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

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Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese

238 reviews

readsbyrach's review

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emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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proudtobeabookaholic's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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

Willa Sutter is a soccer star at college and used to getting notes from the lectures she misses when she's away for games. But one professor tells her that Ryder Bergman has his notes and that she should ask him for them. When Willa tries to talk to this flannel-wearing neanderthal he completely ignores her. Ryder doesn't understand why Willa seems to hate his guts and they both get chocked when the professor pairs them together on a school project for the rest of the semester.

This is a frenemies-to-lovers, where both are stubborn and enjoy teasing each other; their banter is pure gold! Willa also has a short fuse, which sometimes leads to awkward moments. There's a clear s*xual attraction between them from the start, but neither are interested in a relationship. Willa's got her soccer career to think about, as well as a very sick mom. Ryder became deaf 2 years ago and hasn't spoken out loud since then; he only communicates by texts. I like how Liese depicts Ryder's hearing impairment, what obstacles he faces and how it has made him avoid interactions with most people. I haven't read that many books with a deaf main character and I appriciate to get that perspective.

Ryder's got a Swedish mom and the classic Swedish meatballs appear more than once. Since the narrators are American the few Swedish words that are tucked in sound very off (to a Swede like me), but that's really my only complaint and I can't blame the narrators for that!

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smartcookiesca's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

4.0

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cha_len_novels's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny relaxing 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

4.0

“I’d rather be afraid with you than fearless with anyone else.”
― Chloe Liese, Only When It's Us

If you like an emotionally stunted FL, cinnamon-roll ML, disability representation, found family, slow burn and oh soooo good banter. Then read this.

Ps please gods check TW though

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amris's review against another edition

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emotional

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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levilore_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this story and loved the way this author explored disability along with grief. The characters were awesome and the complexity of relationships were explored really well.

In particular, the fact that Ryder had such complex feelings about being deaf and that the author explored the different ways he communicates was really cool. I was worried

when he started speaking that it would erase his other forms of communication, but I loved that he still used sign language and that throughout the book characters asked him about whether speaking or texting was better. The scene when he speaks again made me cry, along with when he first heard Willa's voice and she first hears his. I liked that despite being a hearing character, Willa had a similar reaction to hearing Ryder's voice for the first time.

I thought the author dealt with grief, trauma, and death in a beautiful way, especially the idea of gaining and losing family.

The only issues I had were that it kinda dragged on in the middle, beating you over the head with the Pride and Prejudice stuff (I say as a P + P lover) and sometimes the phrasing made me roll my eyes. Although overall, it was a really good story and I'm excited to read the rest of the story.

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