I have read and loved Alexandria Bellefleur's books in the past, but this one felt very unrealistic to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandria Bellefleur / Harper Collins for the ARC!

This is Truly (no pun intended) the best romance novel I've read in a while. The chemistry the main characters have is phenomenonal and I was literally giggling at some points!! This is so well written and the story is so fun! It's also the perfect mix between smutty and cute which I absolutely love. Would highly recommend this book, and will definitely be checking out more of the author's work!

Truly, Madly, Deeply was such a fun and binge worthy romance! Truly and Colin had perfect chemistry, great banter, and so many wonderful moments. I do wish the podcast was more prominent in the book. That was such a fun part. Overall, I couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Alexandria Bellefleur for the advanced readers e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall: 4
Spice: 3

FMC & MMC are bisexual which the mention one or twice in the book, but the books focus more on the FMC unrealistic expectations of relationships based on her parents' relationships. Her parents drop a bomb regarding their relationship that rocks her world and now she doesn't know what to believe. The MMC is a little cynical regarding love because he's a family attorney and typically sees relationships at their worse. He's committed to try and change the FMC mind and allow her to see all possibilities in a relationship and she's determined to stay single.

I was disappointed because this book is marketed towards the LGBTQIA+ community but they only mention their bisexuality in passing. From the cover to the story line, this could have been a cis book. It's also most like they wrote the book as a cis book and decided later to make the MC's bisexual to fill a quota.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for an early copy of this book! This review is my honest feedback and given voluntarily.

WHERE IS MY COLIN McCRORY?!?!? I straight DEVOURED this book in less than 24 hours, and for me, a slow AF reader, that’s saying something. 🤣 I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m surprised I didn’t pull an abdomen muscle from laughing so hard while reading this. THE BANTER between these two main characters…I ate every single bit of that sh*t up! My only complaint was I WANTED MORE OF COLIN AND TRULY’S STORY!!!!

For my first Alexandria Bellefleur book, I thought it was a great read. So easy to move through and I connected with these characters down in my soul.

I’m just gonna go rapid fire on the things that were giving me all the feels:

~ COLIN: I’m OBSESSED with this man; body, mind, and soul. Like, he is perfection to me and I want him in the most respectful ways in public and the most disrespectful ways in private. And that MOUTH on him in private?!?! CRIMINAL, AND I LOVED IT. Had me fighting for my life.

~ The bi-rep: The way I crave bi-femme rep these days in my books is crazy because it feels like nobody writes these characters. So to have both of these characters be bisexual was just fabulous to me. It’s what had me requesting this book in the first place. And while the MCs are in a M/F relationship, their queerness is never diminished due to that fact and they are appreciated by each other for it all the same. I felt so seen by Truly and Colin’s conversation on bi-erasure and being “queer enough”. My claps to the author for presenting that conversation here.

~ The text conversations and banter between Colin and Truly was freakin hilarious. I couldn’t get enough of it.

~ LULU: OMG BEST FRIEND GOALS. Seriously though, I’m probably Lulu in real life…

~ Caitlin and Colin’s bro/sis dynamic was so hilarious and heartwarming, I loved it so much. Also, I think Caitlin deserves her own book, because HELLO!

~ The mutual defense of Colin and Truly of each other was just 🥹😭 and I couldn’t get enough of it, despite Truly being a little baby for parts of the book.

~ Ok so the SPICE: It wasn’t as much as I thought it was going to be, but what we did get was YUM-MEEE. Really only in the 2nd half and the build-up was so deliciously organic and natural, loved that. Colin: closet dirty talker, subbie, giver; Truly: my beautiful switch lover. I swear, what I wouldn’t give to be their 3rd…omggggg

~ No real 3ABU! THANK GOODNESS! It would have been so unnecessary for these characters and I’m so glad that it didn’t really happen. Truly had a couple freak-out moments, but Colin was like “f*ck that shit, we’re not doing that” and I loved him EVEN MORE for that.

So needless to say I would recommend this book 1000%. Especially if you’re looking for something on the shorter side, standalone, queer, little spicy. It just gives those really feel-good and cute/sweet vibes that you need every once in a while. Enjoy! 🤙🏼💕

Truly, Madly, Deeply is an enchanting romance following Truly, a romance author, and Colin, a divorce attorney as they get to know one another while filming a podcast on relationship advice. The story is full of sweet and sensual moments, Colin and Truly were absolutely lovely together. Their back and forth banter was so fun and I loved how they knew when to pause and acknowledge each other's feelings. While there are quite a few hurt/comfort moments, the story never got too heavy and I appreciated that the emotion, romance, and humor were so balanced throughout the book.

Read If You Like:

📖Opposites Attract📖
📖Queer Rep📖
📖A Charming and Smitten MC📖
📖Family Drama📖
📖Side Plots📖
📖Forced Proximty📖
📖All The Banter📖
📖Musical Theatre References📖

In ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ by Alexandria Bellefleur, Truly, a popular romance author, has just gotten out of a long-term relationship and has a troubling family situation. During her appearance on a popular podcast, a fellow guest and divorce lawyer, Colin, clashes with her. However, she makes amends with Colin, starting an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers relationship, with the reverse-sunshine trope prominent in the book.

This has become my favorite romance read! It was so cute and heartwarming, with lots of spice mixed in, and incredibly funny. The prose was impressive, with lots of Taylor Swift and theatre references, and a plus was the bisexual representation within the book. Colin was a complete green flag and an amazing book boyfriend too; his relationship with Truly was genuinely fun and flirty, while also being supportive. A man who wants to take her on IKEA dates and loves making her feel good … what else do you need? The subplot involving her parents was also interesting!

I will definitely be reading more works by this author, and I hope to find more books like this in the future! Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC.

Wow I just absolutely loved this book! I can’t believe two characters can have so much chemistry, it’s off the charts! I love how it felt so natural and real life flirty too. Collin is serious book husband (not just bf) goals and they both cracked me up with their banter. And the steam was chefs kiss, just perfect in every way! Wow I can’t wait to rave about this to everyone. 4.5 stars!

I am so unbelievably obsessed with this book. If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine romance novel you won’t be able to put down, this is the one! And a bonus - it has banter galore, spice, some of the best side characters I’ve ever read, and incredible bisexual representation!

Our main characters, Truly & Colin, had the BEST banter (honestly laugh out loud funny), and their chemistry is just sizzling. This book was a bit of a slow burn, but it was a *delicious* slow burn and once things heated up, it was on FIRE. And the dirty talk was…🥵😮‍💨🫠.

I also just need to give some of the side characters a shout-out moment. Truly’s parents were incredible with their musical theatre games and hilarious moments. Truly’s best friend, Lulu, was perfect/hysterical/amazing/goals. Colin’s sister, Caitlin, was spunky as all get out, and I love her unwavering dedication to her brother.

And finally, what is not apparent upon first glance of the cover of this book (but it’s not a spoiler as it’s in the book description) is it’s queerness. Both of the main characters are bi. As a queer person in a straight passing relationship myself, I cannot express how thankful I am that Bellefleur acknowledged that queerness isn’t determined by your partner - or even by your prior sexual experiences. The baby gays and late awakening bi/pan folks out there need this book, and I’m so happy to see more bisexual representation in books lately!

Truly, Madly, Deeply was my first book by Alexandria Bellefleur, but now I’ll be pulling a Colin and working my way through her backlist, because this was a five star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Once again, Alexandria Bellefleur does not disappoint. This was the perfect amount of angst mixed with fluff mixed with spice. Definitely one that I couldn't put down and makes me eagerly await what she'll write next.

When a historical romance author finds her fiancee cheating on her and immediately goes on a dating podcast... the last thing she expects is to fall for the very snarky (slightly bratty) divorce lawyer. Truly Livingston is a bestselling romance novelist. She's believed to be an expert on happily-ever-afters... except when she walks in on her (ex) fiancee cheating on her, it has her rethinking love. Then she ends up on a dating podcast to give love advice and comes face to face with a gorgeous guy who just happens to be a divorce lawyer and immediately gets under her skin on the podcast. To top it off, Truly finds out that her parents, the people who were the blueprint to why she believes in true love, tell her they are separating. Truly finds her belief in love shaken to the core... and meeting Colin McCory, the one guy who manages to get under her skin yet can't leave her mind, is definitely going to shake up her world. For some reason, bickering with Colin is fun, and when he asks for a fresh start on his sister's podcast after their confrontational first episode together...it begins to turn into something more as they bond over their queerness, their belief in romance, sharing weird facts with each other, and sending each other texts all throughout the day. From coffee shop dates to running into each other at the grocery store, Truly and Colin can't seem to stay away from one another. Yet can Colin convince Truly that she shouldn't close her heart off to love, and can he convince her that he's the one for her? This was a sweet and deeply romantic read, I adored Colin so much. No matter how hard Truly pushed him away, he always supported her and stayed by her side. Colin and Truly were so adorable together and I loved reading their romance. This book was a fun rom com and I loved how both characters were bisexuals. My all time favorite quote from the book that had me tearing up was when Colin and Truly were talking about being Bi and Colin tells her "My point, before I got off on a personal tangent, was that there’s no such thing as being queer enough. Action and attraction are two different things. You could go the rest of your life never dating a woman and it wouldn’t change a thing.” It's a beautiful book and I would absolutely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really loved this book. I’m a big Alexandria Bellefleur fan and this book had everything in it that I love about here writing. It was fun and sexy and I really liked all the characters.

This book was an absolute blast from page 1! I laughed out loud as I read this many times. Lulu is one of my favorite characters EVER - I shared so many of her lines with my husband as I read because she just had me cackling! If anything, I could’ve used more Lulu.

Colin and Truly had chemistry from the beginning, and the tension was spot-on. When the burn ends and the spice comes, they get SAUCY. I loved that there wasn’t a big third act breakup, which can feel so overdone in romance novels.

There were parts of the book that were totally cheesy and Truly definitely has some immaturities (don’t we all), but they all stem from her being a total romantic and I feel like the book was exactly what it was promised to be, a steamy rom-com full of really lovable characters! I enjoyed the entire ride and couldn’t stop reading.

P.S. Colin’s family sucks

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Solid 3.5-3.75ish star read for me. I was very patiently waiting for this book to become a 4-4.5 star read but alas it did not happen.

Let's start with what I did not enjoy so we can end on a positive note:

-The FMC. Okay we are supposed to believe that Truly St. James is this renowned romance author, and yet can barely have a conversation with Colin without blushing or getting all strangely bashful, but then as soon as the dick is out she has the most confidence. ALSO, Truly came across so immature throughout literally the entire book. She is supposed to be 27 but for much of the book she honestly acted like a teenager and that drove me crazy.

-The parent like side story. This was just weird and felt unnecessary, I don't think it would have been as cringy if it would have just been a normal couple and not her parents. I don't understand and cannot understand why Truly was obsessed with getting her parents back together, like I would be able to understand this if in this book she was a young human like 10 or something, but at 27, mind ya business.

-If I never have to hear or read the words, "mole-splattered" skin again I could die a happy person.

What I liked:
-the MMC, my man Colin. Ok, yes, is Colin a Mary Sue? Oh you betcha BUT do I still love him? YES!! He is like the complete opposite of my "norm" when it comes to book men, but he was understanding and patient and funny.

-I enjoyed the banter between the characters.

-I semi liked Lulu when she was in the book, which was not nearly enough.

-The epilogue chapter, and I would have loved having Colin's POV throughout.

Favorite Quotes:

"I typed the letter in Comic Sans. Diane abhors Comic Sans. Hates it with a burning passion"

"zaddy defiling her?"

"you could spit on me, and I'd say thank you"

Fair warning there was more than 1 public sex scene which is fine, I just was not expecting it.

Overall, I liked it and will pick up more by this author :)

I'm in love. Honestly, the book didn't really have a plot but it worked for me. It was mostly just Truly and Colin bantering and it was so good. They have such great chemistry and I could read about them forever. That man was such a goner for her, he literally said he was courting her.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandria Bellefleur for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I don’t know what more I can say than I LOVED this book. Colin and Truly’s chemistry and banter had me giggling and kicking my feet long before they approached intimacy, but once they did?? Let’s just say I had to crack a window, because it was HOTTT. This isn’t my first Bellefleur novel, but I think it’s definitely my favorite. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book!

Okay, so I absolutely ADORED 'The Fiancée Farce'. I was excited to see a new book by Alexandria, and oh BOY did she deliver!
It has the same humor that drew me in and the lovable, yet imperfect, love interests.
Truly annoyed me sometimes, especially with the whole "I can't be happy unless my parents are together" plot. And Colin's stance on the "taking a break" thing gave me the ick.
With that being said, I still enjoyed everything about this. The writing is fun, the characters are quirky, the spice is...haha....GREAT.
I will need to add more of her books to my tbr because the two I've read so far has stunned me.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by A Bellefleur is a strange combination of The Parent Trap and Pride & Prejuduce, smothered in an exhausted meta vernacular that makes this a chore to read.

I got to 40% and had to stop to ask myself why I was inflicting such a poor experience on myself. So I skipped to the epilogue and found the last scene from Clueless (I could hear Cher in my mind say "this is California not Kentucky") and knew I was done.

There should have been an original plot here, should have been a fun contemporary romance, should have been some decent spice, but alas, there's nothing but an amalgamation of dated pop culture references trying desperately to be a little ahead of current trends and failing in every aspect.

Sorry. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to review.

Truly is an author and hopeless romantic. Freshly single due to her cheating and crappy ex. She’s based her assumptions of love on her parent’s seemingly perfect relationship. They never fought or argued and seemed to get along perfectly. In comes Colin. A Feisty, argumentative family attorney who is more of a realist. Truly and Colin can’t seem to stop butting heads. Truly finds out her parents might not have been as happy as they let on. Forgoing confrontation and communication for peace has lead to a lot of built of tension. While Truly’s romance with Colin looks nothing like what she thought a loving relationship should look like. She likes the silly banter and friendly confrontation more than she expected.

Gosh this book was addictive. Literally could not put it down. This is a steamy enemies to lovers. If you’re looking for closed door this book is not for you! The spicy scenes were impeccable, the banter was to die for. Honestly no notes one of my favorite books of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's hard to write review of a book that you love. This book is the kicking your feet in excitement kind of book - that's the best way I can think to describe it.

The banter is my very favorite part and I appreciated that the fun was tempered with bigger issues that were handled realistically but deftly. While Truly was aggravating for me at times (she felt a bit immature and her meddling was very aggravating for me) she always balanced out with great advice from her friends and the almost perfection that is Colin (seriously maybe the most perfect book boyfriend I've ever read). I think by the end of the book I was won over to Truly's side, I just wish she had to grow up a bit less.

Overall a great romcom and I await more books from Alexandra Bellefleur impatiently.