Get a Life, Chloe Brown

After a near-death experience, Chloe realizes that she has not been living life to the fullest. She creates a “get a life” list and, after an encounter in a tree, resolves to work through her list with the hunky superintendent of her apartment building. As the two go through the list, they find themselves romantically drawn to each other, but both must overcome painful relationships from their past if they want to have a future together.

Oh my gosh do I love this book for so many reasons. It’s funny and moving, steamy and filled with witty banter. The characters are wonderful, dynamic, and beautifully realized. The story resonated so deeply with me. And it was such a treat seeing a romance with flawed, likable characters who learn together how to communicate their needs. This book is just a perfect romance, in my opinion.

Chloe is living with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines, all of which have a huge impact on her life every day. I am also living with fibromyalgia and chronic migraines, and I found the descriptions in the book to be incredibly sensitive and accurate to my experience. I was so impressed with the descriptions of Chloe’s pain that I had my boyfriend read a few paragraphs because they so perfectly articulated what I struggle to describe. Words cannot express how meaningful it was for me to see a young main character in any book, but especially in a romance, with fibromyalgia. Because I am young and appear outwardly healthy, I often have people who do not believe that I am in pain. I’ve learned to mask my pain very well and, like Chloe, went through a period where I stopped doing anything that might make my pain worse. This led to a huge loss of a social life, I lost friends, I lost a relationship, and I felt so alone for a very long time (honestly, I still do feel this way most of the time). It was so emotional and gave me hope to see Chloe going through the same things I go through, but finding a way to thrive and open her heart up to a new relationship. The representation in this book is beyond amazing and written realistically without making the book feel sad.

Redford is also an incredible character. He’s charming and kind, despite having a gruff exterior and struggling with his own issues from a past relationship. Red was in a deeply abusive relationship that profoundly impacted his life and career. An artist, he took a job as a superintendent while recovering from his break-up, and this is where he meets Chloe. Initially, the two are attracted to but do not like each other. Until Red finds Chloe stuck in a tree as she attempts to rescue a cat. After this adorable interaction, Red agrees to help Chloe with her list in exchange for a website for his art.

Chloe and Red working through her list makes for such sweet situations. We get to watch them ride a motorcycle, go out clubbing, and go camping, all of which are filled with steamy moments. They bring out the best in each other, Red encouraging Chloe to be open with others and invite new relationships into her life, and Chloe encouraging Red to focus on his art and learn to trust again. Though the two falter in their budding relationship, they ultimately find their way back to each other.

I’m just completely in love with this story. Chloe and Red are such dynamic characters, it seems like any reader could find something to relate to in this story.

If you’ve read Get a Life, Chloe Brown, tell me what you thought! And if you’ve read the rest of the series, let me know what your fave was! I’m looking forward to reading more.

CW: abuse, chronic pain