Member Reviews

I love the Bergman series and this one focus on Ziggy finding her own self. She decides to form a fake friendship with bad boy hockey player, Sebastian, who plays on LA Kings with her brother. I love how honest Ziggy is and how easy it is to fall in love with her. The tension between Ziggy and Sebastian is off the charts, I was dying for them to get together. I love seeing both of their growth journey and also the Bergman clan. I am so bummed we only have 1 sibling left in the series.

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I loved this! Chloe Liese's Bergman series just pull me right into the story. Ziggy and Sebastian's fake friendship is so endearing and they really learn to take care of each other and themselves as their relationship grows. It just made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. There were also lots of different subtle hints to what Viggo's story in the next book could be.

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I could not get my hands on the next installment of the Bergman Brothers series fast enough––and romance powerhouse Chloe Liese did NOT disappoint! IF ONLY YOU sparkles with charm, and Liese's characters are––as always––authentic, funny, and wholly worth rooting for.

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Chloe Liese is one of my favorite romance authors! What I really appreciated about this novel was that it didn't follow the conflict arc, yet we saw amazing growth in both main characters, especially Sebastian. I loved seeing how their relationship developed over time, and would recommend this book widely!

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A sweet, slow burn sports romance between a female football star and her brother's bad boy, ice hockey playing best friend

I have adored reading this series ever since I found Only When It's Us as a read now on NetGalley, but have found my interest waning in the last few books. I can't decide (without looking back at the early books) if the first person pov has always been so irritating, or have my reading tastes changed? Have they all been full of repetitive inner monologues? Looking at all the five star reviews, I suspect it's me!

Don't get me wrong, this story was sweet, wholesome and written so carefully and gently! Ziggy finding her place in the world, and in her family, after being seen as the baby for so long was lovely. The representation was great, Ziggy was bisexual, on the Autistic spectrum and suffered with anxiety, and Sebastian was pansexual, had childhood issues to overcome, as well as hidden health issues. I love that Chloe writes such inclusive books, dealing with mental health, hidden disabilities and neuro divergence! I, like many others, have seen myself represented in at least one of her books.

I also loved seeing the rest of the family again, which were my favourite parts of the story!

However, I felt little chemistry between Ziggy and Seb, enjoying them more as friends. I thought that the romance part felt a bit forced and a little rushed, the sex scene bland, and you all know how I feel about time jumps...

Other things which niggled me included,
Ziggy telling grown adults off for swearing 🤬
Overly preachy life lessons
Hearing what a bad boy Seb is, but only ever seeing a cinnamon roll? Even the one confrontation he had with someone he supposedly hurt, was off page🤷

Like I said, I think it's me, I think everyone else will love this! It's super sweet, and the way all of the characters all support and take care of each other is adorable.
Annnd, as much as it kills me to not read the last book in a series, I'm not sure that I will be reading Viggo's story 😮🥹

If you enjoyed the other books on this series, or want to try some inclusive romance, then definitely give this book (and the rest of the series) a go!

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“Because I do love you, Ziggy, more than I ever believed I could love anything or anyone. Because if only you loved me for the rest of my existence, that would be more than enough—beyond my wildest dreams and hopes."

- Brother’s best friend
- Sports romance: soccer x hockey
- Diverse characters: bi & autistic FMC and pan MMC with celiac disease
- Therapy rep
- Good girl x bad boy
- He falls first
- Song accompanying each chapter
- Slow burn
- Dual POV

Chloe Liese has done it again. But like, are we even surprised at this point? Everything she touches turns to gold ✨.

In If Only You, Ziggy is tired of being treated like a child both on and off the soccer pitch. Meanwhile, Ren's teammate and friend, Sebastian, needs to improve his image. So Ziggy proposes a pretend friendship to repair his image and give hers a little edge.

I loved every second of this book! Particularly, seeing their friendship develop and how they brought out the best in one another. Their friendship was built on honesty (and A+ banter) from the beginning and I adored seeing them slowly open up to each other. They were always there for each other and became the other's safe space 🫶🏻. If Only You also had Chloe's signature slow burn, so prepare for lots of tension and sizzling chemistry 🔥.

The character growth was another highlight – it was just phenomenal. Ziggy's confidence grew as she asked for what she wanted, while Sebastian accepted help and started to heal. "I want to be—my best self, for her, with her."

I have to take a moment to appreciate my boy, Sebastian. I’m so glad this was dual POV as we got to see Seb fall for her hard and fast. He was so protective of her, even when he didn’t think he deserved her. I loved the way Chloe captured his feelings for Ziggy and how he saw her 🥺. He was a boy obsessed and I was swooning left, right and centre. I couldn’t get enough!

"I’m painfully attracted to her. To this delicious contradiction of shy quiet and sheer courage, tender feeling and tenacious fire. She’s a goddamn knockout, and she has no f*cking clue." <<< OBSESSED.

Add in some much-needed Bergman cameos (not Ren making me tear up), The Shakespeare club and a cute bookstore date and you have a book that's absolutely perfection from beginning to end.

Eternally grateful to Chloe Liese and NetGalley for the early copy!

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If I could give this book a million stars, I would. Seb and Ziggy stole my heart. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but I think the Bergman books keep getting better. There were so many lines I wanted to highlight. Pretty much as soon as I started, I knew I needed a physical copy and preordered a signed copy for my shelves.

I loved everything about Ziggy and Seb. Seb is so determined to be good enough for Ziggy. I loved their arrangement of fake friends to real friends to more. There were so many moments where I just wanted to hug Ziggy and Seb. This was a slow burn, but was 100% worth it. I loved all of the mentions of other Bergmans and their significant others, especially Ren and Frankie.

I can’t wait to get my hands on Virgo’s story, but I know I will be so sad when this amazing series comes to an end. I seriously cannot recommend this series (and especially this book) enough!

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What I Loved:
The characterization. Both Ziggy and Sebastian were such fully formed characters. I loved them as individuals and together.
The physical and emotional support they offer to one another from the very beginning of their connection
The stretch of time at the end of the book - I don’t usually love when this happens in romances, but it felt so natural and essential for these two
The character appearances from past books - Ryder’s main appearance made me cry
Ziggy’s motivation as youngest kid - so real, so relatable. Always trying to be seen as a grown-up

Some things I Wished For:
A little more development of the subplot with Seb’s family - it was a major part of his motivation and backstory, but we didn’t get much about either of his parents outside of his reflections on it. I especially would’ve liked to learn more about his dad.
Less “peering” - this word was very overused.


Might be my favorite Bergman book, but it’s definitely in at least second place

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The way I want to be part of the Bergman clan????

I am so invested in this fictional family! I love reading their unique but intertwined stories, and following their journeys to love and discovery. But most of all, I love how intentional Chloe is as a writer. She's so respectful and thoughtful with her representation, and I know that she's able to connect with so many readers. I admire that so much. (And the ending author note made me WEEP!)

Read for the following:

- wanting to change how others see you
- seeing the best in yourself and in others
- "give me my panties"
- "you aren't beyond redeeming yourself"
- victories in small, incremental steps
- Shakespearean swears
- feeling some feelings!
- "I didn't yeet it at your face!"
- chin dimple boops
- doing the absolute most for your crush, costume edition
- good things happening at the A-frame!!!
- Bergman Brothers summits
- "You're gonna rock my world, aren't you?"

This book is FUN! I never want this series to end :'-)

A big thank you to Netgalley and Chloe for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

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If Only You is the 6th installment in the Bergman Sibling Series and follows the youngest sister Ziggy. I loved getting her story, and the chemistry between her and Sebastian. We get brother's best friend, fake friends to lovers, hockey/soccer, boops, and meddling siblings. I love how Chloe always included diverse characters in her stories, and this one includes an ownvoices character with autism, and celiac disease representation. This was such a fulfilling read, and there were definitely parts that had me absolutely screaming. The Bergman family will forever be one of my favorites.

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What I Liked: I ADORE the Bergman Brothers series. So much so that when a new book is released I’m concerned that it won’t live up to the previous ones. I shouldn’t have worried. Liese has continually written unique and entertaining romance stories that make me laugh and make me want to be a part of the Bergman family. This is the 6th book in the series so we’ve met Ziggy at this point several times but she was always a background character. I’m so happy we finally got her story and that it was focused not just on her romance but on her growing independence. I loved the inclusion of the theme of evolving as a person, and the struggle to make your loved ones recognize and acknowledge who you are. This theme worked so well with the romance between Ziggy and Sebastian, especially with Sebastian’s storyline about his own growth. The reformed bad boy is a common trope in romances and Liese uses it very effectively. Sebastian is just bad enough to make him dangerous but nice enough that it’s not unbelievable for Ziggy to fall for him. As always, the supporting cast of Bergman siblings, parents, and inlaws were a welcome addition and every scene with them was great.

What I Didn’t Like: I loved this book and there was nothing I didn’t like.

Who Should Read It: Bergman Brothers fans will want to read this one. New readers to this series will have no issues understanding the story so it can be read on its own. However, I highly recommend the entire series.

Review Wrap-Up: Chloe Liese has written another great addition to the Bergman Brothers series. Ziggy and Sebastian make a great romantic couple and I loved the theme of discovering the person you are meant to be.

Favorite Quote: “Because if I’ve learned anything this past week while being wild, taking risks, trying new things, it’s that getting it wrong, stumbling and falling apart along the way, isn’t the end of the world. It’s just…part of living. And I’m strong enough to weather those hard moments, pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep going.”

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Liese's books are like sitting in a room stimming to your favorite ASMR. You simply do not want to stop.

Ziggy and Zeb and their pretend friendship to lovers was so consumable. I devoured it all by this queen of steam. Throw in that healthy communication ma'am....we love to see it!

Chloe Liese is, and always will be a good binge for me!

Thank you to the author and netgalley for the privilege to read this advanced copy.

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Rating: 4.5/5
Warnings: difficult family dynamics, verbal abuse by a step-parent (in past), autism, celiac disease, self-medicating with alcohol
Steam: 2.5/5
Tropes: brother's best friend, grumpy sunshine, age-gap, sports romance, fake friends to friends to lovers

Thank you to the author for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If Only You will be released on April 11th, 2023.

If you have been around for any amount of time you know I adore the Bergman Brothers series, it has a piece of my heart...and I am so sad that we only have one book left after this. Can we have next gen books?

Things I loved: all the grumpy sunshine. angry yoga. bergman family antics. gluten free goodies. sweet ziggy and seb they are both so kind in different ways, I loved how they interacted with each other. seb worked so hard to redeem himself and work to be "worthy" of ziggy. bookstore moments. all representation. so much pining.

Things I didn't love: this was such a SLOW burn....I wish we would have gotten some steam a bit earlier. the time jump was near the end and felt a bit out of place, we missed all the individual work they did.

I couldn't recommend this series more! Please go read it!

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"It's hard to be given grace when you don't think you deserve it."

After growing up in the shadows of her family and her past, Ziggy is trying to find herself. She's unsure of where she fits in with her family and in the world, especially as a pro soccer player. People have only ever seen her one way and Ziggy is used to hiding in the shadows, but now more than ever, she's ready to tarnish her good girl reputation just a bit.

Enter Seb, the bad boy of hockey. He's sent himself down a self-destructive war path, and after the instance of Frankie, he is on a quest to fix up his image. Soon a pretend friendship between Ziggy and Seb turns into a real friendship which becomes impossible for the pair to hide their feelings.

It was so good to be back into the Bergman world! Throughout the series, I have loved watching Ziggy grow up, and it's about time Ziggy gets her happily ever after. Ziggy is genuinely good and pure at heart. I enjoyed her character so much. She speaks her mind and sets healthy boundaries.

Seb thinks the worst of himself and is incredibly self destructive. He doesn't let others in for fear of disappointing them and is determined to give the big middle finger to everyone just on principle. Yet through their friendship, Ziggy sees the best in Seb even when he pushes her away. She helps him see that everyone needs someone in their corner to cheer them on.

Seb's inner struggle is heavy, but balanced with the playful nature of the two's relationship. There are so many sweet and tender moments between the pair. Through their friendship, they grow to understand each other. Both fight their attraction so hard, and this one is a true slow burn. I absolutely love the book store scene...it is utter perfection.

I appreciated the celiac representation, especially how realistic it was portrayed. I felt Seb's pain not wanting to be an inconvenience with a different diet.

If Only You is the sixth book in the Bergman series, where he falls first. I freaking love Viggo and cannot wait to see what is planned for him for the seventh and final book in the series.

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Chloe Liese writes the most beautiful, heartfelt (and heart filled) books and she did not disappoint with If Only You. Ziggy and Seb are just the best. The growth, the mutual pining, they take the time to really get to know each other, and as the reader we are so lucky, because we really get to know these wonderful characters, too. The representation in this book is on point (autism, celiac disease, bi and pan MCs). Buy this book as soon as you can because Chloe delivers once again.

I will always be upset that the Bergman's do not exist out in the world, because I will never have the opportunity to meet these funny, sweet, amazing people.

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Introducing my new favorite Bergman book 🫶🥹 ZIGGY + SEB FOREVER ❤️‍🔥

This book had so many scenes that had me literally SQUEALING with DELIGHT!! 😭 whether it was from humor or the most precious heartfelt message I couldn’t help myself!!

✨fake friends to real friends to lovers
✨autism + celiac rep
✨queer MCs
✨the very secret Shakespeare club
✨hockey + soccer
✨brothers best friend
✨personal growth!!!
✨NO third act breakup

To top it off you have Bergman family moments, a slow burn worth waiting for, and top tier pining and flirty banter 🧡

🏃🏻‍♀️to preorder your copy now!! Out 4/11!!

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Format - E- ARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶

Series- Bergman Brothers/Sisters #6

Troupes- Fake Dating, bad boy reformed, finding ones self, Sports romance, fake friends with benefits, friends to lovers, slow burn

CW- child abuse, chronic illness, drug and alcohol usage

I don’t want to write this review, because I don’t want it to be over. I have been waiting for Ziggy’s story for want feel like forever! (Its only been about 2 years…) I took me forever to even start this book because I knew once did I would not want to put it down, and I’m not good at not giving myself what I want. So here we are I read it to fast and now its over and now we wait.

While we do so let me tell you about this book and why it has my undying love.

Ziggy, she has grown into this amazing strong lovely human who knows herself and fights for want she wants.

Sebastian, thoroughly misunderstood bad boy, who has a very hidden heart of gold, and one of the best character arcs I have read in a long time.

These two together “fake” dating with chemistry and witty banter for years.

All the Bergman brood doing what they do best. Being a loving supportive family while also being hilarious.

Viggo being very Viggo.

Scorching hot kisses, and patented Chloe spicy times.

A visit to the A-frame.

All wrapped up in Chloe’s signature beautiful storytelling and easy to read writing style.

I have to many feel about this book most of them loving. This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. Just go read it.

Thank you Chloe Liese and netgalley for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

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Our dear Ziggy finally has her HEA and what a beautiful story this was!

Ziggy and Seb had such a beautiful connection and explosive chemistry. I really loved their friendship and how easily they bonded, even if it was "fake" at the beginning. I loved that even if they were pretending, the feelings, the closeness and the intimacy they developed felt so natural and made the entire relationship flow so beautifully. I really loved the mutual pining and how hard they fell for each other in secret and swooned so hard seeing them protecting and supporting each other. I felt hard for both of them in several occasions, especially for Seb. It warmed my heart to see Ziggy believing in him so he could believe in himself. They were the perfect match and I loved how beautiful they were together.

As always, the Bergman family made me smile and laugh. I loved seeing my fav couple Ren and Frankie so close to Ziggy and Seb and the little peaks of their own HEA. The glimpses of Oliver and Gavin made me swoon all over again too!

I can't wait for Viggo's story. This family has a special place in my heart.

A million thanks to Chloe Liese and Netgalley for gifting me an early copy of this book. I can't wait to have it in my shelf.

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Chloe Liese's books are very popular at my library. I have purchased all of the books in this series so far and they have been checked out a lot. I enjoyed this next installment of the series and think it will be popular when I purchase it for my library.

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Chloe Liese's sixth, and penultimate book, in the Bergman Brothers series is another winner. This book is the story of Ziggy, the youngest of the Bergmans, who, now having graduated from college and is playing for the national women's soccer team, wants to be seen as the independent woman she is, not the girl she used to be when we first met her back in book one after she had been recently diagnosed with autism and was recovering from a meltdown.

To help her on this mission, she seeks the help of Seb, the hockey player best friend of her older brother Ren who has a reputation of being a bad boy and desperately needs a reputation overhaul. Thus begins a beautiful reluctant friendship (on the part of Seb) that slowly turns into a deep, true friendship and then love.

Without going into spoilers, here's a few things I love about the book:
- slow burn love that results in some VERY steamy scenes.
- autism rep (Ziggy) and celiac rep (Seb)
- very minimal conflict between the two MCs, but rather, both Ziggy and Seb needing to deal with the conflicts they each face on their own, knowing they have the full support of the other. This is definitely a story of characters DOING THE WORK to be able to show up and be present in a loving, caring relationship.
- the banter we love in a Bergman book, with maturity mixed with antics and silliness.
- a twist on the Bergman brothers summit!!!
- Seb taking meticulous mental notes about Ziggy's preferences and interests and then bestowing the most thoughtful gifts to her.
- catching up with the rest of the Bergmans: Ren and Frankie have a larger presence in this book than other Bergmans and it is wonderful to spend some more time with them.
- a great set-up for the seventh and final book in the series, which will focus on Viggo: what the heck is he doing in Escondido??????

I could go on and on about how amazing this book is, but that would result in a novel in and of itself. Instead, I suggest you go and pick up this book and check it out for yourself.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Chloe Liese for an advance copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

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