Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Ever After Always

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

60 reviews

ashlightgrayson's review

emotional 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

I always enjoy romances about married couples because I feel like it gives a more realistic depiction of how romances can play out in the long-run. Aiden has become engrossed in his work and his struggles with anxiety have compounded to cause strife within his marriage with his wife, Freya. both Aiden and Freya have forgotten how to garner intimacy and make each other feel wanted within their marriage. There is amazing discourse pertaining to anxiety and perceptions of body image within the story that are addressed well. There is also further discourse about how coming from a broken home affects a person's handling of relationships into adulthood. The issues presented within their relationship feel genuine and realistic. We get glimpses of what Freya and Aiden in their better moments as well as their worst. What is clear throughout the plot is that they love each other. Both of them are flawed and they are a great example of how the strongest relationships are still made up of imperfect people and require effort to work. There is also a strong focus on the importance of vulnerability and communication within a relationship. The tone of the story is light hearted while still addressing a lot of marital issues that I think people in long term relationships will be able to relate to you.

Freya's family is also the best, wanting the best not just for Freya but also for Aiden because they consider him family too. I appreciated that there was the acknowledgement that when you marry someone you also become a part of their family. Aiden and Freya's relationship is the focus of the story, but I appreciated that the platonic familial relationships in the story were also given importance. Being married should not diminish the importance of platonic relationships in your life and I think this story drives that point home.

All in all, the characters were likeable and their journey was interesting and nuanced. I would highly recommend it if you like second chance romance with strong familial bonds and likeable characters.

I have friends who have anxiety and have described what panic attacks are like for them. There is a scene in the book where Aiden has a panic attack and it did an amazing job of garnering the realism of what panic attacks can be like despite not having experience with them personally. Despite being very high functioning, Aiden represents how crippling anxiety and panic attacks can be for people suffering through mental illnesses like that. Apart from that Aiden's anxiety medications affects his sex drive. A lot of medications for mental health have side effects and it was nice to see the effect it can have on men specifically. Erectile dysfunction isn't discussed very often in general, especially not in younger men, so it was great to see Freya being so supportive of Aiden when he confessed his struggles with this to her.

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ssugars's review

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emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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ecobookworm's review

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25

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teacupsandfirereads's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

Chloe Liese has delivered yet another master piece. These books are truly something I never knew I needed in my life. But know I cannot imagine not having read them.

Freya, Aiden and the cast of characters that support them are truly something. They are rea and raw. They are messy and beautiful. And show off the real human condition. Liese does not hold back anything from these characters. This book I specifically loved because I saw myself in Aiden's anxiety. I love how this story focused on how mental health affects a relationship. I love how Liese weaves in so many wise words. I love how this story showcases how relationships require work to be truly meaningful and meant to last. How communication and growth are essential.

Al around this book was just lovely. It was a romance with an extra touch that I truly enjoyed. It is one I will not soon forget, just like the other two. Though it can be a stand alone, I don't know why you wouldn't pick up the others while you are at it.

I cannot wait for the next one. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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lexa's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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

This whole series has my whole heart, and I fall in love with the Bergman family a little bit more with each story. What a beautiful, and at times painfully accurate, portrayal of long term relationships.

“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.”

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entanglednovels's review

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emotional 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

3.75

There's a quiet, gentle love to this one, like embers in a fire. I can't put my finger on why I didn't love it as much as the previous two Bergman novels, and the only thing I can think of is that this is only the second marriage-in-crisis romance I've read, and I'm not sure if it's a trope I enjoy. It could also have been due to the fact Aiden and Freya are in their mid-thirties - a good ten years older than I - and are dealing with completely different problems than I am. I'm nowhere near a place in life where I'm able to own a house or want kids. There's a reason I tend to read romances about people in their early to mid twenties. But I did love their relationship and how willing they both were to put in the work and grow together, even years after they've originally said 'I do'. It all felt so real and genuine. You can tell that Liese has taken care in crafting her characters and their lives. I would've liked a bit more about their relationship backstory as it can provide such wonderful insight into who the characters are growing into and how they've changed.

Overall, I still loved the Bergman family, and it was like a happy reunion with them all. I'm so excited for the next instalment, whenever that will be!

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lennie_reads's review

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challenging emotional 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

3.5

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sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review

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emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Ever After Always is well written, just not for me. Marriage in crisis is just not my jam (unless there's grovel, I am do love me a grovel novel. Highly recommend Day off the Duchess by Sarah MacLean), but I'm a completionist, so I needed to read this book eventually. Might as well choose now.

It was nice to visit the Bergmans again, and all their family antics. Enjoyed that there were expanded roles for the four other siblings, so that they aren't just names. Most interested in Viggo (is he a secret Romance writer?) story, and how he was recommending Kleypas to his brothers.II also enjoyed their counseling sessions.

What I didn't like: they could have talked too each other, a lot of the issues were due to lack of communication (and basically my issue with marriage in crisis books). It's explained why there's a lack of communication. The lack of communication just got to the point where I thought the relationship was bordering on toxic, because they were always apologizing. I cannot speak to the representation of general anxiety disorder.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Liese has in store for Axel and Rooney, but if we're being honest, I really want Viggo's book now

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simpleexplorations's review

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you so much to Chloe Liese and Netgalley for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

We get to revisit the Bergman family in Ever After Always following Feyre and Aidan. This novel is a marriage in crisis, slow burn opposites attract romance and it is so good! I loved the focus on an established relationship and the work it takes to make a relationship last. I loved the focus on communication and growing with your partner through the years. This novel can be read as a stand alone but I really recommend reading all of the books in this series. Chloe Liese writes inclusive romances and it is so nice to see representation in literature. Plus the Bergman family is so much fun!

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whatcaitreads's review

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book brought me out of my comfort zone- I don’t often read books with tough topics like marriage troubles but only Chloe Liese could still convince me fo pick up a book about it! I fell in love with Aiden and Freya and was rooting for them the entire book. Their journey to surviving their rocky marriage was tough to read and I’m glad that Chloe portrayed counseling and anxiety in such and honest and truthful way.

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