Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert is a rom-com that is heavy on anticipation, but it also has a moments where the tension eases in a giggle fest. Chloe Brown has fibromyalgia, which can be debilitating for those who have this chronic condition. I have friends with this disease, and it can lead them to stay home and suffer in pain no matter what meds they have on hand.
It’s an book club excellent selection for readers who want to learn more about chronic illness, particularly one that cannot be seen as a physical manifestation of abnormality. It teaches readers to be more empathetic like the male character, Red, who by all accounts is already leaning toward empathetic because he cares for his sick mother.
Yes, it is a romance, and yes, there is a lot of heavy petting, etc., but you should expect that from the cover and book description alone.
The highlights for me were the front-and-center look at trauma and its impact on people, the frank discussion of emotional abuse by a woman toward a man, the acceptance of therapy as a tool for coping with trauma, and the realization that for relationships to grow, the people in them have to not only empathize with each other, but also know when they are wrong and admit it.
Chloe Brown is a list maker and Red is a risk-taker. They balance each other out nicely in this book. Chloe’s sisters’ bet on her relationship with Red and her grandmother Gigi’s sage advice are gems here too. I really would love to see Red’s mom and Chloe’s grandmother get together in one of the sequels for a good time. But I digress.
I recommend this if you need a fast-paced, fun story that has some romance.
RATING: Tercet
About the Author:
Talia Hibbert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.