For a book that is so light on plot, Once Smitten, Twice Shy , which is built around a dating lessons trope, is a seriously enjoyable warm hug of a romance.

Although I liked both main characters, my enjoyment here is almost 100% due to Will, the socially awkward hero who doesn't believe love and romance are in his future but who still wants to find a life partner. He is extraordinary, imperfect and loveable, and I never wanted to stop reading him.

I also loved that this novel was low-angst, with no contrived third-act break-up, and that it still felt genuine and satisfyingly complex.

I loved this book so much!

Thank you so much to Berkley for the eARC of this one via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.

This was truly an amazing ending to the Wilmot Sisters series. I've been WAITING for Juliet to get her redemption story since the end of the first book, and WILL ORSINO WAS WORTH THE WAIT. In the most complimentary way, Will and his family felt like an extension of the Bergman family, and only fans of Chloe's will know what I mean when I say that. It felt like a warm hug when you need it the most.

Will Orsino is the epitome of what book boyfriend dreams are made of, and Juliet will remind every reader what it means to love someone the way THEY need to be loved!

From the dedication until the very last page, I was in love with this story (call me a hopeless romantic).

Juliet and Will have a meet-cute in a bar in Scotland, where Juliet is escaping from her horrible break-up. Instead of wallowing, she braves the little Scottish bar and gets asked to dance by a giant red-headed, flannel-wearing man after a little bit of whiskey. They don't go beyond dancing that night, but when she happens to run into him in the most obscure place back home several months later, it seems like these two were meant to cross paths one day. Enter: a fake dating scheme to "practice" getting back out there (for Juliet) and to have some positive dating experiences in order to attract "the one" (for Will). They need each other to get out of their dating ruts, and a beautiful friendship blossoms.

These two are so tender with one another, existing as they are and perfect for one another in that rawness, something neither has experienced. The pretenses of fake dating allow each character to explore what it would be like to fall in love with someone who loves them for exactly who they are, and it's BEAUTIFUL.

Will is such a soft boy. Being raised by a romantic mama and surrounded by four sisters, he just reads Juliet so well for someone with autism who has trouble reading people at all. And it turns out, when he's with someone he cares about, he doesn't need a romance coach... it just comes naturally.

READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:
- Disability rep + accepting partners
- The sweetest cinnamon roll MMC
- Ensemble cast of characters we've grown to love in this series
- LGBTQAI+ reps
- Fake dating/"practice"
- Game nights, nights out with friends, when characters show up for each other
- Romance after heartbreak
- Soulmates
- Cute dogs
- Romantic dates
- When characters truly see each other
- Swoon + spice

After sitting with this one, I upgraded from 4.5 to 5 stars. This one stuck with me for many days after finishing, and my heart is still so full from the love these characters share. I'll miss this universe a whole lot.

This was my first Chloe Liese book but it will absolutely NOT be my last. I’ve heard the ravings about the Bergman Brothers series before and her writing definitely stands up.
As a person with chronic illnesses I loved the representation here, as well as that for neurodivergence. Juliet and Will were adorable, this was humorous and with, and the serendipity… ahhhh!

As a chronic illness girlie myself, I truly appreciated reading this story with its chronic illness representation. "Once Smitten, Twice Shy" is book 3 in the Wilmot sisters series by Chloe Liese and I believe it is my favorite.

I felt connected with the FMC, Juliet, not just for her chronic illness struggles but with her hesitant attitude towards dating initially. I had my own worries regarding that as it pertains to my diagnosis as well. Juliet made me feel like I was seen. I can also tell that Will is sure to be many people's next book boyfriend.

Chloe Liese will definitely be an auto-buy author for me moving forward. I can't wait to read her backlist as well.

Thank you to Berkley for selecting me as part of the Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices and to NetGalley for facilitating the copy of the e-arc. I loved it.

Wow what a sweet way to wrap up the Wilmot series! I can't imagine this trilogy ending any other way. Chloe Liese has such a talent for writing the neurodivergent experience, especially with the way her characters navigate relationships within their spectrum boundaries. I felt so seen by Will, especially how he brings earplugs with him to public places so he doesn't get overwhelmed by noise.

If you like neurodivergent main characters, amazing communication, and characters going from relationship wobbles to standing strong, this is the series for you!

”I think that’s who your soulmate is – someone whose existence blows your world wide open, someone who makes you want to be brave and curious.”

✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✨ Mutual Pining
✨ Neurodivergent, Chronic Illness, and Bisexual Rep
✨ Practice Dates
✨ Hilarious and Inclusive Friend Group
✨ Adorable pittie pup – Hector
✨ Reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”

This is the 3rd and last book in The Wilmot Sisters series and follows Juliet Wilmot and Will Orsino. Juliet was a hopeless romantic but has since sworn off love and romance due to a toxic relationship. She once met Will in a Scottish pub and serendipitously keeps crossing paths with him. Will is quiet and shy and is resigned to the fact that he needs to marry to keep up with his family business. Juliet and Will devise a plan to practice romance with each other in the hopes that Will can work on his flirting abilities and Juliet to believe in romance again.

Queue the big smiles, feet kicking, and squeals! 😍 I completely adore Juliet and Will together. Their relationship progression from friends to lovers (filled with all the tension) is absolute perfection! They are both caring and understanding of one another and their needs (Will being neurodivergent and Juliet being chronically ill) and it just makes my heart warm and fuzzy. I love them so much. Will is such a cinnamon roll and despite his so-called dating shortcomings, he sure knows his way around the bedroom. 🔥

One of the big reasons why I started this series was Chloe Liese’s inclusivity in her stories. She creates beautiful characters who are neurodivergent and chronically ill and normalizes their conditions. She seamlessly weaves these representations into her stories without them being the sole focus of the narrative. It makes my neurodivergent self feel seen and I appreciate that so much!

I also have a thing for Scotland and Chloe absolutely delivered with the meet cute, Juliet’s penchant for Highland romances, Will in a kilt (!), and the whiskey distillery family business.

Thank you so much to Berkley for the advanced copy! ❤

📚 Read if you like: friends to lovers, relationship practice, slow burn, neurodivergent rep, chronic pain rep, instant attraction

Out today! This is the third and final installment in the Wilmot Sisters series and I thought it was lovely! This was a very sweet, swoony romance with minimal conflict which is exactly what I needed this week. I thought Juliet and Will were well suited together and had nice chemistry and lots of cute moments together. While it’s for sure a slow burn, there are some tasty spicy scenes once you hit around 70%. And their first kiss is a “fuck it” moment and I loved ittttt! It seems like I’ll pretty much always be happy ready a Chloe Liese book because the love is big, the family of characters is cozy and the rep (neurodivergence and chronic pain in this one) is always handled with care. I loved getting to see all my fav characters from the rest of the series and the epilogue made me weepy 🥹 Chloe Liese just announced her new standalone book that’s coming out in 2026 and I’m already excited for it! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am so honored and excited to have gotten to read this book!
I love this whole series so much! I love the way Chloe writes her characters and the growth and love we get to see between the MCs. I thought I couldn’t love the series more but turns out, I can!!
Thank you so much Berkley and Chloe for this E-ARC!

This book is my first Chloe Liese novel, and I adored it! I do need to grab the other two in the series. I read this out of order, but it didn’t hinder anything or give big spoilers for the previous books.

I adored Juliet’s story. She’s trying to recover from a toxic relationship and learning to navigate her new health issues. I loved how she takes her journey seriously and doesn’t just throw everything away when she meets a handsome guy. I am sure I missed a lot with the previous books, but that’s okay. I’m going to get there eventually. I loved her family so much! I love the Sunday dinners and how they cared for her. I know she felt smothered at times, but she’s so lucky.

Then we have Will. He’s a huge cinnamon roll type of guy. He’s also neurodivergent, with a lot of anxiety on top of that. I loved how he always has these inner thoughts that come out so fast and become “talking thoughts.” I loved how he was with all the people around him, especially his sisters and nieces. He gave a lot of big green flags throughout this whole book.

When he runs into Juliet twice, it seems like fate. I adored getting his POV throughout the whole book. You see how he is completely smitten with her from the get-go. Their relationship was so sweet and beautiful to watch. A good friends-to-lovers relationship! They were so open with each other and very respectful of each other’s feelings/difficulties. I have seen some things about how this was just too sweet. They have a point, but I found it so refreshing! It was nice to see this friendship blossom into a romance. There are several angsty moments throughout their pact.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot! I cannot wait to go back and read the other two books. I loved all the friendships, banter, families, and this sweet romance. I have heard a lot of praise for Chloe Liese, and now I understand why! I can’t wait to read more from her!

Thank you, Berkley (and Netgalley), for the e-ARC and the blog tour opportunity!! All thoughts and opinions are my own! 🙂

Well, I adored this book. I loved how sweet and soft it was, how kind and genuine these characters were, how romantic and thoughtful Will was—especially when he was planning dates for Juliet. I truly could not stop smiling while reading this. Books with such minimal angst don't always work for me but right now, at this moment, this one worked perfectly for me. Overall I've enjoyed this series quite a lot and Juliet and Will's romance was a delightfully fun conclusion.

This was a modern day retelling of Twelfth Night, and it was absolute perfection! In fact, I think it was my favorite of the series.
Juliet is a romantic at heart, but has been burned badly by love, and after being diagnosed with a connective tissue disease, has had to change her entire life. She keeps running into Will, a tall, ginger, extremely handsome gentle giant, and it seems like it’s fate. But instead of giving in to their attraction to each other, they decide to use each other as “romance workout buddies” and practice a relationship. They spend the entire book trying so hard to stay just friends, and the angst, pining, yearning, and longing was INCREDIBLE. Will is neurodivergent and is very shy and quiet, but he gets out of his comfort zone for Juliet and it’s so heartwarming. Also, he can play the guitar and sing, and he couldn’t be more perfect. Chloe does an amazing job of creating characters that are honest, raw, and earnest. And her love stories are soulful, swoony, and very sweet. I adored this book!
🚲
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🚲
Read if you like:
▫️romance practice
▫️just friends to lovers
▫️he’s a cinnamon roll
▫️they both fall hard
▫️slow burn
▫️dual POV
🚲
Thank you to Berkley Romance, Chloe Liese, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

“I just like you, Will Orsino. That is all.”
His cheeks turn pink. His gray-green eyes glitter like starlight on frosty leaves.
“I like you, too, Juliet Wilmot”

Thank you for the free book Berkley Romance #berkley #berkleypartner All opinions are my own.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a warm hug, in book form. It is the third and final book of the Wilmot Sisters Series and unequivocally my favorite. The vibe is sweet, the communication is strong and the characters are ones that you won’t soon forget.

Juliet, a hopeless romantic who feels she can no longer trust her judgement when it comes to love and Will, a quiet neurodivergent soul who doesn’t believe that true love is meant for him, keep crossing paths in a way that feels nothing short of serendipitous. Neither is confident in their ability to find love so they decide to help each other out by “practicing” romance. But you know what they say about practice… sometimes it makes perfect!

The characters in this one are what make this book so special. I loved Will and Juliet so much and was invested in their journey towards happily-ever-after right from the start. The trust that develops as they open themselves up to one another is beautiful and inspiring. Their relationship is honest and sweet and it made this book such a delight to read. I enjoyed all of the books in this series but this one has my heart.

the two of them are in need of some dating training wheels. will is neurodivergent and needs to get some experience and juliette needs to get back out there after a bad breakup. they decide to spend a month practicing romance with each other and end up falling helplessly in love.

this is my fav of the series! will was such a sweet cinnamon roll. juliette was so caring and met him without judgement. the two them really were meant to be. the two of them learned to be brave together and I just 🥹

I loved all the family and friends dynamics. this cast of characters is so supportive of each other and I loved the sisterly dynamics.

this one is def cozy. aside from their plan to practice dates, there’s not much plot. it’s way more of a character driven cozy story. buuuut there’s no dumb third act breakup like in book 1 so that was nice.

🎧 charlotte north and tim page brought these characters to life! their performances were really well done. the dual pov was great! their accents for different characters really brought this book to life. highly recommend the audio for this one!

what to expect
⟢ grumpy x sunshine
⟢ practice dates that maybe are actually real
⟢ so much pining
⟢ neurodivergent rep
⟢ chronic illness rep
⟢ bi rep

The characters in Chloe Liese’s novels are always so interesting with real life issues that give their story more depth. Will is neuro-divergent and is on the autism scale and Chloe has a debilitating form of joint disease that makes movement painful. As someone who suffers from arthritis I found it really interesting to read about a character who suffers similarly. How does her pain affect her relationship with Will? How do they both help navigate each others problems and emotions? It certainly adds to the story in a very realistic way.

I’ve enjoyed the Wilmot sisters novels because these ladies are straight shooters and don’t take lip from anyone. Juliet seemed to be the most romantic in nature and her heartbreak could’ve caused more than a few small trust issues. Thankfully the author didn’t keep us waiting too long before the characters realized where their emotions were leading them. Maybe because of this there was a little lack in tension which gave the other two novels more of a conclusive feel to the two partners coming together. I think that would be my only criticism for this novel. They were both just so nice and there wasn’t a whole lot of conflict. Other than that it was an enjoyable story!

Firstly, I wanted to thank NetGalley for sending me this arc.

I think people forget how important it is to look at life through a lens that counters their own, and this book provides us with two lives that have become integral to my own.

This book is a 4.75/5 star for me, and one of the most special stories I have come across in a long time. There is something to be said about works of fiction that are derived heavily from real life experiences of their author. This book is heavily inspired by human realities of our author, shown through our neurodivergent mmc and fmc invisible chronic conditions. As mentioned in the author's note, these human realities deserve space in romance, with positive and authentic representation - as a person who does not live their life with these realities, it was such a gift to experience them through Juliet and Will's stories. Because at the end of the day, not only did we get a romance novel, but we get two characters who have individual stories that matter just as much.

"I've shaved, when I've otherwise kept my big beard to hide because I didn't want to be seen by others but I've decided it's worth it to be seen by anyone, if only for the chance to be seen by her."
Will is one of the most special MMCs I have had the pleasure of reading. He was incredibly endearing, while having a charm and quirkiness that was unique to him. Following his POV was integral to the story because we were able to see a glimpse into the inner workings of his mind, the way he thinks and feels, which may not look the same at first glance as another would. His ability to love is inherent, effortless, selfless, and unbelievably generous. His love for his parents, his sisters, his niece and nephew, his pup, and our incredible Juliet is pure. He begins his story feeling incapable of providing a partner with the love her believes they desire, and we follow his journey of growth. Growing pains hurt, they can ache and leave discomfort in their wake, but we are all the better for it. Watching him change, both through his POV and Juliet's, was something I will never forget. His story alone is reason enough to read this book. There is such an importance behind his story, there is so much for people to learn and understand through his life. There are smaller moments that you may not notice at first glance from the outside, but this book was able give us a look through the inside, a way to see a glimpse into the reality of so many. Will had my heart in his clutches from the first page of this book, and the grip never let up. He is one of my favorite MMC I have ever come across, and I know that will rein true going forward. His heart, his mind, his gentle nature are qualities that make him who he is. Someone who is always looking for a way to make his love feel safe in his arms, even before she was ever his. He pushes himself throughout this entires story to grow into who he knows, deep down, he can be. He fights through his constant growing pains, rides with his training wheels on at first, putting himself in uncomfortable situations because he is willing to grow for love, for both himself and Juliet. What a gift it has been to fall in love with a love interest as intricate, lovable, and extraordinary as Will.

"I am strong, even when I'm struggling."
Juliet is a character that made me feel incredibly seen, in the same way she was able to do for Will throughout their journey together. She is a character that is strong, strong in ways that people would never know from first glance - someone who faces an invisible battle every single day, and continues to live each day with a bright smile on her face, and a heart filled with hope. She is a character that reminds us that our pain does not define us, and those that have hurt us have not broken us. She validates the idea that we can take the time we need to heal, to put our pieces back together when they fall apart, knowing that we will be stronger when we rise again. Her heart is bigger than the sky, and she loves fiercely, protectively, and generously. She is a safe space for all those in her life, her two sisters whose stories came before hers, and for her Will. There is a special place in the world for those who are able to provide a space of acceptance and safety for those who have never found it before. Her love makes Will feel seen.. Above all else, she is a partner who moves through life with love in her heart, excited for her future, never letting her past or present stop her from moving forward.

"I'm in your corner just as much as you're in mine, okay? On the hard days, I'll be the arm to hold on to, the pair of hands to do what you can't, the feet that carry you when yours won't take another step. And on the gentle days, the feel-good days, I'll be there, too, grateful that I get to be your friend and see you shine."
Genuinely, I could talk about the romance of this novel for hours. I could write a 20 page MLA format paper on what it meant to me, and how important it is to have a story such as this one in the book space. To shorten it down, it was perfection. There was a gentleness to their love that they both needed, a purity that cannot be forced but just is. They both handled each other with care, without ever making each other feel less than capable on their own. There was both silent and loud support, with each being able to see when their partner needed each. They read each other like their favorite books (because yes, they both love romance novels), entirely and all consuming. There was such effort put in from both sides, while it came naturally and effortlessly from each. It was as if they were made to love each other, and each other alone. It was palpable, the love was jumping off each page, and I couldn't get enough. They were both so deserving of this love, and I was so thankful to experience this happy ending. No matter how that may look to others, they were true perfection in mine.

Chloe Liese has become one of my favorite authors because of this book. I am so lucky to have fallen in love with the story that is Juliet and Will.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Chloe Liese
ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: The Wilmot Sisters , Bk3
ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Romance | Contemporary | Retelling
ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇᴅ: Jan 2024

Two strangers dance together in Scotland and now randomly meet again back in the US, except she's running from heartbreak and he's trying to find a way to communicate, but when they realize they can help each other out by practicing to fake date.... they might actually be falling. Pinky Swear!

ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:

This book was everything for me. I am already a massive Chloe Liese fan. And Twelfth Night is quite literally my favorite Shakespeare play. As far as the retelling aspects, it was a home run. I felt good ole William’s story throughout, but the heart of the novel? That’s all Chloe!

Juliet & Will by chance meet at a pub in Scotland and IMMEDIATELY the match is struck! The spark is there! They both feel it, but neither act on it (𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯). Then they serendipitously meet again and have mutual friends? (𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺) They spend most of the novel getting to know one another and in true romance fashion work through their own emotional baggage while helping the other. Their chemistry was off the kindle screen! (𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴)

I loved that nothing felt aggressive or happening too fast! The relationship was subtle and organic. JUST. SO. LOVELY! The time each other took to learn what they each needed from a partner was SO BEAUTIFUL TO WITNESS. Them falling in love was an absolute treat! It was really refreshing to not be faced with third act conflict, the honesty and communication between the two would never allow for such a thing to happen!

This book is driven by its cast of characters, and not just the leads. I loved seeing the other Wilmot sisters and their partners along with our game night crew! Chloe is master at interweaving the cast in perfect balance that they are involved but not a crutch. Tied everything up in a beautiful bow! Solid Ending!

✦Chronic Illness Rep
✦Neurodivergent Rep
✦Practice/Fake Dating
✦Grumpy-ish x Sunshine
✦Friends to Lovers
✦PININGGGGGGG

✦

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Ughhh my heart! With every book that Chloe Liese writes, she further cements herself as one of my all-time favorite authors.

As always, the signs I utterly adored this book?

I stayed up until 3 AM reading it ✔️
I read it in one sitting ✔️

But what was it that made this book so special? Juliet and Will.

I simply ADORED them. As a character in this book says "I fucking love a friends-to-lovers romance" and Juliet and Will's love story was perfect on every level. I was excited for them ever since I read the sneak peek at the end of Kate and Christopher's book, and this one did not disappoint. I adored the premise of two characters helping each other practice romance (while remaining COMPLETELY platonic of course). The chemistry between the two of them is on point from page one, and I loved the pining between the two. Oh, the pining, oh, the YEARNING, Chloe does it so well. I could not put the book down until the two finally came to terms with their feelings, and even then I couldn't stop reading because I couldn't get enough. I cannot stress enough how each of these characters, both on their own and as a couple, are so delightful.

Oh, and did I mention these two are actual soulmates??! Definition of invisible string tying these two together.

The final book in a series is always bittersweet, but almost always my favorite. I love getting to see all the past couples in supporting roles, and I LOVED seeing Jamie and Will bond almost immediately. Chloe excels at writing supporting characters, and making them as strong as the couple themselves, and this book is no different. I loved seeing how quickly Will becomes a part of Juliet's family and friends, and all the supporting characters brought so much fun and levity to the story.

I love each of Chloe's books more and more with each one she writes, and I can't wait to experience her next story.

This book was absolutely PERFECT.

Starting from my favorite aspect - Will is a silent but strong MMC. He’s patient and has autism, as do I, and seeing the representation in a calm and subtle way was so beautiful. The author doesn’t explicitly explain he has ASD from the beginning, but you are able to pick up all of the signs as the story progresses. It’s not in your face and I feel like it truly shows the reader what he struggles with and you can feel the emotions through the pages.

Jules had her strengths in a different way - just as quiet but definitely more visible. She struggles with a physical disability but doesn’t want it to be a burden on herself or others around her. The way Will helps her throughout the book is so sweet and wasn’t overwhelming in the slightest. She comes from a breakup but still is willing to risk her heart when she realizes she’s growing emotions towards Will and it was very brave of her.

Together, I thought these two were so sweet. They had a playful banter between the two of them and it was a slow and blind progression. It wasn’t a slap in your face kind of love, it crept up on them as they got to know each other, so the fact that there was no third-act-breakup made so much sense to me. Given how they acted towards each other - the patience, great communication, honesty - it wouldn’t have made sense if they broke up during that final act.

This book is so amazing, I recommend it to everyone. Mental health representation, fluffy, banter, and pining? Sign yourself up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

This latest installment in Liese's Shakespere retellings is probably the sweetest of the bunch and I am here for it.

Juliet and Will meet serendipitously while abroad when Juliet is fresh off her breakup with her abusive ex. Not in the right headspace for anything romantic, she quickly disengages. Seven months later, she meets Will again, only this time there are so many links in their web that it almost seems like fate. But Juliet is beyond fate now. And Will could use some help in the relationship department, so they both agree to use each other as practice until they get more comfortable with the notion of romancing and relationships. But it turns out that their relationship may be the answer to all of their problems.

Loosely based on Twelfth Night (my favorite Shakespeare play), this story has nothing but sugary sweetness at its core. Both Juliet and Will are so precious and it's hard to find anything to critique about their relationship. They were both open and generous to each other from the start, so much that there wasn't a lot of real conflict in this story. Which is fine, if you want to revel in how sweet these two are.

I do like a bit more substance to my plots, but I couldn't help loving Will and Juliet. If I had one really true critique, it's that I wish this book were a closer adaptation of the play. It's my favorite for a reason, and a lot of the brevity and tension is missing because of that reason.

Chloe Liese has done it again. Her ability to write authentic and tender characters with depth only gets better with each release of hers I read. I have read all of her books and each time I underestimate the beautiful and loving care with which Liese develops her characters that makes her readers FEEL and experience right alongside them.