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kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
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
4.5
Title: Always Only You
Author: Chloe Liese
Series: Bergman Brothers #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: August 4, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Spicy • Refreshing • Endearing
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ren
The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game - besides hockey, that is.
I'm a player on the team, she's on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won't be here forever - she's headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won't want to leave me behind, too.
Frankie
I've had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I'm a grumbly grump, and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can't entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he's annoyingly modest about.
Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I've learned what I am to most people in my life - a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I'm prepared to do.
💠T H O U G H T S
I'd previously enjoyed book one in Bergman series, so I knew I wanted to continue on. As an avid hockey fan, I was really looking forward to Always Only You because of that aspect. When I ended up in a bit of a reading rut earlier this month, something made me pick up this book and I am so glad I did.
I adored Frankie and Ren individually, but also together! Frankie is fierce and independent whereas Ren has a heart of gold and an old-soul. They are equally loveable and selfless characters. Their grumpy/sunshine natures came across as genuine, their banter was so well done, and their chemistry felt so real. Frankie's job as in-game social media coordinator for the LA Kings was so interesting to me, as was getting a bit of a behind-the-scenes of playing in the NHL. And of course, members of the Bergman family make special cameos throughout, which added to the appeal.
Chloe Liese's disability (autoimmune disease/arthritis) and neurodivergent (autism) rep were very well executed. As a reader, I really got the sense of Frankie's everyday challenges and adjustments in her daily life. Her struggles with socializing and people's reactions to her illness felt genuine as well. Frankie isn't letting her disability or illness hold her back, and I absolutely loved that.
I do have to say the writing wasn't quite as tight as it was in book one. But I enjoyed this story so much that it was easy to overlook. And I'm even willing to go out on a limb, and predict Always Only You will end up being my favourite in the series! This dual POV, slow burn/forbidden romance tackles some hard conversations, while remaining lighthearted. I loved the hockey, the romance, the setting, the characters, and the representation. It can easily be read as a standalone, why anyone would want to skip book one is beyond me. I'd highly recommend starting with Only When It's Us and savouring each sibling's story for the most enjoyable experience. I am eagerly anticipating jumping into book three sometime this summer and seeing where the rest of the series goes from here.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• sports romance lovers
• readers looking for disability rep
• fans of great banter
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Books help me feel a bit more connected to a world that is often hard to make sense of. Books are patient with me. They don't laugh at me instead of with me. They don't ask why I'm always frowning or why I can't sit still. Books welcome me, weirdness and all and take me exactly as I am."
"'Some days I do feel cynical. Others day I'm optimistic. I think that on hard days, when everything hurt and everything feels difficult, I don't find myself very loveable. And I know it's not true, that I'm not allowed to struggled, that I'm not loveable when I do, but it feels... real.'"
"But not everyone has to love us, just the people that matter."
Author: Chloe Liese
Series: Bergman Brothers #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: August 4, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Spicy • Refreshing • Endearing
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Ren
The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game - besides hockey, that is.
I'm a player on the team, she's on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won't be here forever - she's headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won't want to leave me behind, too.
Frankie
I've had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I'm a grumbly grump, and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can't entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he's annoyingly modest about.
Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I've learned what I am to most people in my life - a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I'm prepared to do.
💠T H O U G H T S
I'd previously enjoyed book one in Bergman series, so I knew I wanted to continue on. As an avid hockey fan, I was really looking forward to Always Only You because of that aspect. When I ended up in a bit of a reading rut earlier this month, something made me pick up this book and I am so glad I did.
I adored Frankie and Ren individually, but also together! Frankie is fierce and independent whereas Ren has a heart of gold and an old-soul. They are equally loveable and selfless characters. Their grumpy/sunshine natures came across as genuine, their banter was so well done, and their chemistry felt so real. Frankie's job as in-game social media coordinator for the LA Kings was so interesting to me, as was getting a bit of a behind-the-scenes of playing in the NHL. And of course, members of the Bergman family make special cameos throughout, which added to the appeal.
Chloe Liese's disability (autoimmune disease/arthritis) and neurodivergent (autism) rep were very well executed. As a reader, I really got the sense of Frankie's everyday challenges and adjustments in her daily life. Her struggles with socializing and people's reactions to her illness felt genuine as well. Frankie isn't letting her disability or illness hold her back, and I absolutely loved that.
I do have to say the writing wasn't quite as tight as it was in book one. But I enjoyed this story so much that it was easy to overlook. And I'm even willing to go out on a limb, and predict Always Only You will end up being my favourite in the series! This dual POV, slow burn/forbidden romance tackles some hard conversations, while remaining lighthearted. I loved the hockey, the romance, the setting, the characters, and the representation. It can easily be read as a standalone, why anyone would want to skip book one is beyond me. I'd highly recommend starting with Only When It's Us and savouring each sibling's story for the most enjoyable experience. I am eagerly anticipating jumping into book three sometime this summer and seeing where the rest of the series goes from here.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• sports romance lovers
• readers looking for disability rep
• fans of great banter
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Books help me feel a bit more connected to a world that is often hard to make sense of. Books are patient with me. They don't laugh at me instead of with me. They don't ask why I'm always frowning or why I can't sit still. Books welcome me, weirdness and all and take me exactly as I am."
"'Some days I do feel cynical. Others day I'm optimistic. I think that on hard days, when everything hurt and everything feels difficult, I don't find myself very loveable. And I know it's not true, that I'm not allowed to struggled, that I'm not loveable when I do, but it feels... real.'"
"But not everyone has to love us, just the people that matter."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
michmoo's review against another edition
A fairly cute romance in the portion that I read, but I took a break from reading it and wasn’t interested enough to return to it.
I have to admit that the more time I had to really consider how often the FL talks about her Harry Potter underwear getting wet, the less likely it became that I would finish the book. I mean I appreciate that HP was one of her special interests but the repetition of the undies mentions and their varying dampness was mildly off putting.
Also the ML is a huge (size wise) virgin, which could be a plus or minus depending on the reader. I have no opinion either way.
Also the ML is a huge (size wise) virgin, which could be a plus or minus depending on the reader. I have no opinion either way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Transphobia and Death of parent
pandalesque's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
I preffered this to the first book so I'll continue the series.
Steam/Spice 🔥🔥.5/🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Steam/Spice 🔥🔥.5/🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Chronic illness
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Sexual harassment
tragicgloom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Blood, and Alcohol
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual harassment
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Rep: chronic pain - rheumatoid arthritis, autism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
Mentions of HP, depression, sports injuryrakizaka's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
loved first half but second half just became sooo boring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
sofiarmz13's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Drug use, Medical content, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
decklededgess's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
trigger warning: mild ableism, sexual harassment and misogyny, sexual content, alcohol, weed, hospitalization, religious trauma, sports injury and violence, anxiety and depression, home invasion and robbery
BRO THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLDDDDDDDDDD. Writing this review a month or so post reading, I will say that I think about this one the most even though I think the third one is my favourite of the entire series.
Frankie and Ren's little friends to lovers buildup was so stinking precious especially with how perceptive they both are of each other's needs despite not knowing every nittygritty detail of their backstories. Frankie's entire characterization is just beyond amazing. Her persona, the cane, the bigass dog who is obsessed with Ren, the HP spells she casts with the cane. Fucking spectacular. I want to BE her. Ren, my sunshine boy. I love him and I cannot believe he is simply fictional because I want to meet someone who acts like this IRL.
God tier smut as always.
Truly an incredible sophomore book in this series.
BRO THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLDDDDDDDDDD. Writing this review a month or so post reading, I will say that I think about this one the most even though I think the third one is my favourite of the entire series.
Frankie and Ren's little friends to lovers buildup was so stinking precious especially with how perceptive they both are of each other's needs despite not knowing every nittygritty detail of their backstories. Frankie's entire characterization is just beyond amazing. Her persona, the cane, the bigass dog who is obsessed with Ren, the HP spells she casts with the cane. Fucking spectacular. I want to BE her. Ren, my sunshine boy. I love him and I cannot believe he is simply fictional because I want to meet someone who acts like this IRL.
God tier smut as always.
Truly an incredible sophomore book in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail