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proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ren Bergman, hockey player for Los Angeles Kings, fell for Frankie Zeferino the moment they met. But as long as Frankie handles the team's social media he can't act, he has to wait. At the same time Frankie finds it hard to ignore the always smiling Ren, despite being the opposite herself. With her diagnosis she's learnt that most people view her as a problem, rather than a person, and she's not about to risk her heart again.
Hockey/workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine and a female protagonist who doesn't let her diagnosis stop her - that's a hit forme! Frankie (whose name is really Francesca) is called "Frank the Crank", walks with a cane because of rheumatism and is autistic. She hides both her autism and her softer side at work. It's nice to read about a person who has a physical disability, as well as a neuroatypical condition; I don't think I've come across that in a book before. The author is apparently autistic herself and I think it shows.
Ren (whose full name is Søren) is a true gentleman who likes to recite Shakespeare - no wonder Frankie falls head over heels! He also has an autistic sister, Ziggy. As a Swede it feels kind of special that the Bergman family is Swedish-American, but I fail to hear the Swedish expressions when I listen. Great to see Ryder and Willa from the first book, though!
Ren and Frankie feel like the perfect match, despite their differences. Liese has really done well with creating the right chemistry between them. They’re adorable together, with their cute nicknames. The narrators do an excellent job and I was quite disappointed when the book ended!
Hockey/workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine and a female protagonist who doesn't let her diagnosis stop her - that's a hit forme! Frankie (whose name is really Francesca) is called "Frank the Crank", walks with a cane because of rheumatism and is autistic. She hides both her autism and her softer side at work. It's nice to read about a person who has a physical disability, as well as a neuroatypical condition; I don't think I've come across that in a book before. The author is apparently autistic herself and I think it shows.
Ren (whose full name is Søren) is a true gentleman who likes to recite Shakespeare - no wonder Frankie falls head over heels! He also has an autistic sister, Ziggy. As a Swede it feels kind of special that the Bergman family is Swedish-American, but I fail to hear the Swedish expressions when I listen. Great to see Ryder and Willa from the first book, though!
Ren and Frankie feel like the perfect match, despite their differences. Liese has really done well with creating the right chemistry between them. They’re adorable together, with their cute nicknames. The narrators do an excellent job and I was quite disappointed when the book ended!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Way too many HP references. And I'm not the biggest fan when the 3rd act breakup is in the 3rd to last chapter... leaves so little time for the reunion...
I like that there were references to Shakespeare, especially the names and curses that they used from like Shakespearean times - those were really funny! But the quoting of Shakespeare lines had me cringeing and rolling my eyes a bit.
I liked the characters well enough and the rep but honestly I skim read a chunk of the book. I'm 100% glad this book exists and I don't think it's a bad romance or book - just not for me personally.
I like that there were references to Shakespeare, especially the names and curses that they used from like Shakespearean times - those were really funny! But the quoting of Shakespeare lines had me cringeing and rolling my eyes a bit.
I liked the characters well enough and the rep but honestly I skim read a chunk of the book. I'm 100% glad this book exists and I don't think it's a bad romance or book - just not for me personally.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual content, and Medical content
MANY references to Harry Potter. So many.beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the Wilmot Sisters series and enjoyed the first book in the Bergman Brothers series. I enjoyed this book but the third act breakup and the miscommunication trope ruin this for me.
This book has two points of view. The first is Ren Bergman and from the moment he met her, he knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of hold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes his knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day they became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of the game – besides, hockey, that is. He is a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as they work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been her virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever – she's heading for bigger, better things. Ren just hope that when she leaves the team and he tells her how she feels, she won’t want to leave Ren behind, too. The second point of view is Frankie Zeferino, and she has had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six-foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. She is a grumbly grump, and his ridiculously good nature drives Frankie nuts, but even she can’t entirely ignore the hot ginger with the icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about. Before Frankie got wise, she would have tripped over herself to get a guy like Ren, but with her diagnosis, she’s learned what she is to most people in her life – a problem, not a person. Now, opening her heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing she’s prepared to do.
I enjoyed the enjoy and I still love this family. I was sort of hoping that Frankie’s cold heart would melt, and it sort of did, but she took a while to grow on me. Ren, I instantly adored, the second he enters the book. We had met him previously and I was so excited to see him again. Again, I love the representative in the book. The representation with chronic illnesses and autism especially with how Ziggy just felt lost and alone, but Frankie knew what she needed. I really enjoyed the introduction to the brothers and the family. I loved the parents; I love that they are used to being in a house with 5 boys and 2 girls that they are like right enough or I'll kick you out. I cannot wait to see more of them. I love that Aiden went to Ren to say he was in the doghouse because he was the only brother that wouldn’t kick the shit out of him and Ryder, and the others would have.
The thing that stopped it being a five-star read for me was the third act conflict that got resolved in the next chapter. Like I understand that Frankie was frustrated for being ill and Ren giving up things for Frankie and she didn’t want that, but Ren was genuinely so worried for her and caught her like did she really expect him to leave her side? Then it was all resolved by her going to therapy like it was just brushed over, like after a few weeks of talking to my therapist, I wanted the conversations with the therapist in great detail, not just brushed over. Then it was resolved within a chapter from Frankie like sorry, k cool and missed you and that’s it. All over and happy ever after. I just wanted more. How did the team react when they got together? Do they still go to team function together? How did Frankie get on at Law School?
Just from the little glimpses that we got of these brothers; I cannot wait to see more of them. I am so glad that this has been planned that every single family member to be happy especially Ziggy. I adored her and wanted her to be happy with whatever she does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy
thehannahclaire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
wildatheart1339's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
abby_can_read's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
📱
While I liked this book, I struggled at times to stay interesting. I found Frankie to be annoying at times because she was "not like the other girls" and the only thing I really remember where Frankie's Hedwig panties.
While I liked this book, I struggled at times to stay interesting. I found Frankie to be annoying at times because she was "not like the other girls" and the only thing I really remember where Frankie's Hedwig panties.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying
condls27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wanted to love this one more but the Harry Potter stuff killed it for me. I appreciate calling out JK for being a TERF and just all around terrible person but I cannot separate art from the artist. There are some many other nerdy fandoms that could’ve been used instead so it was just a bummer.
All that said though, I still enjoyed the book. The world would be a better place if all of the men in it were written by Chloe Liese. And of course, the disability rep was amazing.
All that said though, I still enjoyed the book. The world would be a better place if all of the men in it were written by Chloe Liese. And of course, the disability rep was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
nicolecurlsuptoread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [5/5]
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ½ [4.5/5]
Reread! Originally read in 2021
📌 You’ll dig this if you like
» Grumpy (her) x Sunshine (him)
» Disability & Neurodiversity rep
» Hockey era
» Virgin cinnamon roll MMC
📌 What stood out
» I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- Chloe Liese is a champion of characters with disabilities. They are always written with sensitivity and dignity. Long live the queen! 👑
» Ren’s dad is an amputee; Ren and his siblings grew up knowing no different for inter-abled coupledom. ❤️
» Frankie uses a cane and isn’t afraid to wield it like a weapon if she needs to. Some see it as a marker of her frailty, but she accepts it for its practical advantage. I totally relate to this as a person who uses a cane. Also, cannabis. Because that sh¡t works! #BabesWithMobilityAids
» This was a re-read; details I didn’t note the first time are expertly woven in to set up the next two books. I highly recommend continuing the series!
📌 Moments
» Ren buys Frankie an accessible top when Maddox ruins hers after spilling a drink! She has many of the same one because the fabric and construction work for her. He gets her from early on!
» Frankie connects with Ren’s sister Ziggy in a way no one else has been able to, and it made my heart sing.
🚫 Triggers: chronic illness/ pain rep, ASD rep, home is robbed (off page), references to a certain wizarding world. Please check warnings.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ½ [4.5/5]
Reread! Originally read in 2021
📌 You’ll dig this if you like
» Grumpy (her) x Sunshine (him)
» Disability & Neurodiversity rep
» Hockey era
» Virgin cinnamon roll MMC
📌 What stood out
» I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- Chloe Liese is a champion of characters with disabilities. They are always written with sensitivity and dignity. Long live the queen! 👑
» Ren’s dad is an amputee; Ren and his siblings grew up knowing no different for inter-abled coupledom. ❤️
» Frankie uses a cane and isn’t afraid to wield it like a weapon if she needs to. Some see it as a marker of her frailty, but she accepts it for its practical advantage. I totally relate to this as a person who uses a cane. Also, cannabis. Because that sh¡t works! #BabesWithMobilityAids
» This was a re-read; details I didn’t note the first time are expertly woven in to set up the next two books. I highly recommend continuing the series!
📌 Moments
» Ren buys Frankie an accessible top when Maddox ruins hers after spilling a drink! She has many of the same one because the fabric and construction work for her. He gets her from early on!
» Frankie connects with Ren’s sister Ziggy in a way no one else has been able to, and it made my heart sing.
🚫 Triggers: chronic illness/ pain rep, ASD rep, home is robbed (off page), references to a certain wizarding world. Please check warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, and Sexual content
xennial_reader's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
thebruce's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism and Chronic illness
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol