It was cute. It was mushy. It was alright.

The author was able to touch base on disability, autism and RA, and the emotional struggles that come along with it. It was real and raw, and constant throughout the read. More so, what I enjoyed most was how Ren handled, approached, and aided Frankie’s diagnosis. He was never judgmental nor resentful towards her disabilities. It only proved that he is everyone’s ideal man and the perfect book boyfriend.

Despite the characteristics that I heavily loved, everything else was mediocre at best. The start was great, I was really intrigued by the storyline and characters but the middle drag, drag, draaaaaaaag! It seemed like a lot of nothing was happening leading me to become less invested in what was going on and becoming bored with how Ren and Frankie’s story was going to end.

Altogether, ‘Always Only You’ was a cute, sexy at times, uneventful read that didn’t leave a lasting impression despite the topics discussed and the realistic characters readers are able to relate to.

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine slow burn installment in the Bergman Brothers series!

We follow Ren who is a professional hockey player. He is such a cinnamon roll and also a huge Shakespeare nerd, which just adds to his overall charm. He was the perfect blend of sexy and sweet, and he has a huuuuge crush on the social media manager for his team, Frankie. There’s also a lot more to Frankie than meets the eye. She has rheumatoid arthritis and is an autistic person, so she typically comes across as grumpy or cold. The author is also autistic so it is own voices for that representation. I loved watching her open up to Ren more and become more vulnerable, while also addressing the fears she feels and all the reasons she is so closed off. It was so realistic and done in a very respectful way. I loved the dynamic between these two and I was rooting for them the whole time. There is so much fun banter between them as well.

I also really loved the side characters in this story. We get to see a lot of Ren’s hockey team and I loved how sweet and dedicated he was to the team. There’s also a really fun scene with them acting out a Shakespeare play that had me cracking up.

My only gripe is the writing, which sometimes felt a bit immature and cheesy. There were a ton of Harry Potter references at weird times (the author addressed how much JKR sucks so that was good) and lots of strange expressions that made everything feel cringey.

Overall though this was a great second installment in the series. It had the perfect blend of sexy and sweet and had me laughing out loud. I think this could definitely be read as a standalone, and I can’t wait to read more about this family!

Sweet, cute and endearing, with a strong hint of slow-burn.
I appreciated discovering this new author, writing about a Swedish family of five brothers, when one of them has found his match but finding the right time to show her his feelings. Hockey player, sweet, sexy and nerdy. Well all kinds of trouble, right?

Francesca “Frankie” Zeferino is part of the staff and working with Ren and the hockey team meant that she was off limits and had to remain professional. A facade she excelled in, adding a strong hint of sass and straightforwardness. Bitchy resting face, grumpy all things that should put people at arm’s length.
It was interesting to read about her autism diagnosis and to see her softy side a few would see.

Ren has a crush on her but waiting for the moment she wouldn’t be off limits and Frankie is totally oblivious about it. Good spirit, caring and cheering his teammates, the hockey player is also a nerd. I totally liked it.
The hero is such a delightful surprise, between sexiness and shyness, confidence and nerdiness. Insanely cute.

I appreciated this story, plenty of emotions and sweetness but also laughter. I was going from one surprise to another, rooting for Ren to get the girl! I had to say that these two drove me crazy with this slow burn. I enjoyed the dual POV, blunt and wandering at times to naughty thoughts.

Chloe Liese is now officially an autobuy author for me. I absolutely love how unique and diverse her characters are. Chloe shines a light on all different forms of illnesses in such a tasteful way. Ren is an absolute angel who will literally have you smiling throughout the whole book. Beware, your heart might just BURST. Frankie keeps everyone at arms length and its heartbreaking but once she meets Ren it all starts to change. Chloe succeeds in opening your eyes and opening your heart to people of all kinds WITHOUT judgement. I ADORE THIS SERIES. So extremely unique, raw, real, tear jerking, swoon worthy, and funny. GIVE IT ALL THE STARS!!

Always Only You is the first novel I’ve read by Chloe Liese and it won’t be the last! It is the second in the Bergman Brothers series although it can be read as a standalone.

This is an #OwnVoices story of Frankie and Ren. She is an autistic social media manager for an ice hockey team who has a chronic illness and he is an ice hockey player who is a Shakespeare quoting cinnamon roll. I won’t go into too much detail (as you need to go and read it!), but this is a great story and a lovely slow burn romance. The characters are well written and very human and the story itself grabs you from the beginning.

I don’t feel that I missed out by not reading Only When It’s Us first, but I need to go and read it soon- certainly before the rest of the series is released!

I loved this book from start to finish. I read the first book in the Bergmann brothers series earlier this year and I loved that one too so I was super excited to receive an eARC of Always Only You.
This story is told through the povs of Ren and Frankie. Ren is a handsome, ginger haired hockey player with a soft side for Shakespeare. Frankie is the social media coordinator for the LA Kings Hockey team and doesn't let her autism or rheumatoid arthritis slow her down. Ren has been pining for Frankie since she first started with the team 3 years ago but with a no workplace romance rule he has had to stay away. When a number of different circumstances lead to them becoming friends and hanging out their chemistry becomes clear.
This has many popular clichés and tropes like forbidden love, a virgin, dramatic event that leads to a breakup etc, which were all fairly predictable but still written in a way that you can't help loving them. Ren is one of 7 siblings so hopefully we'll see a story for all of them with some already being foreshadowed.
Overall this book had me laughing or in tears but I love the portrayal of Frankie with Chloe's #ownvoice. And Ren is a loveable Teddy bear.

Thanks to Netgalley.com and Chloe Liese for this complimentary eARC copy.

This is a tale of opposites attract, forbidden love...
Ren is a nice guy, who's secretly a nerd at heart and a hot shot hockey star. Frankie is a grumpy, prickly Social Media Specialist for Ren's team. She keeps everyone at arms length so they don't know about her autism. It's amusing to read how they each believe that neither likes the other in a romantic way but as the reader, you find out that they are very attracted to each other.
This is a cute love story and would definitely recommend to friends.

Thank you Net Galley for a copy of this ARC. I absolutely adored this story. Ren and Frankie are so adorable. I also learned about autism and its complexities. Great romance! Highly recommend!!

I've read this book with a smile on my face. I love hockey and reading about hockey centered sports romance, with a "forbidden" relationship and angst? Please!
The writing style is one of my favorites, it really goes smoothly and it's so funny!

Characters 10
Atmosphere 8
Writing style 10
Plot 9
Intrigue 8
Logic 9
Enjoyment 10

5 ginger Viking come to slay stars!!

Ren has had a crush on Frankie since the moment they met, but since they are coworkers the relationship is forbidden. Frankie has sworn off romantic relationships to protect herself, but being the beautiful soul that he is – Ren is determined to wait for her and carefully peel back the tough layers protecting a heart of gold. He is the sunshine to her grumpy storm cloud and they are just perfect together.

The thing with Chloe's books is that although tropes are useful to describe what the book is about, it feels unfair to her characters to fit them in a box, because they are so much more than that. Actually, I think the main take away from this book is how people should not be put in defined, stereotypical boxes.

Ren is this incredible, sensitive, Shakespeare loving, nerd in the body of a jock and not everything is as easy as it seems in his life. Frankie is not just a grumpy storm cloud, she is extremely resilient autistic woman, who has an amazing sense of humor, a big heart and is way too hard on herself.

Their romance is far from easy, but the journey is beautiful, very funny and so heartwarming! It's impossible not to be invested in this story and touched by the growth of these characters.

Don't miss this special, #ownvoices, unique story!

*Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This sweet and steamy (very steamy) love story between a hockey player and the team’s autistic social media manager who also has rheumatoid arthritis. It’s a struggle for each to break down the barriers between them, especially on Frankie’s side because she doesn’t want to be pitied or resented. Ren is sweet and gentlemanly (but not too gentlemanly, it is a love story) and from a big Swedish family. This is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I really loved this story. The characters felt very real and not stereotypical in any way. If you don’t mind steam, this would be a great book for romance lovers.

This is such a sweet romance, but where it really shines is its characters and representation. I love reading own voices stories about autism and this was such a good one. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

A strong female lead, a hot hockey player, Harry Potter references, a love story, steam, Shakespeare, and more! The story was so well written, so funny, so pure. I loved it.

Always Only You is the story of cheerful hockey player Soren (Ren) Bergman and grumpy social media manager Francesca (Frankie) Zeferino. The author did a *FANTASTIC* job of crafting characters that have layers and layers of complexities. Ren's undercover bashfulness and love of Shakespeare. Frankie's Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autism, and fear of being a burden.

Reading this book felt like I was reading about actual people, and it's one that I will happily re-read over and over. I can't wait to read other titles from Chloe Liese!

Always Only You is a swoon-worthy, hilarious, and heartfelt love story with a magnificently no-nonsense heroine and super sweet hockey star. It’s the perfect slow-burn romance to curl up with.

Francesca "Frankie" Zeferino is a social media manager for Los Angeles Kings. She’s autistic, and living with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, but keeps it under wraps beneath a grumpy, stony-faced exterior. On the other hand, Søren "Ren" Bergman is a player on the team and the human equivalent of sunshine. He’s always smiling, always calm, and pretty much always content. Ren is basically the perfect book boyfriend. Beneath the handsome exterior, he’s patient, loyal, thoughtful. He reads Shakespeare, cooks delicious Swedish dishes, and adorably modest.

Additionally, I absolutely adore Frankie. She’s brave, intelligent, and ambitious. Despite her life-long challenges and daily struggles, she works hard and has an admirable determination to reach her goals. I love that Always Only You is an #OwnVoices story too. The portrayal of autism is authentic and truthful, for both the good moments and the bad. I like that Frankie walks with a cane and is proud to use it. A chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t appear often in contemporary romance, and that element of diversity is a refreshing addition to her character.

Frankie and Ren (aka ‘Zenzero’) have incredible chemistry, which makes the forbidden romance even more delightful. The two characters really are opposites. Frankie is a brooding storm while Ren is the mellow sunlight. They have very different approaches to life but an endearing and effortless dynamic. Plus, Ren seems to be the only player on the team who gets to see Frankie’s softer side, the real woman beneath the scowl.

The slow-burn atmosphere adds a captivating tension to their relationship. What I love most, is that it never becomes frustrating. The dialogue and events are so engaging, I never got bored. And I like the way the author builds their connection through comical back-and-forth and emotional heart-to-hearts. From early on, I began rooting for Frankie and Ren.

The amount of emotion surprised me in this book. Frankie struggles with trusting Ren after being hurt in the past. Based on past experiences, she convinces herself that people eventually being to resent her. Seeing a character, that's already in so much pain, purposefully hold themselves back from happiness just to spare others is all too real. While reading, her anxieties felt very honest and genuine, like the author is exposing her own vulnerabilities.

With the sentimental layer, this romance is truly a delightful read. The characters develop and mature brilliantly from their first interaction, helping to keep the entertainment going, even during the slower moments. I also had no idea Always Only You is part of an ongoing series, which only attributes to the author’s ability to create a unique love story as part of a bigger universe. This story is my first Chloe Liese read, but hopefully not my last!

Gahhh! My heart is so full! Somehow, I wound up enjoying Always Only You even more than I enjoyed Only When It's Us. Chloe Liese has been my favorite romance discovery this year and she has certainly made my reading journey an even more rewarding experience.

I loved Willa in the first book, but the protagonist here, Frankie, owns my heart. Though I haven't read too many books featuring main characters who are on the autism spectrum, I have fond memories of the few books that I have read. Neurodivergent individuals aren't a monolith and when written authentically, they make for incredible main characters. I immediately felt a connection to Frankie and her voice. Despite her chronic rheumatoid arthritis, she has carved herself a fulfilling and independent life for herself. Chloe Liese didn't shy away from portraying her day-to-day struggles that able-bodied folks don't even spend time thinking about. It was insightful for me as a reader and certainly made me realize how privileged I am to have been born in a body that isn't attacking me with invisible pain on a daily basis. Her condition made Frankie a certified grump and she mostly kept to herself as she didn't want anyone to feel like she was a burden on them. It wasn't all bleak, however. Frankie thrived in her life even in the face of her challenges and the author illustrates all her highs through her successful career and her different relationships throughout the book.

Meeting Ren was probably one of the best encounters that could have happened to her. This big ginger Shakespeare-spouting hockey player was a giant teddy bear with the biggest heart. I could not get enough of his sunshine self and the kindness he bestowed upon everyone he met. Ren was top book-boyfriend material and he will have many of you swooning, sighing, and wishing he were real. It's an impossible task to not fall for a character who was devoted to his big lovable family and was comfortable crying and blushing in public. Ren made my cold-heart full and I just loved him so so much. Ren has also been in love with Frankie for the longest time, but because of their intertwined careers and Frankie's desire to keep people at an arm's length, he has instead been pining and waiting for her. He was respectful of Frankie and cared deeply about her and her happiness. As with Only When It's Us, the romance in Always Only You was a slow-burn one that was incredibly gratifying. Chloe Liese writes some of the best banter and I loved every moment of Ren and Frankie's interactions, especially the scenes of them being domestic. Watching Frankie come to the realization about her feelings for this man who was 100% devoted to her just filled me with the best dose of serotonin. I shipped them. HARD.

I swear guys, Always Only You is so charming and delightful. If you like the grumpy-sunshine pairing, you must give this book a read. Next up in the Bergman Brothers series is a marriage-in-trouble romance and I can hardly wait!

If she continues to write such an amazing story this series will become one of my favorites. Like girl WTF the story is amazing with amazing characters developed in such details. I loved every page of it It made me laugh and all warm in my heart. I really loved it and I hope that this amazing writing will carry on in another book.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

How do I love this book? Let me count the ways. I love this author’s writing. She takes on characters who have human conditions that I have not read about with other romance authors. The characters are written about with care, compassion and non-sensationalism so that each condition doesn’t become the focus nor is underplayed but is beautifully incorporated into the story.
Frankie is autistic. The author was so accurate with her description that I kept picturing a co-worker who is also autistic. It was only until I read the acknowledgements that the author reveals that she is on the spectrum! Ren grew up as an oddball with his interest in Shakespeare and his courtlier outlook on life and women. And yet, he is a professional hockey player; a typically rough and ultra-macho profession. The slow burn romance was heartwarming to read as you follow Frankie and Ren’s journey. I can’t wait to read Axel and Rooney’s story next!

What a great and unique romance book! So full of emotion and heart, but also really funny. Just a great Rom Com with a wonderful message of being loved as you are.

This was my first book by Chloe Liese, the second in the series but stands well on its own, centered around a family of 7 siblings. I was drawn to its blurb because I like sports romances and I ma always on the lookout for diverse MCs in them and the cover showing us a heroine using a cane also drew me in.

This is an ownvoices story with autistic heroine who also has a chronic illness and uses a cane who works for the social media department of a professional hockey team and the hero is a lind-hearted hockey player who is a virgin and has been in love with heroine for years She is a grump who never smiles and always wears black, he is all smiles and caring and kindness. That's pretty muchmy romance catnip - grumpy / sunshine who complement each other.

I can't comment on the autism rep but I am happy to see a romance with a heroine like Frankie. She is strong an independent, has built mechanisms that help her live on her own while doing a demanding job.

Ren is lovely, kind, and gentle, a big Shakespeare nerd, essential for his team and his family. He keeps his cool on the ring and with his friends and family but gets all flustered aroudn Frankie. And I loved it.

I absolutely loved the way he was with Frankie,supportive and caring without babying her or making her helpless in any way. At the same time, he felt too perfect, without a single weakness. Even the big conflict was all about her accepting his care and love, allowing herself to be loved the way she was.He never did anything wrong. She grew and changed in the course of the story while he stayed is perfect self from start to finish.

Se really stood out for me. A complex character dealing with serious health issues and being underestimated and underappreciated by most people around her. She navigated falling in love and having a serious relationship for the first with the inescapable mistake from time to time.

I loved their relationship, we see a lot of them together as a couple, the changes this brings into their lives, the gradual opening up with each other.

All that said, I also had some issues with the book. Besides the boring perfection of Ren, I felt the felt the author tried to include all the tropes and it was just too much - forced proximity, illness (hospital stay), virgin hero, confessions under the influence. This is very much a personal thing but I found some of Frankie's language and humour crass and didn't enjoy it.

Despite these issues, I still want to read more in this series, book one h as a deaf hero and a footballer heroine and the next one is a marriage in trouble one, both sound very much right up my alley.

CW: Hospital stay, sports trauma, medicinal drug use