A review by beckyyreadss
Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese

emotional funny lighthearted sad 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

This was the book club’s pick of the month for February, I suggested this book because I loved Chloe Liese’s Wilmot Sisters’ series and was planning on carrying on with more of her work this year. I adored this book; it was so sweet. 

This book has two points of view. The first is Willa Sutter. She is the feisty, tempting chaos. She is the top striker for her football team, and she is working her ass off to get signed when she leaves school. She is dealing with a professor who likes to bust her balls and not let her off just because she plays football. To make matters worse, she is sat next to a silent, surly, mountain man that ignores her when she asks for his lecture notes, and they must work together for their final project which takes up most of their grade. The second point of view is Ryder Bergman. He knows that Willa hates his guts from the moment she sat next to him. He doesn’t care that she hates him, she is too wild and bad-tempered for his quiet, tidy life. The thing is that Willa doesn’t know is that Ryder is hard of hearing. He lost his hearing a few years ago and has been struggling to get his life back. Willa is determined to understand why Ryder hates his and with them being forced to work together, they begin a game of pranks and practical jokes, each determined to come out as the champion. But once they catch unexpected feelings, victory begins to mean something else – winning each other’s hearts. 

I adored this book and these characters. I related to Willa a bit too much from how strong and tempered she can get and then how she wants to keep people out even if that means she’s alone, but then at the same time she loves so deeply and stands up for her friends and family. I wanted to hug her so tight when she went through the difficult parts of this book. Ryder was hot, sexy, broken and I love him. Again, I love that he came off as like a rude boy but it’s because he is deaf. Like the deaf representation was needed and I think it was done so well. I liked how he went from being so frustrated that he couldn’t hear but didn’t want to do anything about it, to wanting to try and get help even if it was hurting him or frustrating it. 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 7 boys that they are like right enough or I'll kick you out. I cannot wait to see more of them.  

I think the thing that stopped this being five stars is Willa was a bit annoying at times especially when she was being a bit of a hypocrite, like she knew Ryder was hard of hearing, but was annoyed when she found out she could hear sometimes because of his hearing aid, but then didn’t tell Ryder her mum had cancer, but then was annoyed when she found out he knew and didn’t tell her. Like make your mind up woman. The book was a bit predictable at times – the dad being Willa’s mum doctor, the brother-in-law being the professor, it was a bit easy to guess but it didn’t make it any less enjoyable i just wasn’t gobsmacked or shocked by any of the twists in it.  

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 brother is getting a happy ending.  
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