Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

59 reviews

madsmcw_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

Guys, at this point Chloe Liese can literally do no wrong for me. I fell in love with Freya just as I have the other Bergmans. I loved that this book focused on keeping the romance after the happily ever after and putting in the work to keep your relationship strong. The anxiety representation was SO well done and I loved that it was the male main character that struggled with it because I feel like we don't see that enough in books. Gosh these books are just so good and I can't believe I waited so long to read them.
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katiehasanxiety's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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peacelovereading's review

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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

4.0

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rakizaka's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective slow-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

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katebrownreads's review against another edition

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emotional medium-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

4.5

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thefatpaperback's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Marriage in crisis romance with an anxious hero
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ylime620's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

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beccaand's review

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emotional hopeful 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

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shannahtan's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

So far, I think this book is the most unique of the series. I like that it’s about finding your way back in a marriage after the honeymoon phase ends. Choosing to work at staying in love. Plus, I appreciated that they were in their mid-thirties. The one thing I didn’t like was
how the janitor was the dad because it happened so late in the storyline that there wasn’t really time to develop. Also, it just felt thrown in, overly dramatic, and unrealistic. I get that it was put in there as a shock factor and to show Freya and Aiden are still a work in progress
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sarahmcg's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

Another day, another Bergman Family book read 🤓 this time, it was Aiden and Freya’s story being told! This book was different bc they’re already an established (married!) couple going through a rough patch.

I love that Chloe Liese takes such care to include characters with anxiety, chronic illness, and diverse body sizes. She also uses beta readers to ensure that her portrayal of mental illness, neurodivergence, and disability are as close to a realistic experience for people in those populations, while noting that not everyone’s experience is the same. 

I’m not going to lie - a lot of this book was sad and heavy to me, in contrast to a more typical lighthearted romance. It brought a uniquely human element. The dual POV was essential to see what both Freya and Aiden were going through, what they were keeping from each other, and their journey back toward themselves as individuals and as a couple. I wanted to reach through the pages and shake them, like “Just talk to each other!!!” But I knew it wasn’t that simple and these things take time. 

The family meddling was hilarious as always, and I’m very entertained by Viggo and his romance novels! I appreciate that Freya is a PT (my career as well ⚕️), and the slow burn was worth it, imo! Could I have done without the 3rd act tragedy when I thought everything was settled and we were all gonna be okay? Yes bc it set my heart racing and my hands sweating, but I get it! 
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