Only When It's Us

✮✮✮

Oct 6

Written By Repy White

Only When It's Us - Chloe Liese

my review : ✮✮✮

As you guys know, I am focused on ALL the fall reads this autumnal season.

Did I see the guy on the cover and think this was going to be a rustic romance? Yes!

Was I wrong? A little…

Did I still enjoy it? YES!

Our story is about soccer badass Willa Sutter. While kicking ass on the field, she's struggling to take care of her sick mom and manage her course load. Unfortunately, she's on the verge of being benched as her grades in her Business Mathematics classes (just saying that class name makes me happy I'm no longer in college) are slipping. Her professor tells her that instead of him providing the notes she missed, she has to get them from her classmate, a grumpy mountain man who won't talk to her, let alone share the notes she desperately needs. These two get off on the wrong foot yet keep finding themselves thrown together. The more time they spend together, the more they realize their fiery relationship… may lead to romantic sparks (hehe).

This is a slow burn, dual POV, frenemies to lovers romance. I found this to be a sweet love story with some depth.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't a favorite of mine in the romance genre. I will admit, I started Scandalized by Ivy Owens while I was reading this book which I should not have done, and I found that dialogue (both internal and external) so much better and more compelling. So, when I returned to this book, I found it a bit slow.

Still, I enjoyed this romance and how it dealt with themes of grief and loss in a really well-done way. If you love a slow burn, I think you should pick this one up.

Best paired with @punchdrink's Mountain Man cocktail (so fitting!). 2 ounces bourbon, 1/4 ounce Pêche de Vigne (sounds fancy but can be bought at Binny's), 3/4 ounce lemon juice, 1/4 ounce maple syrup, 1/4 ounce ginger syrup, and a garnish of candied ginger. Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake that baby up, and serve over ice.