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 Liese’s #OwnVoices romance “Always Only You”, 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 you’re given but getting there eventually. Frankie is the most interesting, fierce, multi-faceted heroine I’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 “a sweet cinnamon roll of a man” to quote Frankie.
The Bergmans, the Zeferinos, and friends, and the hockey team were all amazing supporting characters. Frankie, at one point says, “Show people who you really are, and you get the absolute thrill of knowing they love you for YOU.” These characters show that in so many ways. They were absolutely invaluable.
“Always Only You” 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:
✔ Slow burn romance
✔ Complete stand-alone (yet part of the Bergman Brothers)
✔ Sports romance
✔ Forced proximity
✔ #OwnVoices: Autism
✔ Forbidden Love
✔ Opposites Attract
Francesca “Frankie” Zeferino, 26, describes herself as “a little storm cloud”. She is the in-game Social Media Coordinator for the L.A. Kings hockey franchise. She’s known as “Frank the Crank” 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 it’s convenient for her. She wears all black, all the time, “The whole look is very Wednesday Addams, with a similar and intended repelling effect. People leave me alone. Which is how I like it.”
She carries an acrylic cane she calls “The Elder Wand” due to her rheumatoid arthritis. Frankie has trouble reading people’s facial expressions. She memorizes the context and meaning for as much human behavior as possible by watching sports interviews and sitcoms. She doesn’t tell anyone at work that she is autistic. “Now only those closest to me are trusted with knowing the real reason Frankie has dubious success with sarcasm and picking up on jokes.” She finds she works well with Ren’s “sunshiny” 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 doesn’t realize how wonderful he is. He’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. He’s got a multitude of siblings but he’s the “black sheep” 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. He’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 didn’t feel that he should suddenly change his interests or his friend group so he’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. It’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. It’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 “Always Only You”. 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.