I normally really like marriage in trouble and was told by multiple people that this was the best one of the series. Given that I’m 3 starring this book, I have to admit failure and I just don’t think this author is for me. There are some things I appreciated about the book, like how Aiden’s anxiety was depicted, how that played into his sex drive, and the on page therapy. In fact, I wish there had been more on page therapy instead of Bergman family high jinks on their big family trip to Hawaii. Honestly, if Oliver and Viggo are this annoying as supporting characters, I can’t imagine how they’ll be as the stars of their own books. I just think this book needed to focus more on the 2 MCs and their marriage issues and had too many other things going on with Freya’s family and Aiden’s dad surprise - it felt like a distraction from the main focus of the book.

Content warnings: injury while hiking, marital issues, abandoned by father

4.5⭐️

Ever After Always is the third book of The Bergman Brothers series of interconnected standalones. This was my first marriage in crisis romance and I’m so glad I read it! Aiden wants to give Freya everything he possibly can but the thing she wants most…a baby. He wants to give her a baby but needs to make sure everything is set financially for them. Freya knows Aiden is throwing everything into his work and feels like he is pulling away from her and their marriage. She did get on my nerves a bit by blaming him for everything wrong in their marriage. My heart broke finding out Aiden’s past and his struggles with anxiety. This was a beautifully written story about the struggles of marriage that is very realistic! I felt all the emotions while reading this book. I loved getting more of the Bergman family and can’t wait to read Axel’s story!

Freya and Aiden have been happily married for almost 10 years, until the stress of starting a family and finding financial security causes them to lose touch. After 6 months of making herself emotionally numb, Freya kicks out Aiden with the ultimatum to shape up and fix their relationship, or go their separate ways. Struggling with his severe anxiety, childhood trauma, and fear of being a burden, Aiden feels as if Freya’s outburst is out of left field - leading to a come to Jesus moment in couple’s therapy. Once Freya and Aiden decide to give their marriage a second chance, they’re surprised with a week long trip to Hawaii for the Bergman parents’ anniversary. How will Freya hide their crumbling relationship from her parents and will Aiden finally choose love over work?

I haven’t read very many second chance romances, but this is such a realistic, emotional take on how people can become complacent in marriage. Aiden pulls away from Freya out of the fear she’ll see him as broken or burdensome regarding his generalized anxiety and concern for failing. I appreciated that the author didn’t choose to have Freya become pregnant before, during, or recently after working on their marriage. It was so nice to not see a child being used as a bandaid for a relationship, and I think the book was very mature and open during the emotional aspects. I think this is the best of the Bergman Brothers books so far, and I love all the representation Chloe Liese includes in her writing. If you’re looking for older MCs, a realistic long term relationship that isn’t perfect, and a great story, Ever After Always is the one for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Romance, and the author for providing an early copy, I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

This book has been out a few years, but is getting rereleased by the looks of it.

I want to say that I loved this book, but I can't lie. I will admit that for the first half of the book, I nearly gave up - so many times - but I am glad I perservered.

Let's start with Freya. I have many thoughts on Freya, and for most of the book they aren't good. The is a selfish, self-serving princess who I really disliked. I said as I was reading "gees Freya, get over yourself. No wonder your hubby isn't getting over you!"

I understood her frustration and hurt, I did. However the way she acted took away any and all sympathy I had for her.

Some of her comments, like how she abstractly understood Aiden's feelings because he was poor as he grew up? So cringe.

She did get a lot better in the last 25% of the book, but it was a hard slog getting to there.

I hurt for Aiden, even though he also had his problematic behaviours. I got him more than I got her.

I enjoyed (for the most part) the rest of the Bergman family and their significant others, and I will go back and read book 2

Ever After Always is the third installment in The Bergman Brothers series and follows the story of Freya and Aiden. Once upon a time, Freya and Aiden had a romance unlike any other, but somewhere along the way, the spark died. Aiden is quiet and withdrawn. It’s like an ocean is between them. Unbeknownst to Freya, Aiden feels like he has the world on his shoulders, trying to provide a stable and enjoyable life for them. And when his anxiety hits an all-time high, Aiden doesn’t know how to change the path his life is taking.

As someone who suffers from generalized anxiety, I loved seeing a character with this type of anxiety being represented. I found Aiden easy to connect with and understood all the quirks and worries he had. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Freya. On one hand, I completely understood her fears and where she was coming from, but on the other, I felt like she was making very little effort to fix her marriage. Don’t get me wrong, Aiden had his faults and made his fair share of mistakes, but he was giving his all in trying to fix his marriage. Grand gesture after grand gesture. He would do anything to make his wife happy. And I just didn’t feel the same level of commitment coming from Freya.

Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. I thought the premise of the story was great. I appreciated the struggles Freya and Aiden experienced and even though I had felt a lot of frustration with this book, I’m still glad to have checked it out.

A marriage-in-crisis rekindles its passion in this second chance romance about going the distance to make love last. Freya Bergman has spent a dozen years loving Aiden and never thought they’d find their marriage on the rocks. He’s her partner and best friend, the person she knows she can count on most. Until one day Freya realizes the man she married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the growing distance between them becomes too much to bear. Aiden would spend a dozen lifetimes making his wife happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing he’s not sure he can give her: a baby. With the pressure of providing and planning for a family, his anxiety is at an all-time high. They’re drifting apart and he doesn’t know how to change the tide. As if weathering marriage counseling wasn’t enough, Freya and Aiden are thrown together for a Bergman family island getaway. Will this trip help them finally work through their trouble in paradise, or be the final wave that tows them under?

I will start by saying, I didn't realize this was the third book in the Bergmen Brothers series. But with that said, you can read it on its own. Trying to keep all the secondary characters straight might be a little overwhelming. I know I did! Besides that, this book was so beautiful and super emotional. It is a testament of how much communication is key in relationships. Don't read if your mental health isn't in a good state! I know it was giving me some residual anxiety. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, I felt this was a great representation of what goes on in a person's head with these conditions. The constant inner voice that won't STFU! Man did I feel seen. The Bergman family as a whole was just so precious. The way they tried to help Adien even though he was the "outsider" of the family was so. nice. I feel like a lot of families wouldn't go that far. Needless to say, I will definitely be going back to the beginning of the series to see how the rest of the Begman's stories pan out!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 1/2

In all honesty, marriage-on-the-rocks, and miscommunication tropes are my least favorite romance stories. However, I have to give credit where it is due to Chloe Liese because Aiden is just that great.

Aiden and Freya have been together for a long time and they never thought that they'd have marriage problems. Unfortunately, Aiden is acting distant and secretive, and obsessed with work. Freya is at her wit's end, and kicks him out of the house. Aiden and Freya start marriage counseling, and agree to work through their issues. They both have to pretend everything is fine on a family vacation celebrating the anniversary of Freya's parents, which might not help their relationship. Aiden is struggling with his general anxiety disorder and his anxieties about having enough money for a baby, and Freya has been keeping her real feelings to herself. When a bombshell is dropped on Aiden, and Freya keeps a secret, can they two work through their issues, or is ten years of loving each other not enough to hold them together?

I've enjoyed all of the Bergman Brothers books that I've read, and this one is no exception. The characters have depth, the personal issues they face seem realistic, and the ending is always happily ever after with the knowledge that love takes effort. This is a great marriage-in-crisis/second chance romance novel, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who already likes Chloe Leise or is looking for a book with these tropes.

Short Synopsis: Freya and Aiden have been married for 10 years, and they have to face the fact that their marriage is crumbling. Planning a wedding anniversary trip to celebrate her parents, Freya and Aiden try to hide their problems from the family. But family always knows best.

My thoughts: I've been married for almost 17 years, and while marriage and my husband is the best experience I've ever had, there are definitely times when it's harder than others. Marriage takes work, love, compassion, understanding, and above all else communication.

I felt like the author took the idea of how important communication is in this book, and helped the reader to see how it affected a seemingly strong couple. They faced some serious challenges for sure; infertility, past trauma and money problems, and issues at work, but I loved how they worked through therapy to find a happy medium and learn to talk through and understand each other better.

I just love the Bergman family, and how Chloe writes representation into her books. She makes each person and their problems so realistic and relatable. And seeing characters from past and future stories is always a delight.

Read if you love:
- Marriage in crisis
- Second chance romance
- Interconnected series
- Family vacations
- Therapy

This one is unfortunately a miss for me. I think the biggest issue for me is the author missing the impact of poverty trauma. while it's very easy to write off as being overly cautious or frugal, this is something that's a real issue for many. I found Freya absolutely unwilling to understand his aspect. Even if her dad wasn't a doctor, being able to afford so many children shows how well off her family is. It felt like Aiden was expected to just forget all his childhood struggles and be more like her.

This series does not disappoint! I have loved reading each of the sibling’s stories. They are great romance novels. I highly recommend this series!

I've been married for 18 years this month and I have to tell myself often that all marriages take work. With infertility and anxiety issues thrown at their relationship, EVER AFTER ALWAYS is that reminder to never stop communicating. Freya and Aiden are at that breaking point and this is their story of how to move forward and re-build what was lost. I also loved the role that therapy played in their decisions and also the Bergman family's advice and tactics to help them both. Whether you are married, dating, or currently single, their story is relatable on some level.

Thanks to @netgalley @berkleyromance for the advance read of the re-publication.

Like I said before - Chloe Liese can do a so no wrong! Being able to re-read this one was incredible. I loved being able to spend time again with Aiden and Freya. The bonus epilogue was the cherry on already spectacular story.

I love a marriage in crisis! Or reading about one anyway. I loved how the Bergman crew shifted to a different setting for this story so we don’t get stuck in the same LA area for all of these books. I loved that Freya and Aiden had to work through all their communication issues. There were tough moments, but overall I think this book really highlighted the importance of communication for a healthy relationship so we can all relate to Freya and Aiden in this way.

This book is so powerful in the way that the characters fight for their marriage. You can feel the love they share, but totally understand how they ended up where they are. Sometimes life seems to take over and we think we're doing the right thing for the right reasons, but our partner needs to have to say too.

I think this book will resonate with a lot of people that have experienced some form of marital discord, anxiety in any of its many forms, and finding your way back to the person you want to be with the person you want to be with.

Aiden and Freya are two of my favorite characters in this series so far. They're so relatable and I was cheering them on the whole time. I loved how the family members rallied around them to help save their marriage and those were some of the best parts. The Bergman's are a very special family and I can't wait for the next brother's story!!

Have you entered your marriage in crisis era yet? If not, you’re MISSING OUT and also this book right here will solve all of your problems!!!

I was rooting for Freya and Aiden to work it out, TO JUST TALK DAMMIT!!! With wonderful discussions on body positivity as well as depression anxiety rep, this book is angsty and heartfelt and oh so good. This book takes us on a Bergman family vacation which I wanted to join so badly. If you're looking for an easy-to-fly-through slow burn second-chance romance, I definitely recommend this one <3<3<3

I was lucky enough to win an eARC of EVER AFTER ALWAYS by Chloe Liese through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for the early look, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

This is a marriage in trouble book, which is not my favorite trope. It always starts with a lot of hurt and I also can't really relate to this trope.
But if anyone can make me love a marriage in trouble book it is Chloe Liese. The main characters as well as the side characters are great. It has excellent mental health representation. And last but not least all the Bergman family goodness!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The tender angst of this book is unmatched. The care Chloe walked Aiden's anxiety, the marriage in trouble and so many heavy topics, all with that Bergman humor, a beautiful family, and hot shower sex.

I liked this one and the anxiety rep was nice. I think I've only read one other cishet marriage crisis story and this was much better than that one, but a few things still irked me.

The first was their definition of sex. I'm really exhausted by the "penis and vagina = sex" and that's it idea. Their therapist told them no sex and because they didn't have penetrative sex but did all sorts of other sex, they figured it was fine. That's frustrating and super patriarchal and annoying.

I also got annoyed at how cavalier Freya was about Aidan's emotions and anxiety at times. I get that people get frustrated and marriage is hard, but Jesus, give the man a break. Poverty is traumatic and it's not so simple to get over the mindset of where the next meal is coming from or how to afford having a child.

Beyond that, this was fine, but I think I'm done with allocishet stories for quite awhile.