Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Ever After Always

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

74 reviews

val_books_of_leisure's review against another edition

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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

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serendipitysbooks's review

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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

3.75

Ever After Always was a hit for me. I’m a sucker for slightly older characters, for a romance set after rather than before marriage, and for those who fight for their marriage, rather than simply giving up on it and their spouse. I also loved that it included mental health representation - anxiety and panic attacks - and that it was the male, with the mental health issues. I’m over romances where the male lead is an invincible “manly” man. This title also gets bonus points for a female lead who wasn’t thin, slender, skinny or petite. I liked both Freya and Aiden and totally bought their chemistry. The book stressed the importance of communicating honestly with your partner and not keeping information from them in a misguided attempt to protect them - always an important message. On the fun side each chapter started with a song title and there is a playlist on Spotify. And, of special interest to book lovers, several books are referenced throughout this story, including Persuasion which serendipitously I am planning to reread next month.

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ashlightgrayson's review

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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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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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hayleyjaynereads's review

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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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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madamepincers's review

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emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

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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