Welcome back to another buddy read discussion! I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen one of these discussions, but we are back and ready to go. This time Ely and I are going to be talking about Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert.  You can check out our other buddy reads here on Angel Reads and on Earl Grey Books.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert 

Pages: 373
Publish date: November 5th 2019
Publisher: Avon Books
ISBN: 9780062941206
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Get A Life, Chloe Brown:

Angel: I cannot tell you how excited I was when we decided to include this in our buddy read discussions. I needed a push to pick it up as it’s been on my tbr for a while now. I’ve talked about this before, but I don’t read many solely contemporary romances. If they are contemporary it normally has some sort of theme like an MC romance or sports romance. 

So I was a little hesitant to pick Get a Life, Chloe Brown up, but I also had heard fantastic things about it. From both online and in person. And I had the best time reading it. 

Ely: I mean, you know that I’ve never had particularly good luck with contemporary romances in the past but there’s definitely something about this one that sets it apart from the rest.

A: There were a few things that stood out to me about this book from the start. First and probably the most important to me was the disability rep. Both Ely and I thrive for books especially romance ones that have disability representation. And this had it and it wasn’t hiding or shoving it aside either.

The second is the ‘Rebel without a cause’ nature of the male protagonist and love interest. Was that what caught your interest as well? 

E: Oh absolutely. I think it was especially because Chloe lives with chronic illness, specifically chronic pain and fatigue that really caught me since we both have experiences with those too. What did you think of the rep now that we’ve read it?

A: I loved it so much. As you said both of us have chronic illness and pain and man did I feel it. I felt the isolation, the fear and everything else that comes with having a disability. Also, I loved how it was explored and I felt everything that Chloe was feeling from the start. I loved that Chloe was shown pushing herself a little – and not in a bad way. She wanted to do it in her time and her time alone.

In saying this I do wish it was explored just a little more as something as simple as going to a doctor’s appointment. 

E: I completely agree. It actually made me really think about my own approach to being chronically ill and disabled and kind of convinced me that it’s time that I start pushing myself a little more and to not let myself get so bogged down in things. It is a little unrealistic that she went this entire time without a doctor’s appointment. I’ve got at least one a week at this point, even if it’s just a telehealth appointment and I’ve had most of my conditions for years!

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

A: And while this may seem like a small thing for people, for something with a disability its part of our lives. But’s not a major deal, because everything else was really well done. While we are talking about Chloe and as I said earlier I felt that I was really about to connect with her. She was an easy protagonist to get along with. I understood what she was going through and that made for such an easy read. What did you think of Chloe? 

E: It’s a huge part of our lives! I really liked Chloe, even in the few moments where she was kind of rude or being a bit of an idiot. There is something deeply likable about her. Maybe that has something to do with the disability angle.

What about Red? How did you feel about him?

A: It actually took me a little while to start like Red. I don’t know exactly why though. Maybe because of the strong barriers he puts up. As soon as he and Chloe start to flirt and connect it goes. Red was fun and entertaining. I adored the way that he treated Chloe. He didn’t treat her like she was a baby or that she was helpless, but he also learnt her limits.  

I also love that we get to see him grown throughout the novel. The reader does get to see him change as the walls start to break down.  We see him become stronger. I think he also had this great combo of having these ‘bad boy’ vibes but also being very sweet. What did you think of him?

E: I love the way he treated Chloe too. I did literally send you a message talking about how much I wanted my own Red. I just thought he was really sweet, and I loved that he was a painter.

Also, I do feel like we still never really got to see the whole of him. I do have to say that I think a lot of things are kind of brushed over in here like they’re mentioned and made to seem important but they don’t go too far. Did you feel that too?

A: Oh absolutely! I think that is one of my concerns with the book. We learn all these things especially about Red, but then I feel nothing comes from it. Red had a pretty abusive relationship. And while we get one conversation, we don’t get to see him deal with it. It’s briefly spoken about, but not enough especially since the relationship that he and Chloe and getting into it. 

Another thing that I felt that Get a Life, Chloe Brown lacked was a support system. I feel that we don’t get to see enough of Chloe’s sisters. Or Red’s friends. We only really get to see Red and Chloe together and then that is it. Did you feel the same?

Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash

E: That’s exactly how I felt! I feel like we had such a dramatic prologue as well but then we don’t really hear about it until quite a way through the book, we’re kind of left wondering what happened. Looking back at it now, I feel like there isn’t so much of a plot as an exploration of a relationship. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Oh, Chloe has no support. There are mentions of it, but I feel like her family are always these like distant characters who we’re aware of but never really get to see. I mean, we get to see Red’s mum, what once?

A: That was the next thing that I was going to say. I felt that there weren’t many things going on. And it’s not a bad thing.  I didn’t feel bored per se – but like I was waiting for something more to happen. 

We know she doesn’t any friends, and that she lost a lot of people after her health issues. I did get a sense that her family was pretty good with everything. But then we never see them. Which I felt strange about as the series is about the sisters. I think so, I don’t even remember her name.

And while I didn’t love these things, I thought that the romance was fantastic and they were absolutely adorable together. How about you? 

E: I definitely wasn’t bored. I love their romance and while reading it I didn’t really think about the other stuff too much, I was just happy with how adorable and lovely the whole thing was.

A: Exactly! I smiled so much while reading it that is for sure. I love books that make me feel like that. Plus add to that good disability rep and we have a winner. I know I have already ordered the next 2 books at work because I can’t wait to read the other sisters stories. You have ordered them in as well right?

Photo by Anastasiia Pyvovarova on Unsplash

E: I ordered them immediately after finishing this one. It seems like they might arrive tomorrow. I really have no idea what their stories hold for us!

A: I sadly won’t be able to get mine till after lockdown. But it’s okay. I think that is what makes me most excited It’s all open and I cannot wait to dig in. 

Well, thank you for joining me again. This was definitely a hit for both of us. Our next buddy read is Lore which I’m really excited about, and then One Last Stop. 

And there we go. Have you read Get A Life, Chloe Brown yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning to? Let’s Chat!