Name: Once Smitten, Twice Shy
Rating: 4.25 (4 reviews)

Chloe Liese

Once Smitten, Twice Shy

Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic, has sworn off love. But when she’s presented with the chance to revisit romance—purely for practice—with the gorgeous, off-limits guy she keeps serendipitously running into, it feels like a sign from the universe. Quiet, shy Will Orsino knows happily-ever-after isn’t on his horizon. Problem is, for the sake of the family business, marriage is. Resigned to the inevitable, but with no confidence he can woo a wife, he can hardly say no when fate hands him the alluring, unattainable woman he keeps crossing paths with, offering to help him learn the ropes of romance. Neither of them looking for love, Jules and Will agree they’re the perfect pair to practice romance. Except that practicing to perfection leads to an irresistible attraction. Their once smitten hearts, though still twice shy, might have happily-ever-after written in the stars for them, after all.

Steph

We finally get to read about the last Wilmot sister, and I *love* her story. Jules’ journey of finding herself—and in the process, finding love—was everything. As someone who’s been hurt before, I know a lot of people will relate to her struggles. It’s not easy to open yourself up again or trust someone new, but Chloe Liese captures that experience so well. One of my favorite things about Chloe’s books is how she writes neurodivergent characters, and this one is no exception. This time, it’s the MMC who’s on the spectrum. Seeing his lifelong struggles and how he convinced himself he’d never have a loving relationship? Heartbreaking. I loved how Jules and Will grew together through their so-called practice dates. Let’s be real—were those even practice? Because they sure didn’t feel like it. The way they felt so comfortable, dropping all pretenses and just being with each other, was perfect. This book is for the lover girls who’ve been hurt but still believe in love. And this is why I love romance—it reminds me that anything is possible.

Chloe is a queen - the ND reps in her books are amazing and sooooo well done 

Brittany Peterson

thank you to berkley and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

it’s not even a where to begin this one but a how to begin with this one. chloe liese has quickly and rightfully become one of my favorite romance authors in the publishing sphere right now. she excellently crafts queer and disabled identities into her works, showcasing just how truly well and deserving these stories are. and juliet and will’s story takes these pillars and holds them up with such grace and with many tear-jerking moments.

i think i say this with every publication of hers, but this may just be my new favorite chloe liese book. juliet and will are held so dear to my heart, with their life stories fitting so closely to my own. juliet, working through her diagnoses with chronic illness, relearning what she can and cannot do and taking pride in knowing her limits, but never letting her limits make her feel less than. experiencing the differences in her abilities on the daily, where some days she is able to do more with her body, and some days she just needs to rest up. and that regardless of her disabilities, it makes her no less deserving of finding love, if that is what she choses.

there were two scenes specifically with juliet and her disabilities that made me tear up (in a good way!!), one being when she first pulls out the cane she begins using. she doesn’t let her body’s pain and discordance to her plans stop her, she makes it work. she reminds me so much of myself, someone dealing with similar join and chronic pain issues. someone who was worried about using a cane for a long while to assist on the bad days. honestly, juliet’s character gave me the strength i needed to begin looking into a cane for myself again. and that is the power of a story with well written chronic illness. because if it made 

 feel seen, i know i won’t be the only one. i know juliet will bring that same feeling for tens, possibly hundreds of others in the same position. and i think this is, at the core, the real reason why jules’ story may end up being considered my favorite chloe liese book… ever. and that is without counting the beautifully executed romance.

i mean, i haven’t even spoke about juliet or will in the romance context, let alone about the discussions surrounding his neurodivergence. i have so much more to say about their romance, about will and the many many times i had myself kicking my feet, real time updating my friend (who buddy read this with me) about all the silly scenarios, the beautiful lines. my kindle might be half highlighted for this book, because their romance was just so damn sweet. will was so open to learning and trying new things in regards to friendship and to romance. and juliet is just such a trusting person and ensured proper communication between them, despite all her hardships and worries from a previous toxic relationship. we had the chance to see juliet in small bits on the side for her sisters’ romances and i think having her last was beyond worth the payoff to see her heal, to see her open herself up again.

i cannot stress enough how so obvious it was they had strong feelings for each other since the beginning. like prequel beginning. and when you get to a certain conversation!! i think upon a reread you could see exactly what is mentioned in that conversation surrounding love, and more specifically love at first sight. i think a re-read of this book would bring upon even more master craft surrounding their romance’s progression. because you 

 they followed along that exact conversation, unintentionally to them, but most certainly by smart writing. and god!! i cannot say much more without spoiling big portions of the book. please just go pick up this book. actually, go pick up her sisters’ romances first though if you haven’t already. since even though they’re companions but run chronologically.

this whole series is romance that will make you swoon, laugh, cry, and make your heart feel whole. i’m so sad to see this series completed, but i cannot wait for whats next (especially since we just got our next chloe liese book announced today!)

 holding out hope for a sapphic romance. please chloe i am begging you over here!!

y'all are going to have to give me a day or so to process all my thoughts before i write my review, because my GOD!!!

FMC: bisexual, celiac's disease, connective tissue disease (ambulatory cane user)

MMC: ASD (and i want to say a bit on the ace spectrum?? maybe???)

ash (smokedshelves)

thank you to berkley and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

it’s not even a where to begin this one but a how to begin with this one. chloe liese has quickly and rightfully become one of my favorite romance authors in the publishing sphere right now. she excellently crafts queer and disabled identities into her works, showcasing just how truly well and deserving these stories are. and juliet and will’s story takes these pillars and holds them up with such grace and with many tear-jerking moments.

i think i say this with every publication of hers, but this may just be my new favorite chloe liese book. juliet and will are held so dear to my heart, with their life stories fitting so closely to my own. juliet, working through her diagnoses with chronic illness, relearning what she can and cannot do and taking pride in knowing her limits, but never letting her limits make her feel less than. experiencing the differences in her abilities on the daily, where some days she is able to do more with her body, and some days she just needs to rest up. and that regardless of her disabilities, it makes her no less deserving of finding love, if that is what she choses.

there were two scenes specifically with juliet and her disabilities that made me tear up (in a good way!!), one being when she first pulls out the cane she begins using. she doesn’t let her body’s pain and discordance to her plans stop her, she makes it work. she reminds me so much of myself, someone dealing with similar join and chronic pain issues. someone who was worried about using a cane for a long while to assist on the bad days. honestly, juliet’s character gave me the strength i needed to begin looking into a cane for myself again. and that is the power of a story with well written chronic illness. because if it made me feel seen, i know i won’t be the only one. i know juliet will bring that same feeling for tens, possibly hundreds of others in the same position. and i think this is, at the core, the real reason why jules’ story may end up being considered my favorite chloe liese book… ever. and that is without counting the beautifully executed romance.

i mean, i haven’t even spoke about juliet or will in the romance context, let alone about the discussions surrounding his neurodivergence. i have so much more to say about their romance, about will and the many many times i had myself kicking my feet, real time updating my friend (who buddy read this with me) about all the silly scenarios, the beautiful lines. my kindle might be half highlighted for this book, because their romance was just so damn sweet. will was so open to learning and trying new things in regards to friendship and to romance. and juliet is just such a trusting person and ensured proper communication between them, despite all her hardships and worries from a previous toxic relationship. we had the chance to see juliet in small bits on the side for her sisters’ romances and i think having her last was beyond worth the payoff to see her heal, to see her open herself up again.

i cannot stress enough how so obvious it was they had strong feelings for each other since the beginning. like prequel beginning. and when you get to a certain conversation!! i think upon a reread you could see exactly what is mentioned in that conversation surrounding love, and more specifically love at first sight. i think a re-read of this book would bring upon even more master craft surrounding their romance’s progression. because you know they followed along that exact conversation, unintentionally to them, but most certainly by smart writing. and god!! i cannot say much more without spoiling big portions of the book. please just go pick up this book. actually, go pick up her sisters’ romances first though if you haven’t already. since even though they’re companions but run chronologically.

this whole series is romance that will make you swoon, laugh, cry, and make your heart feel whole. i’m so sad to see this series completed, but i cannot wait for whats next (especially since we just got our next chloe liese book announced today!)

and ps: yes, i am still holding out hope for a sapphic romance. please chloe i am begging you over here!!

original review
y'all are going to have to give me a day or so to process all my thoughts before i write my review, because my GOD!!!

rep noted before i forget:
FMC: bisexual, celiac's disease, connective tissue disease (ambulatory cane user)
MMC: ASD (and i want to say a bit on the ace spectrum?? maybe???)

Once Smitten, Twice Shy

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