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A review by beckyyreadss
Always Only You by Chloe Liese
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the Wilmot Sisters series and enjoyed the first book in the Bergman Brothers series. I enjoyed this book but the third act breakup and the miscommunication trope ruin this for me.
This book has two points of view. The first is Ren Bergman and from the moment he met her, he knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of hold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes his knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day they became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of the game – besides, hockey, that is. He is a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as they work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been her virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever – she's heading for bigger, better things. Ren just hope that when she leaves the team and he tells her how she feels, she won’t want to leave Ren behind, too. The second point of view is Frankie Zeferino, and she has had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six-foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. She is a grumbly grump, and his ridiculously good nature drives Frankie nuts, but even she can’t entirely ignore the hot ginger with the icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about. Before Frankie got wise, she would have tripped over herself to get a guy like Ren, but with her diagnosis, she’s learned what she is to most people in her life – a problem, not a person. Now, opening her heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing she’s prepared to do.
I enjoyed the enjoy and I still love this family. I was sort of hoping that Frankie’s cold heart would melt, and it sort of did, but she took a while to grow on me. Ren, I instantly adored, the second he enters the book. We had met him previously and I was so excited to see him again. Again, I love the representative in the book. The representation with chronic illnesses and autism especially with how Ziggy just felt lost and alone, but Frankie knew what she needed. I really enjoyed the introduction to the brothers and the family. I loved the parents; I love that they are used to being in a house with 5 boys and 2 girls that they are like right enough or I'll kick you out. I cannot wait to see more of them. I love that Aiden went to Ren to say he was in the doghouse because he was the only brother that wouldn’t kick the shit out of him and Ryder, and the others would have.
The thing that stopped it being a five-star read for me was the third act conflict that got resolved in the next chapter. Like I understand that Frankie was frustrated for being ill and Ren giving up things for Frankie and she didn’t want that, but Ren was genuinely so worried for her and caught her like did she really expect him to leave her side? Then it was all resolved by her going to therapy like it was just brushed over, like after a few weeks of talking to my therapist, I wanted the conversations with the therapist in great detail, not just brushed over. Then it was resolved within a chapter from Frankie like sorry, k cool and missed you and that’s it. All over and happy ever after. I just wanted more. How did the team react when they got together? Do they still go to team function together? How did Frankie get on at Law School?
Just from the little glimpses that we got of these brothers; I cannot wait to see more of them. I am so glad that this has been planned that every single family member to be happy especially Ziggy. I adored her and wanted her to be happy with whatever she does.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy