i was given this book by publisher and netgalley for a honest opinion and review.
this was an awesome weekend read about characters that were about two people in school that become frenemies. i didn't enjoy Willa's personality and thought that all men are assholes. i felt like that really made me not like the book.

Ryder is the silent, surly flannel wearing mountain man sitting next to Willa in class. Willa is chaos and a future woman's soccer star. Willa needs class notes from Ryder and she will do anything to get them. Only When It's Us is a frenemies-to-lovers, NA sports romance complete with pranks and a slow burn. This story was entertaining and a twist on the typical sports romance. I devoured this book in a day! Such a fun read and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

Okay so I finally finished this (took me longer than I anticipated) and I can’t say that I loved it. This is a 2.5 stars for me.

The story follows Willa, a soccer scholarship student who is struggling with a class, in which her lecturer won’t give her notes, due to her busy schedule. However, the lecturer does say she should ask another student (Ryder), to whom he has given classes notes, if he could share them.

That would have been somewhat easy had the other student not been nearly deaf, which Willa wasn’t aware of. Feeling ignored by Ryder and upset over the possibility of failing class, Willa decided then that he’s an asshole like every other guy she knows (*rolls eyes*), but obviously things turn around and they become frenemies and get closer.

Okay, so you can probably see that I wasn’t fan of the “all men are assholes” attitude from Willa, but that’s not all. Although I was glad she was the athlete in the story, I really disliked her personality.

Her bad temper got over the top at times and her double-standards annoyed me so so much. She liked to diss Ryder but felt hurt when he did the same to her. She deliberately kept silent about her life and called out Ryder for doing the same. And overall, she was just all over the place. All her character growth happened in the last 20% of the book.

Ryder was okay. I didn’t hate him or love him. I did like him better than Willa and thought his story and personality were more relatable (even though I’m not deaf or have ever struggled with something so serious). I did find it weird that he was so adamant about not using hearing aid but gave it a go just so he could listen to Willa’s voice... they weren’t even in love yet.

I do think they had chemistry, which is important in a romance book, or I would have probably dnfed it.

Something that really bothered me and I haven’t seen anyone talk about it in the reviews is the scene in which Willa’s mother forces Ryder to speak (since he became deaf he has been mute by choice). I don’t fucking care if you’re dying. I don’t fucking care if he can but just doesn’t want to. DO NOT FUCKING FORCE ANYONE TO DO SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE DOING. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It’s not for their own good. People get past trauma and face their own fears at their own pace.

I think overall it was okay. Not amazing for sure. I don’t think I’d recommend it just because there are a lot better sports romances out there.

This is pitched as a new adult frenemies to lovers story, so my expectations weren’t that high going in and guess what, I ended up absolutely loving this book!
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From the beginning of the story I could tell that it would be an emotional ride and boy was it. I laughed and cried throughout, which is why it ended up being a 5 star read for me. I think my favourite part was how both Ryder and Willa felt like real people; they had their strengths, weaknesses, struggles, but at the same time that didn’t define them. I will say that for me it was refreshing to read about a female athlete, which also adds its own set of challenges to the story. Overall the plot did have a typical romance novel progression which does make the plot predictable, but other events can come unexpectedly, so that is forgiven. There were still some events that surprised me so it still kept me on my toes.
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Overall it was great and I have nothing that I truly disliked about it.

This book was absolutely amazing! Chloe Liese has away with words and did a phenomenal job writing about such heavy topics and yet incorporating steam, humor and authenticity!
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Ryder and Willa had such depth to their characters and I’m so happy that there are more books coming with them involved. I LOVED Ryder, his heart, how sweet he is and how brave he shows Willa how to be. Willa is strong willed, independent and so passionate about all she does. I love how diverse Liese writes her characters and how much you can learn from them. I’m a huge counseling advocate and this book showed how great counseling can be and gave it such a positive image. Ryder’s family made me so happy and I loved that they had a custom 20 person couch because of their giant family, how fun! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
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I would recommend this book to anyone that loves enemies to lovers or frenemies. Someone who doesn’t mind a bit of steam and someone who loves when a book pulls on all of their emotions.

Characters 9
Atmosphere 8
Writing style 9
Plot 8
Intrigue 7
Logic 8
Enjoyment 9

I loved it. Sunshine and Lumberjack are my little babies now and I will not have it any other way.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions, really.

Obviously I’m in the minority, but I was not a fan. I made it to 56% before I finally gave up. It took me a week to make it that far, when usually I read a book in a day or two. Willa just rubbed me the wrong way. I really disliked her, her stubbornness, her temper, that she always thought she knew best and assumed the worst all made me crazy. Just wasn’t invested.

This is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. While the cover didn’t thrill me, I LOVED the story. Both Willa and Ryder were complex, relateable characters. And the chemistry between them just sizzled! Loved the banter as they moved from enemies to frenemies. This is a slow burn romance that will have you cheering for them as they navigate the scary situation of leaving yourself vulnerable to another person. I am so looking forward to reading the next in this series!

I’m not usually one for enemies to lovers, but I truly felt like Willa & Ryders story was so well done! The author did a great job of taking two very complex & messy characters & bringing them together through the complexity of falling in love & dealing with our mess. Ryder was supppper cute, which helped. haha! I would definitely recommend this one if you love enemies to lovers!

ONLY WHEN IT’S US is an emotional, hilarious, complex and intricately plotted on the backs of strong characters who move into your heart; carve their place and you would never want them to leave. Ah! Willa Sutter and Ryder Bergman are two deceptive individuals – but in a way that the reader to never take anything at their face value!

Willa, our star soccer player of the women’s team – has absolutely no control over her own temper and yet has problems confronting people about her own rights – she is a protagonist with whom I could relate, especially considering that I too suffer from impulse control issues. She has the habit of jumping to conclusions, and loves her Mama Sutter – the woman responsible for making her the strong, independent, even if she is a little prickly on the outside like a porcupine, woman that she is today.

Ryder Bergman, has had his world totally turned on its axis – and it is something that we only get to know a little later into the story – for our first impression of Ryder is through Willa’s eyes and she does NOT give a favourable impression of him. But as a reader, we end up (at least, I did!) loving and adoring this hero whose quiet charm and intelligence, slowly but surely; ends up piercing that prickly exterior of Willa – but it is his strength, his character + his utter loyalty and adoration of Willa that have me (and Willa) in a puddle of feels!

An enemies – to – lovers NA Romance, I fell in love with Only When It’s Us because the author has taken what could have been a stereotypical jock romance and used to put across protagonists – a tough no hold barred soccer player and an ex – soccer player + a current lumberjack and gives us a slow burn romance that have their moments of hilarity, stubborn protagonists interspaced with subtle emotional experience – that, in the end, has me very excited to see the path the rest of the series takes!

Its been long since I read a feel-good YA novel like “Only when its us”. Who doesn’t love pranks and a lovely story if two frenemies! I could relate everything in the story.. after all I am married to my frenemy (wink wink)! Its lovely, some parts involve soccer, but not too much overpowering.. characters were good.. definitely gonna follow this author for more books from Bergman Brothers series! You cant go wrong with this novel!
Thank you NetGalley, Chloe Liese and the publisher for reader’s copy of this novel. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way!

Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Only When It's Us is a fun new adult romance that had me hooked from the beginning.

The novel takes place in Los Angeles at the UCLA campus. Willa is a college soccer player. She is driven to play professionally at some point in her life. She juggles the commitment of soccer, along with classwork, and being there for her sick mother. In her Business Mathematics course she butts heads with Ryder. Ryder is a flannel wearing, former soccer player who is adjusting to the loss of his hearing as a result of Meningitis.

The back and forth between these two characters is so fun to watch! Chloe Liese does an excellent job developing the two characters. You get to see what motivates them and all the personal struggles they are contending with. I also really enjoyed the side characters of family and friends that are around to support the two lead characters.

This book would be great for fans of new adult romance and people who enjoy soccer. The novel doesn't go into a great amount of detail regarding the soccer aspect, but its enough that I think it would appeal to soccer lovers. If you are a person who enjoys romances with mature adults - this is probably not the novel for you. Willa and Ryder are still really young and finding their place in the world. Especially with Willa, the world can be very overwhelming and she's still learning how to deal with that.

This book is seriously top notch. I haven’t read a book I loved this much in a long time 💜 Ryder was absolutely the best guy. He was sweet and vulnerable but still independent and strong. Willa was fierce and in desperate need of someone to love her unconditionally. Their banter and competitiveness was fun and I liked how they clicked right away but it took them awhile to see their relationship for what it was. All the hearts and all the starts for Only When Its Us!!

I'm not much of a romance reader, but when a friend of mine in a reading group recommended this I decided to give it a whirl. I am so glad I did. Is this steamy? Yes, but it's so much more than that. There was a depth to the characters and the plot that I didn't expect and that I don't often find in romance novels (which is why I don't read them). The slow burn and witty banter between Ryder and Willa was absolutely perfect. I can't wait to read more about these Bergman brothers!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Chloe Liese for a copy of this wonderful story. The thoughts and opinions I share are completely my own.

“But that’s different. That’s only when it’s us.” Only a When It’s Us by Chloe Liese.

4 stars! Such a fun fun book to read! Willa is so prickly but I love how she’s different with Ryder. And that she’s an athlete. Ryder, quiet and smart and very fit Ryder, I like Ryder. They sure know how to push each other’s buttons. Frenemies, but I love how they’re just there for each other. They have their own baggage, Willa more than Ryder, but they mesh. And I love how both of them have ties to football (or soccer). Hope you guys get to read this great book. It was released Apr 1, 2020 and darn it I missed reading it in time. Oh it comes with a recommended playlist too.

Thank you @chloe_liese for the arc of this book! I so enjoyed it 😍 and looking forward to the next Bergman sibling book.

4.5 stars.
This book was such a pleasant surprise...not only was it a really good read but I also loved the feel of the writing and the storyline was so unique and original as well....an unexpected gem for sure!!!!

It was so refreshing to have a strong heroine that is also an athlete (a soccer player) .....we certainly need much more of these women in contemporary romances ....and Ryder was the perfect foil for Willa as her surly lumbersexual classmate in this frenemies-to-lovers New Adult sports romance.
This college story was jam packed with fascinating characters including a matchmaking professor, some juvenile pranks and a "smokin' hot" slow burn between our MC's.

This book really had so much emotion, it was also bordering on beyond hilarious at many times throughout but it was also tinged with a hint of sadness and slightly bittersweet at times as well....there really was quite a surprising amount of depth to both this storyline and also it's characters......a memorable read indeed!!!......I highly recommend it to all romance lovers.

Synopsis:
Ryder aka Lumberjack
Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don't know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life.
She’s the next generation of women’s soccer.
Wild hair, wilder eyes.
Bee-stung lips that should be illegal.
And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.
She’s a thorn in my side, a menacing, cantankerous, pain-in-the-ass who’s turned our Business Mathematics course into a goddamn gladiator arena. I'll leave this war zone unscathed, coming out on top…And if I have my way with that crazy-haired, ball-busting hellion, that will be in more than one sense of the word.
Willa aka Sunshine
Rather than give me the lecture notes I missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored.
What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal.
Mangy beard and mangier hair.
Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes.
And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.
I’ve battled men before, but with Ryder, it's war. I’ll get those notes and crack that Sasquatch nut if it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll have him at my mercy. Victory will have never tasted so sweet.


ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was really cute! The characters were likeable and I thought the plot progressed well, but a little too long for what it was.

Only When It’s Us

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

This is the first book by Chloe Liese and it will not be my last. I fell in love with Ryder and Willa from the beginning and how Chloe created their chemistry is amazing. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next between these two and each moment they spared with one another pulled me in more. Willa is feisty and doesn’t take any crap from Ryder, she continues to test the limits daily between them. Ryder immediately captured my heart with his lumberjack ways and his persistence of Willa. He never gave up and continued to fight for what he wanted. If you are looking for a new read, this needs to be on your TBR list today!

A modern love story, with delightful characters. The uncorrected proof still has few typos. Overall a wonderful read.

OMG this book!!! I LOVED every word, every chapter all of it!! I was sucked into the story from the first 5 words and it didn’t let me go. I want more!! I want to read everything the author writes on these characters. So well told!!