Reading Act Your Age Eve Brown was a roller coaster. At first I wasn’t sure how to feel about Eve, because from the first glance she can come off as a bit privileged. But then just as I was warming to her heart and compassion, I was absolutely swept away by Jacob. And now I’m convinced I’ll protect them both with my whole heart. Keep reading this book review to see what I loved in depth.
Summary
Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It’s time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she’s not entirely sure how…
Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.
Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the Libro.fm. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: anti-autism remarks, past child neglect
Act Your Age Eve Brown took my emotions on a ride. I wasn’t sure if I was going to fall in love with Eve. Coming from a privileged background, at the beginning Eve just was so different from what I could even relate to in my life. At the same time, I immediately could see her heart, compassion, and vulnerability. How when we approach something real, something with real stakes to lose, how it terrifies us. Before I had made up my mind about who was my favorite Brown sister, in came Jacob and I fell in love.
Set in England Eve and Jacob’s banter is amazing. Hibbert truly swept me away with their chemistry, the tension in their barbed remarks, and the sizzling attraction. Not to mention that Jacob’s story and family history broke my heart into a million pieces. All while I could deeply empathize with Eve having to pick up the fragments of her dreams. To find a new path, to find an avenue of happiness. Also was there any doubt I’d love the appearances of the Chloe, Zafir, Red, and Dani?!
Listening to this in audio-book was my favorite experience. Not only were there British accents which, YES!, but you could really sink into the character’s emotions with Ione Butler’s narration. It became even easier to get swept away by their vulnerabilities when you can hear the pain in their voice. The naked fear in their silences.
Overall,
Act Your Age Eve Brown is about sometimes being unable to see what’s in front of us. The ways we think we know how everything ends, how our decisions always play out. To realize there’s a balance between always and never asking for help. I think Act Your Age Eve Brown just turned into my therapy by the end of the book. We have to believe we are loveable to be able to accept love. And that is so much easier said then done.
Find Act Your Age Eve Brown on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org, Libro.fm & The Book Depository.
I still need to read Get a Life, Chloe Brown, but they all sound good! Great review!
OMG they are all SO AMAZING