Take a Hint Dani Brown

By Talia Hibbert

What it’s about?

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?

What I think:

I read this as part of November’s Collective Voices Readalong organised by Tandem Collective. I’ve had it for a while but had put off reading it as a few people said I should read Get a Life Chloe Brown first .

The book totally stands alone, but there are some pretty big Chloe Brown spoilers that an eagle-eyed reader can spot. Having said that I’m definitely reading Chloe Brown soon and Indonesia think the “spoliers” will spoil my enjoyment at all.

I really enjoyed this book.

Dani is such a real person.

She has a career that she is passionate about and is ambitious and hardworking. She’s confident with her appearance and open about her sexuality. She is clear about what she wants in a relationship – at least she thinks she is.

Her friendship with Zaf is so genuine and they know each other so well. While Zaf knows how he feels about Dani, it takes her a while to realise what she feels for him.

The fake relationship quickly becomes confusing as it is clear that their feelings for each other are not fake. They are compatible in so many ways – the sex scenes are pretty steamy! But they share a sense of humour and sensitivity. Family is important to both of them and support each other’s passions.

I love a happy ending and 2020 needs as many as it can get so I really enjoyed this book. It’s engaging, witty and easy to read with zipping dialogue.

I’m so glad I got around to reading it and will definitely be reading the other Brown sisters books.

Read Take a Hint Dani Brown for yourself:

Waterstones: click here

Amazon.co.uk: click here