Reviews

Book Review – Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Always Only You by Chloe Liese

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dedication in this book: For the misfits. You are wonderfully made. You belong. Always.

In Chloe Lieseโ€™s #OwnVoices romance โ€œAlways Only Youโ€, she spills open her heart and mind and enlightens readers about autism in such a way that she completely sweeps us up in the love story of Frankie and Ren while managing to make us more knowledgeable along the way. It is a beautiful, captivating, funny, sometimes gut-wrenching, incredibly hot and swoony story of supposed unrequited love, misunderstandings, and not knowing how to accept the love youโ€™re given but getting there eventually. Frankie is the most interesting, fierce, multi-faceted heroine Iโ€™ve read this year (or since my last Chloe Liese book). I absolutely loved her. Ren is the answer to toxic masculinity and should be celebrated and cloned. He is โ€œa sweet cinnamon roll of a manโ€ to quote Frankie.

The Bergmans, the Zeferinos, and friends, and the hockey team were all amazing supporting characters. Frankie, at one point says, โ€œShow people who you really are, and you get the absolute thrill of knowing they love you for YOU.โ€ These characters show that in so many ways. They were absolutely invaluable.

โ€œAlways Only Youโ€ was such a pleasure to read; it excites, encourages and improves. I highly recommend this book.

What you need to know about Always Only You:
โœ” Slow burn romance
โœ” Complete stand-alone (yet part of the Bergman Brothers)
โœ” Sports romance
โœ” Forced proximity
โœ” #OwnVoices: Autism
โœ” Forbidden Love
โœ” Opposites Attract

Francesca โ€œFrankieโ€ Zeferino, 26, describes herself as โ€œa little storm cloudโ€. She is the in-game Social Media Coordinator for the L.A. Kings hockey franchise. Sheโ€™s known as โ€œFrank the Crankโ€ by the team which is an incorrect representation of who she really is based on partial truths and misunderstandings but she goes with it as itโ€™s convenient for her. She wears all black, all the time, โ€œThe whole look is very Wednesday Addams, with a similar and intended repelling effect. People leave me alone. Which is how I like it.โ€

She carries an acrylic cane she calls โ€œThe Elder Wandโ€ due to her rheumatoid arthritis. Frankie has trouble reading peopleโ€™s facial expressions. She memorizes the context and meaning for as much human behavior as possible by watching sports interviews and sitcoms. She doesnโ€™t tell anyone at work that she is autistic. โ€œNow only those closest to me are trusted with knowing the real reason Frankie has dubious success with sarcasm and picking up on jokes.โ€ She finds she works well with Renโ€™s โ€œsunshinyโ€ attitude. She also has a secret weakness for red-haired men.

Ren is a ginger-haired, hockey star, viking, cinnamon roll of a man who doesnโ€™t realize how wonderful he is. Heโ€™s always smiling with a sunshiny attitude, a love of Shakespeare (he is in a not-so-secret Shakespeare club) and he just bought a van. Heโ€™s got a multitude of siblings but heโ€™s the โ€œblack sheepโ€ because he chose hockey over soccer.

Frankie was one of the first people that Ren met when he signed on to the Kings and he was struck by her instantly. Heโ€™s pined for her for years but there are rules that discourage staff-player dating. He is waiting for Frankie to become available when she goes to law school and quits the team. Ren is a truly wonderful, respectful person. Ren tells Frankie he was a misfit in high school. He was small and misunderstood and when he became bigger and started playing hockey he didnโ€™t feel that he should suddenly change his interests or his friend group so heโ€™s still the supposed misfit he was in high school.

Will Frankie and Ren find their way through all the obstacles thrown in their way and that they throw in their own way? You have to read this book. Itโ€™s absolutely wonderful. Chloe Liese is incredibly thorough in her details about autism but without it becoming pedantic in any way. You will learn so much but almost accidentally. Itโ€™s an incredibly enjoyable book.

WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5

Many thanks to Chloe Liese for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of โ€œAlways Only Youโ€. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Hope you enjoyed this book review of Always Only You by Chloe Liese please check out this other review of Ever After Always and this review of Everything For You, the latest in the Bergmans series.

Kate Grand

Hi, I'm Kate. I started this website in 2020 to share my love and respect for romance books. I adore the works of Chloe Liese, Penny Reid, Karina Halle, Talia Hilbert, Kennedy Ryan, Catherine Walsh, and Charish Reid. When I'm not devouring romance novels, I love to travel and spend time with my Nebelung cat, Fitz. I hope this space helps you fall in love with the wonderful world of romance books as much as I have!

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