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A review by andreasromancebooks
Ever After Always by Chloe Liese
5.0
5 ⭐️ I’ve cried so much reading this… and it was so worth it.
So, if anyone ever asks me why is it that I exclusively read romance books, I will be swiftly directing them to this book - thank you very much. This book wrecked my heart, stomped on it and then slowly put it back together. I will not be putting my personal / family troubles on the internet, but I will say that I found myself relating to Aiden a tad too much… I mean, except for the fact that he’s a male identifying person and I’m not in a nine-year-long marriage… But yeah, there were many details that were, unfortunately, a bit on the nose for me, personally.
This is the story of Freya and Aiden, who after almost a decade of marriage, find themselves in a spiral of disconnection and isolation from one another. Freya is deeply unhappy in their marriage and Aiden’s so preoccupied and focused on his anxieties about work, money and the future that he doesn’t see it… Until Freya greets him one day with a duffle bag and a plane ticket with his name on it, telling him she needs space and time to think about what’s become of them.
There was so much fear, pain, misguided concern, distrust, grieve and anxiety written in these pages… Almost as much as there’s love, hope, enthusiasm, happiness, trust and growth. Especially growth. I’ll be the first to say that I’m a growth hater, in my bones, and don’t get me wrong I know how necessary it is. But it’s so hard to be content in life, only for it to throw you a curve ball and make it all complicated and painful again. I’ve found myself hating the growing pains of life so many times… But this book serves as a great reminder of just how worthy those growing pains truly are. Because just like with Freya and Aiden, when that pain fades what’s left is knowledge and trust, beautiful and hard-earned. And it really is hard. I love that, although there is a HEA, there's not that many sugar-coating of struggles.
Another great reminder that this book offers is the message that there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. That being going to counselling, or a psychologist, or a therapist… Or just talking to a family member or a friend. I will say that even knowing that, I know for a lot of us there’s always that stupid voice inside that says that we should be able to handle it on our own, that you’re being weak and useless for reaching out to those around you. I’ve heard it in my mind so many times that, sometimes it was just easier to tell myself that it’s true. But you know what a weak person truly does? Nothing. They let fear and pain run them over – because committing to get help and get better is not for the weak. It can be so difficult and scary and daunting… and I can personally say it’s one of the bravest things I’ve ever done for myself; one of the things that I’m the proudest of myself for having accomplished. Ok, trauma dump over… I said I wasn't going to put personal sh*t on the internet. Ups.
Seriously, just read this book. I feel like I find myself saying that about every single Chloe Liese book I get my hands on, but this one was stunningly, imperfectly perfect. It deserves all the stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
“We can’t possibly hope to always live ‘happily’. But ‘ever after’? That we can hope for and choose. Because ‘ever after’ isn’t an idea. It’s a person – an imperfect person who’s perfect for you.”
So, if anyone ever asks me why is it that I exclusively read romance books, I will be swiftly directing them to this book - thank you very much. This book wrecked my heart, stomped on it and then slowly put it back together. I will not be putting my personal / family troubles on the internet, but I will say that I found myself relating to Aiden a tad too much… I mean, except for the fact that he’s a male identifying person and I’m not in a nine-year-long marriage… But yeah, there were many details that were, unfortunately, a bit on the nose for me, personally.
This is the story of Freya and Aiden, who after almost a decade of marriage, find themselves in a spiral of disconnection and isolation from one another. Freya is deeply unhappy in their marriage and Aiden’s so preoccupied and focused on his anxieties about work, money and the future that he doesn’t see it… Until Freya greets him one day with a duffle bag and a plane ticket with his name on it, telling him she needs space and time to think about what’s become of them.
There was so much fear, pain, misguided concern, distrust, grieve and anxiety written in these pages… Almost as much as there’s love, hope, enthusiasm, happiness, trust and growth. Especially growth. I’ll be the first to say that I’m a growth hater, in my bones, and don’t get me wrong I know how necessary it is. But it’s so hard to be content in life, only for it to throw you a curve ball and make it all complicated and painful again. I’ve found myself hating the growing pains of life so many times… But this book serves as a great reminder of just how worthy those growing pains truly are. Because just like with Freya and Aiden, when that pain fades what’s left is knowledge and trust, beautiful and hard-earned. And it really is hard. I love that, although there is a HEA, there's not that many sugar-coating of struggles.
Another great reminder that this book offers is the message that there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. That being going to counselling, or a psychologist, or a therapist… Or just talking to a family member or a friend. I will say that even knowing that, I know for a lot of us there’s always that stupid voice inside that says that we should be able to handle it on our own, that you’re being weak and useless for reaching out to those around you. I’ve heard it in my mind so many times that, sometimes it was just easier to tell myself that it’s true. But you know what a weak person truly does? Nothing. They let fear and pain run them over – because committing to get help and get better is not for the weak. It can be so difficult and scary and daunting… and I can personally say it’s one of the bravest things I’ve ever done for myself; one of the things that I’m the proudest of myself for having accomplished. Ok, trauma dump over… I said I wasn't going to put personal sh*t on the internet. Ups.
Seriously, just read this book. I feel like I find myself saying that about every single Chloe Liese book I get my hands on, but this one was stunningly, imperfectly perfect. It deserves all the stars.
“I choose you, my ever after, believing our love will sustain us, always. Ever after always.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5