This book-- All the feels! It's just wonderful/amazing/grand/superior on so many levels and will be one of the favorites of the year! This is a single setting reading book as you will not want it to end and thank goodness there is a whole giant Bergman family to continue this series. The story of your life wasn't to be like this but you work and love with your heart and keep going.

Ren we meet in book one as the hot hockey playing brother and this Nordic god of a man is even better somehow with quoting Shakespeare and being in a club about it. The nerdy big man is amazing aka book boyfriend material- he is sweet, kind, helpful, swoon worthy, drives a minivan and has fallen in love with Frankie. Frankie is the teams social media manager and tries to get the men into line- she is smart, witty, dorky, sassy, resting bitch face but really big smile lady. She has autism and rheumatoid arthritis which make this story even more real- (oh, hello medical marijuana!!!). We learn of Frankie's pain and how easy it is to get sick, following how Ren takes care of her. The slow burn of their friendship moving into more after they open up and share some feelings. Finally also with some steam!

Thank you Chloe for this #ownvoice story with autism and chronic pain! She not only gives insights and personal experiences from herself and/or friends to these to tell a beautiful story that will let others understand - just even a little bit better. She also doesn't back down from hate- with her love of Harry but taking out JKR in one quote.

Overall, 5 stars and 4 steam.

I really, really enjoyed this one - I basically read it in one (very long) train ride. The slow burn was worth the wait, Ren was swoon worthy, and I think the arthritis and autism representation was well done. I was rooting for these two since the first page - I think this is my second favorite of the series (so far).

Continuing on my journey with the Bergman Brothers, I found this one so fun! Ren is the brother in question, and just so happens to be the hockey player we get to see in book 1. Then there’s Frankie, who’s the social media person for the hockey team. Obviously, anything happening between the two of them is a no - since it would go against fraternizing with a player.

Frankie also happens to have rheumatoid arthritis AND she’s autistic (though that last night she doesn’t necessarily advertise). When Frankie does finally confide in Ren, it clicks for him, as his youngest sister has autism - and when the two meet, it’s such a beautiful moment seeing his little sister finally get to be herself and find a way to adjust to her autism and not let it delay and interfere with her life.

ALSO, Ren is a total Shakespeare nerd and it’s everything. He’s a total cinnamon roll and I’m fully here for it. I laughed so much in this book. Even bit down on my nail too hard to suppress a laugh and dented my gel polish ☠️

Always Only You by Chloe Liese is a heartwarming contemporary romance and part of the Bergman Brothers series. It features a tender opposites-attract love story between Frankie, a grumpy social media manager living with autism and rheumatoid arthritis, and Ren, a cheerful hockey star. The dynamic between the two is central to the novel, with Frankie being guarded and self-protective due to her experiences with her conditions, while Ren is a patient, understanding, and undeniably smitten hero who is determined to show her that she deserves love.

Liese's representation of chronic illness and autism is one of the highlights of this story, and as an #OwnVoices author, she brings authenticity to these aspects. If you're looking for a book that tackles important themes while offering a sweet, slow-burn love story, Always Only You is a great pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

As much as I love this story, and I know how vital this romance is for many of my fellow neurodivergent, disabled friends, I had hoped that the insane number of H*rry P*tter references would have been edited out in the re-released. However, I still love Ren and Frankie and their story gives me hope. I love this grumpy girl and her sunshine boy. And their precious dog. The new content in the re-release was delightful.

3.5 stars, rounded up. I thought this was a fun book, and I adore the Berman family so much. However, I'm knocking off a star because even in the re-release, I was disappointed they did not take the time to rework all the Harry Potter references. They age the book, as well as feel awkward knowing all we do now about J.K. Rowling's beliefs. I feel this will alienate future readers who will not tolerate such oversights.

I'm so sad this book didn't work for me - after not liking the first book in this series as much as I'd hoped, I was looking forward to a fresh start with book 2. I do always appreciate Chloe Liese's representation through her characters and was interested and excited to learn that the FMC had a cane. However, I quickly became annoyed with the two main characters' connection and didn't feel like it was authentic - perhaps it was too miscommunication-y, particularly from the MMC's side. Ultimately, I decided to DNF at 18% because of these reasons and the repeated Harry Potter references, which were disappointing.

Hockey romance!? Sign me up!
I truly enjoyed this book, the autism representation was very well done and I loved the dynamic between the characters and all the sexual tension.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc!!

5/5 stars!

This was another absolutely fantastic romance from my pal Chloe! The romance was believable and lovely, and the disability and neurodivergent rep was fantastic!! I don't know what Im going to do once I'm finished this series - honestly probably start it all over again haha! Just wonderful!

Another great story by author Chloe Liese, and I’m so hooked. I love the Bergman family, and this features Frankie and Ren.

I was captivated by the story, the characters, and loved the representation of a character with autism and rheumatoid arthritis. Frankie and Ren had great chemistry, and I’m such a fan of a cinnamon roll hero.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This book stole my heart. Out of the hundreds of books I've read, there are very few book boyfriends in the same tier as Soren Bergman. A perfect man and a perfect book. This is one of my favorites books in one of my favorite series of all time.

I really enjoy the family dynamics in this series. It’s fun to get to know the family. I really, really loved the female main character in this book. I loved being in her point of view. The miscommunication part was annoying but I get why Frankie felt that way.

I feel like author Chloe Elise needs more recognition, after reading the first book in this series I was pretty much hooked on this author and this series because the Bergman family is a big, loveable mess of a family. This #OwnVoices story features an autistic heroine (the author is on the spectrum) who also has rheumatoid arthritis and a professional hockey playing hero who has secretly wanted her for 3 years but given they both work for the same team they are as forbidden as Romeo and Juliet (and to understand that reference, you must read this book). She’s his team’s social media manager, but he was willing to wait however long it took for them to be together. Blending the perfect amount of sweet, sexiness, and emotion, author Chloe Elise’s Always Only You is a perfect romance.

I adored both of these characters from the start; the seemingly grumpy, aloof, but highly capable Francesca (Frankie) and the nerdy, perpetually always smiling Ren. They seemed like polar opposites, but that doesn’t stop the attraction between them or the fact that they can’t act on it, so they form a strange friendship that has them growing closer every day.

Frankie’s autism and rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t define her character, but it does present challenges for her every day. She has worked hard to find what helps her in her daily life and she sticks to it, she is determined to live her best life and not let her inflictions dictate her life. She has close friends who understand her, she has a dog that she adores, and while she lives across the country from her family she also knows that despite their hovering they love her. She has a quick wit and despite her hard exterior, she’s got a soft underbelly she only lets very few people see.

Ren….<sigh> …he’s a good guy hero and they are seriously my crack. He’s so even keel about everything. He’s got a nerdy side despite being a well respected and talented athlete. He’s a good listener, a good leader, and always tries to do the right thing. I freaking ADORED him and the way he was bound and determined to love Frankie.

I loved watching these two together with Ren breaking down Frankie’s walls, Frankie convincing Ren that she enjoyed all of his geeky parts, and them both realizing they were safe in the company of one another. While they had a few bumps in the road, it was all for the greater good.

I was so happy we once again got to spend time with the Bergman family and how easily they accepted Frankie into their fold and more importantly how she let them. It was great to see her be a mentor for Ren’s little sister, Ziggy and while I was a bit thrown off by what happened between Freya and Aiden (Freya being Ren’s older sister and Aiden her husband who had a pretty large supporting role in the first book), I trust Ms. Elise to attack their story with the upmost care she gives all her characters.

Always Only You held me captive from start to finish, the writing was crisp, the characters likeable, the romance intense and I am so happy to have found another family series to enjoy.

Loooove the Bergman Brothers! Ren is a delightful cinnamon roll professional hockey play, and Frankie is a grumpy heroine with rheumatoid arthritis. I LOVE THE REP! Chloe includes so many different chronic illnesses and different abilities in her books, and it makes them so real.

Ren and Frankie 5eva! Seriously loved this dynamic as I'm a sucker for a grumpy sunshine trope and throw in Frankie's strong streak of independence and I was sold. Ren and Frankie have worked together for years meaning anything between them is not allowed. This doesn't prevent Ren from pining for Frankie and as situations change and they end up pushed together in their personal lives feeling start to develop. But as obstacles are thrown their way and Frankie's self sabotage streak kicks in, it'll be a bumpy ride to happy ever after.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

As a chronic ill neurodivergent woman, this book wrecked me. It’s perfect.i don’t have the words to tell you how much I love this and what it meant to see this representation.

4.5 rounded up. I was so excited for the second book in the Bergman series and it did not disappoint! I absolutely loved both Ren and Frankie and their relationship. I also continue to appreciate the representation in this series and in Chloe Liese’s books. I have yet to read other books that portray neurodivergent characters as well as characters with chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases/disorders in this way. I will continue to be a fan of Chloe’s books and can’t wait to continue this series

THE BEST Bergman book (at least so far)!

Grumpy sunshine, laugh out loud, and own voices autistic representation! The story is adorable and sweet but still charming spicy and full of chemistry.

Chloe Liese really sets the bar for romance and especially representation in romance -seriously no one is doing it like her! The stories are so earnest and honest and clearly from the heart which makes it so easy to connect to and leave a lasting impact.

These books are the ones I keep going back to and keep reading over and over again.

I LOVEDDD this book! Chloe Liese's books are always so swoony and and the representation is always amazing. Frankie and Ren were everythingggg from the first page, and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series!

REVIEW: Always Only You ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5)

“Books help me feel a bit more connected to a world that often is hard to make sense of. Books are patient with me. They don’t laugh at me instead of with me. They don’t ask why I’m “always” frowning or why I can’t sit still. Books welcome me—weirdness and all—and take me exactly as I am.”― Chloe Liese, Always Only You

Why I didn’t start this series sooner is beyond me! Always Only You is the second book in the Bergman Brothers series and didn’t disappoint. Chloe Liese builds her characters well, and I love the family she is building throughout the series.

Frankie and Ren balance each other well, which helps their chemistry. The playful banter was always cute and brought a smile to my face. I especially love that our heroine is on the spectrum. Many misconceptions exist about those on the spectrum, especially about emotions and love. Chloe did a fantastic job showing Frankie's challenges and that she is fully capable of a relationship. Representing a female on the spectrum is especially important because the media generally only shows males.

Overall, I really enjoyed Always Only You. It gave me all the feelings and spice I wanted in a romance while also giving me unique perspectives. The story drew me in quickly. I liked that Always Only You had the same feel as the first book but still had a different and unique story. I cannot wait to continue in the Bergman Brothers series!
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Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for a free advanced copy for my honest review!

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