This was so stinking cute! I love Chloe’s writing and this made my heart melt in a puddle. I love Juliet and Wills dynamic and chemistry. It was actual perfection and it made me want to go do a re-read of Chloe’s entire backlist again because I didn’t want to leave her writing. This made me giggle and kick my feet at how cute they were. This book bring so much joy and I think that this would be so encouraging to anyone who wants a cute and really romantic romance.

3.75⭐️ sad to see this series end however!

While Will and Juliet weren’t my favorite, it was still a great read.

Will a socially awkward cinnamon roll, was fantastic. He just wasn’t giving me everything I was looking for. This Scottish gentle giant will research every restaurant he takes you to however because he cares about for food allergies and aversions.

Juliet has a history with a toxic relationship, while this is a standalone I wish the author has went a little more into detail about her last for those who haven’t read the other books in the series. She was very sweet and kind, but I found the characters lacking a little bit of depth for me. While this is sweet and wholesome it just wasn’t giving me what the first two books did.

I was so shocked there was no third act break up, if you e read other Chloe Liese books then you know! The plot started to get a tad repetitive for me, but overall this was a cute read! I’ll definitely continue to read whatever Chloe writes!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, and Berkley publishing for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is such a sweet and heartwarming book. I was looking forward to reading Juliet’s story after the first book and really enjoyed getting to know her character.

Will and Juliet are precious together. They’re both caring, thoughtful, and likeable characters. I love how they were able to be vulnerable with one another.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Pub for the arc!

The sole reason I selected this from the catalog was that it claimed to be a retelling of Twelfth Night. As an avid Bard Baby, I get excited when a contemporary Shakespeare book starts making the rounds. Unfortunately the similarities they shared were a few names. Even the heroine's middle name referenced a different play. Her first name was Viola but her middle name was Juliet. We couldn't even get yellow socks as a playful cameo. Don't call this a Twelfth Night retelling if you can't do the bare minimum. The characters were painfully awkward and I got secondhand embarrassment. The love scenes were cringe to the max. I had a terrible reading experience and I will not be revisiting this author. It was a double disappointment, both as a romance reader and a Shakespeare fan. The opening chapter was the best part and it was all downhill from there. Even She's the Man did a better job of adapting Shakespeare than this author.

First off let me say that both my husband and I are neurodivergent (my husband specifically being on the spectrum), and I suffer from a chronic condition, so I connected a lot with the MCs in this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it felt very realistic to how dating someone with autism was. The things Will said and did seemed exactly like things my husband would say or do.

I enjoyed the sort-of fake dating trope in this book, but with the little spin of it being practice dating instead of fake dating. I felt like Juliet and WIll were really cute throughout the entire book and them sharing their notes with each other or having do-overs during their dates was adorable.

Honestly, the only thing I didn't like about this book was that it felt like there was a little too much going on...like the author was trying to squeeze too much into their backstories to make them seem like soul mates. They just happened to meet in Scotland only to find out they had so many people in their lives in common back in the states. Had it just been Christopher, I'd have let it go, but then other connection came out and it became a little too much for me.

Also, I went into this not realizing it was the third book in a series. I did not read the first two, but I was fine without them. The book read great as a standalone.

I've been waiting for Juliet to get a happily ever after, and this book did not disappoint. Such a sweet story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for review.

“I like weird. The world needs more weirdos.”
~~~~
THIS BOOK WAS SOO CUTE!!!!! I absolutely extremely loved every minute of it! The amount of disability inclusion and plot was just amazing! I love the representation! This couple was perfect! I also loved the “fuck it” moment! Ate this book up! 😍😍😍
Yall need to grab this next week! Comes out 1/14!
Thank you @netgalley, @chloe_liese, and @berkleyromance for allowing me to read this as an eARC! Love it!!

I expected more from the plot and the characters. The fmc was a bit whiney and the mmc is just insufferable

This one was cute! I liked how both Juliet and Will were working on overcoming their dating issues together. The two of them clicked together so well. Their relationship was so sweet and had me cheesy grinning every time they were together. This book had great representation and was a quick sweet read.

I love a good marriage of convenience, and this one was fun! There was so much in this book that made it a wonderful read. There was chemistry, emotion, and challenges. This story felt so real and raw. I was sucked into Will and Juliet's story and was rooting for them the entire book.

This is the perfect book for those who love practice dating, no third act breakup, emotion, and disability rep.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to Berkley Romance for the E-ARC of Once Smitten, Twice Shy.

I am so sad right now. Despite loving the first book in the Wilmot Sister's series, this one was another miss for me. While I loved the representation (Neurodivergent characters, and chronic illness to name a few), I found myself not caring at all for the romance of the book. Which sucks because this book IS A ROMANCE. I found myself bored and wanting to skim a lot of it. I miss Jamie and Bea. But even though it didn't work for me, it could be your favorite of the year and that is more than ok.

HOWEVER, read if you like:

- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Neurodivergence/Anxiety/Chronic Illness Rep
- No Third-Act Breakup
- Second Chance Romance
- Fake Dating


Thanks again to Berkley and Netgallery for the ARC

The third and last book in the Wilmot Sisters trilogy is for the tender-hearted romantics whose idea of fun on a Saturday night is re-watching Pride and Prejudice (2005).

Juliet Wilmot has been burned by love in the past. After recovering from a bad break-up, she runs into Will Orsino, a whiskey distiller who, in turn, is unlucky-in-love. In an effort to re-open themselves up to the concept of romance, Juliet and Will agree to practice date for a period of time. Naturally, sparks fly as the two connect over their interests and grow more passionate in their “practice”. Chloe Liese is deeply compassionate towards her characters as she provides authentic descriptions of anxiety, chronic illness, and emotional maturity.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a gorgeous love story about two gentle people learning to open their hearts one more time, with each other.

Parting after one slow dance on the other side of the world, Juliet and Will are surprised to run onto each other again in Juliet's backyard almost a year later. They are instantly attracted to one another but both have pasts and beliefs holding them back. But they click and genuinely like each other so they hatch a plan to practice romantic dating to help them get over their fears and learn to go after what they want. It's not hard to see where this book is headed but getting there is still a delight. Juliet is kind and funny. She's patient with Will and falls fast for his sweet spirit. Will is thoughtful and hardworking. He loves his family and has found a way to cope with his sensory issues so he can participate in activities with family and friends. He's cautious around Juliet at first but as he realizes what love looks like and feels like, he's committed to making her see they belong together.
The supporting cast of characters are lovely in this novel. The many, many sisters are supportive and funny. The parents are encouraging. The friend group is supportive and quirky. Even the dog is sweet.
This is a syrupy sweet romance with kind characters, no anxiety-producing tension, and just the right amount of spice for the story. Chloe Liese has written a heartfelt love story that is easy and delightful to read.

"With Juliet, I don’t feel self-conscious- I feel seen."

I have been looking forward to Juliet’s book since I read the first book in ‘The Wilmot Sisters’ series and adored it. Will and Juliet were couple goals; their romance was so swoony and left a huge smile on my face.

Will and Juliet meet when she is traveling, and it’s a short meeting, but they hit it off. Fast forward months later, and she sees him again. He’s Christopher’s college friend. It’s serendipitous. They become fast friends and decide to help each other out. Will is shy, and Juliet has sworn off love for now. But with time, Will comes out of his shell with Juliet and she becomes a believer again.

Watching two people able to be their truest selves with one another and seeing that love unfold… never gets old. Will and Juliet’s story was so romantic. I also loved seeing more from Bea and Jamie, as well as Kate and Christopher. This series was wonderful as a whole, and Chloe Liese writes such lovely and relatable characters. I highly recommend checking all of these books out!

What I love most about Chloe Liese’s writing is she always writes for everyone to have the love story they deserve no matter who they are. I related to Juliet so much in the fact that she is so open-hearted when it comes to the loved she gives and even though she got hurt by a previous partner she took her time in caring for herself and not being afraid to get back out there with Will as they “practiced” romance. Will is such a lovable character and they fact that he thought he wasn’t capable of having someone love him for all he is and was willing to settle just for something to do his work with made me so sad BUT we got to see him grow as a character and as he fell in love with Juliet he got to receive love in a way that he thought wasn’t for him. Anyways I will always recommend Chloe’s book and this one was excellent.

This was my favorite of the Wilmont Sisters Trilogy. I don't know if it's because I read it while listening to the first two, but this one felt much less flowery and cheesy. I felt so connected to Juliet. As someone living with fibromyalgia, I related to her struggle to feel independent when your body won't cooperate with you, or the feeling of your friends and family treating you with bumpers on because of your diagnosis. Will is such a cute hero. He is autistic and has this belief that he can't have a normal relationship based on love. If I hadn't had that thought once or twice in my life I would be lying! Together they decide to crush their dating anxieties and try practicing. Only things start to feel a lot less like practice and a lot more like real love.

Read if you like a friends-to-lovers, slow burn romance featuring characters who are neurodivergent and have chronic pain. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 1/14!

A sweet book.
Juliet and Will begin to explore what ,I’ve means and of course fall for each other.
They do have obstacles to overcome but that’s what I like about fiction; often those challenges are met instead of ignored or bristled aside as people often do in reality.
I did think the epilogue was extended a bit long as I was eager to arrive at the conclusion.
I’ve never been a fan of Bill the Bard but I do find the retellings appealing.

The Wilmot Sisters series has a very special place in my heart and finally following Juliet healed me in so many ways. After leaving a toxic relationship she vows to not date one of Christopher's friends until she meets Will, once in Scotland and again in the green house at home. The pair bond over wanting to be better dates and opt to pretend and practice with each other. Will's end goal is to find a wife and Juliet just wants to know that she's still normal and loveable. And by the end they find that the lines begin to blur between practice and what's real. I love Liese's work and how she always takes care the delicate topic of mental illness, physical ailments, and neurodivergence. This has the same wit, charm, and cozy Shakespearean adjacent vibes that I have come to know and love in this series.

Juliet Wilmont is a hopeless romantic at heart, but after a bad breakup she loses some faith in romance. Enter Will Orsino, a man who believes he doesn't know how to be romantic, despite his desire to find a way to help him with his families, whiskey business. Schmoozing clients is not his forte, and if he wants business to grow he needs your partner. The two team up to get more comfortable with romance again, going on dates, sending flirty texts, and giving pointers and encouragement. What they discover along the way is that the other is perhaps just what they needed. Despite, and maybe because of, their imperfections they start to believe in romance again, maybe this time with each other.

💭 This was a sweet and tender love story. I enjoyed both the main characters, and felt they were mature and communicated well. Will was such a sweet MC, so caring and tentative. Juliet had recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, and I thought her attitude about it was healthy. She was not a pessimist, but did mourn the way things were; she also did not want to be treated like she was fragile. As far as fake dating goes, this scenario was not necessarily one I could see happening in real life, but I appreciated their strong friendship that developed because of their situations. This story felt emotional and thoughtful, with plenty of light romantic moments.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!!! I haven't felt so seen in a contemporary romance quite as much as I have with this one. Having a Neuro divergent partner, I related very much to this story. Will and Juliet have the perfect balance, of sweet, vulnerable, and swoony! You easily root for them from page one, and I couldn't get enough. I highlighted so much in my early copy, that I can't wait to get a physical in my grubby little hands to relive it. This book was wildly perfect to me, and I am so happy to have my first favorite of 2025 go to this book. 💖