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sarahmcg's review against another edition
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Addiction
ximena88's review
challenging
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
mbichaela's review
funny
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
5.0
ENG
ach, chloe, what am i going to do with you? i love those characters and i deeply feel everything they feel. they became my family whom i do not want to let go off. they are everything - funny, sad, exhausting, lovely, inspiring and beyond.
ach, chloe, what am i going to do with you? i love those characters and i deeply feel everything they feel. they became my family whom i do not want to let go off. they are everything - funny, sad, exhausting, lovely, inspiring and beyond.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
audreyloopy's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Infertility and Addiction
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Fabulous second chance romance. After meeting the couple in the first two books I was pretty disappointed thinking I wouldn't get to see Aiden and Freya's love story. Despite this being a story of a couple fumbling through marriage and constantly messing up nothing in the story made me love them any less. They both felt so beautifully real, and despite me being at a very different place in life I absolutely adored this story.
The only thing I didn't like was how Aiden's anxiety was sometimes presented, most of the time it seemed super factual and not emotional. It probably only bothered me because that isn't how my own anxiety problems present themselves though.
The only thing I didn't like was how Aiden's anxiety was sometimes presented, most of the time it seemed super factual and not emotional. It probably only bothered me because that isn't how my own anxiety problems present themselves though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming
kalin_grace's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit
_skyler's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I love romances about already established relationships. As someone who deals with anxiety, I could really relate to Aiden.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
decklededgess's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-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
trigger warning: marriage problems, pregnancy and issues with conceiving, sexual content, alcohol, depression, anxiety and panic disorder, estranged parent, near death experience, physical injury
Dude I always hate marriage issues related books but I put my preconceived notions aside and decided to trust Chloe because homegirl has done me a fkn solid the last two books and BOI she came through. Won't say it's a new favourite niche but if this is the quality of book coming from a marriage in crisis novel then bitch sign me up.
The PINING. The SMUT. The FEELS. The casual intimacy and deep rooted concern and love. THE FAMILY DYNAMICS!!!!
I was so ready to hate Aiden from the idiot shit he pulled in the first book but he really grew on me. Freya was already baby but now she is Babie. Both of them are in fact. Again, the big family dynamics were really wonderful to read. This book had a LOT of it because everyone was so nosy about Aiden and Freya. The sibling concern and group effort to help heal their issues was so soft and sweet and also aggressive in the way only rowdy siblings can be.
Might be my favourite of the entire series but there are three more to go after Axel so we shall see!!
Dude I always hate marriage issues related books but I put my preconceived notions aside and decided to trust Chloe because homegirl has done me a fkn solid the last two books and BOI she came through. Won't say it's a new favourite niche but if this is the quality of book coming from a marriage in crisis novel then bitch sign me up.
The PINING. The SMUT. The FEELS. The casual intimacy and deep rooted concern and love. THE FAMILY DYNAMICS!!!!
I was so ready to hate Aiden from the idiot shit he pulled in the first book but he really grew on me. Freya was already baby but now she is Babie. Both of them are in fact. Again, the big family dynamics were really wonderful to read. This book had a LOT of it because everyone was so nosy about Aiden and Freya. The sibling concern and group effort to help heal their issues was so soft and sweet and also aggressive in the way only rowdy siblings can be.
Might be my favourite of the entire series but there are three more to go after Axel so we shall see!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy
val_books_of_leisure's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Body shaming
risseandshine's review
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, and Mental illness