A review by sarahmcg
Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

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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