Just finished From Lukov with Love? Next up read Only When It's Us…
If you were captivated by the electric tension between Jasmine Santos and Ivan Lukov as they clashed on the ice rink, you'll find that same addictive dynamic in Only When It's Us. Willa Sutter brings the same fierce determination to the soccer field that Jasmine brought to figure skating—she's relentless, ambitious, and absolutely refuses to back down from a challenge. When she's forced into a class project with Ryder Bergman, the team's enigmatic and newly hearing-impaired player, their initial antagonism mirrors the sharp-tongued exchanges that made Zapata's couple so irresistible.
"This book is underrated secret gem! I love this book so much! It's so entertaining, hot, sexy and also emotional, sweet, swoony, incredibly romantic!"
The Perfect Training Ground for Love
What made From Lukov with Love so compelling was how Mariana Zapata masterfully built romantic tension through shared goals and forced proximity. Chloe Liese employs the same winning formula here, using both academic collaboration and athletic ambition as the proving ground where Willa and Ryder must learn to work together. Their relationship develops with that same satisfying slow burn—no instant attraction or love-at-first-sight shortcuts, just two strong-willed people who gradually discover that their greatest opponent might actually be their perfect partner.
Like Jasmine's journey with Ivan, Willa's story is as much about personal growth as it is about falling in love. She's fighting her own fears of failure while learning to see past Ryder's protective walls, creating those moments of vulnerability and breakthrough that romance readers crave. The college setting adds fresh energy to familiar themes, proving that great sports romance isn't limited to professional athletics.
The magic of From Lukov with Love lay in its commitment to emotional authenticity—no quick fixes, just real work that pays off in deeply satisfying rewards. Only When It's Us delivers that same emotional depth, exploring how two people can push each other to be better while falling impossibly hard in the process. Ryder's hearing loss adds layers of representation and communication challenges that never feel tokenistic, while Willa's drive echoes the same determination that made Jasmine such a compelling heroine.
"i found willa to be so insufferable, she sucked all of the fun out of this for me... i love a big family trope, so i really enjoyed ryder and his lovable family. they steal whatever scene they are in."
— jessica
What sets this apart while honoring the appeal of Zapata's work is the family dynamics woven throughout. The Bergman siblings provide that warm, supportive backdrop that romance fans adore—they're not just window dressing but integral to both characters' growth. You'll find yourself as invested in this found family as you are in the central romance, much like how Jasmine's relationships enriched her story beyond the ice rink.
This is character-driven storytelling at its finest, where every sharp exchange and quiet revelation builds toward a partnership that transforms both people involved. The witty banter crackles with the same energy that made Ivan and Jasmine's verbal sparring so addictive, while the sports backdrop provides that high-stakes intensity we love. Only When It's Us captures everything that made you fall for enemies-to-lovers romance in the first place—the perseverance, the growth, the way love can emerge from the most unlikely conflicts.
