Reviews with content warning for Grief - Only When It's Us

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese

103 reviews

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense 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

While this started a little slow for me, as the plot started to unfold I really enjoyed it. I will say that miscommunication or a lack of communication is probably one of my least favorite tropes. While the initial miscommunication is a fun misunderstanding that sets the stage well, I wish that the characters had just been more honest with eachother later in the book.

However, I love how Ryder truly stuck by Willa no matter how many times she pushed him away. I also love how Willa never made Ryder feel like less than because he chose not to speak or not to pursue hearing aids or learning sign language. She took him at face value and loved him for who he was at his core, regardless of everything else.

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lizziereads02's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

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ladysmartypants's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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belle13's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

Tropes/Themes: Frenemies to Lovers, Disability Rep, Big ol’ Lumberjack MMC

Amount of spice: 🔥🔥

Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

My God this book was stunning. I won’t lie, it did take me a little while to get into it only because I found Willa’s character so grating (I did all the way through but I understand why she was written that way) but once I was into it I was INTO it. It absolutely annihilated me, in a good way I promise.

The tension, the emotional moments, the family dynamics and everything else Chloe managed to squeeze into this book were total perfection. Also, I cried so hard while reading this (stupid me didn’t check the CWs) that I couldn’t breathe but I didn’t care because it was so beautiful. It was so interesting reading from someone’s perspective who has developed hearing loss as an adult and has had to learn how to navigate that. Ryder is so wholesome and so sweet and I wanted to reach into the pages and give him a huge hug.

Also, I have to give the spice a special mention because not only was it incredibly sexy but it has to be some of the most well written spice I’ve ever come across. Their intimate moments were breathtaking.

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bookswithsara8's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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kirareadssometimes's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

The main characters in this book have such a fun dynamic. Enemies to frenemies to friends to lovers and everything in between. As a hearing person I can’t speak to how accurate the deaf representation was but I loved that it was there, and from my perspective treated with respect. I also loved Willa going to therapy. Felt like a very realistic and healthy way to cope. Really enjoyed the moments of sexual tension that led to momentary exploration. I feel like I don’t find that very often in books or only for one scene. Made me cry but at this point what doesn’t. Great read

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