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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
lunahale's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
i cried and i laughed and i read this all in one day
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism
readwithanne's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
acethirtynine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Terminal illness
bookslovereaders's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
elarkysavin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
I love the Bergman brothers series. Every book is a like a strong warm hug. I love the main characters’ development in this one, particularly Ryder’s experience with sound intertwined in the romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
emaretea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief