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.

5.0

Thanks to NETGALLEY for the arc for review.

Practice dates
Chronicle illness rep
Neurodivergent rep
Mutual pining
Grumpy (gentle giant) x Ball of sunshine
Twelfth Night Reimagining

Chloe Liese does it again! Holy smokes! This story is a bottle of butterflies, tension, and sweet swooning!

Juliet and Will are so sweet. I absolutely loved this book!

The instant attraction in the first meeting was top tier. Will being wordless/ speechless in asking Juliet to dance? Perfect. Juliet hugging him goodbye in hopes that Will might understand that she needed time to heal. Just them bother knowing that they can’t act on that instant attraction? Hell yeah.
Them randomly or by fate imo, running into each other again and also having family and friends knowing each other? Perfect fate/ destiny feeling.
The tension emotionally and sexually between these two had me swooning, kicking my feet and giggling. I covered my mouth at multiple sections.
The chemistry between Will and Juliet was perfect. They just had a bond that was instant and everyone reading will be able to feel it too.
They just got each other the way a soulmate would. They made each other better.

The understanding between the two. The time they spend as friends learning each other and the type of people they are and the type of love they deserve. Making each other believe in the good in people and the good in the people they will choose to love.

The plot was good and simple. It didn’t need to be more than that because the characters themselves held the story up perfectly. It felt real from the start for the couple.
The side characters were just as fun and cool here as they were in their own stories and it was nice to see them again and find out where they ended up.
It wasn’t spicy in the fact that it was mostly sexual tension until pass 65%. It was certainly a slow burn the steam in waiting makes up for it.
This book made me feel like I was in a rom com. Just watching these two people with past issues, get over and heal them and fall in love. Each character’s personal arc felt extrely reasonable and justifiable. Both were complete plots of their own and were well written.

Overall, an absolutely delicious romantic story that will make your heart feel so light with love.

This was my first novel by Liese and it won’t be the last. I anticipate to at least complete this series sometime this year. Will and Juliet are perfect. I really loved the chronic illness and neurodivergent representation. Especially because that neurodivergent rep was done with care and we so rarely see that in males. The romance was perfect and these characters were handled with care.

This book was really fun to read. I loved that the male main character was neurodivergent and the female main character was dealing with invisible illnesses. It was so much fun to get inside both of their heads, making it so easy to understand them as individuals and as a pair. This was a slow burn with an incredibly fun cast of characters. It was just a quick and fun read that I struggled to put down. If you are looking for a no-nonsense romance, this one will do the trick. Friends who are teaching one another how to date and magically fall in love - all while we get to watch their interactions, thoughts and fun.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese 🩷
The Wilmot Sisters, Book 3
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
ARC Review
379 pages
🗓️ January 14

🥃reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
🩷grumpy x sunshine
🥃practice dating
🩷secrete relationship
🥃close friend’s (like) sister
🩷friends to lovers
🥃no 3rd act breakup

📍“I finally made you smile.”
“Finally? Juliet, all you’ve got to do is walk into a room, and I’m grinning like a fool.”

📍“You saw and believed it when I couldn’t, what was true all along, from the moment I met you.”
“And what was that?”
“That not only could my heart be loved and love you . . . it was made to love you.”

The romantic gestures to put to shame all other romantic gestures. Grumpy, gentle giants just have this way of surprising us and melting our hearts like butter on a warm toast.

{Juliet is such a great name 😜}

Do I own book 2, yes. Did I read it before picking this one up? No, because clearly I’m an idi0t. But I must confess that my need — yes, need — to go read it now (maybe I should start with book 1 🤣) has increased tenfold and it’s now a top priority.

A hug. That’s what this book felt. A tight hug at the end of a summer day. *sigh*

{And now that I get the cover, I might cry 😭😭}

Two strangers dance together in Scotland and now randomly meet again, 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 they agree to practice fake dating.... except they might really be falling for one another. Juliet Wilmot is a hopeless romantic who has sworn off romance, she left to visit Scotland and there she meets a handsome stranger named Will.... then months go by and they run into each other again except Will is actually her brother's best friend, making him completely off limits. Will Orsino is a shy guy who's had problems with communicating, he just can't seem to make a romance work and he feels like he needs a marriage to work especially for his family's business... but he's resigned to the fact that happily ever after isn't in the cards for him until he meets Juliet. Something about Juliet calls to him but she's completely off limits since she's his best friend's sister. Yet when they both meet again and offer to help one another, going on fake dates, befriending each other, and supporting one another... maybe this isn't as fake as they thought and this is in fact real romance. This was such a sweet romance book, I was completely smitten from the get go. As a huge fan of Chloe's books, this was such a great read. I loved the romance between Juliet and Will so much, it was just so sweet and soft. I really had such a wonderful time reading this and would absolutely recommend this for fans of a book that will just leave you smiling.

Release Date: January 14,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is the third and final book in Chloe Liese’s Wilmot Sisters Series. I am so sad to be at the end of this fun series. I have loved all the couples, friends, and family that were in the pages of these books. Each couple was modeled after a different Shakespearean couple, and I loved that. That is the hook that got me into this series in the first place.

Juliet & Will’s love story was an adaptation of Twelfth Night. Their story was probably the least like the source material, but I loved all the nods to the original work as well as the additional rivalry between Will’s family, Montag, and their neighbors, the Capulettis. It wasn’t a huge plot point, but it was a nice addition and gives me a little hope for more stories set in this world maybe focusing on another group of sisters. (Fingers crossed.)

Recommended for: romance readers that like fun banter and sweet characters

Content warning: profanity; explicit sex scenes

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As far as I’m concerned, Chloe Liese can do absolutely no wrong. I adore her romance books and I’m always impressed by how well she incorporates diverse abilities and experiences into her romance. Once Smitten, Twice Shy may be one of my new favorites from her catalog. I absolutely adored our FMC and her ability to advocate for herself and her growing ability to do so. I also really enjoyed our MMC and felt like he was a really honest character. It didn’t feel trope-y or stereotypical of a person with autism however, I think that this is a really realistic interpretation of someone on the spectrum I was giddy, kicking my feet and loving the story from start to finish and I cannot wait to recommend it to my friends and other readers. Thank you so much to Berkeley romance for granting me access to Once Smitten, Twice Shy.

REVIEW✨
Once Smitten, Twice Shy
(The Wilmot Sisters, #3)
By Chloe Liese

“I'm weird, but I generally like my weirdness ... that's what makes me me. Because it's not all hard parts, having a brain like mine.”

I loved this book so much! Will Orsino is a wonderful book boyfriend with all the green flags and more. He is so caring and sweet to Juliet Wilmot and thinks about her all the time. It was wonderful to see representation for a main character that is neurodivergence, I felt very relatable to him. I felt that it was done so well! I loved seeing a character like Juliet with mixed connective tissue disease and celiac disease as well. The writing was so amazing! So many inner thoughts but also how she describes Will’s house and farmland made me want to move there. The plot was great, the pacing was smooth, there is no third act break up, and the characters are so sweet and kind. The romance is really smutty and very steamy.
If you are looking for a friends to lovers, fake dating, where FMC gives flirting lessons to MMC, and it is just overall just a wonderfully sweet romance. This is the book for you.

🌸Cinnamon Roll Male Lead
🌸Neurodivergence Rep
🌸Celiac Disease/ Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Rep
🌸Fake Dating & Flirting Lessons
🌸No Third-Act Breakup
🌸Dual POV (Will & Juliet)
🌸Healing From Past Relationships
🌸Families With So Much Love

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

Plot points: 💥💥💥💥💥
Spice Level:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Romance level: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out everywhere January 14, 2025
•
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#AceBooksPartner #BerkleyPartner
•

I am and always will be a Chloe Liese stan. I love this world that she created and am grateful that it ended on such a high note. the way that Chloe builds emotional intimacy makes her romances feel more genuine and keeps me coming back for more

I am so excited for my first Berkley romance/Berkley partner free book to review! This book was SO GOOD and took me out of a four month reading slump! I flew through it in less than 24 hours. This had everything: heartwarming plot, funny anecdotes, softness and vulnerability, and some sweet sweet spice!

This book has a pair of star-crossed lovers who decide to work together to get back into the dating game. The pair initially meets in Scotland, where they have an instant connection, but Juliet, having recently broken off a toxic engagement and is trying to figure out how to get back out there again, gets nervous, and leaves. Will is neurodivergent and feels like he never quite fit what people were looking for in a partner, so when they meet again back stateside and find they have a mutual friend connection, Will agrees to practice date Juliet. This way she can get back on the bike, and he can learn how to ride in the first place. They can be each others “training wheels”.

I adored this book and their relationship so much. It was such a sweet development, a slow-burn friends to lovers with all the tension that leads to such a beautiful relationship! I love how they worked together and communicated throughout their “practice”. They really brought out the best in each other and leaned on each other so much. I love them. And I have to say, Will is probably one of my favorite MMCs I’ve read. He is such a cinnamon roll, so soft and sweet but the man knows what he’s doing 👀

I love how Chloe writes inclusively as well, with both Will and Juliet being neurodivergent and chronically ill, respectively, and how well the representation of both of these are done. It blends seamlessly into the characters without being the sole thing about them. It also made these characters so patient and understanding with each other, and was such a normalized thing. It was really beautifully done!

I had a copy from prh audio and was able to go back and forth between physical and audio while reading. The dual POV was great and I loved the narrators! Their voices fit the characters well and I would definitely listen to books with these narrators in the future.

Read if you like:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Mutual Pining
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Neurodivergent, Chronic Illness, and Bisexual Rep

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✦Series: Wilmot Sisters # 3
✦POV: Dual first-person
✦Spice: Open door, explicit

» Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

» Juliet travels to Scotland to heal her heart after a traumatic breakup and meets Will in a pub when he asks her dance. They feel an instant connection, but neither believes they’re in a place to give or receive the kind of love they deserve.

» Juliet doesn’t trust her heart anymore. She’s struggling with that and learning to live with chronic illness. She’s always felt like the glue that holds her sisters together, but she needs to give herself a break. Juliet is a strong FMC; sympathetic, relatable, and easy to root for.

❝I gravitated toward romance novels because they never made me anxious, because I could always count on a happily ever after. Even when things get rough in the story, it always worked out. That reliability is really comforting. And . . . I love love. Friend love. Family love. Romantic love. Romance novels celebrate all of that.❞

» Will is neurodivergent, living with Autism, and his negative experiences of romance have conditioned him to believe that it won’t happen for him. He lives in the friendzone. Through his “training wheels” romance practice with Juliet, he gets exactly what he needs to be the inherently swoon-worthy man that he is, and it is gorgeous! He’s exactly the right amount of self-deprecating to make me cheer for him and sit at the edge of my seat in anticipation of exactly the god-tier swoony actions he takes and words he speaks. He loves Juliet with admiration and devotion. Utter perfection, A+ MMC.

❝Like... fireworks. When you’re staring up at the sky, watching them light up the night, all sparkle and glitter, there’s nothing else that should follow that beauty but an epic boom. That’s... what your laugh feels like, like it should be— as loud as it is pretty.❞

» It was satisfying to watch their story unfold from friendship while practicing romance despite being obviously attracted to each other when they met in Scotland. It was a wholesome start for a pair who are healing and allows for excellent growth.

» I read the previous books in the series which feature Juliet’s sisters, Bea (Jamie) and Kate (Chris). I was delighted to see how Juliet’s story incorporates them in measured and well-played doses. They are all great characters, and I loved seeing them connect on the page.

» Chloe’s writing is straight up poetry: the vivid descriptions of settings, characterisations, dialogue and inner monologues. It will make your heart ache from wanting to explode with the kind of stunning beauty she masterfully executes.

✩ Chloe is a champion of disability rights and representation. She writes her characters sensitively, avoiding the usual pity-p*rn and inspo-p*rn which often makes its way into characterisation of people with disabilities. I will never stop recommending her books because of this and am proud to have introduced her work to other folks and book clubs. Standing ovation and honourable mention, indeed! 👏

♡ Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a solid read and ending to the Wilmot Sisters series. I give it all the stars and wholeheartedly recommend it!

Thank you, @berkleypub, for an advanced digital copy of this book!

Once Smitten, Twice Shy was a delightful and heartwarming read that captured my attention from the first page. Chloe Liese’s ability to craft characters who are both neurodivergent and vulnerable is something I deeply admire, and this book is no exception. Will and Juliet were easy to connect with; their personalities were rich with green flags, but they also had flaws that made them feel authentic and well-rounded. I found myself rooting for them from their first encounter, as their communication and vulnerability with one another were central to their developing relationship.

The way they navigated their emotions and built trust was genuinely moving, making their love story all the more believable and heartwarming. Will is the ultimate soft boy—shy and quiet but with an incredibly kind heart that melted me. And when the chemistry between them heated up, it was undeniable. The family dynamics were equally delightful, adding depth to the story. The clever incorporation of rom-com tropes and references to romance novels and movies was a fun touch, and the eclipse reference was a perfect little bonus.

Overall, this slow-burn, fake-dating romance was both funny and endearing. Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a must-read if you’re looking for a light, feel-good romance with lovable characters. Chloe Liese truly delivered a charming and enjoyable story.

Absolutely adorable 💖

I’m glad the series finished off strong. I liked book one. But DNF’d book two, so I’m glad to end the series with a win.

This book is perfect for shy, quiet romantics—the ones who wish for love but fear they might not find it. Both Juliet and Will were undeniably sweet and thoughtful. They were also genuine and communicative. When they weren’t sure about something they talked through it like adults.

No miscommunication, no nonsense.

It is just a slow, sweet, tender journey to love.

100% Swoon worthy!! 4.25 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Chloe Liese romance novel and I am SOLD! I mean, the MMC, Will, a neurodivergent character is a total golden retriever. The things that jump out of his mouth are adorable and endearing. Will calls them thinking thoughts that shouldn't have turned into talking thoughts :) The FMC, Juliet, is beautiful inside and out.
Will and Juliet have a chance meeting in Scotland and then meet again months later at Juliet's "brother's" home. The two decide to become romance practice buddies to overcome their hurts and hopefully find love again. You can guess the rest....

"I'm not strong enough. I can't stand to spend another second in your presence without you knowing that I might not be sure yet; if my heart's love will be enough for you. But every corner of that heart, in all its imperfection, is yours, if you want it. And if you don't.....well, I'll more than understand."


* No third-act breakup!!!
* Starcrossed lovers
* Friends to lovers
* Major slow burn
* Fake dating
* Neurodivergent character representation
* chronic disease rep

This was so cute! You couldn’t not root for these two! This had very realistic representation of a variety of things such as celiac disease and autism. The slow burn friends to lovers was done so well and made me fall in love with them all the same time. Def recommend

Another fantastic book in this series, from a local author (to me)! I’m not a Shakespeare girlie but love this take on another one of his plays.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy
Genre - Contemporary romance
Rating - really enjoyed/ 3.5⭐️

Thanks @berkleypub for the advanced copy and having me on the release tour. This book is out on January 14!🙌🏻

This is book #3 in the Wilmot Sisters series - this works fine as a standalone but I recommend starting with Two Wrongs Make a Right to get the most out of the characters' actions.

I love this author, I really do. While I still prefer the Bergman Brother series, this was still a lovely series full of disability representation and found family. The side characters in the friend group were such a diverse group that had me chuckling often while reading. One hangup that made me not absolutely love this book was that I often have a hard time when characters overthink things. In this instance, they insist they can't be together, when really there's zero reason why they shouldn't be. BUT no third act breakup made up for this a bit!

A final item to note - this series are all Shakespeare retellings. I've read next to nothing of his work but I could feel a lot of references, so classics fans may really get a kick out of this.

Can't wait to see what's next from this author!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was the perfect mix of funny, steamy, and emotional, without being corny. Perfect for lovers of Ali Hazlewood, Lucy Score, and Abby Jimenez.

Chloe Liese is one of my favorite romance writers and I will read anything she writes 🩷

ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY is a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Juliet Wilmot and Will Orisino aren’t looking for love, but make a pact to practice romance together.

Chloe’s characters are always easy to root for and are a reminder that everyone is deserving of a happily-ever-after. Juliet and Will are sweet souls that bring out the best in each other.

What I loved —
🩷 fake dating
🩷 cinnamon roll MMC
🩷 neurodivergence rep
🩷 chronic condition rep

I have enjoyed reading this series so much and lovef all the cameos from the previous MCs!