a way to bring attention to his organization. This is where we get introduced to his family, which I also adored! His niece, sister-in-law and friend are so amazing and supportive and motivate him to possibly fake-date Danika, the girl he’s been crushing on for a while. I just love how Zaf is such a grumpy to everyone, except Dani. He basically melts at the sight of her.
“I’m the catch of the century on paper, if not in reality, […] No one’s going to believe you’ve been blessed with my affection if you stand there glaring at everything like the world pissed on your pillow.”
The author definitely brought the diversity to this one. We have Danika, a black, bisexual, and curvy PhD student, and we have Zaf, a British Pakistani Muslim, who’s a former Rugby player. Not only is it diverse, but I LOVE that Danika loves and accepts herself. She’s the kind of confident I wish to be. She totally owns her body and her beautiful.
“For future reference, there’s never any need to emphasize my attractiveness. As you say, it’s already an established fact.”
There’s so much more I’d love to say about this novel, but I’ll probably spoil it. This book definitely will live in my heart. There’s so much to it: the diversity, family, friendship, acceptance, learning to take care of oneself, being open, mental health, etc. It really packs it all and flows so smoothly. Talia Hibbert has made me a convert. I now want to read everything she has ever written!
I loved this book! Zaf….sigh Zaf is a sweetheart who’s totally cuddly and alpha hotness combined and he completely stole my heart. This is the second book I’ve read of Talia’s and I love that her characters are wonderfully real with real issues they’re dealing with every day. Zaf has been dealing with his anxiety issues since he’s a kid and he continue to improv on how he manages his anxiety as a grown man. Dani has trust issues both with herself and especially with others. And, again, she continues to work thru her issues. At the heart of Talia’s stories are relationships and that Family is everything.
I would encourage everyone to read this book!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
THIS BOOK. I literally wept while reading this book. Not because it was sad, but because it was that good and exactly what I needed. It’s quite possibly the best friends-to-lovers book I’ve ever read. It’s hilarious and heartfelt and sexy and the banter is superior in every way. Both Zaf and Dani are complex characters that have shit they have to work through, and I just wanted to wrap them up in bubble wrap and keep them safe forever.
If you’re sleeping on this series, you are missing out in a big way. This book is one of my top reads of 2020.
Loveeed it!!
This was my first time reading Talia Hibbert’s books and I adored the writing, the characters. Ugh everything worked really well. As always when I love the book, I find it very difficult to write review, so bear with me.
#DrRugbae for life!!
Danika Brown, bisexual PhD student, teaching english lit at university. ‘Queen of one-time things’, lover of green tea, giant nerd, and avid fan of one Prof. Inez Holly.
Zafir Ansari, former rugby player, current security guard and founder of a charity foundation for. All around good guy, lover of romance books and ‘a grumpy fucker’.
Dani and Zaf have become friends over the course of six months that Dani has moved into a different building for teaching her classes. They were adorable, both have different personalities but they complimented each other. They were both very lovable characters, (Dani would probably beg to differ) they were both good friends, good family members etc. They had their issues to deal with but they were aware of who they were. I genuinely enjoyed their characters.
“One extra-hot, extra-black, extra-bitter coffee for our resident prince of darkness.” “Cheers, Princess…”
Dani was a wonderful character, honestly it’s understandable why you would pull away and make academia and friends your priority over love and relationships not only when you’ve been hurt but also how it affected your outlook of yourself.
Zaf is truly one of a kind hero. I really loved his characterisation. Also on that please normalise men reading romance novels and not cause they want to make fun of them.
See, what Zaf really wanted was to be happy, and he’d read enough romance novels to know how to make that happen… ~Zaf Ansari, internal monologue.
I really enjoyed them together. Not only because Take A Hint, Dani Brown has one my favourite trope of fake dating but also because theres nothing really fake about it?!! Dani and Zaf really do care about each other, respect each other and have oodles oodles of chemistry together. It’s pretty obvious from the start that they have a thing for each other and the whole rescue going viral helps them spend more time together and helps their relationship develop more and their ‘like’ turn into deeper feelings.
“He knew, once and for all, that he loved her. So hard and so hopelessly that he couldn’t deny it, couldn’t fight it, couldn’t hide from it for another fucking second. He loved her intelligence and her ambition, her crystals and her sticky notes, her charming smiles and her dreamy ones.”~ Zaf Ansari, internal monologue.
This is why I read romance, I loved emotions this book made me feel! It has humour, friends to lovers book with a mature relationship with chemistry and fondness. Plus family and friends shenanigans added more depth.
Joy was Zaf. ~Dani Brown, internal monologue.
I liked the bits about anxiety, as someone who suffers from it its nice to read a book where its dealt more realistically. It’s there, it gonna be a part of you, has been for years but its something you have to work through. It isn’t gonna disappear etc.
Honestly, this review isn’t doing justice to the book, it has such a great blend of humour, romance, touching on different issues, chemistry and wonderful characters that you want to get their HEA.
“This love business is absolutely nonsensical”~Dani Brown
Overall, a fantastic read, gonna go read Dani’s sister Chloe’s book now and cant wait for Eves book. Anyone looking for a funny, romantic, low on angst contemporary would enjoy Take A Hint, Dani Brown.
*ARC
THIS BOOK WAS JUST MAGIC!!! OMG I loved it so much, it’s crazy. I laughed, I cried, I swooned forever over Zaf, and crossed my fingers that Dani would figure out her own emotions. I cannot recommend this one highly enough!!
Danika Brown is the middle of 3 sisters, and she’s a bit of a control freak. Also, after a terrible heartbreak in college, she decided romance just isn’t for her. She’s had a series of friends with benefits, or similar short-term “situationships”, and that’s all she has time for. She’s dedicated to her PhD studies, and her goals of professorship, and she has no time for a boyfriend, or a girlfriend. But, she’s become friendly with the security guard at the campus building she teaches in, and though he’s HOT, a little flirty banter and exchange of snacks is as far as it’s gone. Until the emergency drill gone wrong.
Zafir Ansari is a former pro rugby player, who gave up his career due to a depression and anxiety overload after the sudden deaths of his father and older brother in an accident. Now, he works security at the university, and on the side he runs a non-profit he started, where he teaches teenagers rugby, and emotional maturity, and coping skills. He’s wanted Dani Brown since the first day he saw her, but they’ve become friends, and she’s never expressed any interest in taking things further. But, they ARE friends, and after he saves her during the drill, and a video of him carrying her out of the building goes viral, with their own hashtag, he’s getting a lot more attention on his charity. He asks if she’d consider having a fake relationship for a while, to take advantage of the attention for as long as possible.
Zaf and Dani’s chemistry was wildly hot, and I loved their flirty, funny banter. They really did care for each other as friends, so as they opened up even more about their lives, and their pasts, they came to care even more. It was so beautiful watching them fall in love, without even realizing it, and then when they each DID realize it?? BOOM. It was amazing. Zaf was so in touch with his emotions, and was a total romantic, while still being everything else you want in a romance hero. I mean, a hero who reads romance novels?!? Yes, please! Dani was about the opposite of that. She buried everything deep until she couldn’t any more. She acted like she didn’t really have any feelings at all, which of course never works in the long run. She was happy to admit friendship love, and love for her family, but beyond that she was a fortress, until Zaf sneaked under her skin.
Zaf’s family and best friend were so lovely, and Dani’s best friend Sorcha was hilarious. The other Brown sisters, and grandmother, were amazing again, and getting a peek in on Chloe & Red from book 1 was delightful as well. The side characters here were so fleshed out, and added so much to the plot. They really helped the main characters come to terms with their issues, and figure out plans to correct their wrongdoings. I can’t wait to get the final, youngest, Brown sister’s book next!
Truly, this book was something so special, and I recommend everyone read it immediately! I loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown so much, but I adored this one even more. It was seriously THE. BEST!
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
4.5*
I know this is the second book in a series, and I haven’t read the first one (yet! I’ve bought today so, it should be read soon!) but I couldn’t resist the premise.
I finished the book at 1 a.m. today. It made me feel all the feels. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to write a proper review, as I’m still with that “in love” feeling.
This book has a cinnamon roll hero. I mean… I’m totally in love with Zafir Ansari. He’s a Muslim, former rugby player, who reads romance novels. I mean…do I need to say anything else?
I loved how Talia Hibbert was so real. She shows real struggles and real achievements, and she does it in such a caring way.
Danika Brown is a fierce, PhD. student and a university teacher. She is a sexy, confident, and awesome bisexual – except she doesn’t do “feelings”. And Zaf is more in touch with his feelings than most, as he had to deal with mental health issues, and knows how important it is to recognize how we feel, and accept it. So, when these two decide to fake a relationship to help Zaf’s charity, and add benefits to that same relationship, things start to change.
Dani never really had someone (besides her sisters and her best friends) that understood her, and actually cared about her and her work – because that’s a whole package. And the people she knew before, they didn’t get how important that was to her, and at the same she didn’t recognize their feelings (I’m looking at Jo, not at Mateo, to be clear). She did try, when she thought she was in love, and when that went wrong, she decided no long term thing for her, just give her a f*ck buddy, and she’ll be happy. But Zaf is more than that. He’s a friend, and he actually pays attention to her, and when things change between them Dani is scared.
And Zaf gets it. Late, but he does. Zaf is an amazing guy, who has dealt, and continually deals with mental health problems, and he’s created this amazing charity where he teaches young boys to accept and recognize their feelings and their struggles, without toxic masculinity – go Zaf!
I loved the hot, sexy times, but most of all I loved to see their relationship grow, and seeing Dani and Zaf being recognized by their separate works, it’s inspiring. And Dani’s gesture, at the end of the book? If I had already melted for our hero, this made me completely adore our heroine, because she respected his love of romance books, and made a gesture with them for him – not because she had to or he asked her to, but because she wanted to and knew it would make him happy.
Because that’s the goal in a romantic relationship, isn’t it? To be with someone not because you have to, but because you want to, and you are happy to be with them, and do nice things for them, again, not because you have to or feel obliged to do it, but because it gives makes you happy to make them happy.
After reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown last year I knew that I had to read Take a Hint, Dani Brown!
Dani Brown doesn’t do emotional relationships. She’s been burned in the past and doesn’t want a repeat performance. Dani is also a practicing witch and asks the universe to send her the perfect no-string-attached partner.
Zafir Ansari and Dani work at the same place and Zaf has kind of had a crush on Dani for some time now. When Zaf ends up rescuing Dani from a stalled elevator (super cute scene), they go viral with the hashtag #DrRugbae!
I absolutely love a fake relationship trope and Dani and Zaf are faking it for the cameras constantly pointed at them – but how long does the faking last? I love a strong heroine and Dani Brown was amazing! She was so sure of herself – from her sexuality (bi-sexual) to her work on intersectionality in feminist literature.
And Zaf…swoon! Zaf was so perfect. Not only was he a rugby player, but he also teaches kids on how to work through their anxiety. He has dealt with loss and anxiety over the years and there’s no one better to teach young athletes on how to manage that. Zaf’s family was also from Pakistan and I loved the Hindi/Punjabi works sprinkled throughout the book. It definitely helped me to relate to his character. Oh … he also reads romance books!!!
As always, Talia’s writing was so beautiful. I have so many parts of the books highlighted that resonated with me. Whether it was the way Zaf felt about Dani or the way Dani was so passionate about her work and how was afraid of entering into a relationship. I love the chemistry between these two and was sad when the book ended!
Take a Hint, Dani Brown was the perfect follow up to Get a Life, Chloe Brown and I can’t wait for Eve’s book next!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
You need to read this book!
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert is one of my favorite books for the year because it takes the geeky Dani and matches her with the oh-so-serious Zafir and then takes them on a journey fake dating to maybe something more and then being serious about being in love.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown has a heroine that really doesn’t think she deserves love because she gets involved with research and forgets things. Dani Brown hasn’t met the immovable force that is former rugby player Zafir Ansari how is the building security guard that Dani and secretly been lusting after. Zaf’s job is being a security guard but his passion is the program that he started helping young boys open up about mental health challenges and how to deal with them.
I seriously loved Take a Hint, Dani Brown because I couldn’t put it down and read the book in two days, I’m a fast reader but paperbacks take me longer to read so you need to read the book too!
Thanks to Avon and Goodreads for the ARC giveaway!
n
Hint: This Book is Perfection!
If you’ve read Get a Life, Chloe Brown you know that, middle Brown sister, Dani isn’t known for her delicacy but she’s fierce as hell! In Take a Hint, Dani Brown she finds herself smack in the middle of a viral moment with her friend/secret crush/would love to be bed buddies with Zaf.
Zaf has fought his way out of depression,
learned to control his anxiety, and is now channeling what he’s learned into a youth program. Oh, he also has the biggest crush on Dani Brown. When #DrRugbae starts trending they see it as their opportunity to help each other and maybe get a little closer – at least physically, or at least that was the plan.
I absolutely loved how Zaf and Dani see their own flaws but can only see the beauty and goodness in each other. The subtle things they do for each other and the way they commit to each other, even when they’re still “faking it” absolutely melted my heart.
If you like fake dating, only this one time, and friends to lovers with a touch of grump and sunshine (they take turns being each of those – squee!) and a hero who speaks the language of romance novels THIS is the books for you!!! And even if you don’t like those things, it’s still the book for you, it’s that good.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.