This one wasn't for me, unfortunately.

I'm starting to think maybe Chloe Liese's work is not for me.

That being said, I do enjoy her writing writing. She's skillful at creating solid characters that feel real. I just don't think I like her romances, unfortunately. I like mine with a bit more angst and tension.

One other thing I do appreciate is the representation in this her books. From what I've read so far, she always finds a way to incorporate characters who are either disabled, struggle with mental health matters, or are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

I think my main issue with this one is that it felt too low stakes. It's obvious from the start that these two are already heads over heels in love with each other. I wanted to see more angst and tension between them before they got together.

Anyone who knows me knows I am the world's biggest sucker for a fake dating trope. Once you add in Chloe Liese's deft touch of inclusivity, heartwarming awkwardness, and spice, I'm done for. The only issue I had with Once Smitten, Twice Shy's hunky highlander and his burned out love interest's story is motivation. These two did NOT need to fake date. There was literally no reason other than for the plot. Good thing I like the plot.

I did not finish this book but as netgalley counts it against you if you dont leave feedback im giving it 3 stars

My favourite of the series! I saw so much of myself reflected in this one and it was so perfect! The spice, the banter, the love, everything in balance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Really more like 2.5/5)

This was my first book by Chloe Liese, and while I know she has a dedicated fanbase, Once Smitten, Twice Shy didn’t quite work for me.

The characters were fine, and I can appreciate the intent behind the emotional depth—but there was a lot of emotional processing, to the point where it felt more like reading a self-growth journey than a romance novel. It didn’t have the romantic tension or chemistry I was hoping for, and honestly, it just dragged. The plot was thin, and the pacing felt off, making the book feel much longer than it needed to be.

I know some readers love a slower, more introspective romance, but for me, this one was a bit mid. Not terrible, just not especially memorable. If you're looking for a swoony or fun love story, this might not hit the spot.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my DRC.

3.5 stars. Juliet and Will were both unique and well-written characters, each with their strengths and flaws, and Liese wrote great chemistry between them. I did not understand Juliet's hang-up with dating Will, especially since her sister was in a relationship with the brotherly neighbor she was so worried about, so it seemed silly and therefore the entire premise of their "practice dating" fell flat. The sisters seem like fun characters and I plan to check out their books as well.

Chloe Liese is a consistent author that always brings the feelings with every book she publishes. This was a great read and another wonderful addition to the series.

Most of the time my favorite Chloe Liese is whatever the last Chloe Liese I read was. How do you write that good EVERY time?! I adore these characters. Dare I say- my favorite of the Wilmot series?!

This is the absolute lightest reimagining of Twelfth Night, so do not go in expecting much aside from the names.

A cute book to finish off the Wilmot sister trilogy. Juliet and Will are so smitten (lol) with each other from the very beginning and watching them navigate their relationship was so sweet.

For me, it just never really went beyond that. I didn’t completely buy into why they were trying to not just be all in on being together. There wasn’t really too much conflict and what was there seemed so easily sidestepped.

If you’re looking for low stakes romance, this may be more for you than it was for me.

Had to wait for this audiobook to complete my Chloe Liese listening adventure (for now). I think this is my favorite of the Wilmot sisters series, it had the familiar tenderness that was found in her Bergmans. I loved Juliet & Will so much. Such gentle babes, I want to hear all about their future adventures together.

Thanks Berkley for keeping my heart full of happy feelings.

Oh my goodness I absolutely LOVED this book so much! I loved the neurodivergent rep, and the romance was so swoon-worthy!

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a tender, emotional romance that feels deeply authentic. Chloe Liese writes with care and insight, drawing from lived experience to create characters who feel real and relatable.

Will is anxious, thoughtful, and quietly selfless. Juliet is strong in a quiet, grounded way. Together, their love is soft, supportive, and healing. It’s a story about choosing love, even when it’s hard, and showing up for each other fully.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Juliet and Will. They meet at a bar in Scotland and briefly speak to each other. Seven months later they meet again at Juliet’s mother greenhouse. They hatch a plan to better their flirting. They start dating. They each have issues but together they work them out. They fall in love.

I think Liese's newer works are just not hitting the same for me as the first series of hers that I read. I didn't really feel like this book had any major conflicts, and because of that, it was just a bit flat. I think that overall, it's a fine book, it just wasn't my favorite.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy 🌸🌱
4⭐️
4🌶️

Thank you to Berkley for the free advanced copy! @berkleyromance #berkley #berkleypartner

This book was totally not what I was expecting! When I heard that it was a reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, I was intrigued but also a little worried LOL. This is one of the few romances out there without a third-act-breakup and I LOVED that about it because 3ABUs are one of my least favorite tropes.

I LOVED all of the representation in this book! We have a chronically ill FMC, (she’s also gluten-free?? I’ve never gotten GF rep in a book before and I loved it), a neurodivergent MMC with anxiety, queer side characters, and lots and lots of communication between characters about pain/comfort.

The one thing about this book that was making my eye twitch was the fact that the MCs clearly liked each other and wanted to non-fake-date but wouldn’t communicate that to each other and didn’t talk about it until way later in the book. You could have saved yourself so much trouble!!!! Also! Nobody warned me how STEAMY this book was??

There’s something so powerful about stories that come from an author’s lived experience, and *Once Smitten, Twice Shy* is a beautiful example of that. Chloe Liese doesn’t just tell a romance—she offers us something deeply human, vulnerable, and healing. Through Juliet and Will, we’re invited into lives shaped by invisible struggles—chronic pain, neurodivergence, emotional trauma—and the strength it takes to live and love fully with those realities. As someone who doesn’t personally navigate these things, it felt like a true gift to witness them so authentically.

Will is quirky, deeply thoughtful, and so quietly selfless. His journey from believing he’s incapable of giving someone the love they deserve to learning that he *can*, in his own way, was such an emotional experience. Every part of him—his heart, his humor, his anxious brain, his enormous capacity for care—felt so real. I rooted for him with everything in me. Watching him grow into someone who *chooses* to show up for love, even when it’s hard, was nothing short of inspiring.

And then there’s Juliet. Oh, Juliet. Her strength is the kind you don’t always see right away—the quiet kind, forged from pain and resilience. She navigates the world with a kind of grace that comes from fighting every day for herself and still managing to hold space for the people she loves. She was exactly the partner Will needed, but more importantly, she was a character with her own healing, dreams, and story. I felt seen in her softness and strength alike.

The romance? Absolutely stunning. Will and Juliet’s love felt safe, gentle, and *earned*. It’s the kind of love story where both people see each other fully—flaws, fears, and all—and choose each other anyway. The way they supported one another, emotionally and practically, was so moving. It never felt performative or overdone. It just felt *true*. They were the kind of couple you want to wrap yourself up in like a warm blanket.

This book left a mark on me. It was tender and hopeful, emotional and healing. Chloe Liese gave us characters who are worthy of love because of who they are—not despite it. Will and Juliet are going to stay with me for a long, long time.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book.

I think that this is my favorite Willmot sisters book. And I think a lot of that is owed to how much of a cinnamon roll Will is.

I really enjoyed him as a character and The autistic rep. The idea of practice dating might be more fun to me than fake dating and it was done so well here. I also love Juliet in this and her wrap of disability and bisexual was fantastic.

All in all, this is a super solid book and I enjoyed very much

This one was so so cute and sweet!! I absolutely love Chloe Liese’s writing and her characters so so much!! Her characters feel so real and relatable and I enjoyed this one!! I am giving it 3.5 stars!!

If you're looking for a cute, feel-good, low tension, sweet book-- here's one!

Unfortunately, I'm never looking for that type of book lol. I need some sort of tension or conflict or something to make me buy into "why do these people even like eachother???" and I just didn't get that here. I thought the romance was sweet, but couldn't get myself to buy into it. This felt more hallmark-y and saccharine than Chloe Liese's novels usually feel (to me).

Overall, I felt like this series just didn't have the magic that the Bergman brother series had and this book was a very middle of the road read, firmly "fine".

Thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC and finished copy!

very cute couple but i don’t think i connected to well with the story but this whole series is just great