Chloe Liese is fantastic.
Any author taking the time to write about neurodiversity in the romance genre has my attention.
Good Reads Synopsis : Get ready for an emotional ride filled with laughter, longing, and a sweet slow-burn in this sports romance about love’s power not in spite of difference, but because of it.
Ren
The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game—besides, hockey, that is.
I’m a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever—she’s headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won’t want to leave me behind, too.
Frankie
I’ve had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I’m a grumbly grump and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can’t entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about.
Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I’ve learned what I am to most people in my life—a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I’m prepared to do.
Always Only You is an opposites-attract, forbidden love sports romance about a nerdy, late-blooming hockey star, and his tough cookie coworker who keeps both her soft side and her autism diagnosis* to herself. Complete with a meddling secretary, tantric yoga torture, and a scorching slow burn, this standalone is the second in a series of novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.
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Chloe Liese does it in such a compelling way and for someone who champions #OwnVoices she does a fantastic job at helping people like me on the outside looking in better understand Autism. Hell she gave me such a clearer picture on Rheumatoid Arthritis after reading Always Only You, I felt like a dolt for being so oblivious beyond the occasional run in with it via pharmaceutical commercials.
Story wise do I love the Bergman brothers? Of course I do.
I am desperately waiting for a Bergman of my own? Yes. Duh! Alas they are fictional.
Ren is perfect. A nerd thru and thru with his own damage, and awkward hang-ups he was a perfect compliment to Frankie.
Who doesn't love a man who can quote Shakespeare without coming across like a pompous jerk?
Frankie’s fierce independence is so welcome in a romantic protagonist; she’s pretty has a cool job, cute dog, and fun friends. Reading about a woman who is neurodivergent, kicking ass, and is cool as hell is RARE. We need to see more characters like her. Her struggle to fit in, constantly wearing a mask so that she can interpret other people’s social cues sounded exhausting and more people should be aware of how those living with neurodiversity perceive the world around us.
“Autism is a lifelong reality that you’ll never quite catch the cues, follow the timing, see the world like a lot of people do. And sometimes that has isolating, frustrating, depressing, reverberations”
AND why the heck do I feel like we consider those with so called “disabilities” and/or various neurodiversity sexless? Is that just me? Why do I feel like only just now is popular culture making more of an effort to recognize that one-dimensional portrayal is nonsense!?! Again why I appreciate Chloe Liese’s work so much.
Not to mention Liese is a Harry Potter fan and I always enjoy her Potter pepperings! Hats off to her for mention JK's recent horrific TERF rants. I always appreciate an HP fan that can enjoy the work and shout out how problematic the author is.
Every time I dip in to the world of the Bergman's and their significant others I want sit and stay awhile, and am so sad when it’s over.
I think its time Chloe Liese goes on my auto buy list. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/6
Always Only You is out on August fourth you can pre-order it here
Also this is completely fine to read as a stand-alone, but I would hate for readers to miss out on Willa and Ryder’s story so I highly recommend reading Only When Its Us first!