GAAAHHHH!!!!!! This book...this BOOK!

Aiden MacCormack has loved Freya Bergman deeply from the first day he met her, and finally after 10 years of marriage they’ve decided to start having children. Except Aiden feels a tremendous burden to give his family better financial circumstances than what he grew up with, which sends his usually-controlled anxiety into overdrive. When Freya notices Aiden working even more than normal and feels him pulling away, it sends the confident, always singing woman spiralling into doubt and despair.

Thankfully for Aiden and Freya, they have friends who support them (and don’t add fuel to the fire of negative emotions they’re feeling), and the whole Bergman family to help them find their way back to each other.

As someone who's been married for a long time (28 years next month!) and has gone through some really, really hard years and been through marriage counseling multiple times, this book touched me in the most visceral way. It’s always hard to read about a marriage falling apart, but Chloe Liese did it in the BEST way possible - with tenderness and compassion, showing the real-life truth that marriage is hard, both people are equally culpable for things breaking down, and that putting things back together is even harder...but SO worth it.

I could write a whole essay about how fantastic this book is - the writing, the characters, the character development. All of it was powerful and meaningful, and I love a book that shows real-life relationships, sharing truths about marriage and life we can all learn from.

"Sometimes love is a splint, an arm to take, a shoulder to cry on - helpful but not the healer itself."

This Bergman family is so incredibly special - they will make you laugh and cry, feel despair and hope, and I can’t wait to read about the rest of them.

*thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you still haven’t read anything by Chloe Liese, you need to fix that ASAP! This is the third book in her Bergman Brothers series, and I fell in love with the characters and Chloe’s writing yet again.

This is the story of Freya, who is the first born of the Bergman family, and her marriage to her college-sweetheart Aiden. Aiden and Freya’s marriage is in trouble. Aiden is keeping things from Freya and Freya feels like he doesn’t desire her anymore. It’s way more complex that just that, but I don’t want to spoil the whole book. Aiden has anxiety and that comes into play a lot with what he is sharing and not sharing with Freya. However, she has always understood and supported him when he is feeling anxious, so she is confused and upset what is different now that he won’t continue to open up to her.

I loved how much we got to see the rest of the Bergman family in this book. The Bergman brothers meddle and try to help push Aiden and Freya back together, but also show how much they will support and love them through this hard time.

This book had so many things I highlighted about marriage! While not all of it was completely relatable as I am still a newlywed in the honeymoon phase, it definitely made me thing about and look at marriage and relationships in different ways. I loved this so much. I also really appreciated the conversation about happily ever after and how unrealistic it is. No one will always be happy for ever after, but they can always be each other’s always ever after.

5 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

Well, it’s no surprise that Chloe has done it again. The Bergmans are quickly becoming my favorite book family, and the siblings this only child wished she would have grown up with. Each of their stories is in some way so relatable. Their flaws, as opposed to making you want to strangle them, somehow just make them more real, endearing, and loveable.

Freya and Aiden’s story is no exception. I loved that the story took place 10 years into the marriage, and it felt like a real story you might be commiserating with a friend about. It’s a story with a lot of emotional ups and downs. Thankfully there’s also some serious humor mixed in courtesy of the ‘man cubs’ who more than lived up to their name in this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably even get all hot and bothered….what more could you want from a book?

PS- there’s also a Hawaiian vacation involved….. I’m seriously missing travel and would love nothing more to be headed to Hawaii right now.

Also I can’t believe that at this time last year we/I hadn’t even met the Bergmans yet....

Aiden and Freya realize their marriage is in trouble and are ready to do everything to get their marriage back on track. Aiden gets so busy with his work that without realizing he slowly checks out of their marriage when his work was all to provide for their future baby. His anxiety disorder doesn't help either. The emotions felt by them during the crisis were so real and so raw that it was absolutely heartbreaking. I was just introduced to these characters but I became totally invested in them and couldn't not worry for them. Having had anxiety issues of my own, I could see how Aiden’s anxiety had totally hijacked his life and both were trying hard to hide their issues to not burden their partner when open communication was all they needed.

A tropical vacation with the whole Bergman family meddling in was much needed for their relationship. The Bergman family is absolutely easy to fall in love with. I loved both Freya and Aiden right away. Freya is completely honest, straight-forward and has a no-nonsense personality. On the other hand, Aiden is smart, sexy, sweet, ambitious and fiercely loyal. The way he handled his anxiety issues is admirable, especially when there is so much drama in his life from all the sides at the same time. He fiercely fights to sort out their issues. The constant pent-up angst between them was so hot and steamy!

It is definitely a hot, swoon-worthy, slow-burn romance that shouldn't be missed out.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We first meet Freya and Aiden in the pervious books in this series. You definitely don't have to read them to enjoy this one but they are great and it will help you keep track of all the characters in this family straight.

We first see Aiden and Freya going through a hard point in their marriage. What I loved about this book was that from the get go their marriage was in trouble and they were both frustrated but you never got the sense that either of them wanted to give up with relationship. I found their time at the therapists office to be so insightful (although it probably more than two sessions to heal something so damaged). I loved watching them interacts and seeing both sides from each of their perspectives was intriguing and I am obsessed with Aiden and Freya and the whole Bergman clan.

If you haven't read any of Lisse's books you are missing out, and this series is one of my favorites, tackling complex issues of mental health and family destruction that make the stories compelling and unique.

The first few chapters were very interesting and really pulled me in but it dragged a bit in the middle. . The main characters Aiden and Freya were interesting but I felt that there was more time spent on Aiden's development than on Freya. The therapy sessions were vey interesting. The family dynamics were fun to read and the overall pace of the story was good.

4 1/2 stars. This was my first book by Chloe Liese. I had heard so much about the first two books and just couldn't wait to dive in. First, I love a marriage in trouble trope. I dont read enough of those and I really enjoy it. You also have forced proximity which makes it interesting. I loved the couple and the building of their relationship. It was sexy, heartwarming, fun, and I cant wait to go back and read the first two in the series to get more from these characters. .

Honestly, I am still trying to process this one... but let me try.

Aiden and Freya's marriage is... well... not doing well. Life is busy, work is exhausting, taking care of a partner and yourself easily gets pushed to the side, and then suddenly - you are strangers and aren't sure how to find your way back. This was I think my first ever marriage in trouble - not to be confused with the second chance trope - but it has absolutely set the bar SO high. Going to therapy, making mistakes, no one cheats? This is a truly gorgeous marriage story.

There were amazing moments of truly being raw, the fear of feeling like a failure in front of your person and feeling like a stranger to the one closest to you. I especially felt a connection to Aiden and his anxiety - it was so real that I had to step away and breathe for a minute. It is exactly how I feel on a daily basis. Freya's absolute pure love glowed from every page and also should be seen as a key aspect of why this story works.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Tropes: marriage in trouble, family medling, forced proximity

Subgenre: contemporary romance

CW/ TW: character with severe anxiety, discussions of parental abandonment, discussions of substance abuse, marriage trouble

A marriage in trouble is one of my favorite tropes in romance although it's somewhat hard to find since most romance writers prefer to focus on the exciting beginning of a relationship, rather than what happens after the first blush of attraction wears off. This book has plenty of feels as it focuses on Freya and Aiden, who had that exciting start to their relationship, and seemed to be able to keep those strong feelings going for a long time, but now, after 10 years of marriage, Aiden is pulling away, Freya feels abandoned and betrayed by her best friend/lover, and she knows she has to do something radical to reset the pattern they've fallen into.

When Aiden comes home from a business trip, he's blindsided by a packed bag, and a request from Freya that he spend some time at her brother's cabin to give them both a chance to pause and reflect. Aiden suffers from fairly severe anxiety, while Freya is extremely attuned to the emotions of those she loves. Since they are both caretakers to their core, they've both fallen into the trap of trying to shield their partner from the worst of their mental spinning and emotions which has led both of them to pull away in different ways. Chloe Liese did a great job of depicting how they were both spiraling in negative directions and that they were both equally responsible for the breakdown of their communication. The book was realistic in showing that they both not only had to recognize and acknowledge their own issues, they both also had to want and be willing to work for a solution that would carry them forward. Although they are already married, the book is still very sweet and romantic as they find their way back to each other. Freya's family is also a big part of the book and of their lives, and I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series.

Ever After Always is the third installment in the Bergman Brothers – excuse me – Sisters Series. It is a romance that takes place ten years after a romance. What is it about second chance romances that draw us in? Is it because we all crave second chances in our own lives? That we play out in our minds the one thing we wish we said, or did, that might have changed our present-day life for the better? Chloe Lisle is no stranger to challenges. She takes characters that would be categorized as unlikeable or unreliable in mainstream publishing and makes us root for their happily ever after’s. There is considerable skill in her work that is almost lost behind the effortless banter she wields skillfully to counter some of the more difficult subjects she tackles in her romances. Ever After Always is the story of a marriage ten years in. If you don’t think that can be sexy, read this book. The connection between the two main characters is so hot your fingertips will be singed. But chemistry can only get you so far. Lisle reminds us that a relationship is work. That love is unwieldy and tiring and a marriage can leave us vulnerable in the most intimate of ways – but the payoff of this work, of this opening to vulnerability – is priceless. It’s the stuff that dreams – and healthy families – are made of.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I’m am seriously crying. Like happy years crying because this book was so absolutely beautiful. I just felt everything so deep within my soul. Aiden’s anxiety, Freya’s feeling unloved and both feeling lost. This book just showcases that marriage is not a walk in the park, but when you find your ever after, that you will do anything and everything to fight for them. I loved this book so ridiculously much. It also had humour and suspense and surprises along with the heartache/ break, but by the end your heart it warmingly stitched up again.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly January New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Lives that look perfect on the outside never turn out to be quite what you expect. Book Three of The Bergman Brothers novels primarily tells the story of Aiden and Freya. The couple, previously believed to have the perfect relationship by the rest of their family, is coming unraveled on their family vacation and finding it harder and harder to hide the cracks beneath the surface. I thought this was a really interesting book of a couple (and their family) doing what they can, and trying whatever they can, to make a relationship work. Although this was part three in the series, I've never read parts 1-2 and I don't think they're necessary before jumping into the story (although they would probably help develop the character history a bit more).

3/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My favorite book of 2020! GO. READ. THIS. BOOK! Preorder it now, set a reminder for release day, whatever you do, just read it!
⁣
This book is real and raw and full of so much emotion I lost count of the number of times I cried. I felt every one of Freya and Aiden’s emotions as they tried to repair their marriage. The genuineness of these characters and their feelings is incredible! ⁣
⁣
The Bergman antics are still alive and well in this book, not to worry! There was a laughter/tears balance throughout the book. The Bergman brothers definitely stuck their noses where they didn’t belong but you just can’t help but love them for it. ⁣
⁣
This book made me feel seen in a way I haven’t before. I saw myself in this book. I saw myself in Aiden’s anxiety and worry. I saw myself in Freya’s loneliness, in her thoughts about her body and how it changed over the years, in her frustration at being shut out. Marriage is hard, y’all! As much as I love reading romance for the happy endings, I loved reading this book because it validated that fact! Most books end with the couple getting married for their HEA. But this book started there and took us through the sometimes reality of marriage. The struggle and the work and THEN...the happily ever after. Or in this case, the Ever After Always. ❤️⁣
⁣
Thank you, Chloe for allowing me to read the arc and for writing such a beautiful story! 💕⁣ I can wait until this is on my shelf! If I could give this one more than 5 stars, I would!

Ever After Always is a complex story woven with the utmost care, compassion, honesty, and maturity. So many elements of this book felt so real that I related instantly and felt as though I was learning a little something too. The importance of commitment and the honor one holds when they take their marriage vows was omni-present and so refreshing. I saw the book described as a "marriage-in-crisis" story and while that is perfectly apt the book really is so much more. It encompasses the hardships and trials of marriage and long-term relationships without ever devaluing the institution or the everyday effort lasting love requires. It's refreshing to read the slow burn angst of a committed couple. It's what I imagine comes after "the end" of many coupling for the first time stories. Chloe Liese does a magnificent job showcasing the many intricacies of the two well-developed main characters, both on their own and as a couple that make this book a truly compelling read. I love the secondary characters and the depth they bring this couple and their story. And I love the simple plot and how it flows seamlessly with the complexity of the troubled couple. There's plenty of fun and light hearted moments that make you smile. There's teary and troubling moments that you make you pause. And while there is trouble in paradise the thread of love that holds these people together is far from frayed. A well written, honest, engaging tale of ever lasting love.

Author’s writing style was hard for me to get into as she jumped write into the story without any character build-up. The pacing drags for so long. For example, we jump into Freya throwing out her husband, but *why?* We were told they hit a rough patch, but what was the impetus? What was the inciting incident?

ARC provided by netgalley

It is the third book in the Bergman Brothers series. I expected this to become my new favorite, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my hopes. This story is about Bergman's sister Freya and her husband Aiden. After almost ten years in marriage, they have fallen apart while being busy with work, worries, and future planning. While on vacation, they are working to figure out if they love each other strong enough, to admit struggles, and to relay to each other going forward.

I was looking forward to reading this. I have been married to my husband for over seven years, and I understand how much work is required to keep a connection and find time and devotion to keep the spark alive. A story like that always feels very realistic to me.

Unfortunately, I got annoyed at the very beginning of this book because I do not understand how a married partner can ask a significant other to pack and leave a home that they share. Or as in this book, pack a bag and leave it at the front door (for the partner to get a hint). Who does that?
And I found it very annoying that the husband was the one that had to make all the grand gestures and grovel, while obviously, it takes two to create and hold a relationship.

The ending was good, the story had some great messages, and in my opinion, anxiety was portrayed fairly, but overall this was a miss for me.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a sucker for authentic books about marriage. So many out there contain infidelity, divorce, etc. Give me a marriage in crisis romance with a couple who are in it for the long haul and I’ll read it any day! Especially when it confronts the nitty gritty of married life and long term relationships! Ever After Always was so relatable and raw, I loved every second of it!

In this installment of the Bergman family series, we get Freya and Aidans story. While it works as a stand alone, you should be reading the other books! I love how @chloe_liese crafts neurodiverse characters and writes them in such a genuine way. I also love how each book focuses on a character but there’s a continuation of their story in subsequent books. In this installment, Aidan has generalized anxiety disorder. His story is written in such an honest and thoughtful way. The writing is spectacular in these books but the way the author tackles the complicated webs and messiness of human emotions is where these books shine. Her insight into the human heart and her representation of neurodiverse characters is extraordinary. Always Only You continues to be my favorite in the series, because it’s an #ownvoices. However, book 3 is a close second! I loved Ever After Always! My thanks to @chloe_liese and @netgalley for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

I've been dreading writing this review because I don't think I can properly put into words how much I loved this book. And for different reasons than the other books in this series.

If you loved The Bromance Book Club because of the marriage in distress aspect, this is for you. If you love a big, loud, sometimes obnoxious, but mostly loveable family, this is for you. If you want to be schooled on long term relationships - even if you feel like yours is just fine - this is for you. If you suffer from anxiety and you want to be seen, this is for you. If you want to swoon like crazy, this is for you. This was so perfect for me.

I can't even tell you how many pages I highlighted in this book because I felt like it had so much to say about marriage. Things that I never even considered that completely changed my way of thinking - especially when a relationship feels off-balance because one person suffers from an illness (mental or physical).

Yes, there is miscommunication and yes it is so frustrating, but as someone who suffers from anxiety and has lost friends because I was considered "flakey" for changing plans last minute or having to leave abruptly or coming off as rude because I was spiraling into a panic attack... the miscommunication made perfect sense to me.

I love what Chloe Liese is doing with her novels. I love that she is placing a spotlight on things that otherwise get overlooked. I think her bio describes it perfectly, "Chloe writes inclusive romance because she believes everyone deserves a love story. Portraying underrepresented experiences, her romances embrace humor, heart, and heat, with a dash of nerdiness for good measure." I think, particularly when we talk about diversity in books, we can't forget about disabled voices in that conversation.

Chloe Liese has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. Normally, second chance romance is not my favorite. But this book is genuine, honest, heartwarming, funny, and smart. Honestly don't even think about it: it if it's written by Chloe Liese, pick it up. You won't be disappointed.