My Get a Life, Chloe Brown Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
I picked up Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert because I wanted a romance that felt real, funny, and gave space for complicated, messy people to find love. Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek who finally gets a wake-up call after a near-death encounter with a drunk driver. Realizing she needs more from life, she makes a “Get a Life” list: move out of her family’s mansion, ride a motorcycle, go camping, have meaningless sex, travel, and do something bad. Chloe moves into her own accessible flat, but she’s stuck on more than just the list—her world has shrunk, and it’s lonely.
She clashes right away with Redford "Red" Morgan, her building’s tattooed superintendent. Their bickering is instant and sharp, but it quickly turns to something deeper—especially when Red helps Chloe rescue a cat (Smudge) from a tree. Red is an artist with his own emotional scars, hiding his work and dragging his feet with moving on from a damaging relationship. When Chloe ropes Red into helping her check off her list—in exchange for a website to help sell his art—they’re both forced to deal with old wounds, misunderstandings, and, most of all, the feelings growing between them.
Why I Love This Book
I love how this book refuses to minimize real struggles. Chloe lives with chronic pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia. The book treats her experience honestly—there’s humor, frustration, and actual joy, but her limitations and frustrations are always present without defining her entirely. Red is more than your typical “bad boy”—he’s hurt, wary of trust, and radiates quiet kindness. Their chemistry is slow-burn but full of snark, vulnerability, and clear growth on both sides.
The banter is sharp and had me laughing out loud, but what really stands out is how both characters heal themselves. There’s respect, care, and a gentle challenge for both Chloe and Red to face the things that have hurt them, not just brush them aside for the sake of romance. The spicy scenes are genuinely hot but also carry emotional weight—nothing feels performative or out of sync with who these two are.
I also appreciate the sense of family—Chloe’s sisters are hilarious, her grandmother steals her scenes, and there’s a real focus on found family and community. The book is warm, bright, and honest about pain, without ever feeling like a slog.
Who Will Like This Book
If you’re looking for a diverse, sharply funny romance with chronic illness representation, slow-burn tension, and prickly, lovable leads, you’ll devour this book. Fans of enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, and “help me with my list” tropes will find plenty to swoon over. If you want spice blended smoothly with heart and vulnerability, this delivers. There are graphic scenes and open-door heat, but if you like your romance grounded in reality, this is a must-read.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Explicit sexual content, discussions of chronic illness/pain, references to toxic relationships, emotional trauma, and mild violence. The tone is uplifting but tackles serious emotional themes—always check the author's content warnings if you're unsure.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, chronic illness, slow burn, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, diverse romance, Black heroine, compassionate hero, grumpy sunshine, disability rep, open-door romance, explicit romance, humor, found family, dual pov, strong heroine, trauma recovery, artist hero, series, standalone, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️Moderate
