I loved them so much. A few out of date mentions that I need contemporary romance authors to leave alone but otherwise such a solid addition to Chloe's ever growing repertoire. A thoughtful and sweet romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet. If there's one thing - okay two - it is write disabled main characters getting their happy endings without needing to be "healed" and dialogue and interactions that aren't always banter but are always both somehow so real and so there's no way a white man said there (non-derogatory). I will miss the WIlmots but I think Juliet and Will were the perfect couple to end this trilogy.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for including me on this buddy read.

Chloe Liese's 'Once Smitten, Twice Shy' is a heartwarming and poignant read that wraps around you like a cozy blanket. From the opening page, I was captivated by the enchanting world of Jules and Will, and their journey of healing and self-discovery.

I anticipated a typical romance, but Liese delivers a much deeper story. Jules's struggle to overcome the trauma of a past relationship is portrayed with raw honesty, her cautious steps towards love resonating deeply. Will, with his own personal demons, is a refreshing departure from the typical "knight in shining armor" trope. His genuine vulnerability makes him incredibly endearing.

The true strength of this novel lies in its authentic representation of chronic illness and neurodivergence. These aspects are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, offering a meaningful and respectful portrayal of lived experiences.

While the pacing occasionally dips in the middle, and some readers might find certain emotional scenes particularly intense, these minor drawbacks are overshadowed by the book's profound emotional core and undeniable authenticity. 'Once Smitten, Twice Shy' is a truly special story about finding love and healing in unexpected places.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #berkleyromance #berkleybuddyreads #berkelywritesstrongwomen #oncesmittentwiceshy #chloeliese

Unfortunately this iBook was not for me, which is unfortunate because I love Chloe Liese and have enjoyed this series. I found that I read this and forgot everything about it. I’m sure other people will love, but this is not her best work.

5⭐️
2🔥

Quick Breakdown

Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating for Practice
Cinnamon Roll Hero
Chronic Pain / Neurodivergent Rep
Slow Burn
No 3rd Act Breakup
Dual POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate

Thank you @berkleyromance for the eARC and gifted finished copy & @prhaudio for the ALC #berkleypartner

Juliet & Will first meet in a bar in Scotland. He was the handsome fellow American stranger who asked her to dance in a crowded pub. They share a moment that feels like magic before a recently heartbroken Jules bolts. They run into each other again, in her parent’s backyard of all places. Their neighbor, Christopher coincidentally one of Will’s best friends from college. These equally lost in romance idiots (said with all the genuine love) decide to help each other. Jules, is unsure of herself after her toxic ex while Will, the gentlest ginger giant, is looking for a life partner but has yet to met someone who sees him that way. They decide to be “romance workout warriors” & practice dating together - because no true feelings could blossom in this safe space, right??

Another win for the soft & swoony romances!

There is something about fake dating for practice that gets me every single time. These two beautiful fools don’t realize that every bit of practice was them slowly opening themselves up and falling in love for real. Once again, CL tackled the serious topics of chronic illness and neurodivergent MCs while keeping the romances light. There was growth & healing for both & no third act breakup that only further helped to melt my stressed out heart.

In OSTS, we get to meet Will’s big whiskey making family who I instantly fell in love with. While I’m sad to say goodbye to the Wilmot sisters, I’m also over here speculating in my head the possibility of a new Chloe series surrounding this new bunch of characters 🤞🏻

I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a good Shakespeare-inspired romance, and this steamy reimagining of Twelfth Night did not disappoint! With its mix of serendipity, slow-burn chemistry, and characters you can’t help but root for, this book charmed its way into my heart.

Juliet "Jules" Wilmot was such a relatable protagonist. Her journey from heartbreak to cautiously opening herself up to the idea of love again felt authentic and deeply moving. I loved her blend of vulnerability and strength, and her banter with Will had me grinning from ear to ear. Speaking of Will Orsino—what a dreamboat! Quiet, shy, and adorably awkward, he’s a refreshing departure from the typical alpha male hero. His genuine sweetness and the way he slowly gained confidence throughout the story made him impossible not to love.

The "practice romance" setup was both fun and clever, creating the perfect framework for Jules and Will’s relationship to develop. Their connection felt organic, and the way their feelings grew over time was beautifully paced. The romantic tension between them was palpable, and when they finally gave in to their attraction, it was as satisfying as it was steamy.

What really stood out to me, though, was how the book balanced the lighthearted, romantic moments with deeper themes of self-discovery and healing. Both Jules and Will had their own emotional baggage to work through, and watching them support each other through those challenges added so much depth to their story.

If I had one minor critique, it would be that some of the secondary characters felt a bit underdeveloped. I would have loved to see more of the supporting cast—especially the family dynamics on Will’s side, which were hinted at but not fully explored.

Overall, this was a delightful, heartfelt read that left me with a big smile on my face. If you’re a fan of Shakespeare retellings, swoon-worthy romance, or stories about finding love when you least expect it, this book is definitely worth picking up. Four stars!

will and jules my beloveds! 🫶🏼

first of all, i’m emotional that this series has come to an end, i didn’t know that when i picked up two wrongs make a right years ago that my life would chance, my brain chemistry would be altered, and i’d make it my whole personality lol
i still bring up that book to my friends,
this series has just been so heartwarming and beautiful from the start to me
i have fallen in love with these characters and their flaws, i appreciate them so much

will and jules are no exception, they have the biggest tender hearts and godddd reading their journey, letting each other in, and changing that mindset that they had they are damaged and not capable of loving or fearing to fall in love, the trust they had, my heart truly aches and yearns for them
they are hopeless romantics that just want to be seen 🥹 and dammit did they see that in each other
they were cute, they were comforting, they were everything! i laughed and kicked my feet, teared up a couple times, they were so peaceful and i loved that! 💕

chloe, i am in awe of your mind, your stories of people finding someone so deserving of them and seeing them for who they are is truly beautiful, your acknowledgements had me in tears, i love you girlie 🫶🏼

oh and i loved the cameos! even my homie little cornelius popped up 🦔, every one was there! BEA AND JAMIE 🫶🏼 ahhh the epilogue had me in tears

many thanks to Berkley for the arc!

Thank you PRH Audio and Berkley Romance #PRHAudioPartner for the gifted e-ARC and audiobook.

After loving Two Wrongs Make a Right, I was excited to dive back into the Wilmont sisters series. Chloe Liese creates such relatable and real characters. I appreciate her depiction of autism through her stories and acknowledgment that experiences vary.

Juliet and Will have such a sweet story. I love how both of them gain confidence and discover new parts of themselves through this story. Their chemistry sizzles, and the slow burn feels incredibly rewarding in this practice dating/friends to lovers romance.

Great narration from Charlotte North and Tim Paige.

Chloe Liese is now an auto-read author. I’m excited to go back and read book two of The Wilmont Sisters series. Have I mentioned that I’m a chaotic reader? 🤭

Who doesn’t love a man who looks exactly like a Scottish Highlander out of one of your favorite historical romances?

This book was so freakin cute. I have loved every single one of these books in this series so much. I couldn’t have pictured a better couple for the ending of this series. Juliet and Will are absolutely perfect for each other and deserve the world. Their cute little “practice dates”, the way that they supported and reassured each other when the other felt like they were doing something wrong, I just loved them so so much.

I’m really excited to see what Chloe Liese comes up with next in that beautiful brain of hers!

Juliet an ex hopeless romantic who has sworn off love, now has the opportunity to practice romance with shy guy Will. Except it seems like fate has other plans for them

I absolutely adored this book! It was so cute, I already loved the first 2 books of the series and this one was just as good.

Chloe Liese just has a way with capturing characters who are so real and relatable. I loved the depth of emotion we got between Juliet and Will, and I loved watching them slowly open up to one another. This was another fantastic book from Chloe!

I love reading classic retellings, even when I’m not super familiar with the story. This new release is a reimagining of Twelfth Night, which I only know from She’s the Man tbh, but I really loved the story regardless!

This is the third book in a series so I don’t want to say too much, but I really loved this instalment. Chloe Liese is a huge fave of mine, I feel like she just does romance so well.

Juliet and Will were such lovely characters, getting to see them grow individually and together made me so happy. Their love story was so sweet, and I really loved where they ended up together. I also really enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous books in this.

I also think that Chloe Liese always does a really lovely job at writing the representation within these stories, with characters that feel incredibly well thought out and real.

Thank you to the publisher for sharing an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

Chloe Liese just never misses when it comes to delivering a heartwarming, swoony romance. Once Smitten, Twice Shy is the third book in the Wilmot series trilogy. It’s a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Nigh, and while I’m sad this series is ending, it’s truly ending on the most perfect of notes!

Juliet Wilmot has sworn off love ever since she got herself out of a very toxic relationship. Will Orsino assumes love isn’t in the cards for hi because he is neurodivergent, which presents many challenges to him finding someone to love. Juliet and Will first cross paths in Scotland where she has gone to heal after her break and where he is on business. When they cross paths again after returning home, what started as coincidence starts to feel like kismet and Juliet and Will soon embark on the sweetest and flirtiest of friendships.

I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers romance, and I thought this one was just so beautifully written. I especially loved that the set up was having Juliet and Will help each other practice learning how to be romantic by better picking up on social cues. The scenes where they’re helping each other are just so sweet and amusing! I also thought it was such a unique use of the fake dating trope too!

I also love that I can always count on Chloe Liese to accurately and sensitively handle the incorporation of neurodivergent & chronic illness representation. She really does a great job with both of those in this book.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a lovely, heartwarming read, and the perfect series finale.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a modern Shakespeare retelling that reimagines Twelfth Night with Chloe Liese’s signature focus on love, acceptance, and emotional growth. While the premise—a “romance workout” partnership between Juliet, a woman healing from an emotionally abusive relationship, and Will, a shy and introspective cinnamon roll of a man—sounds promising, the execution left me feeling underwhelmed.

Juliet’s gentle, self-aware nature and Will’s quiet charm make them likable leads, and their low-drama connection is refreshing. I appreciated the absence of typical romance pitfalls like third-act breakups or contrived miscommunication, and Will’s relationship with his niece and Juliet’s friends added warmth to the story. However, despite these positives, Once Smitten, Twice Shy feels repetitive and lacking in emotional depth. Juliet’s toxic relationship, which was heavily emphasized in previous books, is barely explored here, robbing her character arc of potential complexity. Similarly, Will’s shyness and reserved nature, while endearing, didn’t evolve much beyond surface-level traits.

The writing itself also faltered at times, with overly long internal monologues that disrupted the pacing and felt disjointed. As a longtime fan of Chloe Liese, I’ve come to expect emotional resonance and rich storytelling, but this book fell short compared to her Wilmot or Bergman series. While Once Smitten, Twice Shy has its sweet and giggle-worthy moments, it lacked the depth and spark to truly captivate me. Here’s hoping her next project recaptures the magic.

Chloe Liese never disappoints! Everything she writes, I love. Her characters and storylines are so so real. I was so happy we finally got to see Juliet's story! It was everything I was hoping it would be. Thank you Chloe and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Once Smitten, Twice Shy!!! I loved it!

I really enjoyed getting to know Juliet and Will throughout this book. While there were a few aspects I felt could have been explored more deeply, it was still a wonderful read. Will is autistic, and Juliet has joint issues and follows a gluten-free diet. I found myself relating to both characters in different ways Will, with his struggle to always find the right words, and Juliet, with her gluten-free lifestyle. What I loved most was how they just fit together.

The Highland fantasy element was a fantastic touch, and I especially adored how Will was portrayed as such a "cinnamon roll" character. I also appreciated that there was no third-act breakup—it's something I really can’t stand, and this book proved it could work just as well without it. Plus, fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and it played out beautifully here. I devoured the book in one sitting—it was so gripping, I couldn’t put it down.

This story was incredibly cute. The two met across the pond and then right in their own backyards again months later. Will is looking for a "wife" and Juliete is looking to get back into the dating pool, but she just has to get over her fears. The decide they should do some practice romance together, and you know what that means. They are going to fall for one another of course!
Will doesn't think he can give Juliete the love that she deserves and Juliete wants it all. She knows she deserves better than she has gotten, so she has to search for it. If only she wasn't so scared. Will isn't good with people, in general. He is grumpy and tends to get friendzoned pretty quickly by the women he dates. He needs some lessons on how to talk to women and keep them if he is going to be able to find the wife he needs.
It was clear VERY early on that the two of them had a connection that ran deep. I liked seeing the other couples in this book as well, and just wished Juliete and Will could get out of their own heads and communicate with one another a little faster than they did. There wasn't a lot of angst here, just a lot of cute moments where you wanted to hug them both.
Thanks to Berkley, Chloe Liese and Netgalley for an early copy.

this book had my heart in a giant puddle! it was so sweet, will was SO SWEET he’s literally the blueprint. juliet and will’s love is slow and soft but still steamy and will definitely get you giddy.

i would’ve liked more subplot and the shakespeare names/references were kind of distracting. but this will definitely not be my last chloe liese book because i sometimes i just need my ice cold heart to melt and she knows how to make that happen

3.5⭐️

This was a really sweet, soft, conflict-free ending to the series. Not my favorite by the author, but it definitely had plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

I think where this one fell a little short was in the long exposition and repetitive internal monolgue. Without a main conflict driving things forward, it just felt a little drawn out at times.

But I loved the chronic illness & neurodiversity rep. And the way these 2 loved each other 🥹 good communication is definitely sexy.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, NetGalley and Chloe Liese for giving me an eARC of this book.

I’m such a Chloe fan and though I’m new to the world of the Wilmot sisters, I am so tremendously excited to read the other books if they’re anything like this one. I have no proper words to express how much I revelled in this love story. As a chronically ill young woman who has often worried about feeling like too much and undesirable, these tender stories remind me that disability doesn’t exclude us from a love that feels safe, tender and worth the inconveniences.

I love the juxtaposition of someone so bubbly and outspoken like Juliet with someone so quiet and pensive like Will as he tries to get out of his shell and be the man for her. Major swooning. Also sue me but I’m soooo glad that there was a HEA because I really didn’t need any miscommunication or third act breakups. I just wanted to escape and I’m glad I did.

I was up at 3 am reading and giggling, and I’m ASEXUAL! Chloe did her big one, as usual.

this was giving Jessica day and Nick miller . This book was a cutesy read . Juliet was so sweet with Will and so gentle and I honestly loved that so much . Will was such a cinnamon roll . I absolutely love how sweet and caring he is . These two were perfect for each other. Although we were able to see more of Juliet’s past toxic relationship. And see how that relationship shaped who she is as a person now..