Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

Book 3 of The Wilmont Sisters Series follows Jules and Will. They first meet when she is abroad following the end of her engagement and while they share an evening together, they go their separate ways only to find out that they are connected to each other through Christopher, Jules’ lifelong friend and Will’s college friend. What follows is a sweet and tender story, where they each learn how to be in a relationship again, and learn that they want that relationship to be with each other.

I did think that of the 3 books in this series, this was the warmest of the 3, and by that I mean that it just felt so cozy and without too much conflict. I loved seeing their relationship blossom and they were both so kind to one another. I also loved being back with this larger group as a whole. Chloe Liese has a wonderful way of creating characters that are just so dear to me, and that I want to continue seeing in future stories (Bea and Jamie, you’ll always have my heart!)

✔️ Teach Me
✔️ Let's Keep Us a Secret
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Retelling

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is the third book in Chloe Liese's Wilmot Sisters series, which are all retellings of Shakespeare's plays. This one is a reimagining of Twelfth Night, which is also one of my favorite of Shakespeare's works.

Jules and Will have a couple of chance meetings. The second one led to them agreeing to practice dating each other. She's recovering from a bad relationship while he is a bad dater.

I'm usually not a "meant to be" trope person for contemporaries but I kinda dug this one. I think it's because the MCs were cheesily charming so it made sense for them to have a quirky origin story.

I loved how they were almost instantly in tune with each other's needs and did their best to make things easier for them. The disability rep was well done here.

Parts of the dialogue were super corny but these guys are corny people so it didn't bother me once I figured that out.

My fave scenes were the group ones where you see the couples from the earlier books.

Overall, this was a charming read - 4⭐️

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕

Juliet has been burned by love and is wary of jumping back into the dating pool. Will is awkward and shy and so he has trouble navigating romance. They meet and end up confiding in each other, deciding to enter into a practice romance to help each other prepare to find love.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy was a sweet and spicy romance brimming with chemistry! There was a great foundation of friendship first making their connection more profound. Both Juliet and Will were likeable characters and so thoughtful with each other. It made my heart swoon! I also appreciated there was no third act breakup!

As a side note I love the beautiful cover! It perfectly depicts Will and Juliet in a scene from the book. The same with the other covers in the series.

Though not my favorite of the Wilmot sisters series, this was a fun one. Juliet and Will meet by chance in Scotland and then again back home, where it turns out that he is one of her good friend's/surrogate brother's good friend's. Due to Juliet's past relationship trauma and Will's neurodivergence, they both feel they need romance practice, so they decide to help each other out. They are attracted to each other but feel they are both off limits because of Will's friendship with Juliet's surrogate brother.

Things I liked: neurodivergence and chronic illness representation; I loved Will as a character; the lack of silly conflict and miscommunication

Things I didn't love: While I liked the lack of manufactured conflict, it kind of felt like not a lot happened. I also find sometimes find the sisters' relationship dynamics a little juvenile and irritating.

3.5 rounded up to a 4 star read.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun-loving time, I did struggle a bit with the pacing and getting into it however, I did enjoy the characters and the overall dynamic, I have always been a huge Chloe Liese fan and I love her ability to write love stories that focus on the couple connecting, their inner struggles, and their overall happiness. She also does a wonderful job including various types of individuals and representing chronic illnesses, disabilities, sexual orientations, mental health issues, etc. in her books!

Fake dating romance with emphasis on mental and physical health. Juliet and Will have a very *adult* relationship, with perfect communication and next-to-no misunderstanding... which was probably why I lost interest halfway through then had to push myself to get back in. No problems, no serious tension--hard to be truly invested. Not my favorite of the Wilmot Sisters trilogy, but it’s decent.

I enjoyed the Bergman Brothers series by this author so I thought I would give this a try. While I appreciate the representation of neurodivergent characters, these are written almost like they’re children and it was painful to get through this. I didn’t understand the need for fake dating and ultimately the story didn’t work for me. I couldn’t get through this and this ended up as a DNF.

Though I hadn't read the first two books in the series when I requested this book, I loved the description. I'm so glad that I read it! It was such a cute story and I love the two main characters - and the other characters are fun as well! A sweet story with none of the tropes that annoy me, I absolutely recommend this story to readers that like a sweet, friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with some spicy scenes!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the one I was waiting for!!!
The third Wilmot sister finally gets her book. Juliet and Will have a moment in Scotland while Juliet hides and nurses her broken heart. But of course she runs into him again in a hilarious scene in her mom’s greenhouse and of course he is her sister’s boyfriend’s best friend. He needs a partner, she needs to learn to love again. A little fake dating turns into more.
This was by far my favorite book in the series. Juliet is a bit of a mystery in the first two books, but she is my favorite Wilmot sister. Will is also kind and sweet and the best of the MMCs in this series. Chloe Liese really finished this series up strong!

I love that she has ton of representation in her books, especially with medical conditions, but this fell flat. I just didn’t really connect to any of these characters & fake dating is never my favorite trope.

It’s a Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night retelling, which heavily reminded me of the movie She’s The Man, including the mention of Gouda cheese so that aspect I really liked.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Chloe Liese does it again!!💘

Two Wrongs Make a Right is one of my absolute favorite books of all time, and I’ve been obsessed with this series since I first read it. This book had the same wonderful representation and gentle romance as the others and it made me fall in love with Chloe’s writing all over again.

Will was such a sweetheart and it broke my heart that his past experiences made him believe that he wasn’t destined for read love and only made for a contractual marriage. He was so considerate and wonderful and I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug and tell him how valuable he was. My gentle giant 🥺

Juliet was also such a wonderful character and I had been waiting for her book. I loved her strength and loved watching her find her place again after the breakup and all of the disruption in her life. She was such a breath of fresh air and I loved the way she softened Will.

I love how in every book in this series there is the perfect balance of soft light hearted romance and discussion of hard topics. The way nerodivergence and chronic illness was discussed in this book was done with such grace, it felt raw and real and I felt all the emotions as they learned to love themselves while also falling in love with each other.

I also loved the friend group in this book, seeing everyone together and watching Will get introduced to the rowdy bunch was everything to me. I also ADORED seeing Jamie’s character development from book one to now as far as his place in the group. It was such a phenomenal little piece to add for the conclusion of the series. My heart feels so full.

“If you were a veggie,” I tell her, “you’d be a cute-cumber.”
There is so much to love in Once Smitten Twice Shy. Chloe Liese has given readers a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night complete with fake dating, her signature neurodiverse featured characters, and what I would like to now call “communication porn.”


Yeah Right Flirt Gif by Originals
The eldest Wilmot sister finally has her romance and it’s a swoony one, yall! Readers get a first glimpse of Juliet as she comes to terms with her chronic illness while on a getaway to Scotland. It’s there she meets an enigmatic American at a pub. What are the odds that the very same enigmatic man is also the one she happens upon in her mother’s greenhouse that summer?

He dips his head a little, leaning in, and whether he meant to or not, the backs of his knuckles brush against mine. “Some wise woman told me we’d wobble together.”
Will is also an eldest sibling. He’s the reliable one that wants to handle all his family’s problems while also fumbling with his dating life and anxiety that comes with awkwardly flirting with the fairer sex. Juliet also needs to brush off her dating skills after her disastrous breakup with her ex. Naturally, fake dating is the solution that Juliet and Will decide is the best-case scenario. Friends can flirt and go on practice dates with each other, right? What could go wrong?


whiskey gif via tenor
With each casual hangout that inevitably leads to Will and Juliet’s lives becoming more entwined, their fake relationship teeters on that precipice of an actual relationship. This is where the communication porn comes into play. Both Will and Juliet are so cognizant of their needs as well as so careful with the other that it makes for such an emotionally intelligent romance. Chloe Liese, are you listening? I freaking loved Will and Juliet.

It does something to me, to feel like I’ve learned Juliet at lightning speed, that I can already read between the lines of what she means.
Not only does Juliet get Will to read romances and dress up (oh just you wait, readers), but she’s also so secure that she willingly helps Will with his family business without an afterthought. Once Smitten Twice Shy features the most adorkable texting, thoughtful gestures, family hijinks, and every single feel good vibe that you could possibly imagine. I absolutely adored the fact that Will is so emotionally intelligent and thoughtful, the fact that even though Juliet is dealing with not one but two invisible illnesses, she is stalwart in her advocacy for herself, and the fact that both Will and Juliet given each other the grace to fumble and pick themselves back up again.

I am forlorn to say that this is the final installment of the Wilmot Sisters series, but Once Smitten Twice Shy is an ode to all things that are lovely about romance. Don’t feel intimidated about picking it up either, Once Smitten Twice Shy can easily be read as a standalone, although I guarantee that you’ll want to get to know Juliet’s sisters as well.

Out today, Once Smitten Twice Shy is already a top read of 2025 for this Bee.

Shakespeare in the modern world!

I love a good retelling, and this twist of Twelfth Night in a modern world was a nice breath of fresh air. I’ve read some of Liese before, and I have thoroughly enjoyed many of her Bergman series books. Jumping into Julia and Will’s story, I wasn’t sure what to expect. You know how I like to jump into these books blind. I was pleasantly surprised.

Julia and Will both have reasons to avoid romance. Julia is just out of a heart-breaking relationship. Whereas Will doesn’t think love is in the cards for him as someone on the spectrum and a natural introvert. These pair meet in a series of strange encounters that seem both related to fate and eventually decide to be each other’s buddy on the path to get back into the dating scene. Oh, how I love a story about ‘let’s help each other get comfortable dating. ‘

For Will and Julia, they both happen to hit all the right buttons that increase their attraction, and soon they are fighting against reality for all the wrong reasons, which I love. But what else did I enjoy, the humor, the humanity moments between Will and Julia. There are plenty of times I laughed aloud as all their best-laid plans fell apart. The supporting cast of characters, from Julia’s family to Will’s mischievous niece, was fabulous. There is even a cat and dog to cause mayhem in various ways.

This story had good pacing and a natural progression, and for those who enjoy a nice book with low conflict, this is one for you. I found myself waiting for everything to go wrong, but this story had a nice slice-of-life feel to it that was easy to sink into but not so frantic I couldn’t pull away to take care of a chore or two.

Overall, if you’re looking for a contemporary read with plenty of swoon-worthy moments, a slow-build attraction that turns scorching, a diverse world, and plenty of tie-backs to Shakespeare in various ways to make you chuckle, I would say give Once Smitten, Twice Shy a read. I will be heading into the backlist to read the first two books in the series.

~ Landra

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese is a heartfelt and charming romance that truly hit all the right notes for me. I’ve been a fan of Chloe Liese’s writing for a while, and this book didn’t disappoint. It’s a beautifully crafted story about love, self-acceptance, and second chances that I couldn’t put down.

The main characters are relatable, real, and so easy to root for. The author does an incredible job of giving them depth and complexity, making their emotional journeys feel authentic. I especially loved how the characters are forced to confront their fears and insecurities, both individually and together. Their personal growth is a huge part of what makes this story so rewarding to read.

The romance between the two leads is slow-burn and sweet, filled with chemistry that builds naturally over time. There’s something so endearing about their connection, and I appreciated the way Chloe Liese handled their relationship with nuance and sensitivity. It felt like a true exploration of love that doesn’t rush things, allowing the characters to develop and grow at their own pace.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was the way it tackled real-life issues, like mental health and self-doubt, while still maintaining a light-hearted and uplifting tone. It’s a book that balances heavier themes with moments of warmth and humor, making it an emotionally satisfying read without feeling overly dramatic.

Overall, Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a perfect romance for anyone who loves a well-written, character-driven story with plenty of heart. If you’re looking for a book that’s sweet, smart, and emotionally resonant, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Reading a Chloe Liese book is like being wrapped in a warm hug, and this book is no different. I was excited to read Juliet's book after seeing everything she went through in the past, especially in the first book. Watching her heal and fall in love with the absolute golden retriever that was Will. He was truly a book boyfriend for the history books. This whole book was just so gentle. Their love was so wholesome and pure and I truly enjoyed it.

I will say the one part I didn't really like is that they never recap what happened to Juliet in the previous books. They talk about her abusive ex but they never even say his name. It has been a few years since I read the first book so I forgot all of the details about him. I appreciate Chloe Liese not bringing up a topic that could be triggering for people, but I wish we would have gotten even a vague background.

First thing I need to mention is I really liked the disability and neurodivergent rep in this book! I really appreciate seeing it in books and always keep an eye out for titles that include it. This is my first book by this author— thank you Berkeley for the chance to read this in advance with the gifted copy! Now as for the story and romance I enjoyed it but was not head over heels by the end! I think it was still overall good and I know many will fall in love.

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Absolutely loved this one from Chloe. It’s definitely my favorite from her. The sisters books are like a warm hug that just keeps squeezing and squeezing as you read through- and I love that. As always, Chloe has perfected the ability to write disabilities into these stories in a way that doesn’t seem forced or exaggerated but actually what it may be like for those characters. Her attention to detail is impeccable.

This one also has one of my favorite tropes of “let’s just do it to get it out of our systems” along with heavy mutual pining. Love it, give me more!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this final entry in the Wilmot Sisters series. I think that this is an example of a series that got stronger as it went on. While I enjoyed all entries, I think that Chloe Liese made Will and Juliet's story more complex and interesting and emotional. That may also be due to the fact that we've been following Juliet's journey the longest (a previous relationship of hers was toxic and featured in the first book in this series). I would say this is a very loose Twelfth Night retelling - it has more references to She's the Man to be honest (not that I'm mad about it, just saying!). These retellings have winks and nods and use names from the original texts but the major plot beats are not where the focus is.

Will is introverted, neurodivergent and trying to figure out how to do romance so he can marry someone who will compliment him in the family business of distillery. He is looking for his extroverted, marketing savvy partner. Juliet is extroverted, dealing with a recent diagnosis of a chronic illness (I believe POTS?) and healing after her past toxic relationship. After a chance encounter with Will while she was in Scotland, they meet again at home and decide to fake date but just to practice romance and get them both comfortable with flirting, dates, etc. again. The attraction is there and so of course they fall for each other. This is just such a wholesome and purely charming romance (but still hot!!) and it almost feels more like friends to lovers because of how the relationship develops. There's no 3rd act breakup, they just both have to come to the conclusion that they can and should be together! Chloe Liese has yet to miss for me.

REVIEW: Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

Chloe Liese is one of my favorite authors, and I especially love her Bergman Brothers series. Chloe does a fantastic job with her characters, chemistry, spice, and always has some sort of representation of mental health, chronic illness, or other diversity. I also love that she always weaves the different characters of her previous books within the series. I was excited to read Once Smitten, Twice Shy as the third and last in the series.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Chloe again does a fantastic job with representation. In Once Smitten, Twice Shy, chronic pain and neurodiversity are all presented realistically. This story was so sweet and romantic, and even though it is a slow burn, the spice was worth it. I enjoyed the twist of the fake dating trope by having the main characters “practice” dating.

I adored the two main characters in Once Smitten, Twice Shy. Will is a shy guy who works at a whiskey distillery and has little to no experience with dating and love. Juliet, or Jules for short, had a messy breakup with her previous fiance, leaving her pessimistic about love. They both decide to practice dating each other to get back into the dating game, even though they are convinced love isn’t in the cards for them. I love that this is written from a dual point of view to see what each one is thinking and feeling. Jules and Will are goofy, caring, understanding, and have great chemistry. They made me laugh out loud multiple times throughout Once Smitten, Twice Shy. I also appreciated showing a relationship with clear, direct, and kind communication.

Overall, I loved Once Smitten and Twice Shy. Chloe always brings so much to her romance books; I am always willing to read anything from her. This one was definitely a favorite of mine!

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance for the free book! #BerkleyPartner

Everything Chloe Liese writes is golden! I loved finding little nods to "She's the Man" and of course Twelfth Night. Chloe wrote thoughtful autism and chronic illness representation. This book is great for romance readers who want a sweet story without stress.

Chloe remains an instant-read author for me. I have my fingers crossed for a sapphic romance next!