I love Chloe Liese and If Only You is the sixth book in the Bergman Brothers series so I was excited to read it! It quickly became one of my favorites of the whole series - after five books already it is hard to keep the momentum going but she doesn’t does. I loved the romance between the main characters they had so much chemistry and while some tropes get predictable it didn’t even matter to me. Also the secondary characters were just fantastic as well and really added to the story. I will be purchasing for our library and for sure recommend!

Chloe Liese's Bergman Brothers series can't miss! I love this whole family, I've loved every one of these books and I will read any more she writes in the future!! Definitely recommend!

By the time I finished the first chapter of If Only You by Chloe Liese, I knew I had found that elusive treasure – a new to me author whose book had solidly hooked me right from the start and who had a decent backlist that, if the book continued in the fashion it had started, would give me more reading material to glom. If Only You is the sixth book in the author’s Bergman Brothers series, about a Swedish-American family with seven siblings. First published in the spring of 2023, a new paperback edition is being released in February 2024 which is how this book got brought to my attention (as well as the placement of several of the author’s other books on the Spicy #Booktok table at my local bookstore). I’m not one of those who needs to read a series in order (unless a specific worldbuilding arc requires it) and the book is written well as a standalone. And indeed, by the time I finished it, I knew I had a strong contender for one of my favorite books of the year (and immediately went and acquired the first five books in the series!). Also timely is the recently posted AAR blog regarding ‘bad boys’ in romance and whether they are still popular – I can assure you that the bad boy in this romance definitely had my attention.

Sigrid ‘Ziggy’ Bergman is the youngest of the Bergman siblings and still gets treated like the baby of the family. Her autism diagnosis affects her comfort in specific social situations, though when she’s playing soccer, her focus on the game makes the crowds disappear. What she does have a problem with is still being put at the children’s table with her niece during family gatherings and the tendency of her family to shield her from important conversations. Determined to make them notice that she’s a fully functioning adult, she comes up with a plan that will definitely make them give her a second look. Especially since it involves her brother Ren’s best friend and hockey teammate Sebastian Gauthier whose public image is in dire need of a makeover.

Seb’s hockey career and reputation are on the skids. Poor decisions, too much drinking, and a health problem he’s been reluctant to address are all contributing to his downward slide. What could be better than taking up Ziggy’s offer of pretending they are friends to get the paparazzis’ cameras pointing in a new direction? Ziggy wants to tone down her angelic reputation and being seen with this hockey bad boy will certainly do that. And for Seb, pretending to be happy with the sweet and shy Ziggy certainly isn’t going to hurt him. Surprising both of them, pretending to be friends actually turns quickly into a real friendship, cemented by their ability to confide in each other things they’ve never told anyone else. And the attraction between them becomes hard to deny. Will their fake friendship turn into a real relationship?

Swoonworthy, slow burn romance for the win! I alternated between speeding up and slowing down and rereading passages as this story progressed, which is – for me - an indication of the best kind of read. Sebastian is a hero worthy of redemption, at his heart a caring and generous man even if he doesn’t do a good job of showing it to more people. He admits his faults readily to Ziggy, and in pouring out to her the truth of past behaviour that he’s ashamed of, he gives himself a chance to be redeemed. Ziggy doesn’t blink an eye at the revelations he shares, only points out to him that making amends is not just for the people he’s harmed, but also for himself. In return Sebastian sees the side of Ziggy that her family doesn’t, the strong-willed, serious person who is capable of making her own decisions, and whose autism doesn’t define her. The growth of the characters throughout the story is authentic and believable. The steamy sexual tension between Ziggy and Sebastian proceeds in a delicious fashion culminating in a worth-the-wait encounter and an honest accounting of their feelings for each other.

Secondary characters are equally important to the story, as is often found in sibling series. I liked all of the Bergmans and the different relationships between the siblings, which adds a lot of humour to the book. The autism representation is authentic as the author is neurodivergent and credits The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (also well loved at AAR for its #ownvoices representation) for helping her recognize in herself some of the characteristics that Stella, the heroine of that book possessed. And Sebastian’s health diagnosis (which I won’t reveal) is also well treated. Honestly, from start to finish, If Only You was a fantastic read and I’m excited to read more about this family and more from this author!

ANOTHER HOCKEY PLAYER?? Chloe Liese is not only an incredible author, but SHE GIVES THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT. I know people are annoyed by booktok encouraging authors to throw a million tropes in their books, but this book was trope-topia and it was still SO. GOOD. Give Chloe Liese a trope and she will write it backwards forwards and sideways and Make! It! Work! I adored Ziggy and Seb, even though at times they were so sappy and sweet I felt like I was going to get a toothache. They're so so silly together, such a pair at odds with each other, and yet they just work incredibly well together. Ziggy's excitement at things Seb took for granted was giving billionaire romance, and Seb's curiosity at Ziggy's close knit family and artisan baked goods was sooo small town romance. The vibes in this book shouldn't work because they're so opposite, but somehow they do! I adored this opposites-attract, grumpy sunshine, fake dating, etc, etc, book, because I love a good trope (or ten) done well.

LOVED this book! Ziggy felt like such a realized character, with a completely believable problem -- being one of the babies in the family, especially as a woman, can mean that you're often overlooked and still treated like a kid. Sebastian was such a goner for her from the beginning, which is exactly my jam. Love when a man is convinced he's no good for her and she gets to show him that actually, he is, and actually, it's her decision anyway.

As a celiac, I related to Seb's health issues even though my presentation of celiac is different than his. But that's usually how it works! Health and disability can be different for everyone, even with the same diagnosis.

Love these two together. Bergmans forever.

By the time I finished the first chapter of If Only You by Chloe Liese, I knew I had found that elusive treasure – a new to me author whose book had solidly hooked me right from the start and who had a decent backlist that, if the book continued in the fashion it had started, would give me more reading material to glom. If Only You is the sixth book in the author’s Bergman Brothers series, about a Swedish American family with 7 siblings. First published in the spring of 2023, a new paperback edition is being released in February 2024 which is how this book got brought to my attention (as well as the placement of several of the author’s other books on the Spicy #Booktok table at my local bookstore). I’m not one of those who needs to read a series in order (unless a specific worldbuilding arc requires it) and the book is written well as a standalone. And indeed, by the time I finished the book, I knew I had a strong contender for one of my favorite books of the year (and immediately went and acquired the first five books in the series!). Also timely is the recently posted AAR blog regarding ‘bad boys’ in romance and whether they are still popular – I can assure you that the bad buy in this romance definitely had my attention.

Sigrid ‘Ziggy’ Bergman is the youngest of the Bergman siblings and still gets treated like the baby of the family. Her autism diagnosis affects her comfort in specific social situations, though when she’s playing soccer her focus on the game makes the crowds disappear. What she does have a problem with is still being put at the children’s table with her niece during family gatherings and the tendency of her family to shield her from important conversations. Determined to make them notice that she’s a fully functioning adult, she comes up with a plan that will definitely make them give her a second look. Especially since it involves her brother Ren’s best friend and hockey teammate Sebastian Gauthier whose current reputation is in dire need of a makeover.

Seb’s hockey career and reputation are on the skids. Poor decisions, too much drinking, and a health problem he’s been reluctant to address are all contributing to his downward slide. What could be better than taking up Ziggy’s offer of pretending they are friends to get the paparazzis’ tongues wagging in a new direction? Ziggy wants to tone down her angelic reputation and being seen with this hockey bad boy would certainly do that. And for Seb, pretending to be happy with the sweet and shy Ziggy certainly isn’t going to hurt him. Surprising both of them, pretending to be friends actually turns quickly into a real friendship, cemented by their ability to confide in each other things they’ve never told other people. And the attraction between them becomes hard to deny. Will their fake friendship turn into a real relationship?

Swoonworthy, slow burn romance for the win! I alternated between speeding up and slowing down and rereading passages as this story progressed, which is an indication for me of the best kind of read. Sebastian is a hero worthy of redemption, at his heart a caring and generous man even if he doesn’t do a good job of showing it to more people. He admits his faults readily to Ziggy, and in pouring out to her the truth of his past behaviour that he’s ashamed of, he gives himself a chance to be redeemed. Ziggy doesn’t blink an eye at the revelations he shares, only points out to him that making amends is not just for the people he’s harmed, but also for himself. In return Sebastian sees the side of Ziggy that her family doesn’t, the strong-willed, serious person who is capable of making her own decisions, and whose autism doesn’t define her. The growth of the characters throughout the story is authentic and believable. The steamy sexual tension between Ziggy and Sebastian proceeds in a delicious fashion culminating in a ‘worth the wait’ encounter and an honest accounting of their feelings for each other.

Secondary characters are equally important to the story as is often found in sibling series. I like all of the Bergmans and the different relationships between the siblings, which adds a lot of humour to the book. The autism representation is authentic as the author herself has neurodivergent issues and credits The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (also well loved at AAR for its #ownvoices representation) for helping her recognize in herself some of the characteristics that Stella, the heroine of The Kiss Quotient had. And Sebastian’s health diagnosis (which I won’t reveal as a spoiler) is also well treated. Honestly, from start to finish this was a fantastic read and I’m excited to read more about this family and more from this author!

This review will be posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link.

I will start by saying that I can't wait to go back and read the rest of the books in this series. I loved this book and Ziggy and Sebastian are very relatable. Ziggy is the baby of the family, and she still sits at the children's table. Her brother's best friend has a bad boy reputation that needs a reboot. Ziggy comes up with the idea that they could help each other out.
Sebastian is hesitant at first because she is his best friend's little sister. Ziggy is not one to want the spotlight and hanging out with Sebastian is just what happens. She brings out the softer side of him and she defends him when people tell her that he can't change. They learn a lot about each other when they sign up for angry yoga. I loved everything about this book. You are pulling for them the entire story and I love how she knows that he is not the person everyone thinks he is.
I will be recommending that we order this whole series for my library. My patrons will love this!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this as an arc!

This was so great I loved Seb. I loved his journey, I loved his issues. I loved his connection with ziggy and his relationship to her whole big strange family.

Chloe Liese's Wilmot Sisters books were fantastic so I decided to try her Bergman Bros series but I was disappointed in this one. It started off great and I was anticipating a pretty steamy, "friends" to lovers read but it was a bit lacking in the romance department. Ziggy was supposed to be using Sebastian as a way to come out of her shell and prove to her siblings that she was a grown woman capable of taking care of herself but other than the one party she went to this plot seemed to fall by the wayside. Ziggy was supposedly neurodivergent but I felt this was more explained than shown. I didn't get that from the character I was reading about. Sebastian, on the other hand, was supposed to be cleaning up his act by befriending Ziggy, while dealing with a digestive disease. It was a weak premise, but I thought Sebastian and Ziggy had great potential and the chemistry was there in the beginning but kind of died off as the book went on and by the time they had sex (way at the end of the book) I just didn't feel any connection between them and I didn't care for these sex scenes at all. I also got a little tired of hearing about the gluten-free foods. It was important to the characters but it was mentioned way too often and just became annoying. There was also a six month time jump at the end, which just seemed out of place, along with a "theatre club" which didn't fit Sebastian's character at all. I don't know, this one just didn't work for me, but I think people who have fallen in love with this quirky, Swedish family will love this and enjoy it a lot more than I did. Now I will read Only and Forever to give the Bergman's another shot! 2 stars. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️ 3🌶️

“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. I’m not fixed, I’m not perfect. But I do love you with all of my heart Ziggy. With every broken part of it that I’m piecing back together”

I feel like every book in this series is my new favorite but Ziggy was certainly my most anticipated one along with Viggo’s and it did not disappoint. It’s definitely in my top 3 because her character growth was so damn amazing!! In fact, both main characters had such growth throughout the series and they complimented each other and their personalities so well 🥹

He dressed up as her favorite “villain” from one of her books. WINGS AND EVERYTHING!!!! Like do I need to say anything more?? Oh yeah… he also took her to a bookstore after hours to buy her anything she wanted and on top of that gave her such an ✨orgasmic✨ experience while there!! Their meet cute has got to be one of my favorites, even tho they already knew each other through Ren.

I loved every second of it so much. I loved the fact that Sebastian used toys, and Ziggy’s inner dom coming out at the cabin… boy oh boy pls Madame walk me like the dog I am 😮‍💨😮‍💨

Chloe’s books all have excellent representation but she did absolutely amazing with the autism rep in this one. She had been building Ziggy’s character for so long and to finally get to see her turned into the amazing woman she is felt so satisfactory, like watching my best friend grow throughout the years!!

I desperately want a second generation series for all the siblings 😭

“Doesn’t he already know, I’d wait for as long as he asked me”

PLEASE READ THIS SERIES IMMEDIATELY!!!

I don't think it is possible for Chloe Liese to write a book that I don't think is perfect in every way. This is maybe not my favorite book of this series (it will take a lot to remove Always Only You from that top spot), but this is a great book by any definition and I loved every moment of it.

While true of all Chloe Liese books, the representation in this book is so well done (bi FMC, pan MMC, autism rep, celiac rep) and interwoven with great plotlines, characters, and with the added bonus of no second act breakup. Both characters and plot are so well written that I am happy to live in this world and watch them grown and flourish. This book don't shy away from bigger issues while still maintaining that warm happy feeling I'm craving when I pick up one of her books.

On a personal note - as always thank you Chloe for writing and representing neurodivergent and queer characters and showing not just their struggles but their joy and love. I always get choked up seeing myself in so many of your characters.

This is has gotten a rerelease through Berkley after being self-published and I am so glad! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this.

Chloe Liese does it again! Ziggy and Sebastian have an amazing romance which begins as "fake" friendship which turns into real friendship complete with some FWB moments and ends with a relationship. As always, there's neurodivergent representation with Ziggy's autism and anxiety and there's Celiac representation in Sebastian, as well as the depiction of someone grappling with their diagnosis and the life change that has to occur. Sebastian goes on a journey to reform for himself and for Ziggy and it was beautiful to see. I also love this series because there's a focus on all kinds of love - platonic, familial, and romantic. Love bursts through the pages of any Bergman family novel and I am so grateful for it. Oh and Ziggy is a total bookworm and the not-so-secret Shakespeare society makes an appearance.

Elin, the Bergman matriarch says something like, "The people who are important to my kids are important to me - they are family." And that is just so real and true. To have parents who see it that way, to expand their hearts in that way, it is beautiful.

Read if you want bi/pansexual rep, neurodivergent rep, sports romance (soccer and hockey), Celiac disease rep, he falls first, friends to lovers, slow burn (reasonable page count though!), and for spicy scenes - there's some light dom/sub stuff dare i say and butt stuff!!
CW: substance abuse recovery, abusive/neglectful parents

4.75 rounded up

continue books from Liese from the good Bergman Brothers series, steamy and always thoughtful especially on neurodivergance

This book was pretty solid, in my opinion. So what did I think?

I quite like Ziggy. She's smart, talented and determined. Also, willing to do break and enter to make a point. lol! Sebastian needs his reputation saved and Ziggy needs to get out in the public eye, learn to appear confident, and have just a dash of 'scandal' to offset her saint like status and get some media attention to help her career as a soccer player. So Ziggy offers him a solution, they'll pretend to be friends. Her determination pays off and he agrees. But Ziggy's also like her brother, Ren, realizing that Sebastian isn't the horrible human being that he presents to the world. That underneath his cold and indifferent exterior he's actually a kind but wounded soul. Someone who needs people in his corner. Both he and Ziggy are denying that they feel something for each other at first and slowly over time their friendship becomes real, until both of them finally want something more. Bless Sebastian for being determined to become a better person and work on himself before he lets them take that leap though.

For people who are looking for spice...there was some but its not the most detailed and after the first couple of 'runs,' shall we say, earlier in the book, it kind of feels a little bit like the final scenes are a rushed after thought. I actually think the book would have been better off without it.

And the recurring theme of a dishwashing man made it into this book as well. That's every book of this series I've read so far!

Conclusion

All in all, another really good book with the recurring "ooo a man is doing the dishes" scene. I could have done without the last bit of spice just because it felt rushed to me. But I really liked Ziggy and Seb. I thought they made a great couple and complemented each other. I loved how Seb is trying to make amends with people he knows he's wronged.

This was a decent addition to the series. These two seem like a pretty healthy couple, which is nice to see. However, it also makes them kind of boring. The lead up to them getting together was pretty long. I also felt like it ended rather abruptly. Perhaps more is coming in the next installment.

I love the way Chloe Liese creates characters with real life issues. It was fascinating to have the alternating voice of Ziggy in this book to show the emotional growth of the "baby" in the family. This one, in particular, felt the most connected to the rest of the Bergman family stories, with exception to the first in the series that was introducing all the characters. I love the redemption of the "bad boy" and the growth that happens from healing childhood traumas through counseling.

This was just okay.. unfortunately I have not found a book I like by this author. Nothing really resonated with me.

Chloe Liese has done it again! Every single one of her books is exquisitely written, has the best banter, and makes me giggle and cry at the same time.
Read if you like:
- found family
- angst
- mental and physical health rep

Loved this book. I loved the way both characters were represented. While I understand Chloe Liese's desire to have her readers live in the moment with these characters and to only know about them what they let the other characters see, I do wish that more of the character development and emotional work would have been done "on stage". Also as other reviewers have said Seb's discovery of his celiac disease and how it is dealt with is a little cavalier. For example, the way Frankie's autism and RA, and Roonies IBS are dealt with in previous books of this series feels much more representative of how these chronic illnesses can influence a person's daily life choices. However, that 2nd epilogue really saved all that for me.

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

The Bergman Brothers series is like a hot chocolate on a chilly day... each book has not failed to deliver all the warm and cozy feels. IF ONLY YOU is my second favorite novel of this series (after Oliver and Gavin's book). It has the fake dating, sports romance, bad boy/good girl, and opposites attract tropes. I loved Ziggy and Sebastian's chemistry. And the updated cover is to die for! Seriously so beautiful.