
Member Reviews

I loved this final book of the Brown sister trilogy! Eve's great big personality, the comedic banter, and the steamy chemistry between her and Jacob made it my favorite!

Do you have auto-buy authors who you know you’ll be reading as soon as they publish something new? For me - Talia Hibbert is definitely one of those authors and has written some of my favorite romances. However - even our favorites can sometimes have a story that’s a miss for us and that was the case for me with Act Your Age, Eve Brown.
Maybe it was partly a case of burned by my own high expectations because Take a Hint Dani Brown is one of my absolute favorite romances. I loved it SO MUCH and had heard great things about Eve from friends.
At the start I was into it - Eve has been struggling to find her path, starting and stopping many different careers. Her parents told her she had to move out and keep a job for a year in order to get access to her trust back. Eve takes off on a long drive and ends up at a B&B that is hiring a chef. There she meets Jacob who is the owner of the inn and has an idea of what he expects and she isn’t it. But when his best friend convinces him to give her another shot and he runs out to tell her - she hits him with her car. Feeling terrible about his injuries she decides to stay and help at the inn while he heals.
I love the premise. I enjoyed Eve and Jacob. However something just felt really off to me - I think it was the pacing or the way the romance was mixed in to the rest of the story. It felt a little jarring to me like we would be moving along and then suddenly BAM, Eve would make a comment to herself about Jacob’s body or what she wanted to do with him. It just felt out of left field and forced to me. And same with their romantic encounters. It’s hard to really explain exactly why it didn’t work for me but it didn’t.
I did really love the ways that Eve and Jacob show respect for each other’s differences and don’t try to change each other. And it was nice to see glimpses of the couples from the first two books. But ultimately this one wasn’t for me. I’m still first in line for Talia Hibbert’s next book though!
Thank you to Avon, Netgalley and Librofm for the advance reading and listening copies.

Thanks to #Hearourvoice and Harpercollins for making this ARC via #Netgalley available.
As someone who loved the first two books in the series, I am so happy that I got my hands on this book. The representation that Talia Hibbert has provided all through the series has been fantastic. It is always amazing for people to see themselves represented in books. It is very enabling.
I really loved reading this book. Eve Brown is a character that I have been really interested in since the first two books. Especially since she was portrayed as the highly sexed sister whose words never come out the way she intends. Reading a book about her was just so climatic.
At the beginning of this book, she has a confrontation with her parents which leads her to drive far away from home hoping that she would start a new life and at the same time prove to her family that she is can hold down a job and is not a failure. That is when she walks into an interview for a Bed and Breakfast Chef. The owner of the BnB does not like her and he cannot help but say exactly what is on his mind. Jacob is Autistic and he lets her know that on their first meeting. Since his eyes could barely drag themselves away from her breasts, she teases him. Jacob almost explodes in rage, but Mont his friend advised him to employ Eve.
With Eve already sashing her gorgeously thick ass out the door. They both have to run after her. Long story short, Eve hits Jacob with her car which results in him being concussed, his arm broken and in the hospital. Now, she had to hold down the fort, basically. When Jacob wakes the next morning to find her following all his rigid safety rules and making his guest comfortable, he is surprisingly thankful.
They are honestly the most balanced couple in the romance world. The fact that Jacob is autistic and speaks his mind, matched well with Eve who favours speaking her mind and appreciates when people are blunt. A small spoiler, Eve realizes that she also has autism and being together helped her understand herself better.
The sex scenes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am trying not to sound like a deranged person because they are both too hot for their own good. To be honest, it was more the chemistry between the two of them than the actual sex. Eve knew exactly what she wanted and Jacob was willing to try. It was never about taking either of them out of their comfort zone. It was more about making sure they enjoyed themselves in their comfort zones.
This book was just perfection.

Eve Brown has been kicked out and cut off. Her parents want her to get serious and hold down a job. Determined to prove she’s not actually a hot mess, Eve ventures forth to adult, and in process accidentally runs over the cute yet intense owner of the bed and breakfast where she just applied to cook. Jacob Wayne is a perfectionist, now with a broken arm, and in desperate need for a cook. He demands excellence, and Eve Brown is not exactly what he had in mind. But there is something about the sunny, chaotic, and whimsical woman that may just thaw Jacob’s frosty exterior.
Another hilarious and sexy romp from Talia Hibbert, and it was a delight. With unique and complex new characters to root for, and cameos from our favorite Brown sisters and their partners, this cast of characters felt like a hug. Jacob and Eve made no sense, but I did not care a bit, and rooted for them all the way. Eve may have felt like she lived in the shadows of her sisters, but she certainly held her own in this installment in the series. I will miss this series, but look forward to Hibbert’s next project. Hopefully they arrive sooner rather than later.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown was such a charming and lovely read. This is my first Talia Hibbert book and I truly did not expect to adore these characters as much as I did. Eve Brown is on a journey to self-actualization. She's 26-years-old and trying to become more independent, so she runs off from home and accidentally runs over Jacob Wayne. He is a small-town B&B owner and she becomes his new cook.
Eve and Jacob served us sunshine and grumpy trope. They complimented each other and every way. Eve is beautiful, chaotic, and loud, unapologetically herself. Jacob is our orderly, calm, and rational hero. Together, these two are the perfectly imperfect opposites attract pair. This book has everything you could ever want, witty banter, heart-warming scenes, LOL-moments. There were so many cute moments that my heart squeezed so tight in my chest. I also didn't expect the book to be so sexy and steamy... that was a very welcomed surprise! I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of this book.
The diverse representation was written exceptionally well. I love how Talia humanized these characters and gave them their own story. Autism is not what defined who Jacob was. He leads a perfectly normal and functional life. He has his own hopes, dreams, and doubts. He loves and despairs. Talia wrote real and authentic characters. This was a wonderful book that explored different aspects of identities with affection and joy rather than sorrow.
Seriously one of the highlights of my 2021 so far. I couldn't rave about this book more. It is an absolute must-read. Without a doubt in my mind, everyone should pick this up.

Hibbert is back at it again making you fall in love with yet another Brown sister. Eve is just as charming as her older sisters Chloe and Dani, and full of life and spunk. Once again we are pulled into an absolutely adorable and hilarious love story with the perfect touch of spice. It's hard not to fall in love with characters so full of love, sass, and life. And bless Hibbert for once again presenting us with total relationship goals once again!
The final review will be on geekdeclassified.com on March 3rd.

I’m a huge fan of this series so I may have been a tad excited for Eve’s story. Perhaps I had too high of expectations but man did they fall short. I was invested until about 30% and then found the story sluggish and all I wanted to do was skim. Too much focus on Jacob for me. I wanted more of Eve. Perhaps more backstory or setting outside of the B&B. Overall it left me very unsatisfied. I would still recommend Chloe and Dani’s stories.

I am a big Talia Hibbert fan so I was very excited to receive an advanced digital copy of the third and final story in the Brown Sisters series. I have not read Chloe's or Dani's stories, and though they share some characters (Brown family members, significant others from previous books) Act Your Age can be read on its' own. Like me, you'll definitely want to go and read the other two books after reading this one. Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for this copy! All opinions expressed are my own.
I absolutely fell in love with Eve and Jacob. They are the definition of Grumpy Sunshine. Eve is financially cut off and thrust into the world after her parents think she's had too many failed attempts at adulting. She has so much heart, but even as hard as she tries things just end up taking a turn for the worst. She's feisty, loving, and glitter personified but is struggling with the desire to make her parents proud and being who others want her to be. Jacob is in control of everything (on the outside that is), but his B&B has a problem and he needs major help. Especially when he's left with a broken arm and no staff to take over the day to day duties. Enter Eve who will do everything possible to help Jacob while also trying to figure out who she is and what she wants in life.
This book is laugh out loud funny, sexy, and gave me all the feels. Eve and Jacob balanced each other beautifully. They are each dealing with their own issues and we see how that effects their relationship. They allow each other to be exactly who they are, while also inspiring each other to be better. One of my favorite thing about Talia Hibbert's writing is the diversity and inclusion that's present in all her books. Her books look like the world to me. Although Jacob has autism it does not define him. Yes it is a puzzle piece in what makes Jacob who he is, but there are hundreds of other puzzle pieces as well.
Talia uses a lot of similes in her writing, which I love because I'm able to fully grasp how the characters are feeling so I'll end my review with this. Jacob is like a cactus-prickly on the outside, but has cool refreshing water on the inside. Eve is like a bath bomb-colorful, sparkly, and solid, but needs water to fully reveal her true self. Don't worry, Talia's similes are a lot better. Pick up your own copy of Act Your Age, Eve Brown for a laugh out loud, feel good enemies to friends to lovers romance set at a charming B&B that will have you dreaming of your own trip to Castell Cottage and nests with grumpy, handsome men.

This book was addictive, comforting, sexy, and all the other things you want out of a Talia Hibbert novel. I think I fell a little bit in love, and I think this is my favorite of hers yet, which is quite a feat considering how much I loved both Chloe and Dani’s stories, especially Take a Hint, Dani Brown. I loved getting to return to the world of the Brown sisters and their family (shoutout especially to the legend that is Gigi). Talia Hibbert is such a talented author and her books are like catnip to me. The entire story felt like this amazing escapist retreat. That feeling was only heightened by the fact that it was set at a quaint B&B in the Lake District, and was filled with so much simple, cozy domesticity (making food, caring for a home) that you just wanted to curl up in the book and live in it. There was so much amazing banter, sexual tension off the charts, and so much sweetness. I was obsessed with Eve, I was obsessed with Jacob, and I fell in love with all of the new side characters. Hibbert makes you fall in love with almost all of her side characters, actually, which is truly a gift of hers, and one I seek out and cherish in an author. This book was a cool glass of iced tea on a breezy August evening and a gift from the reading gods. I can’t recommend it (or Hibbert’s other books) enough—go read them now!!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (Brown Sisters #3) 4 stars
The last book of the Brown Sisters trilogy, but is the last the best?
Eve Brown has a problem, after starting a wedding planner business she closes the business after a blowup with a dove vendor. Her parents are disappointed with her never ending changing career goals. They decide to cut her off from her trust funds until she can demonstrate gainful employment for a year. In a panic, she drives away and ends up in a B&B desperately seeking a cook. Jacob, the owner of the B&B has worked for years in the hospitality industry. Sinking all available funds into this B&B he needs it succeed, especially since he has gotten a booth at the Gingerbread Festival. The initial interview doesn't go well, since Jacob is appalled by her clothes, behavior and he can't stop thinking about her body. She leaves, but he changes his mind and tries to find her. One vehicular accident later (Eve hits him with her car) and she is in charge of the B&B. What follows is a charming tale of romance between two people that have their own problems to overcome.
I have to confess, this was not my favorite Brown Sister book, that honor goes to "Take a Hint, Dani Brown". I found the book a little disjointed and the end was a little abrupt. Both Eve and Jacob are autistic to a degree and find the world a little hard to deal with. I found the character portrayals to be descriptive about what makes Jacob and Eve uncomfortable and what methods they found to deal with it. The romance was sweet and I enjoyed the banter between Eve and Jacob.
Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this ARC.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third book in the Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert and centers around youngest sister Eve, who has just quit her latest career endeavor. Her parents are fed up and give her an ultimatum: hold down a job for a year or lose access to her trust fund. There's also one more catch: she needs to move out. Eve gets in her car and starts to drive, and happens upon a sign for a job opening at a Bed and Breakfast. On a whim, she parks and goes in for a job interview that does not go as well as expected, and ends with Eve hitting her future boss Jacob with her car. Stricken with guilt, Eve stays on to help while Jacob recovers from his injuries. Along the way, Eve and Jacob find that they have developed feelings for each other. As with the other books in the series, this is a hilarious and fun rom-com journey that also delves into more series issues, as Jacob is on the autism spectrum. Another great book from Talia Hibbert.

After a promising beginning, this was such a disappointment to me. However, I might be alone in the sentiment.
After being stalled in her life for years, her fed-up parents kick her out and cut her off. Eve randomly ends up in a small town and gets a job being a cook in a B&B after she hits the owner with her car. Now she has to work with the crabby man while proving that she can achieve something.
There is a good chance what annoyed me annoyed no one else. So if you don't mind the things I list, then this book is for you.
Eve and Jacob are cute. However, their cute times tend to end with Jacob admiring her ass or her breasts. This ruined the mood for me. There were glimmers where I saw that he liked her for more than her physical assets, but he doesn't dwell on them as much. I can theoretically see why they are a good couple, but the sexy thoughts make it seem more like lust between the two of them than love. The ending felt rushed because Eve decided that Jacob and I don't see coming. In fact, I was supposed to be on Eve's side with the argument, but all I could think was that she was backsliding to her previous ways.
This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was a lot of fun - Eve and Jacob were unique and fun to read characters that set this romance apart from others I've read. Talia Hibbert does a great job of bringing in humor, but also some really serious topics into her books. I feel like this is so hard to find, especially in a book that also has interesting characters, a hot and steamy romance (honestly, super steam!!), and good writing. I can't honestly say why it didn't make a bigger impression on me than 3 stars, but this is really a 3.5 star read - definitely better than average and worth a read if you're into romance.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is, rightly so, on almost every most anticipated books of 2021 list I've seen. The conclusion of Hibbert's Brown Sisters series, I too was eager to read this one and was so excited when I was approved for an eARC. It starts off a bit slow and then it escalates drastically. Like the other Brown Sisters books, it's easy and quick to read. As with the others, I adored how the book touches on Chloe and Dani (Eve's sisters).
Unfortunately, I have to say that this is personally my least favorite of the trilogy, but that's just personal taste (and maybe because Eve reminds me a little bit of my younger sister). It definitely has all of the Talia Hibbert trademarks. It's brilliant and adorable and deeper than you might expect. The banter is top notch, and I adored Eve and Jacob. I was surprised there wasn't more conflict and thought it was setting up for more, but I enjoyed the story arc and conclusion regardless. Honestly, I just loved Take a Hint, Dani Brown so much that it would've been really hard to exceed my expectations. Overall, a great read and definitely recommended!

I just love the Brown sisters! Some parts of this one were laugh out loud funny. I really love Hibbert’s inclusivity. She did a very tasteful job discussing autism in adults and recognizing the need or discomfort with certain sensory devices.

Having read Get a Life, Chloe Brown, I knew I could expect interesting characters, a story of growth, and humor. While I got all three, I feel like this one fell short of what the first book brought to the table. I love a good enemies to lovers story and it starts out that way. The first third of the book had the witty banter between Eve’s Sunshine and Jacob’s Grumpy, a fun storyline, and a great build up to them finally liking each other, but then I feel like it broke away a bit. It takes too long to finally get the characters together and the main conflict happens after 85%, which doesn’t give much time for a satisfying resolution. This just fell a bit short for me. 3.5 stars.

What else can I say except this is another fantastic romance by Talia Hibbert. The whole Brown Sisters series is flawless but this one is my favorite because...GRUMPY SUNSHINE! Which should surprise no one. I loved this book and I especially loved all the insults that really meant "I love you" and the scarcely suppressed smiles. It's my very favorite thing.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the kind of book you need to read when you're feeling down. This had so much heart. Talia Hibbert's characters are always so wonderfully real and funny and they go through personal growth that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.
Eve is struggling to find her place in the world. With two successful sisters, she feels like she needs to find a grown up job and just can't seem to figure things out. Relatable. Her parents want her to mature and give her an ultimatum of holding a job for a year or they will cut her off financially.
This causes Eve to drive out to the country and stumble upon an adorable bed and breakfast run by Jacob. Jacob is autistic and is in general kind of a grump who needs things done in very specific ways. He also needs to hire a chef and can't find anyone who is perfect for the job. Enter Eve. His worst nightmare, as she is unplanned, dressed wildly inappropriate for a job interview, and has no real restaurant experience.
The dynamic between these two characters was everything. They balance each other so well. Eve is unbothered by Jacob's bluntness and Jacob likes that Eve speaks her mind and doesn't take offense to his mannerisms. He's hard on the outside with a soft interior and Eve is sassy and caring and the two together is magic.
There was so much comedy in this and I don't think I stopped smiling for the entire book. Even the smut scenes, which are GOOD, still had a level of humor and sweetness that fit them perfectly. The conflict in the end seemed a little unnecessary at first but looking back I think it added a lot to their relationship and they both needed it to solidify their place with each other. It also resolves pretty quickly so none of that annoying tension and time apart.

I have adored literally every book I have read by Talia Hibbert. She is truly brilliant as both a storyteller but also at crafting characters that are so true to life they grab you by the heart! This one definitely took the longest to get me in but I may have been eating while finishing it because I just couldn't bear to put it down. Eve is the human embodiment of sunshine and when she is sort of thrust out of the nest by her parents - she lands in the tiny hamlet of Skybriar. And may or may not hit the ever so serious Jacob with her car. It is truly a delight - not to mention the first time I have read a book with not one but TWO ND leads! It is truly wonderful!
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5
Tropes: slow burn, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, forced proximity, hurt/ comfort, neurodivergent leads, grumpy/ sunshine
Subgenre: contemporary romance
CW/ TW: some childhood trauma mentioned
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Liked this book the best of all the three Brown Sisters. Eve and Jacob both socially awkward and slightly weird were so lovable. Jacob with his penchant for being stoic and straightlaced to a fault and Eve who just seems to be a hot mess at times comes into her own with the love of Jacob. They each drove the other one crazy, but soon liked each other's company and figured out the other's indioscrasy. Eve who finds a job which turns out she loves and is good at and Jacob who decides to trust and love again.