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Ravenswood #1
A Girl Like Her
She's the town pariah. He doesn't give a damn.
In Ruth Kabbah’s world, comic books are king, silence is golden, and human contact is a pesky distraction. She doesn’t like people, which works out just fine, because the people in this small town don’t like her. The exception to that rule? Evan Miller, her way-too-charming next-door neighbour…
Ex-military man Evan is all tattooed muscle on the outside—and a big, cuddly teddy bear beneath. He’s used to coaxing prickly people from their shells, but he’s never met a woman quite like Ruth. Blunt, sarcastic, and secretly sad, she’s his exact opposite. She’s also his deepest desire.
Soon, Evan’s steady patience and smouldering smiles are melting Ruth’s reserve. But when small-town gossip from her past begins to poison her future, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she trust Evan completely? Or is her heart safest alone?
Please be aware: this book contains mentions of intimate partner violence that could trigger certain audiences.
In Ruth Kabbah’s world, comic books are king, silence is golden, and human contact is a pesky distraction. She doesn’t like people, which works out just fine, because the people in this small town don’t like her. The exception to that rule? Evan Miller, her way-too-charming next-door neighbour…
Ex-military man Evan is all tattooed muscle on the outside—and a big, cuddly teddy bear beneath. He’s used to coaxing prickly people from their shells, but he’s never met a woman quite like Ruth. Blunt, sarcastic, and secretly sad, she’s his exact opposite. She’s also his deepest desire.
Soon, Evan’s steady patience and smouldering smiles are melting Ruth’s reserve. But when small-town gossip from her past begins to poison her future, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she trust Evan completely? Or is her heart safest alone?
Please be aware: this book contains mentions of intimate partner violence that could trigger certain audiences.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2018
About the author
Talia Hibbert
30 books28.4k followersTalia Hibbert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,530 reviews
January 31, 2021
right now i live for talia hibbert romances, and talia hibbert romances alone.
(cw: discussion of cancer, loss of a parent, past abusive relationship)
(cw: discussion of cancer, loss of a parent, past abusive relationship)
February 9, 2019
“There are some things you don’t get over. You just accept them, and keep breathing. That’s enough.”
Talia Hibbert is a national treasure, and I don’t think that I ever want to leave Ravenswood or these characters. Talia truly crafts the most heartwarming romances, with amazingly diverse characters, and weaves in some of the sexiest scenes I’ve ever read in my entire life. I have loved everything that she has written so far, and A Girl Like Her is probably my favorite yet. Truly a masterpiece, and she is truly creating a brand-new tier in the romance genre, above the rest.
➽ Ruth Kabbah - Black and autistic (both ownvoices), plus sized, web comic creator, in love with all things comic related, close with her family (especially her sister), and is very weary of new people because of something that happened in her past.
➽ Evan Miller - White, ex-military, new to town, and Ruth’s new neighbor. Evan is also learning to live with a loss from his past, and he really is such a giving and kind soul and hopes to win over his new neighbors with his shepherd pie.
Obviously, these two’s paths cross and they start a friendship over food and comics, and like, what damn goals! Ruth doesn’t leave her apartment too often, because of an abusive relationship that happened in her past and the fall out because of it. And Evan is slowly putting together the pieces of what might have happened, while he also realizes how damn small Ravenswood truly is.
This book just masterfully weaves so many important elements into this tale, too. Ruth, being on the autism spectrum, feels overwhelmed many times throughout the novel, but she never once feels like a stereotype. Ruth just handles a few things differently sometimes, and that’s okay, but it has never and will never hold her back from anything, ever.
Also, this book is so damn sex positive and I was actually saying “YES!” while reading some of things Ruth said in this book. What a damn queen. Also, like in all her books, Talia always puts consent at the forefront, and proves over and over why nothing is sexier in romance than consent!
I really loved how this book also talked about the guilt abuse victims will feel, even though they were the ones who did nothing wrong. I think this is just something we don't talk a lot about as a community and a society, but survivor's guilt is so real, and something that so many people have such a hard time coming to terms with. And seeing Ruth realize that Daniels constant harassment and manipulation was nothing that she deserved truly added five years to my life.
“Because allowing yourself to be manipulated by a man like Daniel wasn’t a crime, and you never deserved to be punished.”
Overall, I just loved this more than words. The sex was steamy and hot. The characters were simultaneously so soft but so very strong. The themes were important and so beautifully woven. And the story was so damn easy to fall in love with. At this point, I’m just going to preorder and read everything that Talia Hibbert writes, because she is a damn gift to the romance genre.
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Content and trigger warnings explicit sex scenes, talk of past abusive relationship, talk of past harassment and stalking, talk of cancer, and talk of past loss of a loved one.
This was a pick for the Dragons and Tea Book Club! 🐉☕
June 10, 2020
*4.5 stars*
Halfway through A Girl Like Her, I added every single one of Talia Hibbert's books to my to-read list. Every one. And I usually hate M/F contemporary romance.
A Girl Like Her was quirky and fun, but had a very serious edge. I loved the complex dynamics and the autistic spectrum MC, who for once wasn't a savant/scientist/math genius. She was real, and her autism was just a part of what made her who she was.
It's hard for me to explain what made this small-town story stand out, other than the fact that all the parts simply worked together. Just worked really, really well. It also doesn't hurt that the male MC is a total beta-hero, something I always love. We also get a black, plus-sized woman who is described just as she is: body positive and sexually desired/desirable. I found the whole book to be really refreshing- I couldn't get enough.
The pacing was just right. The romance was slow-burn enough for me, and the story chugged along at a perfect pace. Things were revealed at just the right time. I never wanted to stop reading.
The only thing I wished was that the editing was a bit tighter, but it was hard to find fault with this one. Worth every cent I spent and then some.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
Halfway through A Girl Like Her, I added every single one of Talia Hibbert's books to my to-read list. Every one. And I usually hate M/F contemporary romance.
A Girl Like Her was quirky and fun, but had a very serious edge. I loved the complex dynamics and the autistic spectrum MC, who for once wasn't a savant/scientist/math genius. She was real, and her autism was just a part of what made her who she was.
It's hard for me to explain what made this small-town story stand out, other than the fact that all the parts simply worked together. Just worked really, really well. It also doesn't hurt that the male MC is a total beta-hero, something I always love. We also get a black, plus-sized woman who is described just as she is: body positive and sexually desired/desirable. I found the whole book to be really refreshing- I couldn't get enough.
The pacing was just right. The romance was slow-burn enough for me, and the story chugged along at a perfect pace. Things were revealed at just the right time. I never wanted to stop reading.
The only thing I wished was that the editing was a bit tighter, but it was hard to find fault with this one. Worth every cent I spent and then some.
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March 15, 2018A strong contender for best contemporary of 2018 and it's only March. God I loved this book. It's got a hero who is just kind, considerate, consensual, reasonable, can cook. A heroine who's prickly and angry and allowed to be. A lovely family even if they're hilarious pains in their own way (the mother's one POV sequence is gleeful). A joyously life-enhancing plot, a bad guy who is bad without overshadowing the book, a love that heals people in the way happiness does, ie it helps Ruth be more confident to fix the things that need fixing and open herself to happiness.
Also, Ruth is a wonderful heroine on the autistic spectrum and that isn't what the book's about who's fat and it's not about that either. Ruth's issues are getting over an abusive relationship and the social fallout. Everything else is just what she's like as a person.
Favourite line: when Evan is working out how to approach Ruth and failing: "It wasn't a solution, but then Ruth wasn't a problem." Purr.
And it's all written with Hibbert's lovely exuberant confidence and humour so it whips along gorgeously, and there are two more books and I so want Ruth's sister to get the hot best friend. Cannot wait.
Also, Ruth is a wonderful heroine on the autistic spectrum and that isn't what the book's about who's fat and it's not about that either. Ruth's issues are getting over an abusive relationship and the social fallout. Everything else is just what she's like as a person.
Favourite line: when Evan is working out how to approach Ruth and failing: "It wasn't a solution, but then Ruth wasn't a problem." Purr.
And it's all written with Hibbert's lovely exuberant confidence and humour so it whips along gorgeously, and there are two more books and I so want Ruth's sister to get the hot best friend. Cannot wait.
August 9, 2020
3.75 stars
The apartment next to mine is empty, so I’m just going to say that whoever is going to move into that empty next door apartment better be a nice guy who looks like Chris Evans and who would prepare me a lot of tasty meals. But since that apartment has been empty for three years and knowing my luck, the possibility of it being haunted is higher!
Ruth is a black autistic woman who rarely go out of her house and is kind of outcasted by everyone in the town. Evan is such a sweet nice guy who moves next door and despite all the rumours and gossip, he’s making an effort to get to know the real Ruth.
This was such a sweet fun book to read. I finished it so fast. I just love a grumpy female/sweet kind male couple, they just make a really adorable pair. Talia Hibbert writing and humour is so good and so freakin entertaining.
Song recommendation:
Call it what you want by Taylor swift
Mad woman by Taylor swift
The apartment next to mine is empty, so I’m just going to say that whoever is going to move into that empty next door apartment better be a nice guy who looks like Chris Evans and who would prepare me a lot of tasty meals. But since that apartment has been empty for three years and knowing my luck, the possibility of it being haunted is higher!
Ruth is a black autistic woman who rarely go out of her house and is kind of outcasted by everyone in the town. Evan is such a sweet nice guy who moves next door and despite all the rumours and gossip, he’s making an effort to get to know the real Ruth.
This was such a sweet fun book to read. I finished it so fast. I just love a grumpy female/sweet kind male couple, they just make a really adorable pair. Talia Hibbert writing and humour is so good and so freakin entertaining.
Song recommendation:
Call it what you want by Taylor swift
Mad woman by Taylor swift
March 14, 2022
#1 A Girl Like Her ★★★★★
#1.5 Damaged Goods ★★★★★
#2 Untouchable ★★★★★
#3 That Kind of Guy ★★★★★
re-read update: may 18, 2019:
3rd time, gets better every time. I read it via audiobook this time and really enjoyed it. It took me a little while to get into the narrator, but I was sold by the end and want to collect the rest of her audiobooks for more casual rereads!
re-read update: january 13, 2019:
This is just as good the second time. No, it might be even better.
I’m not usually one for reading adult contemporary titles, but when my friend Amber gave this one five stars, it caught my interest. An own-voice book featuring a black, autistic, plus size woman as the heroine? Yes, please! Naturally, I had to give it a try, and I am honestly so happy that I did, because Talia Hibbert is a gem and a goddess, and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
“Fanfic is good for my heart. Running is a disaster waiting to happen, and you know it.”
→ Ruth Kabbah ←
Okay, first of all, Ruth? Legit, I want to be her best friend. I know I can’t relate to her personal experiences of being a black autistic woman, but I can relate to her size (short, thick girls unite!), and I can relate to her past with abusive relationships, and with her geeky, self-deprecating nature, and with her insecurities and anxiety and history of utilizing coping methods that a lot of people judge her for. More than anything, though, I just loved her spirit. She is so damn funny, and geeky, and loving, and precious. She says the wrong things all the time, she’s prickly and sometimes hard to get along with, and she can’t cook worth anything—and she’s probably one of the top five most lovable female protagonists I’ve ever read in a contemporary novel.
Like a fool, he blurted out, “You’re little.” She snorted. “You’re disgracefully tall. What’s your point?”
→ Evan Miller ←
Evan, on the other side of the coin, is all sturdy solidness, a kindly military veteran who cooks like a pro chef and always knows the right thing to say. (If I recall correctly, his character was literally inspired by a GIF of Chris Evans, and if that doesn’t tell you something about him as a person, I don’t know what will.) He is so precious and obsessed with consent, doing everything he can to never cross Ruth’s boundaries or make her feel uncomfortable. He wants to keep her safe, but understands when he needs to let her fight her own battles, and he never tries to take an upper hand in their relationship or to disregard her needs. He’s also got a super soft spot for a coworker’s elderly, terminally ill mother, and his scenes with her gave me so much life. Precious.
“There are some things you don’t get over. You just accept them, and keep breathing. That’s enough.”
Let me be clear, though; this book is humorous and cute and soft, but it’s also definitely for mature audiences. There is quite a bit of sex, but it was honestly the perfect introduction to “steamy” adult contemporary reads, as it’s not plotless porn by any means, the characters are well fleshed out and definitely don’t serve as simple props for the action, and I don’t recall noticing a single problematic aspect. I know books of this genre and style typically tend to run free with a lot of troubling tropes and behaviors, but this book highlights how necessary (and sexy!) consent is in a relationship, as well as focusing on equality and fairness between the individuals.
She wasn’t graceful. She was, in fact, the opposite of graceful. He worried for her safety once every five seconds at least.
There are also some definite warnings to be offered for abuse, as it’s made evident pretty early on that Ruth has a history of being in a very negative relationship where she was subjected to a lot of sexual, mental, and emotional abuse. It’s all done through reminiscing, and it’s not super heavy-handed, but if that’s a trigger for you, I always suggest proceeding with caution! There is also a bit of slut-shaming, as well as ableism geared towards her autism—it’s entirely challenged throughout the text, but it is present, so be aware of that, too. ♥
All of that said, if you enjoy adult contemporary novels—or are looking for an introduction to the genre—please pick this story up! It’s only a few bucks in the kindle store, and you’ll be supporting an independent author of color who is an absolute angel on her social media and definitely has my support from here on out. (I’ve already bought another of her books and hope to read it ASAP!)
February 3, 2019
Read as part of the Dragons and Tea Book Club.
This was such a joy to read. Summed up:
It’s a small town story set in England.
About a black, autistic woman (#ownvoices) who’s grumpy, blunt, loves her family, is into her books and fanfic and writes her own web comics.
An ex-army dude who’s too good for this world, kind and can cook! He’s a dreamboat! 🤩
I loved following their story and seeing them fall for each other. It’s always refreshing to see the male character not being such a douche.But douchy people need some loving too.
I won’t say much about the plot, but it’s such a sweet, fun and loving story that I didn’t want to stop reading. It made my heart happy.
I’ll be reading more of Talia Hibbert for sure.
This was such a joy to read. Summed up:
It’s a small town story set in England.
About a black, autistic woman (#ownvoices) who’s grumpy, blunt, loves her family, is into her books and fanfic and writes her own web comics.
An ex-army dude who’s too good for this world, kind and can cook! He’s a dreamboat! 🤩
I loved following their story and seeing them fall for each other. It’s always refreshing to see the male character not being such a douche.
I won’t say much about the plot, but it’s such a sweet, fun and loving story that I didn’t want to stop reading. It made my heart happy.
I’ll be reading more of Talia Hibbert for sure.
September 24, 2020
3.5 stars
Talia Hibbert is an author I started reading last year and I truly enjoy her stories. They're always inclusive and well written. I liked a lot about this book, but unfortunately the audio book experience really took me out of the story. I would definitely recommend reading this over listening.
She's the town pariah. He doesn't give a damn.
Talia Hibbert is an author I started reading last year and I truly enjoy her stories. They're always inclusive and well written. I liked a lot about this book, but unfortunately the audio book experience really took me out of the story. I would definitely recommend reading this over listening.
April 4, 2018
4.5 I wouldn’t call what I’ve been in a book slump at all. I would say I’m book grumpy. Book grouchy. Contemporary romances have been the number one aim of my discontent. Really, it’s as if Jack Talent invaded my soul (cause we’re soul mates. Yep, fictional character, try to tell me it’s not real)…and I’m all “Piss and shit,” and sometimes even “Piss and shit and buggering, bloody, fucking hell,” on the sub-genre in the past few weeks. The ongoing B-R with the very lovely, very nuanced, very well-crafted Darkest London is probably layering on this irritation…those books make me ache, man. This is also why I REALLY need a nice refreshing CR.
To the rescue are two of my GR friends, who aren’t just particular (I guess many of us are that) they are stingy with their stars so seeing a 3.5 from Gaufre & a 5-a joyful 5-from Renae made me raise my eyebrows. And, oh, look here, I’m on my KU binge. I fully expected to enjoy this book as a result.
So what happened? Enter Talia Hibbert, who I’ve never read-never heard of-before said “Oh, you’re grumpy about books?” She wadded up that feeling, threw it in my face, then picked it up and lit in on fire. Then I think someone slapped me. This #ownvoices romance is fresh. A smart, funny, quick style. Sexy as hell. Authentic. Characters that are real and unapologetic. Strong female relationships, a perfect hero who still makes mistakes but they are so understandable so he still is pretty perfect. And more sexy consent please. A book about patience, forgiveness, and loyalty. Good people. Delicious.
My gripe? I wish it were longer. There was a lack of depth here or there I was hoping for more-some pieces seemed skimmed over a little bit-but these two were so sweet, funny, earnest, and wonderful it didn’t matter The heroine (Ruth) was prickly! Unapologetically. No explanations, no softening, these characters just are…
And look, Chris Evans is like my 9th favorite famous Chris, but Talia Hibbert suddenly made me think, “Oh Evans as Captain America, please and thank you.” She's not wrong about the gif. (which I watched maybe a couple too many times last night?)
(I feel like I had to add this to my review. Because...flavor.)
Look, I realize I didn’t really review the book here. My heart boiled over with joy, I say. I had to take some breathers from all that happy. I point you to Renae’s for more details on why.
Feelings weren’t as straight forward and binary as he’d once assumed; around Ruth he could feel fifty things at once.
To the rescue are two of my GR friends, who aren’t just particular (I guess many of us are that) they are stingy with their stars so seeing a 3.5 from Gaufre & a 5-a joyful 5-from Renae made me raise my eyebrows. And, oh, look here, I’m on my KU binge. I fully expected to enjoy this book as a result.
So what happened? Enter Talia Hibbert, who I’ve never read-never heard of-before said “Oh, you’re grumpy about books?” She wadded up that feeling, threw it in my face, then picked it up and lit in on fire. Then I think someone slapped me. This #ownvoices romance is fresh. A smart, funny, quick style. Sexy as hell. Authentic. Characters that are real and unapologetic. Strong female relationships, a perfect hero who still makes mistakes but they are so understandable so he still is pretty perfect. And more sexy consent please. A book about patience, forgiveness, and loyalty. Good people. Delicious.
My gripe? I wish it were longer. There was a lack of depth here or there I was hoping for more-some pieces seemed skimmed over a little bit-but these two were so sweet, funny, earnest, and wonderful it didn’t matter The heroine (Ruth) was prickly! Unapologetically. No explanations, no softening, these characters just are…
And look, Chris Evans is like my 9th favorite famous Chris, but Talia Hibbert suddenly made me think, “Oh Evans as Captain America, please and thank you.” She's not wrong about the gif. (which I watched maybe a couple too many times last night?)
(I feel like I had to add this to my review. Because...flavor.)
Look, I realize I didn’t really review the book here. My heart boiled over with joy, I say. I had to take some breathers from all that happy. I point you to Renae’s for more details on why.
Feelings weren’t as straight forward and binary as he’d once assumed; around Ruth he could feel fifty things at once.
April 7, 2018
What a pleasure read this book was 😍
I thought, I can guess what the story all about from the prologue, I couldn’t get more wrong.
You might read something like this before, but the depth, the twist and the characters were so special and it made this book stand up from the rest.
Ruth, our heroine is a comic web artist, interesting job btw:), she came with her mum and sister from Sierra Leone and lives in one small village in England since she was a young child. Later on in the story you will find out how tragic her parents situation was, but they don’t make a big fuss about it.
She lives with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, she struggles with her mind everyday, the easy things that we take for granted is a big things for her and in a way she made us struggle with her too. Others in the village misunderstood her because of that. But if you patience and understanding her illness, you will enjoy and cheers for every right decision she made.
Our hero Evan, is totally opposite, he had a tragic past too, he is a loner, an ex army who just moved into the village. He was very kind, sweet and always eager to help others in need, and that’s how their friendship started:)
To be honest, it has been a while since I read a hero this nice and kind 😍.
I won’t tell you much about the story though, the blurb should be enough because you need to enjoy all while reading it and find it by yourself those surprises here and there plus the shocking twist.
The author lives with ASD too, I guess this is the closer things I ever know so far how hard people with this illness lives everyday and kudos for her for wrote such a wonderful story 😊.
This book on kindle unlimited folks and I highly recommend for all of you!
❤️❤️❤️
I thought, I can guess what the story all about from the prologue, I couldn’t get more wrong.
You might read something like this before, but the depth, the twist and the characters were so special and it made this book stand up from the rest.
Ruth, our heroine is a comic web artist, interesting job btw:), she came with her mum and sister from Sierra Leone and lives in one small village in England since she was a young child. Later on in the story you will find out how tragic her parents situation was, but they don’t make a big fuss about it.
She lives with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, she struggles with her mind everyday, the easy things that we take for granted is a big things for her and in a way she made us struggle with her too. Others in the village misunderstood her because of that. But if you patience and understanding her illness, you will enjoy and cheers for every right decision she made.
Our hero Evan, is totally opposite, he had a tragic past too, he is a loner, an ex army who just moved into the village. He was very kind, sweet and always eager to help others in need, and that’s how their friendship started:)
To be honest, it has been a while since I read a hero this nice and kind 😍.
I won’t tell you much about the story though, the blurb should be enough because you need to enjoy all while reading it and find it by yourself those surprises here and there plus the shocking twist.
The author lives with ASD too, I guess this is the closer things I ever know so far how hard people with this illness lives everyday and kudos for her for wrote such a wonderful story 😊.
This book on kindle unlimited folks and I highly recommend for all of you!
❤️❤️❤️
September 13, 2018
I loved this book. Heroine was awesome. She had me laughing! So cute!
Hero was a huge teddy bear of a man. I hate when a man uses his size to intimidate the woman but NOT this hero, he was so sweet with her.. I just loved how he was with her. I call dibs on him!
Completely 100% safe.
Hero was a huge teddy bear of a man. I hate when a man uses his size to intimidate the woman but NOT this hero, he was so sweet with her.. I just loved how he was with her. I call dibs on him!
Completely 100% safe.
May 14, 2020
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★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 1st in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? -Yes
Rating - 5+++ stars
★Review★
I adored this story! Adored, adored adored adored!
I loved the heroine. She was wonderfully prickly and geeky! She also just happens to be autistic but she is so much more than these inadequate descriptions. She is a great heroine, dealing with the fall out of a awful relationship and generally having hidden herself.
And the hero, was just a genuinely nice guy. I loved him!
This story was so relateable. It was real people, with real issues, a "bad guy" that was not bad in an ott cartoonish way. Actually he was a bad guy in a sadly maddeningly realistic way.
I found how they became friends first beautiful and I was so happy all the time I was reading this, my face ached from smiling. I immediately grabbed everything else I could from this author off Amazon.
An excellent 5 stars
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 1st in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? -Yes
Rating - 5+++ stars
★Review★
I adored this story! Adored, adored adored adored!
I loved the heroine. She was wonderfully prickly and geeky! She also just happens to be autistic but she is so much more than these inadequate descriptions. She is a great heroine, dealing with the fall out of a awful relationship and generally having hidden herself.
And the hero, was just a genuinely nice guy. I loved him!
This story was so relateable. It was real people, with real issues, a "bad guy" that was not bad in an ott cartoonish way. Actually he was a bad guy in a sadly maddeningly realistic way.
I found how they became friends first beautiful and I was so happy all the time I was reading this, my face ached from smiling. I immediately grabbed everything else I could from this author off Amazon.
An excellent 5 stars
February 9, 2021
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My friends have been trying to get me to read a Talia Hibbert book for a while now so it was exciting to finally do the deed. A GIRL LIKE HER is one of those small town secrets/big time drama type books. It revolves around Ruth Kabbah, a woman with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who likes comic books and working on her web comic, but has pretty horrible luck with men.
Evan is her new neighbor and their relationship kicks off when he brings her a shepherd's pie in the interest of being neighborly. Initially suspicious, Ruth eventually relents and they begin trading off: food in exchange for lent comics. As they spend more time together, Ruth begins to relax around the one person in town who doesn't judge her for the scandals in her past, and Evan begins to learn more about what, exactly, was responsible for making Ruth so jaded in the first place.
I thought Ruth was a great heroine. The author did a great job inserting all the geek stuff without it feeling like she was pandering to her audience. It felt very natural and low-key. It was also cool to read about a neurodivergent heroine where her neurodivergence wasn't the main focus of the story: it just shaped the way she saw and interacted with the world.
Evan is an incredibly sweet hero. Normally I read romances with darker, more sinister heroes but it was refreshing to read about a sweet beta man who just wanted to feed and take care of the heroine and treat her like a princess. He has a tragic backstory to keep him from being too two-dimensional but I don't really feel like he ever felt as complexly fleshed-out as Ruth did, sadly.
Which brings me to the only thing I didn't like about this story: there just wasn't a big connection between the H and the h to me. They felt more like friends than lovers and a lot of their interactions felt drawn-out and kind of boring (to me). My favorite parts of the book were actually Ruth interacting with the other villagers and all the baggage that comes along with living in one of those towns where everyone knows everyone, basically how Heather felt in her review. If this had more tension and more chemistry, I would have loved this book. Also... more UK-isms? I LOVED all the little UK references to things like Parma Violets and Supernoodles. Things I haven't really seen outside of the UK, basically, right up there with Tesco sandwiches, Jammy Dodgers, and Scotch eggs (sigh).
All in all, this was a pretty sweet romance with a satisfying ending and I'd read more from this author.
3 stars
April 23, 2019
I had never heard of Talia Hibbert before, but the second I found out she’s a romance writer who is always boosting body positivity and consent, I WAS THERE FOR IT. Now I want to own every single book by her. Please, if you want to support an independent, ownvoices author, pick up her books! I truly think you’ll be in for a real treat.
This book follows Ruth, a black, plus sized woman who creates web comics and prefers to stay home and keeps to herself. She lives in a small town called Ravenswood, where she’s been labeled a “pariah” and rumors about her are constantly flying. But she’s just trying to move on from her past where she was involved in an abusive relationship. Ruth is also autistic and she tends to not trust new people. She is only close to her sister and mother, but that all starts to change when Evan moves in next door.
Evan is white, ex-military, and he’s very soft spoken and incredibly loyal. He also has a past where he was hurt, and he’s just trying to move on. He’s kind and constantly giving to others. He notices Ruth and slowly befriends her. After he sees Ruth’s horrible diet and learning her cooking skills are… nonexistent… he starts cooking her food every day and brings it over. AND OMG MY HEART.
There’s nothing I love more than two people connecting over food, and I just loved how understanding and patient Evan was with Ruth. He never pressured her to confront him about her past, and once their relationship evolved, there was always so much consent and body positivity.
What I really loved about Ruth was that she was so fiercely loyal to her family, and she knew how to stand up for herself. But she also completely shuts down when any mention of her ex was brought up, because she was always so focused on guilt and blaming herself for the abuse. This topic is brought up a lot, but Talia Hibbert really does such a tasteful job at addressing it. Ruth’s anxiety is also so relatable, and I just know so many people are going to understand and just GET her character. Also? Her favorite attire is pajamas and that is such a mood.
Please use caution going into this book if you are a survivor of abuse. And there are triggers for anxiety, slut shaming, and ableism language toward autism. But I seriously can’t recommend this book enough if you are looking for a good book in the romance genre. Trust me, I don’t read a ton of romance (where there is a whole lotta steam!) but this one was so incredibly well written and you will fly right through it!
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This was our February pick for the Dragons & Tea Book Club!
July 27, 2019
4.5 Stars
In A Girl Like Her, Talia Hibbert has delivered a deliciously diverse contemporary romance of the highest quality and (within a matter of pages) effortlessly established herself as my number one new author to watch.
I can’t quite recall the last time I loved the lead characters in an M/F romance so damn much. What makes Ruth and Evan so special is how realistically they are portrayed. So often you read about characters that ring false to real life, where the perfection of a hero or heroine is simply too far-fetched to even be slightly applicable to reality, but here, both Evan and Ruth are extremely relatable people, grounded in the reality of the everyday, and I much appreciated them for it.
Ruth is tetchy and awkward, but also fierce and fiery, a lot neurotic, kind of nerdy, unknowingly hilarious, and definitely 100% genuine. She is also a woman of colour and has autism, neither of which are traits that define who she is as a person, they simply are, making up small parts that add to the whole person - as it damn well should be! She’s practically the town pariah, due to a relationship gone bad and some small-minded (false or exaggerated) town gossip, and until she meets Evan – her spunky new neighbour – she’s cocooned herself in a fuck-them-all mentality, which I certainly couldn’t fault her for and possibly would have done the same myself if put in a similar situation.
Then we have Evan who is a bit of a dreamboat. His straightforwardness, general affability and kind-hearted nature make him so easy to like. He is a man who knows his own mind and sticks to his guns, which I loved to see minus the usual arrogance and cockiness that's attached to so many male leads in romance reads. Instead of being deterred by Ruth’s initial prickliness upon their first meeting, and instead of being easily swayed by the towns general bad gossip where Ruth is concerned, he chooses instead to make up his own damn mind and pursue a friendship, and later a relationship, with this woman whom he finds himself wholly enthralled by and hopelessly attracted to, regardless of what anyone else has to say about the matter. His loyalty, passion, open-mindedness, patience, and wholehearted acceptance of who Ruth is, inside and out, just made Evan all the more lovable.
Their relationship progression developed like a dream and the bigger story - featuring the details of Ruth’s backstory and why she was such a pariah - unfolded at a perfect pace, flowing effortlessly. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t fully engaged and enjoying the hell out of myself. I laughed, I cried, I raged and I cheered, all while having a highly memorable and enriching reading experience.
This was a really great contemporary read and one I highly recommend to my M/F reading friends. It’s certainly undeniable that my eagerness to read more from Hibbert won’t be contained, and I’m sure over the coming months I’ll devour her backlog and coming releases with great zeal. I can't wait!
In A Girl Like Her, Talia Hibbert has delivered a deliciously diverse contemporary romance of the highest quality and (within a matter of pages) effortlessly established herself as my number one new author to watch.
I can’t quite recall the last time I loved the lead characters in an M/F romance so damn much. What makes Ruth and Evan so special is how realistically they are portrayed. So often you read about characters that ring false to real life, where the perfection of a hero or heroine is simply too far-fetched to even be slightly applicable to reality, but here, both Evan and Ruth are extremely relatable people, grounded in the reality of the everyday, and I much appreciated them for it.
Ruth is tetchy and awkward, but also fierce and fiery, a lot neurotic, kind of nerdy, unknowingly hilarious, and definitely 100% genuine. She is also a woman of colour and has autism, neither of which are traits that define who she is as a person, they simply are, making up small parts that add to the whole person - as it damn well should be! She’s practically the town pariah, due to a relationship gone bad and some small-minded (false or exaggerated) town gossip, and until she meets Evan – her spunky new neighbour – she’s cocooned herself in a fuck-them-all mentality, which I certainly couldn’t fault her for and possibly would have done the same myself if put in a similar situation.
Then we have Evan who is a bit of a dreamboat. His straightforwardness, general affability and kind-hearted nature make him so easy to like. He is a man who knows his own mind and sticks to his guns, which I loved to see minus the usual arrogance and cockiness that's attached to so many male leads in romance reads. Instead of being deterred by Ruth’s initial prickliness upon their first meeting, and instead of being easily swayed by the towns general bad gossip where Ruth is concerned, he chooses instead to make up his own damn mind and pursue a friendship, and later a relationship, with this woman whom he finds himself wholly enthralled by and hopelessly attracted to, regardless of what anyone else has to say about the matter. His loyalty, passion, open-mindedness, patience, and wholehearted acceptance of who Ruth is, inside and out, just made Evan all the more lovable.
Their relationship progression developed like a dream and the bigger story - featuring the details of Ruth’s backstory and why she was such a pariah - unfolded at a perfect pace, flowing effortlessly. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t fully engaged and enjoying the hell out of myself. I laughed, I cried, I raged and I cheered, all while having a highly memorable and enriching reading experience.
This was a really great contemporary read and one I highly recommend to my M/F reading friends. It’s certainly undeniable that my eagerness to read more from Hibbert won’t be contained, and I’m sure over the coming months I’ll devour her backlog and coming releases with great zeal. I can't wait!
May 19, 2018
I probably should have set this one aside because I ended up doing a lot of skimming and that is never any good.
I found the book to be blasé and never made a connection with either of the main characters which makes it hard to enjoy the story.
Ah well you can’t love them all right!
June 20, 2019
4 to 4 1/2 stars
Evan liked her wariness. It made every inch of her trust a reward.
I enjoyed reading Ruth and Evan's tale.
Ruth is a misunderstood woman for numerous reasons, but Evan sees her worth, her value, and has a desire to care for and protect her.
"He's... he's lovely. I mean, [Evan's] kind, and thoughtful, and he lets me think, and he always has something funny to say. I don't know. I just like talking to him."
"So he's nothing like - "
"No," Ruth said quickly. "No."
Though she can be more than a bit prickly (for various reasons), we soon learn that beneath that exterior lies a good woman with a wounded heart who hasn't been able to get beyond painful events in her past or the guilt she feels around them.
"These past two years - I thought I'd figured things out. I thought I was okay. But now this is happening and my head is all over the place, and I'm starting to wonder if I ever really dealt with things at all."
"Well, let me help you out with that," Marjanna said dryly. "You didn't."
"I tried."
Marjaana gave her a hard look. "You didn't. You accepted a hell of a lot of shit and told yourself that you deserved it. That's not dealing."
"Oh, stop. Less counselling, more seduction tips."
Marjanna snorted.
Evan, strong, kind, and wise soul that he is (and who has also been through his share of loss), wants to understand her and doesn't have patience for the negative gossip that others sometimes try to spew at him about her.
Especially one particular man who he immediately dislikes and doesn't want anything to do with, but, unfortunately, isn't able to avoid in his workplace. A man who seems to have a vested interest in warning him away from Ruth and refuses to mind his own business...
Evan failed to see how anyone could not get along with Ruth. Yes; she was prickly and awkward and blunt to a fault. She was also adorably excitable, unapologetically passionate, and secretly, achingly, shy. But then, a man like Daniel would respond poorly to a woman like Ruth. He seemed to expect instant adoration, and Ruth wasn't capable of that.
Evan's got good instincts.
He trusts his own experiences and connection with her, and sees her despite all the things he doesn't know. He realizes soon enough that he wants to be much more than friends, but knows that Ruth has to be on the same page and won't be pushed in that regard. Evan respects her and he's willing to wait for the mystery of Ruth to unfold.
He knows, deep down, that she's worth waiting for.
"I assume everyone hates you because you're a man-eating succubus."
She tried to suppress a shiver at the languid touch of his fingers, and failed miserably. "Pretty much."
"You take advantage of their poor, innocent menfolk."
"Something like that."
He looked up, his gaze heavy. "Would you take advantage of me? If I asked you nicely?"
She smiled. "I think I respect you too much."
"That's funny, because I respect you a lot. But I still want to rip your clothes off."
And so, this story is a journey towards the truth of what really happened in Ruth's past, why she isolated herself from the world, and what it takes for her to finally move forward and embrace the beautiful life that is now waiting for her...
"I can't tell you I'll never hurt you. I don't make promises I can't keep." [...] Evan grasped her hand firmly in his, drawing her attention back to him. "But I can promise, " he continued, "that I will always treat you as you deserve to be treated. That I will always respect you. That I won't lie to you or betray your trust. I try not to say never, but I will say this: hurting you is something I would never choose to do. I swear."
I appreciated their journey together and how the various issues (and people) from both the past and present were dealt with and resolved.
"I also know," he said, "that I can't make you believe me. I have to show you. I'm okay with that. But Ruth, you need to know that I won't take this any further until you tell me what you want."
"You're impossible," she muttered.
"No," he said. "It's just I want to do things with you. Not to you. There's a difference."
I am looking forward to the other books in this series, as I'd like to read more about some of the other characters, especially Ruth's sister, Hannah, and Evan's good friend, Zach. I'd also love to catch some glimpses of Ruth and Evan enjoying their HEA. *smile*
***
A few words from the author:
It was a lot of fun to write a main character with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, as someone with ASD myself. I hope that my neuroatypical readers find in Ruth the sort of representation we rarely get: an autistic character with a personality and a life, rather than an animated stereotype. An autistic character who isn't an alien or a changeling or even a theoretical physicist.
In the words of that one meme, it's what [we] deserve!
Evan liked her wariness. It made every inch of her trust a reward.
I enjoyed reading Ruth and Evan's tale.
Ruth is a misunderstood woman for numerous reasons, but Evan sees her worth, her value, and has a desire to care for and protect her.
"He's... he's lovely. I mean, [Evan's] kind, and thoughtful, and he lets me think, and he always has something funny to say. I don't know. I just like talking to him."
"So he's nothing like - "
"No," Ruth said quickly. "No."
Though she can be more than a bit prickly (for various reasons), we soon learn that beneath that exterior lies a good woman with a wounded heart who hasn't been able to get beyond painful events in her past or the guilt she feels around them.
"These past two years - I thought I'd figured things out. I thought I was okay. But now this is happening and my head is all over the place, and I'm starting to wonder if I ever really dealt with things at all."
"Well, let me help you out with that," Marjanna said dryly. "You didn't."
"I tried."
Marjaana gave her a hard look. "You didn't. You accepted a hell of a lot of shit and told yourself that you deserved it. That's not dealing."
"Oh, stop. Less counselling, more seduction tips."
Marjanna snorted.
Evan, strong, kind, and wise soul that he is (and who has also been through his share of loss), wants to understand her and doesn't have patience for the negative gossip that others sometimes try to spew at him about her.
Especially one particular man who he immediately dislikes and doesn't want anything to do with, but, unfortunately, isn't able to avoid in his workplace. A man who seems to have a vested interest in warning him away from Ruth and refuses to mind his own business...
Evan failed to see how anyone could not get along with Ruth. Yes; she was prickly and awkward and blunt to a fault. She was also adorably excitable, unapologetically passionate, and secretly, achingly, shy. But then, a man like Daniel would respond poorly to a woman like Ruth. He seemed to expect instant adoration, and Ruth wasn't capable of that.
Evan's got good instincts.
He trusts his own experiences and connection with her, and sees her despite all the things he doesn't know. He realizes soon enough that he wants to be much more than friends, but knows that Ruth has to be on the same page and won't be pushed in that regard. Evan respects her and he's willing to wait for the mystery of Ruth to unfold.
He knows, deep down, that she's worth waiting for.
"I assume everyone hates you because you're a man-eating succubus."
She tried to suppress a shiver at the languid touch of his fingers, and failed miserably. "Pretty much."
"You take advantage of their poor, innocent menfolk."
"Something like that."
He looked up, his gaze heavy. "Would you take advantage of me? If I asked you nicely?"
She smiled. "I think I respect you too much."
"That's funny, because I respect you a lot. But I still want to rip your clothes off."
And so, this story is a journey towards the truth of what really happened in Ruth's past, why she isolated herself from the world, and what it takes for her to finally move forward and embrace the beautiful life that is now waiting for her...
"I can't tell you I'll never hurt you. I don't make promises I can't keep." [...] Evan grasped her hand firmly in his, drawing her attention back to him. "But I can promise, " he continued, "that I will always treat you as you deserve to be treated. That I will always respect you. That I won't lie to you or betray your trust. I try not to say never, but I will say this: hurting you is something I would never choose to do. I swear."
I appreciated their journey together and how the various issues (and people) from both the past and present were dealt with and resolved.
"I also know," he said, "that I can't make you believe me. I have to show you. I'm okay with that. But Ruth, you need to know that I won't take this any further until you tell me what you want."
"You're impossible," she muttered.
"No," he said. "It's just I want to do things with you. Not to you. There's a difference."
I am looking forward to the other books in this series, as I'd like to read more about some of the other characters, especially Ruth's sister, Hannah, and Evan's good friend, Zach. I'd also love to catch some glimpses of Ruth and Evan enjoying their HEA. *smile*
***
A few words from the author:
It was a lot of fun to write a main character with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, as someone with ASD myself. I hope that my neuroatypical readers find in Ruth the sort of representation we rarely get: an autistic character with a personality and a life, rather than an animated stereotype. An autistic character who isn't an alien or a changeling or even a theoretical physicist.
In the words of that one meme, it's what [we] deserve!
September 6, 2018
Ayyyyy another book with a sexually experienced heroine and a loving non manwhore hero!!! Ya know, how normal every day characters should be written!!
May 8, 2018
4.5 stars
I apologise in advance. I just finished A Girl Like Her, and I don’t think I’ll be able to write a coherent review; just random things that are running through my head. And, to be honest, I’ll probably digress a lot.
A big thank you to Sam. Ever since I saw her rating, I clicked on ‘like’ every time I saw the rating, but refusing to read any reviews, which I’ll do once I’m finished. I must admit, one of the reasons why I waited over a month to read it – apart from the hype this book was causing – was due to the generic cover. I’m so tired of them. But, hey, I was in desperate need of a good CR. And I got a good CR!
Right!
A Girl Like Her. This book has been an experience to me; something that made me grin and laugh and angry. So very, very angry at times. But more than that, I felt giddy. What a delightful, funny, original book this is.
Have you ever felt being wronged and utterly helpless to do anything about it? I know have. I only have to think back at my very first job right off uni. One of the worst times in my life. And if you have felt wronged and helpless, have you ever wished for a hero or heroine (Marvel-like ones) to sweep in, and right everything that you’ve perceived to be wrong? Again, I have. At this point, though, I want to point out that I have luckily never experienced what Ruth has been through.
I think I have mentioned that I grew up with a Marvel and especially Spider Man obsessed brother who is six years older than me. And though it’s been ages since I read a Marvel comic, I’m still familiar with the 80s and 90s comics, and I watch every MCU film that comes out. By the way, The Avengers: Infinity War? Le sigh!
So, imagine what a pleasant surprise it was to read of a heroine, Ruth, wearing pyjamas with cartoon Captain Americas chasing cartoon Buckys, The Town Jezebel, autistic, curvey, blunt, prickly, the pariah. I wish I could tell you that all the gossip about her, the nasty treatment she receives, don’t faze her. I wish I could tell you that she stands above it all. Oh, she doesn’t show it, she puts on a face, lets all of her prickly persona show, but inside she hurts deeply. And the more the truth is revealed, the more I hurt for her. But it’s not written in the usual way, the tearjerker way. It’s rather matter-of-factly, which made it actually worse, and yet at the same time, there were so many times I found myself laughing and grinning. What a strange and wonderful book. However, I’ll get to Talia Hibbert’s writing later.
Evan Miller, ex-soldier, who has only recently moved to the town of Ravenswood, is also Ruth’s new neighbour. And even before it was even mentioned in the book, his description reminded me immediately of Chris Evan’s Captain America. Again, a moment of a smile when it is mentioned later. And yes, he’s a true hero. I even put it in a status update:
I’m not going to go into the how’s and why’s these two very different people fall for each other. Right now, as I’m writing this, I feel I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Only this: two people falling in love felt rarely so natural, so normal, so inevitable. And so adorable.
And I believe it’s due to Talia Hibbert’s writing. It’s so clear, unsentimental and to the point; simply straight forward, and yet it creates a wonderful imagery. Here’s one where I had to laugh out loud, because – in a strange way – it was so relatable:
You see? When I read that sentence I quoted above, it created a wonderful imagery of Ruth’s mind. Something I had instantly in front of my eyes. And this is how Talia Hibbert writes. From having to use toilet paper because Ruth doesn’t have tampons at home and has to go out like that to buy some, to the question why Evan would like Captain America. The writing flows easily and naturally, with a lot of humour. And yeah, I totally get why Sam would put Evan in her ‘book-boyfriend’ shelf.
The only reason why it’s not a five-star rating is that some issues were not properly addressed, and the ending was a little too convenient. Maybe?
I don’t know. What I do know is that I will re-read it, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if I didn’t round it up. I have this terrible habit of devouring a book I love; not skim-reading but missing the nuances. And I have the strong feeling that I may have missed some.
Lovely, lovely book.
I apologise in advance. I just finished A Girl Like Her, and I don’t think I’ll be able to write a coherent review; just random things that are running through my head. And, to be honest, I’ll probably digress a lot.
A big thank you to Sam. Ever since I saw her rating, I clicked on ‘like’ every time I saw the rating, but refusing to read any reviews, which I’ll do once I’m finished. I must admit, one of the reasons why I waited over a month to read it – apart from the hype this book was causing – was due to the generic cover. I’m so tired of them. But, hey, I was in desperate need of a good CR. And I got a good CR!
Right!
A Girl Like Her. This book has been an experience to me; something that made me grin and laugh and angry. So very, very angry at times. But more than that, I felt giddy. What a delightful, funny, original book this is.
Have you ever felt being wronged and utterly helpless to do anything about it? I know have. I only have to think back at my very first job right off uni. One of the worst times in my life. And if you have felt wronged and helpless, have you ever wished for a hero or heroine (Marvel-like ones) to sweep in, and right everything that you’ve perceived to be wrong? Again, I have. At this point, though, I want to point out that I have luckily never experienced what Ruth has been through.
I think I have mentioned that I grew up with a Marvel and especially Spider Man obsessed brother who is six years older than me. And though it’s been ages since I read a Marvel comic, I’m still familiar with the 80s and 90s comics, and I watch every MCU film that comes out. By the way, The Avengers: Infinity War? Le sigh!
So, imagine what a pleasant surprise it was to read of a heroine, Ruth, wearing pyjamas with cartoon Captain Americas chasing cartoon Buckys, The Town Jezebel, autistic, curvey, blunt, prickly, the pariah. I wish I could tell you that all the gossip about her, the nasty treatment she receives, don’t faze her. I wish I could tell you that she stands above it all. Oh, she doesn’t show it, she puts on a face, lets all of her prickly persona show, but inside she hurts deeply. And the more the truth is revealed, the more I hurt for her. But it’s not written in the usual way, the tearjerker way. It’s rather matter-of-factly, which made it actually worse, and yet at the same time, there were so many times I found myself laughing and grinning. What a strange and wonderful book. However, I’ll get to Talia Hibbert’s writing later.
Evan Miller, ex-soldier, who has only recently moved to the town of Ravenswood, is also Ruth’s new neighbour. And even before it was even mentioned in the book, his description reminded me immediately of Chris Evan’s Captain America. Again, a moment of a smile when it is mentioned later. And yes, he’s a true hero. I even put it in a status update:
“I’m nothing special,” he said. “I just… I treat people how I’d want to be treated. [...]"Let me swoon here a little. Such a small sentence, and what a wonderful thing to want. Honestly, had we more men like him, the world would be a better place.
I’m not going to go into the how’s and why’s these two very different people fall for each other. Right now, as I’m writing this, I feel I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Only this: two people falling in love felt rarely so natural, so normal, so inevitable. And so adorable.
And I believe it’s due to Talia Hibbert’s writing. It’s so clear, unsentimental and to the point; simply straight forward, and yet it creates a wonderful imagery. Here’s one where I had to laugh out loud, because – in a strange way – it was so relatable:
Internally, her nerves were a mess, like multiple pairs of earbuds shoved into the same coat pocket. She didn’t know where one feeling ended and the other began, or how to disentangle them […]Again, I’m sorry for digressing, but here it goes. I’m a very chaotic person. And I do own three pairs of cheapo Bluetooth earbuds. I am prone to accidents, like stepping on them, misplacing them or simply not charging them on time. So, every time I fly abroad, I make sure that all three pairs are separately and strategically put into their places: one paired with my phone, the other one for my iPad, and the third as a spare. By the time I finally sit on the plane, however, I more or less always end up with all three pairs stuffed into the front pocket of my bag. with me frantically trying to disentangle them and find out which one is paired with which device.
You see? When I read that sentence I quoted above, it created a wonderful imagery of Ruth’s mind. Something I had instantly in front of my eyes. And this is how Talia Hibbert writes. From having to use toilet paper because Ruth doesn’t have tampons at home and has to go out like that to buy some, to the question why Evan would like Captain America. The writing flows easily and naturally, with a lot of humour. And yeah, I totally get why Sam would put Evan in her ‘book-boyfriend’ shelf.
The only reason why it’s not a five-star rating is that some issues were not properly addressed, and the ending was a little too convenient. Maybe?
I don’t know. What I do know is that I will re-read it, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if I didn’t round it up. I have this terrible habit of devouring a book I love; not skim-reading but missing the nuances. And I have the strong feeling that I may have missed some.
Lovely, lovely book.
November 16, 2021
Read this directly after The Kiss Quotient, which is also about a woman with ASD - and I much prefer this one in terms of writing and story development.
Well, it's morning now and I've got a quiet office all to myself and steaming cup of coffee, with what others may consider too much cinnamon (no such thing in my book), so it is review time.
This was a sweet story with a pinch of intrigue - which every small town has. Set in Ravenswood, a tiny town in England where everyone knows everyone's business, Ruth Kabbah is the town outcast because of events two years prior. But when this hot army new comer moves in next door she's forced to deal with things she's been avoiding.
This is a super easy read. It starts off strong and it never really let's you go until you're in the epilogue. I recommend this to anyone who is itching for some romance.
Well, it's morning now and I've got a quiet office all to myself and steaming cup of coffee, with what others may consider too much cinnamon (no such thing in my book), so it is review time.
This was a sweet story with a pinch of intrigue - which every small town has. Set in Ravenswood, a tiny town in England where everyone knows everyone's business, Ruth Kabbah is the town outcast because of events two years prior. But when this hot army new comer moves in next door she's forced to deal with things she's been avoiding.
This is a super easy read. It starts off strong and it never really let's you go until you're in the epilogue. I recommend this to anyone who is itching for some romance.
November 9, 2018
4 STARS!
Ruth is a reclusive web comic author/designer with autism who has alienated most of the population of her small town. Evan is new to town and moves in next door. Despite her hostility toward him, Evan is completely intrigued by his new neighbour.
Interesting character alert: I very much liked the way the author crafted these two; both Ruth and Evan had depth.
Evan . . .
Ruth was where most of the magic happened for me. Her struggle to receive and give social cues was illuminating and well-done.
So where is the missing star? I honestly considered giving a full 5 stars because I loved the setting, the sex was extra hot, and I adored the writing style. [Is it strange that the author's proper use of commas warmed my heart? LOL]
But I couldn't do it . . . I just felt that Ruth's autism came and went too conveniently in the second half of the story. I understand that the author wanted her character to save herself, but I would have preferred that she do it within the framework that was created for her.
Of course, take my criticism with a grain of salt - I'm usually weird about things most people don't notice or care about. :D Enjoy this gem of a novel!
Internally, her nerves were a mess, like multiple pairs of earbuds shoved into the same coat pocket.SO MUCH to like in this one!
Ruth is a reclusive web comic author/designer with autism who has alienated most of the population of her small town. Evan is new to town and moves in next door. Despite her hostility toward him, Evan is completely intrigued by his new neighbour.
Interesting character alert: I very much liked the way the author crafted these two; both Ruth and Evan had depth.
Evan . . .
Evan was a simple man: as long as he had objectives to meet, he was happy.Though he wasn't quite as complex as Ruth, I liked Evan - a lot. He was honorable, steady, and loyal. He was the perfect foil for Ruth. Plus, he had this incredible sex-on-a-stick thing going on. ;-)
Ruth was where most of the magic happened for me. Her struggle to receive and give social cues was illuminating and well-done.
She'd forgotten to offer him tea. Was it too late to mention? She wasn't entirely sure. Once she managed to knock herself off the socially acceptable path, Ruth could never figure out how to climb back on again.And I really appreciated that the author focused on portraying her as real instead of as likable.
Ruth had a policy when it came to knocked doors: she didn't answer them. She didn't enjoy speaking to people willy-nilly. Anyone who wanted to see her could arrange it well in advance, preferably via text or email.Huh...that sounds like me, lol. No wonder I didn't hold her 'quirks' against her.
So where is the missing star? I honestly considered giving a full 5 stars because I loved the setting, the sex was extra hot, and I adored the writing style. [Is it strange that the author's proper use of commas warmed my heart? LOL]
But I couldn't do it . . . I just felt that Ruth's autism came and went too conveniently in the second half of the story. I understand that the author wanted her character to save herself, but I would have preferred that she do it within the framework that was created for her.
Of course, take my criticism with a grain of salt - I'm usually weird about things most people don't notice or care about. :D Enjoy this gem of a novel!
April 15, 2020
Wow! This was really wonderful, unexpectedly so! I have never read a book like this before, with a poc heroine AND with autism, where she struggles socially and with communication. It's also very rare to find a hero so sweet, understanding and patient. I loved how he wasn't your usual alpha hero, which I love, but sometimes get bored of. Overall amazing, sweet and reading it just made me smile when I finished it
February 7, 2019
First, I love that we have a WOC author and WOC main character, I love it even more when there's representation for the neurodiverse! Ruth has been branded the town whore and her backstory is heartbreaking and way too real. This is such a layered and nuanced erotic story and it worked so damn well. Gimme it, gimme all of it.
March 21, 2018
Every so often a romance comes along that restores my faith and love of the genre. A Girl Like Her was just that book. It hit all of The Fountain Pen Diva's happy buttons and then some.
Granted, I was not a fan of Ms. Hibbert's Bad for the Boss: A BWAM Office Romance because boss/employee "romances" are not my thing. However, the author had an engaging style and a way of writing characters that I liked, despite the plot. With 'A Girl Like Her', this talent just shines.
No heroine hijacking. Consent is actually SEXY. Heroine doesn't "get fixed" because the hero falls in love with her.
Ruth is autistic and it's not a big deal. She's not a bundle of pity party patheticness. She's intelligent, creative and when she allows herself to be, rather funny. The heroine actually has sexual agency and owns it. She's also socially awkward and prickly. She's a geek who has her own webcomic. She's pretty but that isn't what defines her. In the small town of Ravenswood, Ruth and her sister Hannah have a reputation and it's not a good one - though it's unfair. She feels safe inside her apartment, but there is a very good reason for this.
Ex-military Evan is a NICE guy. A nice, sensitive guy who could still kick someone's ass if he needed to. Wow, go figure. In a genre that seems to favor entitled, sexist jerkwads, he was a breath of fresh air. He doesn't belittle the heroine or insist his big dick is what she needs to make her "normal". He respected Ruth's space and her autonomy. He's not arrogant to think he can "rescue" her. He is a good cook and prepares meals for his friends. He's what a REAL alpha male should be - friend, lover, protector and respector. He's not always sure what Ruth is thinking and he doesn't press her to talk when he sees that it sometimes makes her uncomfortable.
These two unlikely people find each other - well actually, Evan introduces himself by baking his unknown neighbor a shepherd's pie. A kind gesture on his part and one that Ruth doesn't get. But she also can't deny that as annoying as Evan may be, she's attracted to him. The conversations she had in her head were quite funny as she tries to make her brain and her mouth match. On the other hand, a sexy guy who made her a shepherd's pie must know that she's the town outcast.
Unfortunately, there's a dark side to idyllic Ravenswood by the name of Daniel, the town's good-looking and wealthy son of the town's elite family. He's a man used to getting everything he wants and telling people what to do. Or in this case, telling Evan whom to see. Bad idea. I don't want to spoil the read, just know there's a horrible history between him and Ruth and a huge part of why she and her sister are (unfairly) branded as the town's outcasts. To say I hated Daniel was putting it mildly.
Ruth couldn't ask for a better sister than Hannah, despite how the latter tries to force her out of her comfort zone sometimes or perhaps not always understands what goes on in Ruth's head. Still, Hannah will not allow anyone to screw her sister over, and she proves that in the prologue. I also loved their mom, Patience. I have a strong feeling that mom is playing everyone with her seeming float through life, Deal or No Deal watching persona.
Then there's Zach. He needs his own story stat. I liked him too.
Oh, can I just give this author an extra star for actually having Ruth deal with her period? Seriously, most romance books totally ignore something so natural - if a bit annoying and messy. More often than not, the only time periods get mentioned is in relation to whether or not the heroine is pregnant due to having unprotected sex. I totally related to having to rush to the store for tampons with toilet paper as a temporary substitute. Don't cringe, I'm sure some of you reading this review know damn well what I'm talking about.
Last but never least, no colorism. Ruth is dark-skinned, plus-sized and she's no sad sack. She owns her body and Evan adores every curve.
'A Girl Like Her' was an amazing romance and easily one of the best I've read in a long time.
Granted, I was not a fan of Ms. Hibbert's Bad for the Boss: A BWAM Office Romance because boss/employee "romances" are not my thing. However, the author had an engaging style and a way of writing characters that I liked, despite the plot. With 'A Girl Like Her', this talent just shines.
No heroine hijacking. Consent is actually SEXY. Heroine doesn't "get fixed" because the hero falls in love with her.
Ruth is autistic and it's not a big deal. She's not a bundle of pity party patheticness. She's intelligent, creative and when she allows herself to be, rather funny. The heroine actually has sexual agency and owns it. She's also socially awkward and prickly. She's a geek who has her own webcomic. She's pretty but that isn't what defines her. In the small town of Ravenswood, Ruth and her sister Hannah have a reputation and it's not a good one - though it's unfair. She feels safe inside her apartment, but there is a very good reason for this.
Ex-military Evan is a NICE guy. A nice, sensitive guy who could still kick someone's ass if he needed to. Wow, go figure. In a genre that seems to favor entitled, sexist jerkwads, he was a breath of fresh air. He doesn't belittle the heroine or insist his big dick is what she needs to make her "normal". He respected Ruth's space and her autonomy. He's not arrogant to think he can "rescue" her. He is a good cook and prepares meals for his friends. He's what a REAL alpha male should be - friend, lover, protector and respector. He's not always sure what Ruth is thinking and he doesn't press her to talk when he sees that it sometimes makes her uncomfortable.
These two unlikely people find each other - well actually, Evan introduces himself by baking his unknown neighbor a shepherd's pie. A kind gesture on his part and one that Ruth doesn't get. But she also can't deny that as annoying as Evan may be, she's attracted to him. The conversations she had in her head were quite funny as she tries to make her brain and her mouth match. On the other hand, a sexy guy who made her a shepherd's pie must know that she's the town outcast.
Unfortunately, there's a dark side to idyllic Ravenswood by the name of Daniel, the town's good-looking and wealthy son of the town's elite family. He's a man used to getting everything he wants and telling people what to do. Or in this case, telling Evan whom to see. Bad idea. I don't want to spoil the read, just know there's a horrible history between him and Ruth and a huge part of why she and her sister are (unfairly) branded as the town's outcasts. To say I hated Daniel was putting it mildly.
Ruth couldn't ask for a better sister than Hannah, despite how the latter tries to force her out of her comfort zone sometimes or perhaps not always understands what goes on in Ruth's head. Still, Hannah will not allow anyone to screw her sister over, and she proves that in the prologue. I also loved their mom, Patience. I have a strong feeling that mom is playing everyone with her seeming float through life, Deal or No Deal watching persona.
Then there's Zach. He needs his own story stat. I liked him too.
Oh, can I just give this author an extra star for actually having Ruth deal with her period? Seriously, most romance books totally ignore something so natural - if a bit annoying and messy. More often than not, the only time periods get mentioned is in relation to whether or not the heroine is pregnant due to having unprotected sex. I totally related to having to rush to the store for tampons with toilet paper as a temporary substitute. Don't cringe, I'm sure some of you reading this review know damn well what I'm talking about.
Last but never least, no colorism. Ruth is dark-skinned, plus-sized and she's no sad sack. She owns her body and Evan adores every curve.
'A Girl Like Her' was an amazing romance and easily one of the best I've read in a long time.
July 26, 2022
4 stars. Really sweet, lower angst, and just plain enjoyable. This is probably my favorite book by this author so far - although I’ve only read the Brown Sisters series before this.
The heroine lives in a smaller community - where most people know each other. She is disliked by many, and treated as a leper. The heroine is autistic and that plays a large role in how she communicates with everyone in her life. She has secluded herself away from everyone and turned herself into a recluse. The hero moves in next door to the heroine and quickly attempts to befriend her. He is a sweetheart and ignores the gossip about the heroine, but she’s still very skeptical of him and his motivations. She does eventually begin to trust him, and their relationship develops into a friendship, and then more, with a few bumps along the way.
This is a really sweet story of redemption and growth. The heroine learns that hiding away and distancing herself from the world doesn’t actually solve her problems. I especially loved the hero and how much he loved and supported the heroine right from the start. Talia Hibbert really knows how to write an outstanding hero, and she definitely succeeded with this one.
My one complaint is that there were some issues that were left largely unexplored and the topics seemed big enough to be worth mentioning more than in passing. For example, the heroine mentions how her ex never cared when she said no. She said yes once and beyond that never mattered to him. The hero is appalled by this, but then nothing really happens beyond that. He reassures her that he would never do anything she didn’t want, which is great. But they never discuss any of the specifics of the past, which made the whole topic seem vague and less important. Even though it obviously was a HUGE deal. I also wanted the ex to get a little more of a comeuppance, which maybe he will in a future book? 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Safe; no virgins, hero previously only had flings and ONS sex, never anything serious, heroine was in a relationship for 7 years and when that ended she went out and had sex with several men (she says 15) in an attempt to actually enjoy sex and move on. Her ex causes some drama, but nothing major, she has no lingering feelings for him. No ow drama. No scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
TW: non-consent/rape (vague mentions in the past, off page), harassment, bullying, racism, slut-shaming, death of mother (past memories), cancer (in side character)
The heroine lives in a smaller community - where most people know each other. She is disliked by many, and treated as a leper. The heroine is autistic and that plays a large role in how she communicates with everyone in her life. She has secluded herself away from everyone and turned herself into a recluse. The hero moves in next door to the heroine and quickly attempts to befriend her. He is a sweetheart and ignores the gossip about the heroine, but she’s still very skeptical of him and his motivations. She does eventually begin to trust him, and their relationship develops into a friendship, and then more, with a few bumps along the way.
This is a really sweet story of redemption and growth. The heroine learns that hiding away and distancing herself from the world doesn’t actually solve her problems. I especially loved the hero and how much he loved and supported the heroine right from the start. Talia Hibbert really knows how to write an outstanding hero, and she definitely succeeded with this one.
My one complaint is that there were some issues that were left largely unexplored and the topics seemed big enough to be worth mentioning more than in passing. For example, the heroine mentions how her ex never cared when she said no. She said yes once and beyond that never mattered to him. The hero is appalled by this, but then nothing really happens beyond that. He reassures her that he would never do anything she didn’t want, which is great. But they never discuss any of the specifics of the past, which made the whole topic seem vague and less important. Even though it obviously was a HUGE deal. I also wanted the ex to get a little more of a comeuppance, which maybe he will in a future book? 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Safe; no virgins, hero previously only had flings and ONS sex, never anything serious, heroine was in a relationship for 7 years and when that ended she went out and had sex with several men (she says 15) in an attempt to actually enjoy sex and move on. Her ex causes some drama, but nothing major, she has no lingering feelings for him. No ow drama. No scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
TW: non-consent/rape (vague mentions in the past, off page), harassment, bullying, racism, slut-shaming, death of mother (past memories), cancer (in side character)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2021
A slow-burn romance done right.
A Girl Like Her was the first book by Talia Hibbert that I read—the one that started it all.
In the span of less than a month, I read four of her books and gave them all four stars or higher. I think it's safe to say that she's become one of my favourite authors, and I can't wait to read more of her backlist while I patiently wait for her new releases.
I loved this a whole lot. The ending was perfect!! It was heartwarming and lovely... just all the good things.
And I love the fact that consent is brought up multiple times throughout the book. Asking for consent is sexy 👏👏
I only have two minor issues with this book. The first one being the title, I don't think it fits the story very well. Personally, I'd call the book Perfect Neighbours :')
Also, I feel like the middle dragged too much. It took a lot of time until all of the drama was resolved and the two main characters actually communicated properly. That was kinda frustrating, to say the least.
____________________
1 ½.) Damaged Goods ★★★★✩
A Girl Like Her was the first book by Talia Hibbert that I read—the one that started it all.
In the span of less than a month, I read four of her books and gave them all four stars or higher. I think it's safe to say that she's become one of my favourite authors, and I can't wait to read more of her backlist while I patiently wait for her new releases.
I loved this a whole lot. The ending was perfect!! It was heartwarming and lovely... just all the good things.
And I love the fact that consent is brought up multiple times throughout the book. Asking for consent is sexy 👏👏
I only have two minor issues with this book. The first one being the title, I don't think it fits the story very well. Personally, I'd call the book Perfect Neighbours :')
Also, I feel like the middle dragged too much. It took a lot of time until all of the drama was resolved and the two main characters actually communicated properly. That was kinda frustrating, to say the least.
OVERALLA Girl Like Her is a really great contemporary romance and I definitely recommend it (as well as all of Talia Hibbert's other books, especially Take a Hint, Dani Brown).
❝She didn't want to fuck this up, because this was Evan, and somehow, Evan was everything.❞
____________________
1 ½.) Damaged Goods ★★★★✩
April 18, 2018
Ruth might be my favorite heroine ever. Finally, a disabled heroine (she's autistic) who gets to run her own life in her own way without needing a non-disabled hero to rescue her. The sweet, muscular, bearded, blacksmith hero who cooks his way into her life one shepherds pie at a time was a plus as well. Hibbert does an excellent job of writing the characters' POV scenes so I really felt like I was visiting two different heads. Really enjoyed it.
March 24, 2018
This was so freaking adorable! I loved Ruth with her quirky awkward self and Evan was just so sweet and sexy!
This was my first book by this author, but it for sure won't be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style. This story was cute, fun and very realistic, but the the end felt a tad bit rushed and the resolution a tad bit unsatisfying. Hence 4 stars instead of 5.
This was my first book by this author, but it for sure won't be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style. This story was cute, fun and very realistic, but the the end felt a tad bit rushed and the resolution a tad bit unsatisfying. Hence 4 stars instead of 5.
May 1, 2018
This right here is why you should read what your friends do. If Ira hadn't of commented I would have never found the gem that is this book and I would be missing a whole lot of a seriously good writer. So Hurray!
June 25, 2018
1.5 stars rounded down
Did we all read the same book? Did we, seriously?
I'm starting to question my own reading skills. I should probably go back to like only reading in Spanish because fuck I'm not getting it.
I should also make a blood vow or something, to stop myself from buying books recommended by authors that share the same agent as the author that wrote the book (and that don't disclose the conflict of interest) or from blogs that stand to gain something from a positive review or from lists that pander to a diversity that never ever reflects my reality. Because I'm seriously getting burned with these books I've bought lately in Contemporary Romance.
(To be fair, I'm halfway through Book 1.5 from this series and it is tremendously better)
I don't feel like it is my place to say anything about the portrayal of the main character's autism, so I won't. But as for the rest of it....
The characters in this book are completely one dimensional. Every single man falls into only one of the next categories: they are either on the path to sainthood or they are evil abusive monsters.
Both Ruth and Evan are something like straight out of a teens fanfiction diary. They are extremely childish. None of the attitudes that are supposed to look cute to readers felt that way to me, they were nauseating. And he calls her "love" and "kitten" within five seconds of knowing her. I puked a little in my mouth.
And then the mother's POV shows up out of fucking nowhere for no discernible reason at all.
I just can't. I don't see it. I don't get it.
Did we all read the same book? Did we, seriously?
I'm starting to question my own reading skills. I should probably go back to like only reading in Spanish because fuck I'm not getting it.
I should also make a blood vow or something, to stop myself from buying books recommended by authors that share the same agent as the author that wrote the book (and that don't disclose the conflict of interest) or from blogs that stand to gain something from a positive review or from lists that pander to a diversity that never ever reflects my reality. Because I'm seriously getting burned with these books I've bought lately in Contemporary Romance.
(To be fair, I'm halfway through Book 1.5 from this series and it is tremendously better)
I don't feel like it is my place to say anything about the portrayal of the main character's autism, so I won't. But as for the rest of it....
The characters in this book are completely one dimensional. Every single man falls into only one of the next categories: they are either on the path to sainthood or they are evil abusive monsters.
Both Ruth and Evan are something like straight out of a teens fanfiction diary. They are extremely childish. None of the attitudes that are supposed to look cute to readers felt that way to me, they were nauseating. And he calls her "love" and "kitten" within five seconds of knowing her. I puked a little in my mouth.
And then the mother's POV shows up out of fucking nowhere for no discernible reason at all.
I just can't. I don't see it. I don't get it.
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