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shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Dementia, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcoholism, and Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.75
Title: Ever After Always
Author: Chloe Liese
Series: Bergman Brothers #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 12, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Inspired • Believable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Freya Bergman has spent a dozen years loving Aiden and never thought they’d find their marriage on the rocks. He’s her partner and best friend, the person she knows she can count on most. Until one day Freya realizes the man she married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the growing distance between them becomes too much to bear.
Aiden would spend a dozen lifetimes making his wife happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing he’s not sure he can give her: a baby. With the pressure of providing and planning for a family, his anxiety is at an all-time high. They’re drifting apart and he doesn’t know how to change the tide.
As if weathering marriage counseling wasn’t enough, Freya and Aiden are thrown together for a Bergman family island getaway. Will this trip help them finally work through their trouble in paradise, or be the final wave that tows them under?
💭 T H O U G H T S
One of my reading intentions for 2024 is to make progress in some of the series I've already started, and the Bergman Brothers series is my priority. I really enjoyed books 1 and 2, and was looking forward to getting Feyra's story. Ever After Always was a delightful addition to this romance series.
This romance joins Feyra and Aidan 10 years into their relationship and now facing a marriage-in-crisis. It is messy. It is refreshing. And it is entirely believable. The pacing is on the slower side, yet it is what works for everything to get unpacked. We get to witness both MCs as they work through their issues alone and together.
The anxiety representation is incredibly well done. As someone with anxiety, I related to Aidan in a lot of ways. I appreciated how the author showcases the role of mental health in a partnership and it was inspiring to see Aidan work through stuff on the page. It's quite possible many people may not be aware of the impact mental health can have, not only on an individual but on their romantic relationships.
While the story focuses on Freya and Aidan, the rest of the Bergman family is along for the ride and it was great to be back with their family. I am here for all of their meddling and antics. The vacation portion was fun and entertaining, adding a little bit more to the story than just focusing on the relationship.
While I wasn't as invested in Ever After Always as I was in the first two books, it does show the work and communication needed to maintain a healthy relationship. Chloe Liese is an author I will continually recommend to anyone looking for diverse romance. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, however, for optimal enjoyment I would suggest starting at the beginning. I look forward to continuing the Bergman sibling series this year.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• marriage in crisis
• anxiety representation
• romance series
⚠️ CW: mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, anxiety, addiction, alcoholism, alcohol, grief, sexual content, abandonment, infertility, pregnancy, body shaming, injury/injury detail, cursing, vomit
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I'm saying happily ever after doesn't exist. Not because life long love is impossible, but because, as we've learned, no couple can live happily, ever after. People whose love lasts, whose love grows and endures choose each other in the unhappily ever after, the dark moments, not just the dazzling ones."
Author: Chloe Liese
Series: Bergman Brothers #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 12, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Inspired • Believable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Freya Bergman has spent a dozen years loving Aiden and never thought they’d find their marriage on the rocks. He’s her partner and best friend, the person she knows she can count on most. Until one day Freya realizes the man she married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the growing distance between them becomes too much to bear.
Aiden would spend a dozen lifetimes making his wife happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing he’s not sure he can give her: a baby. With the pressure of providing and planning for a family, his anxiety is at an all-time high. They’re drifting apart and he doesn’t know how to change the tide.
As if weathering marriage counseling wasn’t enough, Freya and Aiden are thrown together for a Bergman family island getaway. Will this trip help them finally work through their trouble in paradise, or be the final wave that tows them under?
💭 T H O U G H T S
One of my reading intentions for 2024 is to make progress in some of the series I've already started, and the Bergman Brothers series is my priority. I really enjoyed books 1 and 2, and was looking forward to getting Feyra's story. Ever After Always was a delightful addition to this romance series.
This romance joins Feyra and Aidan 10 years into their relationship and now facing a marriage-in-crisis. It is messy. It is refreshing. And it is entirely believable. The pacing is on the slower side, yet it is what works for everything to get unpacked. We get to witness both MCs as they work through their issues alone and together.
The anxiety representation is incredibly well done. As someone with anxiety, I related to Aidan in a lot of ways. I appreciated how the author showcases the role of mental health in a partnership and it was inspiring to see Aidan work through stuff on the page. It's quite possible many people may not be aware of the impact mental health can have, not only on an individual but on their romantic relationships.
While the story focuses on Freya and Aidan, the rest of the Bergman family is along for the ride and it was great to be back with their family. I am here for all of their meddling and antics. The vacation portion was fun and entertaining, adding a little bit more to the story than just focusing on the relationship.
While I wasn't as invested in Ever After Always as I was in the first two books, it does show the work and communication needed to maintain a healthy relationship. Chloe Liese is an author I will continually recommend to anyone looking for diverse romance. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, however, for optimal enjoyment I would suggest starting at the beginning. I look forward to continuing the Bergman sibling series this year.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• marriage in crisis
• anxiety representation
• romance series
⚠️ CW: mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, anxiety, addiction, alcoholism, alcohol, grief, sexual content, abandonment, infertility, pregnancy, body shaming, injury/injury detail, cursing, vomit
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I'm saying happily ever after doesn't exist. Not because life long love is impossible, but because, as we've learned, no couple can live happily, ever after. People whose love lasts, whose love grows and endures choose each other in the unhappily ever after, the dark moments, not just the dazzling ones."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Cursing, Abandonment, and Infertility
mylynn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
thanks to Berkley Romance for this ARC!
(review CW: infertility)
Let me just start by saying this is my favorite Chloe Liese book so far! Granted, I've only read 3 but this one was just so good. I wasn't sure about it because I've never read a "marriage in crisis" book and also because how can a book about an already married couple have tension/banter BUT it delivers SO MUCH TENSION. This book had me on the verge of tears for the majority of the book (in a good way) and I really enjoyed reading it.
Another reason why I enjoyed it so much was how relatable it was to me. As someone with an anxiety disorder and who also dealt with watching everyone around you get pregnant while it's not happening for you this book hit very close to home, and I really felt for Freya and Aiden and all the things they were going through. Their growth throughout this book was so refreshing to read, and I loved their relationship.
ALSO, this book was just re-published by Berkley with a bonus chapter so even if you've read this book you might want to look again 👀!
(review CW: infertility)
Let me just start by saying this is my favorite Chloe Liese book so far! Granted, I've only read 3 but this one was just so good. I wasn't sure about it because I've never read a "marriage in crisis" book and also because how can a book about an already married couple have tension/banter BUT it delivers SO MUCH TENSION. This book had me on the verge of tears for the majority of the book (in a good way) and I really enjoyed reading it.
Another reason why I enjoyed it so much was how relatable it was to me. As someone with an anxiety disorder and who also dealt with watching everyone around you get pregnant while it's not happening for you this book hit very close to home, and I really felt for Freya and Aiden and all the things they were going through. Their growth throughout this book was so refreshing to read, and I loved their relationship.
ALSO, this book was just re-published by Berkley with a bonus chapter so even if you've read this book you might want to look again 👀!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Body shaming, Abandonment, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Pregnancy
mabellene's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Ableism
livreads4fun's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
amris's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Alcoholism
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
This is, so far, my favorite of the series because I love myself a marriage in trouble. It's so incredibly realistic and shows the work that goes into maintaining a relationship, work that we don't often see in romance because we're reading about the honeymoon phase where everything is still new and exciting. Though I was frustrated with Aiden throughout the majority of this book, I also sympathized with him and his mental health struggles. This book was a gem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
aqtbenz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
bekacrook's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
Initially I didn't want to read this book, I wasn't keen on the premise but I felt like I had to in order to get the full picture of the series and I'm really glad I did.
It was a bit emotionally hard to read at times because there was so much distance, loss, insecurity, and defeat. Naturally there were so many negative emotions throughout this book that it did at times become a little stifling but at the end of the day I feel like this really was necessary in this book. It delved into their issues and it really showed that relationships, especially long lasting relationships take work and are difficult but they are worth it. It showed that you can love someone but still struggle to navigate your relationship and your own feelings and insecurities and thoughts can play such a big part in the dynamics of your relationship and how it plays out.
I loved Aiden in the previous books and his meddling romantic self and it was super interesting to learn more about him, his past and his anxiety and how that all impacts him. Freya I felt like we got to a bit less than Aiden even throughout this book but I love that she feels her emotions so fully and how much love she has for everyone. I liked how light and joyful she was through little actions when she was feeling happy but we also got to see the complete contrast of how those little actions disappeared when she was sad and numb. Both of them felt like real people, they had arguments like real people would and struggled to have the conversations they needed to but the want to fix things and the hope was always there.
I really liked the ending and how it focused on their anniversary and how they had adapted it and it involved the whole family. I was also really relieved that there wasn't a focus on them having a baby in the last chapter and that they were making sure they were happy and solid together before introducing that into their lives.
It was a bit emotionally hard to read at times because there was so much distance, loss, insecurity, and defeat. Naturally there were so many negative emotions throughout this book that it did at times become a little stifling but at the end of the day I feel like this really was necessary in this book. It delved into their issues and it really showed that relationships, especially long lasting relationships take work and are difficult but they are worth it. It showed that you can love someone but still struggle to navigate your relationship and your own feelings and insecurities and thoughts can play such a big part in the dynamics of your relationship and how it plays out.
I loved Aiden in the previous books and his meddling romantic self and it was super interesting to learn more about him, his past and his anxiety and how that all impacts him. Freya I felt like we got to a bit less than Aiden even throughout this book but I love that she feels her emotions so fully and how much love she has for everyone. I liked how light and joyful she was through little actions when she was feeling happy but we also got to see the complete contrast of how those little actions disappeared when she was sad and numb. Both of them felt like real people, they had arguments like real people would and struggled to have the conversations they needed to but the want to fix things and the hope was always there.
I really liked the ending and how it focused on their anniversary and how they had adapted it and it involved the whole family. I was also really relieved that there wasn't a focus on them having a baby in the last chapter and that they were making sure they were happy and solid together before introducing that into their lives.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness