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hsecen's review against another edition
4.0
September 2022 reread:
Still slightly irked with how quickly the major conflict gets resolved at the end but otherwise I also still really enjoy reading this book.
This was another really great addition to the series! The marriage on the rocks trope is one of my favorites; as this book even acknowledges, getting married is the end of romance books, but it’s still the beginning of a lifelong relationship for the couple, so I’m always interested to see how an established couple handles big hurdles. It’s so clear that Aiden and Freya care for each other but have grown in ways that just don’t work for their marriage. I loved all the introspection that went on throughout the book, it was very well written! And the chemistry was fantastic too! The only thing I didn’t love was the same thing from the last book - what feels like the climax, the big fight, happens sooo late in the book that I don’t feel like enough time is really given to the fallout - especially when a lot of the book already does so with smaller events. But other than that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
Still slightly irked with how quickly the major conflict gets resolved at the end but otherwise I also still really enjoy reading this book.
This was another really great addition to the series! The marriage on the rocks trope is one of my favorites; as this book even acknowledges, getting married is the end of romance books, but it’s still the beginning of a lifelong relationship for the couple, so I’m always interested to see how an established couple handles big hurdles. It’s so clear that Aiden and Freya care for each other but have grown in ways that just don’t work for their marriage. I loved all the introspection that went on throughout the book, it was very well written! And the chemistry was fantastic too! The only thing I didn’t love was the same thing from the last book - what feels like the climax, the big fight, happens sooo late in the book that I don’t feel like enough time is really given to the fallout - especially when a lot of the book already does so with smaller events. But other than that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
asmittenreader's review against another edition
4.0
This story was a bit more heartbreaking for me because I related to Aiden on so many levels!!!
This couple is having issues in their marriage, and they have to learn to communicate their deeper fears and feelings in order to mend the break. It's easier said than done when our MMC, Aiden, suffers from anxiety. Add in the fact that this couple was working towards the next step, children.
Aiden is so caught up in the next step of making children that he had a hard time performing. He didn't want to be like his dad, who he didn't really know all that well, plus he didnt want to have his child grow up in a tough financial state, so procreation was not on his list of life goals. Instead of voicing this to his wife, Freya, he kept it bottled up & tried to *fix* himself first & he put work first in order to be more financially stable.
Freya is a Bergman sister, so you know that her family is going to meddle a bit. She has loved Aiden and only Aiden. He is her best friend & partner. So when he withdraws at the talk of children, she doesn't know what to do. Her siblings help to push them together & force them to talk whilst on a family vacation.
I liked the realism of this story.
The hard-hitting topics of marriage, children, anxiety, etc. These topics are applicable to my everyday life, and I would normally be like *GET OUTTA MY HEAD* but I needed this story this week.
I needed the reminder that my husband is my partner & friend. He wants to be able to carry my burdens with me. Neither of us are going this alone
This couple is having issues in their marriage, and they have to learn to communicate their deeper fears and feelings in order to mend the break. It's easier said than done when our MMC, Aiden, suffers from anxiety. Add in the fact that this couple was working towards the next step, children.
Aiden is so caught up in the next step of making children that he had a hard time performing. He didn't want to be like his dad, who he didn't really know all that well, plus he didnt want to have his child grow up in a tough financial state, so procreation was not on his list of life goals. Instead of voicing this to his wife, Freya, he kept it bottled up & tried to *fix* himself first & he put work first in order to be more financially stable.
Freya is a Bergman sister, so you know that her family is going to meddle a bit. She has loved Aiden and only Aiden. He is her best friend & partner. So when he withdraws at the talk of children, she doesn't know what to do. Her siblings help to push them together & force them to talk whilst on a family vacation.
I liked the realism of this story.
The hard-hitting topics of marriage, children, anxiety, etc. These topics are applicable to my everyday life, and I would normally be like *GET OUTTA MY HEAD* but I needed this story this week.
I needed the reminder that my husband is my partner & friend. He wants to be able to carry my burdens with me. Neither of us are going this alone
mariettula's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 humming stars
Ah, Aiden and Freya. We meet this couple in the first book of the series, [b:Only When It's Us|52949964|Only When It's Us (Bergman Brothers, #1)|Chloe Liese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586046488l/52949964._SY75_.jpg|76630157], where Aiden plays matchmaker to Ryder and Willa. Their playful dynamic is already established there, but you don't need to have read the previous books in the series to read this one (though I recommend it, especially book 1).
This is a marriage on the rocks, sorta second chance romance. And it is beautifully written and very realistic IMO.
Aiden ...I loved Aiden. That isn't to say he didn't make mistakes or that his anxiety excuses his miscommunication with Freya. But his background and his mental health certainly provide some allowances. Aiden is what you want in a husband. Apart from the six difficult months this couple went through before the start of this book, everything before and after shows Aiden's commitment and love to Freya. Just...everything about his anxieties, his fears, and his insecurities rang so true.
Freya ...I also really liked Freya. It's difficult for me, because in my eyes, Aiden steals this book, but Freya was a very cool character in her own right. Can't say she's my favorite Bergman necessarily, but she has her fun moments.
The way marriage is handled in this book feels very authentic and self-aware. There will be struggles, but you can see them through by communicating and changing your expectations as you both change as people. I felt amazing to have characters have not ONE moment of realization, but several, that helped them understand where they might have misstepped or how they might do better in the future.
I will add, I also liked how meddlesome the Bergmans were, although I really did not like that prank the twins tried to pull. I thought they left them off the hook for that way too quickly.
Ah, Aiden and Freya. We meet this couple in the first book of the series, [b:Only When It's Us|52949964|Only When It's Us (Bergman Brothers, #1)|Chloe Liese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586046488l/52949964._SY75_.jpg|76630157], where Aiden plays matchmaker to Ryder and Willa. Their playful dynamic is already established there, but you don't need to have read the previous books in the series to read this one (though I recommend it, especially book 1).
This is a marriage on the rocks, sorta second chance romance. And it is beautifully written and very realistic IMO.
Aiden ...I loved Aiden. That isn't to say he didn't make mistakes or that his anxiety excuses his miscommunication with Freya. But his background and his mental health certainly provide some allowances. Aiden is what you want in a husband. Apart from the six difficult months this couple went through before the start of this book, everything before and after shows Aiden's commitment and love to Freya. Just...everything about his anxieties, his fears, and his insecurities rang so true.
Freya ...I also really liked Freya. It's difficult for me, because in my eyes, Aiden steals this book, but Freya was a very cool character in her own right. Can't say she's my favorite Bergman necessarily, but she has her fun moments.
The way marriage is handled in this book feels very authentic and self-aware. There will be struggles, but you can see them through by communicating and changing your expectations as you both change as people. I felt amazing to have characters have not ONE moment of realization, but several, that helped them understand where they might have misstepped or how they might do better in the future.
I will add, I also liked how meddlesome the Bergmans were, although I really did not like that prank the twins tried to pull. I thought they left them off the hook for that way too quickly.
melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This reminded me a lot of Tessa Bailey's 'Love her or lose her'. A romance novel without the 'meet cute' or getting to know each other parts because the main couple are already married and having to become more vulnerable to understand why things are falling apart. (also some of the 'playlist' songs at the start of the chapters are really my jam, particularly Orla Gartland, Dodie and Ben Platt, you're speaking my language Ms Liese)
jessiejoelle's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
bethanylou's review against another edition
3.0
3.5!!! It’s more than a three but wasn’t quite good enough for me to give it a 4 compared to others in the same genre that I’ve rated 4.
I am not a fan of second chance romances most of the time but I did enjoy this and thought the story was a good one. I just wish that more of the book was when they were in Hawaii!!!
I love the Bergman family and their connections/relationships and will be getting the rest to read!!!
I am not a fan of second chance romances most of the time but I did enjoy this and thought the story was a good one. I just wish that more of the book was when they were in Hawaii!!!
I love the Bergman family and their connections/relationships and will be getting the rest to read!!!
bibliokayla's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whitebear08's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
lemonrain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.25
alexandra_ninelives's review against another edition
2.0
Now it’s official… I don’t like this author’s style. I won’t be reading any more of her books.