Once again, Chloe Liese has written a masterpiece romance that will have you kicking your feet and giggling while also tearing up at our main character's struggles and issues. My beloved Juju deserved so much more after the toxic relationship she was in, and who better to swoop her off her feet than an unsuspecting romancer, Will?

I adored both Juliet and Will for multiple reasons; their characters were genuine and kind, and I loved how they were always honest and real with each other, even when it pained them to open up. That's one of my favorite things about Chloe's writing; the romance isn't the only thing that hooks you, but everything that makes these characters who they are. I loved seeing Juliet stand up for herself and showing everyone that despite her illnesses, she isn't fragile nor needs to be babied. I loved seeing Will really grow into himself, gaining confidence and strength in the areas of his life he wasn't sure he could handle.

All in all, another incredible read by Liese, and I am excited for what's to come!

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it wont be the only one. I really enjoyed how the two characters met and how their relationship blossomed. There is no real conflict in the book, which makes it a bit boring, as its very much an easy right place, right time comfy romance. That said, I enjoyed the book and loved the disability representation throughout. I will definitely be recommending it.

Thank you so much to Berkley & NetGalley for my gifted eARC in exchange for my review!

The Wilmot Sisters' romance Once Smitten, Twice Shy explores self-acceptance, love, and trust. The slow burn in this novel was excellent, allowing Juliet and Will's connection to grow through little, meaningful, and realistic moments rather than huge gestures. Their relationship is based on mutual respect, secure understanding, and unwavering honesty. I adored Juliet and Will's connection; they were perfect together.

if you ever and i mean EVER want a book with the perfect neurodivergent representation, Chloe Liese is your gal! Her books always make me feel seen but not in a ‘youre so different’ type of way but more of a ‘you’re normal and exactly who you are and deserve love’ type of way.

this was a great Slow-burn romance
with of course, Autism and chronic illness representation
and witty banter and some practice dating!

it was so freaking good!

I started Once Smitten, Twice Shy thinking it wasn’t quite up to par with my usual instant love that Chloe’s other books made me feel but boy was I wrong, Will and Juliet were a dynamic I fell for HARD. Their story is one of finding love in ways you’d never expect and hope so beautifully raw I felt alight with it. And the writing!!! So many quotes that perfectly capture the beauty of reading romance novels in general but more specifically a Chloe Liese novel.

As always, Chloe captures genuine, authentic portrayals of both chronic pain and neurodivergence- experiences that deeply resonate with me and shape my daily life. I always appreciate seeing them thoughtfully represented within the books I love especially the way in which Chloe incorporates them so fluidly. All in all, a fantastic book from start to finish and one I adore with all my heart!

I really enjoyed this book and ugh just look at the cover! I didn't love book two at all so I was bit worried going into this one (even if it was highly anticipated) and the issues I had are nowhere to be found here!

Once Smitten is the last book in the Wilmot sisters series. It features Juliet and Will - I was really excited to get to know Juliet more in this book. She is as awesome as I hoped and Will is just so swoony. The chemistry is off the charts and I love a good "practice/lessons" type trope. They are both awkward and it's so awesome to see that in both main characters.

I applied for this book through Berkley's underrepresented voices program because of the autism representation in this book. I really like Will and how autism is represented here. It shows what love looks like for someone like me and how it's more than just something quirky. While I think the vibe is a bit too educational at times, I'm really glad it's out in the world so y'all can experience their love story.

Read If You Like:
- Slow-burn romance
- Autism and chronic illness representation
- Practice-dating tropes
- Friends to Lovers
- Witty banter & heartfelt moments

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is romance in the Wilmot Sisters series that explores love, trust, and self-acceptance. At its heart is Juliet Wilmot, a once-hopeful romantic who has grown wary of love after heartbreak. Will Orsino, a reserved and duty-bound man, has convinced himself that romance isn’t meant for him—especially with the challenges he has had with dating and being autistic. When a series of chance encounters forces them together, they strike a deal: a no-pressure, practice-dating arrangement to help Juliet regain confidence in love and for Will to learn how to get past the second date.

The slow burn in this story was so well done, allowing Juliet and Will’s relationship to develop through small, meaningful & realistic moments rather than grand gestures. Their connection is built on quiet understanding and mutual respect, and always honesty.

What stands out most is the depth of representation—Will’s experience as an autistic man is not just a detail but an integral part of his character, influencing how he moves through the world and how he learns to open up to Juliet. The romance unfolds at a careful, measured pace, ensuring that every step feels earned and deeply felt.

Fans of slow-burn romance that prioritizes emotional depth will find themselves absolutely loving Will and Juliet’s story and returning to the much loved trio of the Wilmot sisters one last time!

Thank you so much to Berkley for my gifted eARC in exchange for my review!

This was my favorite of the series, a close beating out to book one with Bea and Jamie. I loved this and was pleasantly surprised - I think the retellings can come across as not super relateable but Chloe does it so well. I wish there was more Scotland though I have to admit!

Will and Juliette were so wonderful together - seeing them date and slowly fall in love. Their patience with each other. Plus the tie ins with She's the Man (what's your favorite cheese) just made me SQUEAL. I had a lot of fun with this book.

This book was the sweetest conclusion to this series! I love the Wilmot sisters! Juliet and Will were so so cute and the plot of practicing romance with each other made for such a swoon-worthy story. Juliet who swore off love after experiencing heartbreak and Will who is shy and reserved take a chance on each other through this mutual agreement and go on their journey of faking it until it eventually becomes a love that was real was rewarding to read about and a great ending to this series!🩷

I love the representation in this book!

FMC has a chronic illness ( similar to one I have and I felt very seen) and the MMC is neurodivergent. The characters were so well developed and multifaceted. Some might think that having the main characters have these struggles takes the enjoyment out of reading but I find myself craving authentic characters like this.

I'll admit that I totally forgot this was based off of Twelfth Night until I was reading and thinking about "why is this book so similar to She's The Man." I figured it out and love a good contemporary retelling.

Also hallelujah for no third act break up. Those are the worst and a tired plot device. Not saying these characters didn't hit a bump in the road, but the way it was written was thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to the Berkley Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices for sharing a copy of this sweet read

3.25⭐️

Cute, heartwarming…but also maybe a bit boring🫣 I feel like Chloe Liese always nails a sweet heartfelt romance in the end, but sometimes I do think that the actual romance & plot of her books falls a bit flat. I love all of the great representation, especially for neurodivergence & chronic illness- I truly think that is THE highlight of her books. But with that being said, I want these characters to have more interesting relationships. I feel like we get the tender moments & even some steamy ones (which I do enjoy) but I also want some tension and angst. Anywho, maybe the author just isn’t for me, but I was really hoping this series could go out with a bang😬

This novel delivers a tender and emotional love story that lingers in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page. The characters are crafted with incredible depth, each carrying their own burdens, dreams, and vulnerabilities that make their journey toward love all the more compelling.

a solid 3.5⭐️ read for me!! I do wonder if I’d read the first two in this standalone series if I would’ve rated it higher!

this is literary sugar, so sweet and sappy and cute 🥹 there were so many moments that I adored these characters and was so proud of the decisions they made. one deals with a chronic illness so she is living in pain, and the other is neurodivergent who deals with anxiety and sensitivity to sensory overload. this book is the opposite of miscommunication, they openly trust each other and discuss what they’re feeling which I found refreshing at first 🤪 then I realized I may enjoy the miscommunication trope more than I thought just bc it adds to the ~drama~ 😂 I loved that our FMC loves reading romance books and has the MMC read some, I wanted more of this!! I would’ve loved to hear more of his thoughts! and there were other moments like this that seemed like they could’ve been explored more. overall a super cute read!!

I've loved this series and OSTS is just as delightful.

I immediately felt my heart melt after seeing just how much Juliet had adored him during their first encounters that when we finally got Will's POV chapter and how he felt so awkward and clumsy. Cuz isn't that LOVE?! Even when you're feeling awkward, your person finds it the most endearing shit they've ever seen. Excellent writing, Chloe!!! From there I just had such a soft spot for both of them. I loved how Juliet's past (from book 1) was acknowledged but didn't hold too much space for it except that her heart was a bit bruised from the experience. My heart absolutely broke for Will that his own heart was bruised from past romantic attempts. I loved their friendship and bond and their pinky promise communication. Side bar but I've come to respect books with (a well done) miscommunication trope because ITS HARD in real life - miscommunication may feel infuriating while you're reading it but acting like we are all healthy communicators is trash. So Will and Juliet having their pinky promise honest communication was the perfect way to ACKNOWLEDGE how we don't always want to be honest (I'm scared, I'm in pain, I'm panicking, I'm FEELING EMOTIONS) but need a reminder that your partner is a safe space for those truths.

It was also wonderful to see Kate and Bea and all the gang again. To wrap up this series quite nicely.

What I didn't love: the chapter where they decide to "practice date" really pulled me out of the story. I know the "I need to get married to inherit my uncles money to save my farm" kind of tropes are SILLY but I felt Will's rationale actually took it to far to not even pretend it was believable. Then the practice dating idea felt like it was trying to hard to align this story with Twelfth Night. Not my favorite chapter at all and perhaps if it was a new-to-me-author this would have been DNF material my eyes were rolling to hard. But I trust in Chloe and am glad I did but this did knock a star off for me.

Another amazing story by Chloe Liese. Her books are always full of heart and put me in my feels in the best way. I thought the audio was so well done. I truly loved the relationship between Juliet and Will, they were so good together.

Tbh, the fake dating seemed a little bit silly - I think they should've just been together for real from the beginning - but I understand the why behind it. The mental health and chronic illness rep were on point as always. I had a great time reading and listening to this one.

4 STARS

Dealing with the fresh sting of heartbreak, Juliet Wilmot runs into Will Orsino—a shy, gentle giant who seems to be a hero ripped straight from Juliet’s Highlander romances. Juliet feels rusty when it comes to romance and Will feels like a beginner bike rider. When they agree to fake dating lessons to learn about romance, little do they know that fake flirting can lead to real feelings.

From awkward thinking thoughts becoming talking thoughts, to the “practice” dates, reading about these two wobbling their way through romantic lessons was hilarious and sweet and heartwarming. Will is a big teddy bear and Juliet is just so deserving of someone obsessed with her (which Will clearly is). I absolutely loved the Wilmot sisters series and this book is a beautiful wrap up of the sisters’ love stories!

Features:
- cinnamon roll FMC and MMC
- friends to lovers
- fake dating
- slow burn
- neurodivergent rep (autism)
- chronic illness rep (celiac disease and mixed connective tissue disorder)

Thank you Berkley for providing an e-arc!

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.