So, after reading a book from Chloe's other series, I was VERY hesitant to pick this one up. I didn't enjoy the book and honestly, it hindered my enjoyment so much that I left this one sitting in my library and completely forgot about. When I saw other people giving it praise, I was intrigued and decided to give this author a second shot.

I enjoyed this one thoroughly! I loved that this is a soccer romance. I loved that the main male character is deaf. The chemistry between the two main characters is what drew me into the book. It was slow-burn, molten lava type chemistry. 💓💓

However, I did have some issues with certain scenes and I feel it's because we as readers were told these scenes instead of shown. It disconnected me from the characters a little bit. Also I can't speak for the surgery that Ryder had undergone as I don't have enough knowledge about it but he did seem to recover at an alarming rate. Certain things I feel were brushed over and that is why I knocked off a half star.

But wow! A definite improvement and I will continue to read this series for sure!

*Hard sigh* I don’t know where to begin with this book. If you like the “it’s not you, it’s me” type of book then this is the story for you. I think the biggest issue I have with this book is there are many different plot lines happening. I do however appreciate the cute fluffiness this book shares. It’s a mindless love story that filled with melodrama that’s not really realistic but fun to read about. The story is told from dual perspectives. I don’t really care for the way the author throws in Ryder’s deafness. I personally don’t think it was done in a tasteful way but I was able to overlook it and continue on with the story. Willa was a pain because she would get upset for no good reason at Ryder. She was overly dramatic. I liked some of the banter between her and Ryder, because it increased the sexual tension between the two adding to the overall fluffiness. I liked the overall light and fluffiness of the book but the plot of the book left a bitter taste in my mouth. Thank you, NetGalley for letting me read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chloe Liese is definitely a auto buy author for me from on. I have loved everyone of her romances so far and I have only read two. I loved both Ryder and Willa and their character development throughout the story. I will for sure come back to this one if I am looking for a book that has characters that have great chemistry and that have a connection that it just impossible to ignore. I love the banter and that Willa is going to probably one of the most famous female soccer player. I loved how the author wove serious issues like cancer and grieving for yourself and for loved ones. The main character Ryder had lost most of his hearing except for one ear which still hear ok. He was a soccer player too until he got meningitis during college. But yeah please read this book!

TW: a parent with cancer, grieving


*Thank you Netgalley for the copy for an honest review*

I finished Only When It's Us last night and was expecting a romcom, but was surprised by the serious issues it tackled. I've seen a few people give this one 5 star reviews so I was excited to get my hands on it.

Willa is a college soccer star with hopes of making it to the pros. She is having a hard time juggling academics, her sick mom, and the team. She is in danger of becoming ineligible so her professor suggests she get notes from class from Ryder, a "lumberjack" who refuses to acknowledge her. Willa and Ryder become frenemies and end up finding that there might be more beneath the surface of their passionate hate and prank filled relationship.

While I liked this book, there were definitely some places it could have improved. Willa reminded me of Kristen from The Friend Zone. She was really unlikable and her stubbornness got on my nerves. This is a slow burn romance but it felt too drawn out at times and could have been much shorter. That being said, I loved Ryder and his family. He suffers from hearing loss and I loved his growth throughout the story. He was the star of this book. 3.5🌟s for this one. ❤⚽️

Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese

I give it 3 stars.

I enjoyed the book, read it all in one sitting actually. I did like the story line, it had enough twists that it wasn’t predictable and it obviously kept me interested.

So why only 3 stars then?

I just could not connect with the characters.

Even writing this it took a few minutes for me to remember Willa’s name. I found her over dramatic and too hot headed to even feel for her. Yes, her mom is sick Yes, she’s stressed with school. Yes, she’s a soccer all-star. But, you don’t have to jump to conclusion and want to punch everyone someone says something that YOU do not understand or like. Near the end she started gaining my like, but also anyone who calls her vagina a coo-cha, just no.

I did like Ryder though. At times he did come off as “I do know wrong”, but somehow I sympathized more with his storyline and man, did he have patience.

This book, while I wouldn’t necessary yell to the streets to go buy it, if you happen across it, it is an entertaining, young adult, easy read to get you through a bus/plane ride or a mojito on the beach.

I also see this book turning into one of those Netflix, indie movies for sure.

Thank you net galley for this ARC (even though ti took me a long time to read it) in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this fun sports new adult romance! Its a must-read for fans of Marina Zapata and Elle Kennedy. Absolutely looking forward to reading the second books!

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book! I absolutely loved it! The characters were so rich and relatable. The story kept my attention, so much so, that I didn't get any work done in my house the day I read it. I have already downloaded book 2 and am starting it ASAP! This author is now on my permanent auto-buy list!

Enemies to Frienemies to lovers! This is something I will never get tired of! This book was such a delight! Not only was it romantic but it gave me ALL the feels! Chloe Liese knows how to tug at your heartstrings! 😭
I love how inclusive she is with the characters that she writes. You can always find diversity in her books .in this case, the hero is hearing impaired and the heroine has some extreme anxiety. What I love about Chloe’s characters is they always incredibly real. They are PEOPLE! They are relatable and yet, just like real people, they make mistakes and can be incredibly frustrating.
Honestly it was the parents of the main characters that I found a bit frustrating. As much as I loved Willa’s mother, I found her to be a bit manipulative in the end. Something not quite right about a mother who uses her illness to get her way (sorry 🙈).
But as always, of course I was cheering for Willa and Ryder the whole way. And that I feel is more important than anything.

This was such a perfect balance of lighthearted and very deep emotional moments. I love sports romances and this book delivered without being corny about it. The character development was phenomenal and I was thoroughly impressed on how invested i became with WIlla and Ryder. I usually don't like characters like Willa but I was so drawn to her that I ended up loving her and Ryder together, I adored how they weren't friends but not enemies either....fremenies?
I think what I liked the best was the hearing aid and how true it was to real life. I talked to a friend, who is hard of hearing, about it and she loved how it was portrayed since it is something she has personal experience with. I will definitely continue this series and purchase my own copies of them.

I have a new bookboyfriend and his name is Ryder Bergman. I absolutely loved Only When It's Us! Willa and Ryder, who aren't exactly on the best terms, are thrown into a forced proximity situation for their college course and mischief ensues.

I laughed, I cried, I rocked out to the book playlist. If you're looking for a good frenemies to lovers romance, read this one.

Absolutely adored!!! Loved this stand alone from one of my favorite auto buy authors! The character development throughout the book was perfect and each character added their own different spice to the book. I instantly fell in love with the male main character, I could tell he was just a mans man and such a hunk!

Thank you to netgalley for this arc! I truly loved this and thought it was a great start to a series. I can’t wait for the next one.

Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese and the 1st book in the Bergman Brothers romance series. I love this genre, there is something so exciting about falling in love. I enjoy the frenemies to lovers story line, and the quirky people and situations in this book. I found this book to be a quick read, and a perfect escape from the world. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy a sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Let's start by talking about the fact that I loved Ryder! He's just so endearing as you find out how he's dealing with the aftermath of losing the ability to chase his goals. There was so much in the backstories of both Willa and Ryder, which gave a real depth to the story overall. This is not only an enemies-to-lovers, but a slooooow burn. A lot of people liked this one and I would definitely recommend it to other readers! For me personally, I kind of lost interest. I just couldn't get into the enemies -to-lovers part and Willa assumptions and angry were definitely over the top. That paired with the slow burn and length of the story, made it hard for me to stick it out. I can still see why people liked it, because I definitely liked Ryder and the struggles the characters were dealing with. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series!

Only When Its Us by Chloe Liese is a classic frenemies stories in our contemporary settings. The story is told from the two perspectives of the characters in the book.. The writing is good too. A decent read in my opinion.

Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese was such a great read! The storyline drew me in and I read this in one sitting.

Only When It's Us was such a delight!

We follow the story from two different points of views. Willa is a very promising soccer player who does not have the time for dating due to her busy schedule, and Ryder Bergman, her brooding lumberjack and classmate.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this novel, but I for sure was not expecting to fall in love with our main protagonists so much. Their personal stories are so interesting, well developed, and above all they’re believable, you can see how the characters act or think the way they do based on their personal traumas. Not only that, but you cannot help but fall in love with the adorable Bergman family, and all the other secondary characters that appear in the novel. The romance is also perfectly paced; it’s a very slow burn frenemies to lovers, the banter is great and the conflicts that arise are very believable, which is something that sometimes puts me off of romance novels.
The only (minor) thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the constant problem Willa has knowing what she is actually saying out loud and what is only going on in her head, but that is a particular pet peeve of mine, so don’t mind me.

I cannot wait to continue with the series and see what Ren has in store for us!

I was granted access to this title by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great for fans of the classic enemies to lovers story in a contemporary setting. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, it is a slow burn kind of book, and I found myself growing impatient with the pacing.

I was impressed by this newer author, the book kept my interest, with a strong H&h and an engaging plot, I wanted to keep reading. Personally, I love the fact each chapter was written from both the male & female & probably a large part of why I enjoyed this book & the authors writing so much. The only negative of the book for me personally was the fact the main characters seemed or were 'spoke' a bit 'older' than the plot seemed to indicate they were. Also, I can't decide if the song linked to each chapter is a positive or not but it definitely doesn't detract from the plot.
While I did receive a review copy of the book from NetGalley, I am voluntarily leaving my own opinion with this voluntary, unsolicited review.

Wow! What a steamy story, full of tension, drama, heartache and miscommunication. 2 strong main characters, each with their own internal dialogue, internal struggles are thrown together in a college business class by a well-intentioned professor. Ryder and Willa have intense chemistry and are always trying to 'one up' each other, and although sometimes come across as too harsh and sometimes cruel, the characters took it all in stride and went along for the ride. So while I didn't always like what they did to each other, it added to the passion and their chemistry.

I really liked how at the beginning of each chapter there was a song that was related to what the chapter was about. I also liked how each chapter went back and forth from the perspective of Ryder and Willa. Ryder is the strong, silent type that looked amazing in plaid coming to terms that an accident that changed his life. Willa is a strong, fiercely independent woman riddled with insecurities and challenges while trying to be the best soccer player she can be, a student with passing grades and being a good daughter. Together, once they stopped being so closed off and began talking to each other, wonderful things started to happen.

Thank you Netgally for the opportunity to read this steamy, sizzling romance! If you love a good page turner, then this book is for you!