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condls27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
5.0
This book ripped my heart out of my chest, stomped on it and then lovingly put it back together with the upmost gentle care. I’ll never get over this book and it’s only the beginning!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexism
kkatelynelizabeth1's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Terminal illness
bookieboogie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
teeclecticreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ll start by saying that I think it’s really amazing that Chloe Liese not only listened to what her supporters had to say about the way the deaf rep was handled in the first writing of the book, but was proactive enough to make edits and release a completely new and improved version with changes made to better reflect accuracy with the deaf experience. That alone gets so many points in my book.
I love that deafness isn’t seen as a thing to be pitied or as a burden. Everyone in Ryder’s life was accommodating of his needs, whether by being mindful of speaking clearly where he can see to read their lips, or asking if he preferred to type or text when he began his journey with hearing aids. It may be a small thing to others, but those of us with disabilities know that these are the most meaningful ways that people can show us that they care.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and while I do love the progression they had, there were so many areas of miscommunication that I wasn’t a fan of. From Aiden being dismissive about Ryder’s choices regarding his disability and putting him in an uncomfortable situation unbeknownst to him, to Willa being upset and hypocritical that he didn’t share aspects of his disability with her. Please remember that disabled people do not owe you information about their disability.
I have to be honest, Willa annoyed me quite a few times while reading this. It’s wild to me that she was hiding so much from Ryder and had the balls to get upset at him for doing the same. Also, Ryder’s friends shaving his beard while he was sleeping felt like a huge violation of person to me. I know if it were me we’d be fighting for suuurreee.
Despite all that, it was still a lovely read. The banter between the two was fun, the Bergmans were a delight to meet and Rooney is one of the best fictional best friends I’ve had the pleasure to read about. She reminds me a little of myself too because I’m very confrontational.
I’m looking forward to reading about Ren and Frankie next ☺️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
georgia_sara93's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Willa has never met someone so rude as Ryder. Their lecturer instructs her to get the class notes of him, but he won’t give her a chance to grab them. She’s busy training as a hopeful professional soccer player, balancing college and spending time with her unwell mum. As things progress miscommunications become clearer and completely valid and so do connections progress.
Ooft! This is cute, cute, cute!!!! The relationship? Beautiful! The miscommunication trope? Actually well done for a change! The diversity? Loved it! If you’re looking for your next diverse romance author - I think Liese seems to be where it’s at! Thank you so much my friend for getting me to read this one already for my 12 books recommended by 12 friends! I fear how much longer it would’ve sat on my TBR unread for longer when all I need is all the other 6 Bergman Brothers books! 🙊🙊
Also don’t feel it’s not AMAZING at a 4⭐️ rating. This appears to be Liese’s first novel. The themes approached are some heavy, all complex and are beautifully done! Were there a lot of obstacles? Maybe! But at least the story had a realistic timeline and story to it! In all other aspects a heavy 5⭐️ and DEFINITELY a new favourite book! 😍😍
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Death
dearhaleynicole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Only When It’s Us follows Willa & Ryder’s story over the course of a year at university. Willa is a star soccer player at UCLA, struggling to balance a ton between school, family, soccer and life. Ryder is a classmate of Willa's, who she happens to sit next to in their business class every day. After an infection two years prior took most of his hearing, Ryder is trying to find his new normal while being hard of hearing. They start out misunderstanding each other pretty strongly but then slowly developing a frenemies-to-something more relationship that i really did enjoy reading (we love good banter 👏🏻) but there were some times where our headstrong FMC Willa did frustrate me. She’s navigating an unimaginably difficult life change, but her closed-off personality just felt a bit exhausting to read chapter after chapter. I will say I really loved her passion and how it fuels her when she needs it most. Ryder was patient and understanding and just a really great partner through it all. Both MCs went on their own journeys of emotional healing and it was overall sweet to read. I will also say the slow build romance of it all was great and had me turning pages when it picked up. their relationship was equal parts playful and real. They navigated a lot in this book and i’m glad i got to read their story first 🫶🏻
This is the first in a series following the Bergman siblings (Ryder’s family) and I definitely plan to read more of them because I really loved the Bergman clan in general! The side characters in this book were very endearing to get glimpses of. I really can’t wait to read some of their stories after meeting them even just briefly in this one.
Also, the covers for the other books in this series, as well as this re-released version one, are really beautiful! I was just looking at them all and it made me really want to pick up the rest of the series sooner.
This is the first in a series following the Bergman siblings (Ryder’s family) and I definitely plan to read more of them because I really loved the Bergman clan in general! The side characters in this book were very endearing to get glimpses of. I really can’t wait to read some of their stories after meeting them even just briefly in this one.
Also, the covers for the other books in this series, as well as this re-released version one, are really beautiful! I was just looking at them all and it made me really want to pick up the rest of the series sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
sarahmcg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Terminal illness
mads_ione's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent