I have never been able to get into a Talia Hibbert book before. I wanted to. Ms. Hibbert seems like a smart and lovely person on Twitter. Get a Life Chloe Brown changed that for me. I have been reluctant to try another of her books, but multiple positive reviews and it’s free price on Amazon Prime made it more attractive. I liked it. It took me a while to get into it, but as Red and Chloe let go of their ticks, the humanity of the book shines through.
Chloe Brown lives with chronic illness. In the process of managing her symptoms, she has made her life small. A near(ish) death experience convinces Chloe that she needs to expand her life before she dies and no one has anything to say about her life. She makes a list and the first item is to move out of the family home. Once she moves, her to-do list stalls.
Red Morgan is using his job as a building superintendent to hide from the aftermath of a toxic relationship. Initially, he and Chloe dislike each other. As they interact, they drop their masks and let go of their assumptions about each other. Talia Hibbert hits a sweet spot of joy and longing as Red helps Chloe check off her list. They open up to each other and make each other braver.
The things that make us strong are also the things that make us weak. The life experience that allows them to appreciate each other is also the baggage that almost separates them permanently. Talia Hibbert has so much love for her characters and it shines through the book. It was a a very comfortable place to rest my brain.