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chronicallybookish's reviews
1477 reviews
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Always Only You by Chloe Liese
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Of all the Bergman Brothers books, this was the one I was most intimidated to reread. Since the first time I read it, two years ago, it has held the title of my favorite Chloe Liese book. But it had been two years—what if it didn’t live up to my memories?
Thankfully, it did.
I adore Frankie and Ren with every fiber of my being. They are my favorite characters that Chloe has written, and two of my favorite characters ever, across all books and genres. I see so much of myself in Frankie, and I simply adore being in her head. Ren is this sweet, teddy bear of a human that it is far to easy to fall in love with. Not to mention the fact that the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts.
Chloe Liese’s books are sizzling hot, with plenty of spicy scenes, but her characters and their relationships have true depth and development outside of the bedroom too, Ren and Frankie being no exception to that. They’re both real and raw, lovable and flawed. Throughout the book you fall in love with them and alongside them, and you get to see them grow as individuals and together as a couple. This book is a classic case of grumpy (Frankie) x sunshine (Ren), but the characters are wholly developed humans outside of that trope as well.
This book has phenomenal disability representation. Frankie is autistic (this aspect of the rep is #ownvoices) and has Rheumatoid Arthritis. The representation shown in Frankie remains some of my favorite rep I’ve ever read. We get to see her interact with each aspect of her disabilities differently, from the sensory issues that come with her autism to the chronic pain from her RA. She is strong and vulnerable, and throughout the book she comes to terms with that fact, and with some of the different realities that come with being disabled, and with herself, in regards to those things. So much of her experiences mirrors my own, though my diagnoses are different than hers, and seeing her navigate these realities that I, and many other disabled people, also face is so important and empowering, and I cannot express how meaningful it is to me.
I loved the scenes we get with Ziggy in this book. The solidarity between her and Frankie, as two autistic women. It was weird, seeing Ziggy as young and struggling, when I’d most recently read about her in her own book, grown and thriving. It made me all the more excited to get to my reread of her book. She’s another of my all time favorite characters.
I absolutely adore this book, and I know this won’t be the last time I read it. If you’re only ever going to pick up one Chloe Liese book, make it this one—but really you should just read everything she writes, because all of her books are incredible.
Thankfully, it did.
I adore Frankie and Ren with every fiber of my being. They are my favorite characters that Chloe has written, and two of my favorite characters ever, across all books and genres. I see so much of myself in Frankie, and I simply adore being in her head. Ren is this sweet, teddy bear of a human that it is far to easy to fall in love with. Not to mention the fact that the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts.
Chloe Liese’s books are sizzling hot, with plenty of spicy scenes, but her characters and their relationships have true depth and development outside of the bedroom too, Ren and Frankie being no exception to that. They’re both real and raw, lovable and flawed. Throughout the book you fall in love with them and alongside them, and you get to see them grow as individuals and together as a couple. This book is a classic case of grumpy (Frankie) x sunshine (Ren), but the characters are wholly developed humans outside of that trope as well.
This book has phenomenal disability representation. Frankie is autistic (this aspect of the rep is #ownvoices) and has Rheumatoid Arthritis. The representation shown in Frankie remains some of my favorite rep I’ve ever read. We get to see her interact with each aspect of her disabilities differently, from the sensory issues that come with her autism to the chronic pain from her RA. She is strong and vulnerable, and throughout the book she comes to terms with that fact, and with some of the different realities that come with being disabled, and with herself, in regards to those things. So much of her experiences mirrors my own, though my diagnoses are different than hers, and seeing her navigate these realities that I, and many other disabled people, also face is so important and empowering, and I cannot express how meaningful it is to me.
I loved the scenes we get with Ziggy in this book. The solidarity between her and Frankie, as two autistic women. It was weird, seeing Ziggy as young and struggling, when I’d most recently read about her in her own book, grown and thriving. It made me all the more excited to get to my reread of her book. She’s another of my all time favorite characters.
I absolutely adore this book, and I know this won’t be the last time I read it. If you’re only ever going to pick up one Chloe Liese book, make it this one—but really you should just read everything she writes, because all of her books are incredible.