Spotlight & Giveaway: Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Chloe Liese to HJ!

Hi Chloe and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Once Smitten, Twice Shy!

 
Thank you for having me!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Once Smitten, Twice Shy is about two tender hearts who’ve been burned in romance–Juliet, who is wary of trying to date again after getting out of a toxic relationship, and Will, who doesn’t feel like he’s ever been any good at dating–but who both finally decide to put themselves out there and help each other practice romance so they have a chance at finding happily ever after down the road.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“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.”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• This book is a loose reimagining of Twelfth Night, and it has a handful of nods to the early 2000’s rom-com based off of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, She’s the Man.
• As I revised this book, there was a solar eclipse (and a lot of solar eclipse frenzy in my neck of the woods), so I worked in a solar eclipse element to the plot that I got a kick out of writing.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Will is first drawn toward Juliet’s beauty–inside and out–her wide, sparkling smile and bright eyes; her warmth and patience, which make him feel safe, because she doesn’t mind waiting for him to speak when he’s tongue-tied, and she’s empathic toward his social anxiety. Juliet is first drawn toward Will’s authenticity–he is open and honest–and she’s drawn toward the paradox (to her ) of his imposing size and striking looks paired with his humble, gentle demeanor, which makes her feel safe, too.
 

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

I blushed, cried, *and* laughed a lot when working on this one. It’s just a very vulnerable, emotionally dynamic story, and there’s a lot about Will and Jules that I think feels pretty real–there’s awkwardness and hesitation, fear and longing, desire and self-doubt. Standout moments for each, though:

Blushing: when they tumble into Jules’s apartment after the night-out with their friends and the drive-in movie; there’s just so much pent-up longing and frenzied passion. My cheeks were bright red writing that scene!

Crying: the chapter when they’re at the conservatory–they both open their hearts to each other so deeply and bare so much. They share past pains and fears they’re still carrying. I related to a lot of what I wrote in their dialogue, and it was very moving to bring it to life in their conversation.

Laughing: hiding in the hedges–the physical comedy, the flirtation tangled with their playful bickering–I just had a blast writing that scene and truly laughed the whole way through drafting it.

Readers should read this book….

If you want a soft, emotionally rich, character-driven romance that makes you feel like standing hand in hand with someone you trust as you watch a springtime sunrise–not everything is bright and sunny and cheerful (yet), but you simply feel what a beautiful day it’s going to be, just by how it begins, the whisper of warmth in the air, the faint glow of light on the horizon, the undeniable promise that good, lovely things are in store.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m working on my next project, which will be first full-length standalone novel, HAPPY ENDING, coming in 2026 ! I can’t say much, except that it’s a book about two divorced people, and it’s such a freeing, wonderful experience, writing about people who’ve been through what I have. I think we need to see more realistic, compassionate, beautifully messy yet hopeful romantic stories about people who go through divorce, and I’m so excited to be writing that story now.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A print copy of ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY by Chloe Liese

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Would you practice date with a friend if they told you they felt they needed help learning the ropes of romance? Would you ask a friend to help you do the same?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Meet the Author:

USA Today bestselling author of the Bergman Brothers and Wilmot Sisters series, Chloe writes romances reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a love story. Her stories pack a punch of heat, heart, and humor, and often feature characters who are neurodivergent like herself. When not dreaming up her next book, Chloe spends her time wandering in nature, playing soccer, and most happily at home with her family and mischievous cats.
Website | Instagram | GoodReads |