Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Always Only You

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Always Only You by Chloe Liese

40 reviews

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.

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jessica_talbot'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

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levilore_'s review against another edition

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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

I really enjoyed this book and once again I loved the characters. I felt like the book was well paced. I just prefer stories with more drama, but I absolutely loved Ren and Frankie.

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wildatheart1339's review against another edition

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4.75

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abby_can_read's review against another edition

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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.

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condls27's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

Closed Door Mods: Chapter 21 (some parts), Chapter 23 (some parts), Chapters 26-27 (some parts), Chapter 31 (some parts), Bonus Epilogue (some parts)

This book made my heart so happy.

I’m still trying to gather my thoughts together on this book, but this book is such an absolute delight. Like, I was legit grinning from ear to ear every time Liese has these adorable and sweet moments between Ren and Frankie. With Ren literally having golden retriever energy and Frankie being such a relatable main character, I was rooting for them till the very last page. Add on to that amazing writing and swoon-worthy scenes, you’ll be wanting to add Always Only You and the rest of the Bergman series as books to be on the lookout for.

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kimberlyyyreads's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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 love the way that Chloe writes about love 😩

I absolutely loved Ren and Frankie, having their relationship start off as friends and slow build into a romance was so beautiful.

I loved how perfect they were for one another. i need to find myself a relationship like this.

Also the disability rep in this was AMAZINGGG, Chloe always nails the rep!

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rachelshubin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.0

I’ll preface my review by saying that I’ve never read a book about an autistic character and I found it really enlightening. Frankie suffers from rheumatoid arthritis as well, and since I suffer from chronic pain myself, I did completely relate on that front. But aside from those facts, the romance in the book wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and I felt very meh on the whole book. Part of me kept reading for the spice and the rest of me was like, the slow burn is bumming me out.

Like some of the other reviews mention - there’s some Harry Potter references that are the epitome of cringey. Hedwig got a raw deal (IYKYK). I appreciate the author’s note at the beginning that she doesn’t include JKR references anymore - but my god there was no reason to include what she did. The only okay one was Frankie calling her cane “the Elder Wand.” No issues with that but I take issues with the rest.

The writing is mostly good and I am still curious for the other Bergman siblings’ stories. But I definitely wouldn’t read this book again. Honestly, I want to read Viggo’s book next but of course it’s the final book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings

thebruce's review against another edition

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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

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