This was fine. It didn't do anything special for me, but I didn't dislike it - I just can't fathom thinking about it again now that I've finished it. However, I hadn't read the earlier books in the series so I wasn't already invested, which usually helps. I liked that the book acknowledged the power differentials in the relationship (employee/employer) but didn't make it a THING - yes, I know it's obviously an issue in the real world but it's romantic fiction, I don't want to read chapter after chapter of boring justification. I think I would've liked more about the actual B&B? The setting is so cute in theory, I would've liked more of Eve and Jacob interacting with the patrons. I also would've liked the actual festival to matter more.

I didn't know how Talia Hibbert could top the first two books in the series, but Act Your Age, Eve Brown is her best yet! A Laugh out loud funny romance with main characters you are rooting for from start to finish, you can't go wrong with this book!

The bad news: Act Your Age, Eve Brown marks the end of the Brown Sisters trilogy.

The good news: Talia Hibbert ended things on a HIGH AF note because she continues to bless us every single damn day.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown, the second book in this series, was always going to be a tough act to follow, but I think Eve Brown's story somehow did it. Hibbert is truly a queen, legend, and icon when it comes to snappy dialogue and crisp banter, and the agitation and long-simmering tension between Eve and Jacob truly lets that shine. Plus, the fact that she created multifaceted characters on the spectrum (who have honest-to-God PERSONALITIES) with so much tender love and care makes me adore her even more.

Ugh, I've 100% got a hardcore book hangover from this one.

Content warning: Discussions of neglectful parents, discussions of ableism

Eve is the third and last sister in this series, and I am sad to let go of these funny and heartwarming books! But Eve and Jacob's story is a fitting conclusion, with both having issues to work through so that they can grow together their future. Jacob being on the autism spectrum and also having had a difficult childhood only adds to the narrative. Eve is such a beautifully complicated character that it is a pleasure to finally get her story. I cannot wait for what Talia Hibbert has in store for readers next!

Oh i love these books so much! Hibbert is talented. This series encapsulates so much of modern life, and not just the sexy, romantic parts of it. I want to read each of the three books in this series again and again, and especially when I'm down about something and need to remember that people have faults, but that they're also individuals who care and feel and love

Talia Hibbert has created a lovely world with the Brown sisters. The characters are a delight and the story is wonderful.

Just delightful - I devoured this book and will recommend it widely. I loved the dynamics between Jacob and Eve, and I could read dozens more pages about the baked goods and breakfast foods Eve cooks up!

A highly satisfying final installment to the Brown Sisters series. Eve and Jacob were charming and compelling, both separately and together. Hibbert once again addresses big topics (autism, child neglect, finding your way in the world) in the wrappings of a fluffy, sexy romance. Accident and chaos prone Eve made this story particularly hilarious, and Eve and Jacob's differences were handled beautifully and gently.

Out out all of the Brown Sisters books, Eve's story was my favorite! Don't get me wrong, I also liked Chloe's and Dani's stories, but there was just something more magical with Eve.

I really enjoyed reading her journey and seeing her find her niche. In the first few chapters, I found myself chuckling at the ridiculous situations and crying when the struggles were apparent. It was amazing to see how the universe really can come together to help you find yourself when you need it the most.


Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for early access to an e-galley of this title.

Another delight from Talia Hibbert! If you liked her earlier books about the Brown girls, you’ll love the latest installment. A woman still seeking herself meets a cute but socially awkward B&B owner and the sparks fly. Five out of five stars.

Somehow I missed out on reading about Chloe and Dani Brown so Eve was my first introduction to the Brown family and Talia Hibbert’s wonderful writing. Eve is perfectly content with her life. She is constantly switching careers and still lives with her parents but she is fine with that. That is until her parents give her the ultimatum to move out and get a job or she will lose access to her trust fund. Eve takes off on the road through the country when she comes across a B&B hiring for the chef position. Eve figures why not her despite her total lack of experience as a chef. Jacob, the B&Bs owner is immediately put off by her bright colors and outgoing personality. The interview ends with her accidentally hitting him with her car leaving him in a situation where he needs her until he can get back up on his feet. Slowly sparks begin to fly as Jacob and Eve discover they actually have a lot I common and there were some serious sparks. Act Your Age, Eve Brown has some seriously steamy scenes.

Everything about Jacob and Eve felt so real. Eve was considered flighty but she was hilarious and had so much depth and enthusiasm. Jacob is definitely a new book boyfriend. He was autistic and Talia Hibbert handled the subject with the utmost respect and care. He is reluctant to trust and for good reason but once he opens up there is so much there! I absolutely loved the setting in the Lake district. The enemies to lovers trope is my favorite so this book was really perfect for me but I highly recommend to everyone! There were times when I was laughing out loud uncontrollably and other times when I had tears streaming down my face. Can’t wait to see what Talia Hibbert writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Books for my review copy.

Thank you to Harper Books for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
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Welp, it is official. The Brown Sisters are delightful. De.Light.Ful.
Should I go ahead and say this is my favorite? Yes, I think I should. This was my favorite.
Jacob and Even were amazing characters. I just wanted to cuddle them up and mother them to death.
They had such great obsticles to overcome (you know what I mean....I'm not trying to be ugly). In addition....the setting oh, the setting. I loved the Lake district. It has always been a place I wanted to visit and I'm so glad I got to go within this book.
Now, let's talk about the steam level. It was high y'all. Very, very high. I will say it is very easy to skip by the steam and still get a lot out of the story and the relationship.

Overall. I loved this series. I will absolutly recommend it going forward. I can't wait to see what Talia brings us next. She is certainly an autobuy author for me!

As of the writing of this review, I have read all 3 Brown Sisters books in less than a month and now I’m staring out my window into a rainy evening wondering what to do next.
I’m not the biggest romance reader. IDK, I don’t mind them, but sex scenes can make me cringe sometimes, and I have attachment issues, blah blah blah. And yet I could not put these books down. The characters felt so REAL and alive in unique ways–they were super diverse and introduced me to new things all the time, they are charmingly British without being stodgy, the sex scenes were spicy but not cringey, and now I’m sad that I’m all done.
While this is the third book in the series, I imagine you can read them independently. Sure, you’ll be spoiled for who the other sisters end up with, but it’s a romance so…come on. You already knew the answer. That’s the beauty of this.
Eve Brown is 26-ish and has not yet settled herself. She tries on careers like hats and runs away when she has a brush with failure. She still lives at home and she’s perfectly content to keep trying until her parents give her an ultimatum: get a job and get a home or the trust fund’s gone.
This leads Eve, always level headed *sarcasm*, on a drive into the country where she comes across a B&B looking for a cook. Well…why not her? Except…Eve’s never really been a cook before, but she can cook, so why not? Well….she and the owner, Jacob, an autistic man who has put his life into the B&B, is immediately put off by her bright colors, lack of CV, and then, to make things better, Eve hits him with her car when she’s leaving.
While his friend takes him to the hospital, Eve steps in at the B&B to handle the afternoon, and when Jacob comes back, he can’t ignore the fact that he needs her while he recovers. Of course, this being the kind of books it is, sparks fly, and Eve and Jacob can’t ignore their attracion to each other as they find out they have more in common than they think and both grow into fully actualized people while preparing for a, yes I’m serious, gingerbread festival.
So yes, this book is as cute as it sounds, but with some raunch and some singing and some human growth potential (see what I did there?) and I thoroughly enjoyed it and want to abscond to a bed and breakfast as quickly as possible. That is all.

I am so sad that we’ve completed the story of the Brown sisters, but what a perfect ending to a beautifully written series. I’ve loved each of these stories so much, for such differing reasons, and highly recommend them to anyone willing to pick them up.

I think Eve’s story is my favorite yet, with her quirky ways and the way she fights for being herself throughout this book. And Jacob and his brooding? #swoon. I love the diversity Talia writes into her stories, whether it be race, sexuality, body image or physical and mental health. There is SO MUCH a person can relate to and I appreciate that so much. And the steamy moments? Super hot. 😂😍🔥 Definitely a five star review from me — I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Well, reader, it’s been epic. As I sit here, grieving the end of this outstanding series and wishing it wasn’t so (please recall that movie scene from Thor where Thor drinks coffee for the first time in his life and promptly smashes the cup on the floor demanding ANOTHER), I am also incredibly thankful for what this series has done and will do in terms of diversity in the romance genre.

After two brilliant novels about the Brown sisters, Chloe and Danika, we finally get Eve Brown’s story and it is as incredible as its predecessors.

Eve Brown is a hot mess, and everyone knows it. Struggling to hold down a job for long, her passions for wedding planning, studying at university, and singing have been fleeting – much to her parents’ dismay. Disappointed in their daughter, they give her an ultimatum: keep a job for a year or forego her trust fund.

Enraged and embarrassed, Eve flees her home and finds herself spontaneously interviewing for a chef position at an adorable Bed and Breakfast whose owner may be hot, but clearly is also an idiot.

Jacob lives and breathes control. Living with autism, he knows what he needs and what he doesn’t. And Eve Brown, who disrupts his life with her beauty and wits is certainly not the right woman to fit the chef role. Everything about Eve, from her unwavering confidence to her ability to call him out on his bullshit, is a thorn in his side and that’s before Eve Brown accidentally hits him with her car. From that unexpected collision on, this book is a wild ride of two seeming opposites learning that they might not be that different after all – and realising that home can be anywhere as long as you’re with the right people.

The premise of this book was fantastic, but once again, what really drew me in was Hibbert’s ability to balance the romance with the characters growth. It’s a fine line to give the individuals in a romance just as much “me time” as to further their relationship and this book handled that balance perfectly. Yes, the chemistry between the two of them is absolutely sizzling. They butt heads a lot of the time, but in the end, they both support the other and only want the best for them. Jacob and Eve may snap and sneer at each other, but it’s impossible not to clutch the book and whine ‘just kiss already’ as the tension between the two of them grows palpable.

Beyond that, this book focused on a topic that was way too relatable for me. Eve is considered flighty because she can’t stick with any one job, but what others perceive as lacklustre effort has actually so much more depth to it. Eve wants to be great at something but the mere thought that she might fail at it is enough to zap her of any enthusiasm to pursue a career (kind of along the lines of ‘you can’t fail if you never try’). That fear, I think, is instilled in all of us – that to fail is worse than not trying at all. The growth Eve goes through in this book really hit home for me and I think anyone who’s ever called themselves a lazy perfectionist might like Eve.

Jacob may also be my favourite new man crush. He was just so relatable in the way he keeps himself closed off to others because he knows that once he lets someone in, people have the tendency to leave him. Quite like Eve’s fear of failure, Jacob anticipates rejection and preempts it, which makes for a hauntingly emotional evolution of his character in the book and I admit that I teared up more than once when he talked about his abandonment issues. Seriously, Jacob deserves the world and I’m not taking criticism at this point. But when he meets Eve, who is caring and kind and not going anywhere, Jacob decides to give love a second chance and falls head over heels. I can’t really blame him as I loved Eve from the minute I met her when she promptly hit Jacob only to then ask him whether his injuries would hurt less if she flashed him her boobs was only the cherry on top of my undying devotion to her. These two were literally picture perfect for each other.

Now, I cannot speak for the autism representation in this book and thus defer to #ownvoices reviews, but from what I can tell, the subject was handled with a lot of care. There’s no oversimplification of autism and there are no cure-for-all plotlines. Instead, autism and its signs are weaved seamlessly into the narrative and it’s never referred to in pejorative terms, which was so refreshing. Autism isn’t used as a barrier to keep them apart; instead, it is embraced and talked about with kindness which made me really happy.

Also, how Hibbert manages to make me laugh out loud and to also have quiet tears streaming down my cheeks within the same chapter remains a mystery. This truly is a book I would recommend to everyone.

Whether you pick this up because you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope (who doesn’t?), want to read about fierce, vulnerable women who go after what they want (both in romance and in life in general), want to laugh (I mean, I’m not saying there is a scene in this book when Jacob happens to accidentally sit on Eve’s purple, glittery dildo but that’s exactly what I’m saying), want to cry (is there something in my eye or did Jacob really just pick daisies at the side of the frickin’ road so he could give Eve flowers?), there’s truly something for everyone within these pages. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sympathise and sync your Spotify playlist to Eve’s taste. This book is the full package.

A worthy, unforgettable conclusion to one of the best romantic comedy series out there, Act Your Age, Eve Brown packs an emotional punch and simultaneously soothes the soul – and proves that this truly is Talia Hibbert’s world and we’re all grateful that we get to live in it.

This is the latest book in the Brown sisters series. I was really looking forward to it, but I just didn’t connect with this one as much as the other two titles. I did like the witty banter and Eve is delightful. The pacing was a little off for me, though. All in all, though, it’s a good book and fans won’t be disappointed.

Another big hit for Talia Hibbert. I love the way she is able to portray differently abled characters in such a matter of fact way. Their Spectrum divergence is just a part of their characteristics not the focus of the storyline. I really enjoyed the main character Eve’s malapropisms. Sometimes it would take me a moment to figure out what she really meant so that was a treat. In fact the whole book was a treat. I’m sorry to see the ending of this trilogy.
I would recommend this book to my patrons (and friends)!

This is probably my most anticipated 2021 release. I’ve loved this series and was really looking forward to it. This book is solid, but I have to say it’s probably my least favorite of the three. That’s a real bummer for me to say because I’m on the spectrum and was really looking forward to the autistic rep. I do, however, think the rep was the best part about this! For some reason the pacing was just not there for me. I finished the other two books in one night, and this took me weeks to finish. I’m not sure if I just didn’t connect with the characters or the way the story flowed. That being said, I think Talia Hibbert fans will enjoy this and I think it’s a great book, I just don’t think I can give it as high a rating as the other two, because it just wasn’t as memorable for me. I would say 3.5 stars!

One thing I love about Talia Hibbert's books is that a reader knows they're in good hands and that Hibbert's books won't be unduly stressful. She writes with so much compassion for her characters that it somehow (for me, at least) extends to the reader as well. In the midst of an unending pandemic (which is only one of the many things those of us in the US have to worry about), it is really comforting to read her books. In this one, baby of the family Eve can't seem to get her life together - she floats from job to job and is afraid to mess things up, so she quits before she can really fail. However, her parents have had enough and give her an ultimatum. Meanwhile, Jacob is running a b&b and needs a chef, but he is very rigid and hates everyone. Eve decides to apply for the job, but then runs Jacob over with her car (ha!). Eve was super delightful - I loved her malapropisms, and it was so nice to see her learn to trust herself. I really liked Jacob as well, who is on the autism spectrum and is getting over past trauma; he doesn't quite know what to do with Eve. (His 3 good friends, the Montrose family, are all so much fun.) And if you've read the previous books in the series you'll be happy to hear Eve's family makes an appearance in this book. They are hilarious. My one complaint is that the book wrapped up pretty quickly at the end - there was one plot thread that never got resolved, and I thought it should have. But I will say that I love Hibbert's epilogues - I'm not a big epilogue fan, but hers make me laugh. Fans of Hibbert's previous books in the series (about Eve's sister's Chloe and Dani), will enjoy this one just as much as the others, but this book can also be read as a standalone.

If I were to describe this book in a way that would have someone read it, I would say that it a book about two cinnamon rolls falling in love.

Our primary cinnamon roll is Eve Brown, who leaves dramatically after her parents threaten to cut her off, and the second cinnamon roll is bed and breakfast owner, Jacob Wayne. Jacob Wayne's introduction in the book is… fascinating. At first, he appears cold and too anal-retentive before Eve enters his life. When these two meet, Eve happens upon Castell Cottage and notices they're hiring for a new chef and decides to interview for the job. The moment Jacob lays eyes on her, he labels her as a chaos demon, as she admits that she doesn't have a resume on her and noticed the sign about the job and popped in for an interview. Jacob is horrified by the spontaneous nature of Eve Brown.

These two characters are so adorable and compliment each other. In the beginning, as Eve is the literal chaos demon as described by Jacob, she takes on the opportunity given to her without an issue, which frustrates Jacob as he begins to realize that Eve's work ethic is an attractive feature for him. When Jacob is borderline harsh, Eve doesn't get offended; instead, she snaps back with a snarky comment that leaves Jacob dazed. Despite their hate, at first sight, they begin to form a friendship that is gloriously presented at the meeting of the Pemberton Gingerbread Festival Committee. At the meeting, a fellow member, Craig Jackson, decides to compare Jacob to Spock. As Craig is laughing at his reference, Eve asks Craig why he's comparing Jacob to Spock, which promotes Craig to become embarrassed before the committee resumes their meeting. During Eve's and Craig's showdown, Jacob looks on with wonderment as Eve called out Craig for his behavior. It not only shows the difference between Jacob's, 'show no weakness' and Eve's, 'I refuse to tolerate this belittling' that makes them both so endearing.

Eve and Jacob's transition from enemies to friends is so endearing. As the story progresses, you notice that the little things Eve did annoy Jacob at first start to become endearing habits. With these endearing habits, Jacob starts to see that his feeling for his employee is dangerous territory. In the beginning, the reader knows of Eve's past dating life and her unfortunate choices in men, and it is the reason Eve ignores her feelings for Jacob. It is later in the book that the reader starts to get an insight into Jacob. Being on the spectrum, Jacob has been described by previous women to be 'too much' and end up leaving him. Jacob's past relationships also keep him from pursuing his feelings towards Eve; instead, the reader has to witness these characters, broken from their previous relationships, stay at arm's length with each other.

This book was a whirlwind of emotions ranging from Jacob's apparent dislike of Eve in the beginning and Eve's constant panic at finding her place in the world. To Jacob falling slowly but surely in love with Eve and Eve, finding not only her passion but her place in the world.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about two cinnamon rolls who dislike one another and transform into two people in love. The way their romance progresses is a strong point in this book. As Jacob begins falling in love with Eve, the reader can notice the slight changes in Jacob. After revealing their feelings, the communication between them strengthens this in part due to their previous relationships. Jacob is laying his expectations down, and Eve is doing the same. It was almost strange watching these characters communicate in their relationship, communication being a main problem generator in the romance genre. But even as these two have issues, they still communicate and are patient with each other.