Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

With Danika, Hibbert playfully subverts expectations, elevating the “too busy for romance” trope by giving her challenging personality traits that won’t disappear with a good shag and a few “I love you”s. Dani’s support helps Zaf reclaim his minor celebrity as a Muslim former pro rugby player (a rarity in Britain) and share publicly the personal tragedy that led him to found Tackle It.

As for Zaf, “his feelings for Dani were like sunlight: they’d always find a crack to slip through, a way to light things up.” Zafir treads carefully, introducing balance to Danika's life with home-cooked meals and insanely hot sex. While bantering hilariously and having sex whenever possible, they both catch feelings, but Danika buries hers. Zafir asks Dani to pretend they're a couple to gain exposure for his charity, and the temporary arrangement is perfect for Dani, who is bi and only does “situationships” anyway. They become a social media sensation thanks to a viral video of Zaf carrying pink-haired Dani to safety after an elevator mishap. student Danika Brown, who teaches in his building, but Zaf is pretty sure she's gay. He has a major crush on workaholic, hyperrational Ph.D. Today, he works security at a university while volunteering for a youth rugby team and building his nonprofit, Tackle It, to help destigmatize mental illness and teach coping skills to young athletes. Seven years ago, his professional rugby career was cut short when he lost his brother and father in a car accident and sank into a clinical depression. Zafir Ansari has been through hell and come out the other side. Can a bearded, romance-reading, retired rugby pro convince a Type A grad student to make room for love?

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert