Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of the last installment of Talia Hibbert’s series about the Brown sisters. After reading “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” last year I completely fell in love with Hibbert’s writing. Honestly, at this point I’m left wishing that we could somehow learn about a long-lost sister or brother so that we can hold on to this trio for just a little longer!

Eve jumped out to me so much in the first book that I’ve been anxiously waiting for her to get her chance at love. Fortunately, this installment did not disappoint! Eve is vibrant, kind, and a force to be reckoned with but struggles with what she really wants to do with her life. After failing to ever stick with anything, her parents hit her with a major ultimatum. Frustrated and lost, she finds her way to a charming B&B looking to hire. It’s then that Act Your Age, Eve Brown crashes right into the enemy to lovers plot in the most literal of ways…..when Eve, the youngest of the sisters, literally runs into B&B owner Jacob with her car after a bad interview. Jacob, the B&B owner has used his past experiences and his own Autism to turn his B&B into an accepting and accommodating environment for all. Most notably, Jacob hates chaos and all he can see when he looks at Eve is chaos. Eve knows she’s not exactly welcomed but how can she keep him in the lurch when she injured him, the sole employee at the B&B?

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the story of how these two very different people can find common ground, support, and love from one another. Fans of the series are sure to love this one and all new readers should prepare for endearing characters, diverse romance, and some steam!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Talia Hibbert has done it again, another amazing romance that I adored with my whole heart. Since I read “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” last year, Hibbert has turned into one of my favourite authors of all time, I read so many of her novels in 2020 and my aim in 2021 is to read her whole backlist!

“Act Your Age, Eve Brown” is about a woman who feels like she has no direction or aspirations in life. This book is about her finding her own dreams and maybe love along the way. We also follow our hero, Jacob, the grumpy owner of a B&B. Jacob loves order and consistency, so when he is short a chef and only weeks away from a big food festival, he reluctantly hires Eve.

This is the optimum of the grumpy vs sunshine trope and I lived for Eve and Jacob's dynamic and connection. A rivals to lovers, forced proximity, diverse romance that I couldn’t get enough of.

The only thing that frustrated me a bit was towards the end, where there is a bit of miscommunication and meddling family members. But the conflict is resolved pretty quickly and it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment. I can't wait to read more by this author asap!

I loved this one so much. There's a sunshine one and a grumpy one. But, they are obviously so much more than that. I really liked how they met and fell in love. It was incredibly sweet. This book made me smile a lot, and there was one part where he hears her sing, and the description of that moment was incredible. I also really liked how they discussed pursuing your dreams and what happens when they don't work out. I just really enjoyed this book.

In the final book in Talia Hibbert's fun, popular, and downright steamy Brown Sisters trilogy, a hot mess and control-freak collide. No, literally, they collided. This isn't a metaphor. Eve hit Jacob with her car...

After a teeny tiny incident involving some doves at a wedding (sorry not sorry for disapproving of animal cruelty), Eve Brown is told to grow up and actually stick with a job for a whole year or she'll be cut off. So Eve naturally does a very adult thing and runs away, eventually coming across a charming B&B that happens to be looking for a new chef....

Chaos is the natural enemy of Jacob Wayne, and he has written a dozen different employee guides on how to ruthlessly vanquish disorder. Jacob has autism, and is entirely devoted to ensuring that his guests have the most pleasant stay possible at his B&B, always happy to provide extra accommodations to make sure every guest feels at home. The only problem? He can't cook and his chef just won the lottery, leaving Jacob in a bit of a lurch.

And in strides Eve Brown. Posh, funny, purple-haired, entirely unprepared for an interview, wearing the strangest t-shirt he has ever seen, absolutely gorgeous... and quickly proves to be living, breathing, talking chaos.

The impromptu interview goes poorly and Eve storms out... and then proceeds to run Jacob over with her car.

With a mild concussion and a broken wrist, Jacob is down for the count, leaving Eve to take over the running of the B&B. Armed with Jacob's many, many, many incredibly detailed (and swear word filled) employee guidebooks, Eve sets out to prove once and for all that she is not a failure to her parents, to Jacob, and--ultimately--to herself. Meanwhile, Jacob finds himself getting incredibly flustered and frustrated with Eve's presence, unsure how to handle this sunny, singing tornado of pastel hair and lipstick that has taken over his B&B, his life, his sitting room... and his heart?

A strong and powerful conclusion to the Brown Sisters trilogy, Talia Hibbert once again knocks it out of the park with this hilarious, charming, passionate, heartstring-grabbing novel. I've loved wacky and sweet Eve since first being introduced to her in Chloe's book, and absolutely adored every moment of Eve in her starring role! Seeing Eve without her sisters, without seeing her through her sisters, and seeing into her head is a wonderful experience, especially as we get more in-depth with Eve about how she sees herself, her struggles with independence and figuring out who she is and what she really, truly wants to do with her life. She just wants to be successful at something--anything--so bad, especially as the youngest daughter following in the footsteps of two very successful and traditionally 'smart' sisters.

And Jacob. Oh, Jacob, you little grumpy cinnamon roll, you. I love how he has taken his past experiences--both good and bad--to shape his future and create an environment where all are welcome, where accessibility isn't an afterthought, and to make traveling as easy and comfortable as possible. And while he initially dislikes Eve and sees her as a threat to his carefully controlled order, he also slowly comes to terms that they even each other out. While he will never fully embrace chaos (and most certainly will never let waterfowl onto his property (Hold on, now imagining Jacob learning about Untitled Goose Game... Of course Eve plays it. And he watches her play it, seething the entire time...)), Jacob does realize he can't control everything. And that's okay. Especially when, sometimes, good things come out of chaos. Like a certain Eve Brown...

Also, I really love that, not only is this a multiracial romance, but it is a romance in which both protagonists are autistic--Jacob with a diagnosis, and Eve coming to the realization as an adult that she is also autistic, suddenly having a name and explanation for some of her behaviors. Not only is this a phenomenal (and hard to find) pairing in the romance genre, but it's also important to have the representation of being an adult with autism, being someone who learns that there is a strong likelihood of being autistic as an adult, and that (as Eve learns) autism in women is often overlooked or undiagnosed.

Enemies-to-lovers Talia Hibbert book you say????? literally say no more.

It’s rare that I can be so completely enamored with one conversation between characters that lasts PAGES but somehow Talia Hibbert is someone who can create that feeling of never wanting the chapter to end

This was a perfect conclusion to the the Brown Sisters series and I can confidently say that Jacob and Eve take the prize of being my favorite couple ever

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley<3 Thank you!

When I was approved to read this title early, I was beyond excited. I had loved the first two books in The Brown Sisters series and the last installment did not let me down. This time around it's Eve's - Chloe and Dani's youngest sister - turn to find love. And boy does she! Talia Hibbert, the author, does such a great job crafting inclusive romances (and doesn't shy away from steamy scenes). If you haven't read any of her work before, I would recommend starting with this series, as it is completely adorable. Eve's love interest wasn't my favorite character (let's be honest though, nobody could top Zaf - the love interest of book two), but I still really enjoyed reading this novel. I will miss the Brown sisters and their shenanigans. Make sure you have this title on your radar for upcoming book releases!

Talia Hibbert's books are an absolute delight and this final installment of the Brown sisters is no exception. She's smart and funny and embraces people with disabilities as also deserving of love and a place to see themselves in literature (which of course they are!). Act Your Age, Eve Brown is going to be my go to recommendation for people looking for neurodiversity in romance. Plus it's interracial! And British! This one ticks all the boxes for me. 5 stars cannot wait to recommend.

I loved this book! Definitely my favorite in the whole series. Talia Hibbert did a great job with representing characters on the spectrum and the conflict in the novel was very real.

Okay, I'm late to the party... where has Talia Hibbert been all my life?!? This romance was HOT and definitely not for the shy or fade-to-black romance readers!

Eve is the third of the Brown sisters to have her story shared and she is exactly the pampered princess one might expect of a girl who grows up with money. She enjoys her fashion and glamour, but can't seem to stick with any single project or obligation. When she gets cut off from the trust fund allowance, her storm-off ends up at a B&B who are desperate for a new chef - luckily, Eve has the skills.

Both the main characters of this love story are on the spectrum of autism, allowing for different looks at neurodivergence and how it manifests in different bodies!

I loved Get a Life, Chloe Brown—it was probably one of my favorite romances of 2020. This book was somehow just as good, if not better, which is no easy feat. It was especially wonderful to see two autistic main characters with such thoughtful and complex portrayals.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is a delightful read. The characters, Eve Brown and Jacob Wayne, are extremely likable and charming, and the romance between the two is a slow-burn between two people that start off as enemies. The secondary characters, Mont and his sisters Tess and Alex are also amazing and add an entertaining element to the story. (Hopefully, we see each of the siblings in a romance series.) I loved the banter between the couple, and there were so many times that I laughed out loud at the antics of the characters. What I love about Talia Hibbert is that she creates love stories that are full of understanding and compassion. The protagonists work through emotional turmoil from childhood experiences and learn to accept themselves and trust the feelings of their partner. She also expertly creates both sexual tension and sexual desire between the characters while creating love scenes that match the context of the novel and its protagonists without pulling the reader out of the story. I

Book 3 of the saga of the Brown sisters is just as delightful and spicy as the first two. "Act Your Age, Eve Brown" has snappy dialog, human characters, and charm. Oh so much charm. Talia Hibbert's ability to create actual human beings on the page instead of sets of walking attributes is always refreshing (and hilarious). All three of the Brown sisters deserved their happy endings. Fingers crossed for a spin-off book starring Gigi!

Act Your Age by Talia Hibbert was a delightful look into another member of the Brown sisters, the 26 year old jobless Eve. After being told she can no longer live on her family’s trust fund, Eve Brown goes for a drive and accidentally runs into a handsome bed and breakfast owner. The ensuing romance is sweet and spicy and is a perfect modern follow up to Netflix’s new romantic TV show Bridgerton.

This book was everything that I was hoping that it would be. Eve is 100% a hot mess and I love everything about her. I didn't expect food to be such a crucial part of the story, and as someone who works in food, that was so nice to see. This book brought me so much joy and I will cherish the Brown sisters forever.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-Arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Chloe and Dani Brown were two huge surprises for me last year, so I was naturally excited to read Eve's story. Eve is the sister everyone sees as flighty and immature, and faced with an ultimatum, she applies for a job at a bed and breakfast on a whim. But then she hits her prospective new boss, Jacob, with her car, and he seems to really, really hate her. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance with excellent individual character growth as well.

I thought the transition from hate to love was well-paced, and each scene that Jacob and Eve shared led to new revelations of themselves and each other, and their unique connection is clear. Jacob shares the first time Eve meets him that he has autism, and it's something that certainly influences the story and Jacob, but it is not brought up over and over. I am not an own-voices reviewer for the autism representation, but I have read own-voices reviews who appreciated the representation. SPOILER: [I actually think it would have been beneficial for more page time to be dedicated to this, especially when Eve realizes that she has autism. I like that she doesn't take it as this earth-shattering fact that changes everything, and it would have been cool to see her talk about it with her sisters or Jacob more. END SPOILER

I loved Eve's personal journey and watching her gain more confidence in the way she thinks about herself and advocates for herself. I don't relate to Eve in the same way I connected to Dani Brown, but she's so easy to root for and love. I was so proud of her at the end, and I think this could be an empowering story for readers.

As a reader, I prefer to be shown a character's backstory and defining moments rather than told, and the novel relies more on telling, which makes sense for what the novel is. I think more flashbacks or contemplation of how the characters had been treated in the past would have contributed to their development, though.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is just as strong as its sister novels, although it's not my favorite just based on my personal preferences. I know I'm going to reread all three of these because they're just so damn joyful.

My love for Talia Hibbert knows no bounds, and Act Your Age, Eve Brown was no exception. Her dialogue is so snappy and witty, the chemistry between Eve and Jacob is absolute fire, and the care with which she creates diverse and dynamic characters is truly something else. I loved following spoiled but spirited Eve as she attempts to solidify herself within Jacob's routine. I loved the supporting cast of characters. My only reason for not giving this title a 5-star rating is that it started off a little slowly. I wasn't as invested in Eve and Jacob in the early chapters, so it wasn't a read-in-one-sitting book the way Hibbert's other two titles were. All that being said, this was a phenomenal ending to the Brown Sisters trilogy, and I am so sad to have to say goodbye to this family.

I thought this was a lot of fun, and I LOVED the food setting. Now I need to debate if it's too spicy to share with my audience, because even after reading the other books in this series I was a little surprised at just how spicy this one was!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can't wait for everyone to read this. My favorite story among the Brown sisters!

Eve is facing a dilemma where she feels like a failure even though she knows she's lucky to have all these opportunities in the first place, coming from a privileged background. I've always been told to 'act my age', so I related to Eve so much and I've never felt so seen.

I cried in the first chapter when we got the title drop and this dialogue came up. What a great way to start.
“Too immature to be an adult. When are you going to act your age, Eve? I swear, it’s embarrassing—”

Diversity and representation:
✨ Eve is black, plus-size/ fat (with stretch marks!!)
✨ Jacob is on the autism spectrum.

The Good AKA all the tropes that just get me:
✨ grumpy & sunshine (literally. He calls her Sunshine. Ugh, *swoon*)
✨ hate to love/ enemies to lovers
✨ close proximity trope
✨ super cozy feels as it’s set in a small English town where Jacob’s B&B is situated
✨ Jacob's unwavering attention to Eve at all times

The (kind of, but not really) Bad:
The ending could have had a bit more drama as it slowed down a bit for my liking in terms of pacing, but that's a personal preference.

I can see other people liking the end a lot though. The main conflict happened and was resolved in less than ten pages, and it showed how much the characters have grown to trust each other and how mature their actions were during the conflict and resolution.

Overall:
This is undoubtedly my favourite in the series. Eve's romance was really something else. Jacob Wayne shot really high up on my book boyfriends list, and I want someone to just adore and focus all his attention on me the way he did for Eve.

Truly the perfect escapist read. Talia, we need to talk about how you keep raising my hopes up for men like Jacob Wayne, only for me to forget that he's fictional.

I LOVE TALIA HIBBERT'S BOOKS SO MUCH AND I COULD READ THEM EVERY DAY AND BE TOTALLY SATISFIED. That is all.

Actually, no, I'll talk some more about Eve and Jacob. Eve has had a very hard time finding an occupation that feeds her soul and doesn't make her want to run away from everything when something goes south. After a come-to-Jesus moment with her family, she drives away with no destination in mind and ends up at what she thinks is an open interview session for a cook at a quaint little B&B in a quaint little town. The dude who runs the B&B, Jacob, seems like an uptight jackhole, but she finds herself enjoying the verbal sparring with him. He doesn't seem to like her, though. He refuses to hire her, and she kind of cuts her losses, agrees to plan her friend's brother's birthday party, and goes back to her car, stewing about yet another failure. She throws her car into reverse to back out of her parking and leave... and runs over Jacob, who was just convinced by his best friend (Mont) to give her a shot because he is SOL on other options. So, after a trip to the hospital, where Jacob has his arm set and concussion treated, Mont convinces Eve to stick around and help out at the B&B while Jacob is unable to do his thing. Much to Jacob's dismay once he emerges from his concussed stupor.

Although I'm still super attached to Dani and Zaf as my favorite Brown Sister Couple, I was thoroughly enchanted by Eve and Jacob. I loved getting to know Jacob and his quirks, not to mention Eve and her quirks. Both are neuroatypical, but in different ways-- I learned a lot I didn't know about females with autism because of Eve. Also, the scene with the ducks had me CACKLING out loud and immediately singing the praises of this book to my coworkers after my lunch break. I love me a grumpy hero, which Talia does so well, and I'm super sad to see the series end. I'm hoping maybe Mont and his sisters can get a spin off series so we can still keep in touch with the Brown sisters in some way!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for a review! I love this book so much, I'm pre-ordering my own physical copy!

The only bad thing I can say about this book is that the series is over. But wow, it went out with a bang! I loved Eve Brown, and it was a high bar since I also loved Chloe and Dani. Youngest sister Eve’s story was wonderful and the love story in this book is just what we all need during a global pandemic. I loved Jacob and his bed and breakfast. I highly recommend this one!