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.

Truly Livingston always believed in happy endings, thanks to her parents’ long marriage and her job writing romance stories from the past. But when she catches her fiancé cheating and her parents announce they're splitting up, Truly feels lost and can't write anymore. Then she gets roped into doing a podcast with Colin McCory, a lawyer who's all about practicality and not romance. They clash during their first episode, but when Colin apologizes unexpectedly, Truly decides to give the podcast another shot. As they work together, they become unlikely friends, maybe even more than that, if Truly can believe she deserves her own love story.

"Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Alexandria Bellefleur is a sizzling romance with podcast fights, social media mess-ups, and all the awkwardness of finding love. It's one of Bellefleur's best books yet, even rivaling her beloved trilogy "Written in the Stars." I was hesitant at first, but now I'm convinced Bellefleur can do no wrong. I devoured this book and can't wait to read it again. It's everything I love about Bellefleur's writing – honest, open, and beautifully bisexual.

The story follows two characters, a realist and a romantic, who fall in love and rethink their beliefs about life and love. It's a touching tale that stays with you long after you finish reading. Bellefleur crafts a love story for those who still believe in romance, even when life gets tough. Truly Livingston is an absolute icon, flaws and all, and her journey to find happiness is inspiring. Her chemistry with Colin is undeniable, and their banter is both hilarious and heartwarming. This book made me believe in the power of connection and the importance of creating our own happiness. I fell hard for Truly and Colin, and I'm already itching to read their story again.

If you liked Book Lovers by Emily Henry but want more spice then Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur is for you! The banter between Truly and Colin is 10/10. For me personally this was a little spicier than I prefer but everything else was so good- I truly didn't feel like I was reading.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of Truly, Madly, Deeply!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

i had high hopes going into this one because of the initial reviews and am always on the lookout for some bi rep, but this didn't quite meet them.

this romance story about truly st. james, a romance writer and colin mccrory, a family lawyer who start off on the wrong foot while having a discussion on a podcast and ending up falling in love. while the beginning of the story is a cliche scene of truly walking in on her long term boyfriend cheating on her, the bulk of the book completely disregards that and focuses on a new plot - getting truly's parents back together after they separate. i wouldn't have minded that if that's what this book had been pitched as, but the fact that it centered around truly plotting and scheming to her parents back together and colin joining along for the ride, their romance feeling like a side plot, caused me to simply check out. it totally lost me.

it doesn't help that the balance of the two characters was completely out of whack. i found truly to be immature and selfish. as a romance writer, i understood that she loves love and is in some ways a hopeless romantic, but she was so far gone into being a romantic that being challenged by colin, who was a realist, made her crumble at the any type of contradiction. i get that she felt strongly in her beliefs, but the fact that she had no room to even have a mature and respectful conversation to someone who had an opposing view had me rolling my eyes. she was condescending towards colin and his job as a family lawyer - focusing on the fact that he handles divorce (cause she simply cannot FATHOM anyone getting divorce, god forbid) despite him constantly reminding her that divorce is just one part of his job. the fact that her parents decided to separate - having nothing to do with her - and she ignores the warning of everyone around her to not get involved and still inserts herself in their relationship and basically manipulates them to get together, parent trap style, at her big old age of twenty-seven just didn't sit right with me. WHO would do that aside from eleven year old twins?

on the other hand, colin seems absolutely perfect. he's patient, understanding, compassionate, thoughtful, and seemingly has no flaws which was just unrealistic. the way he had a raging hard on for her during every conversation, even when she was berating him, was simply unacceptable lol. like boy, GET UP. the man was obsessed and in love with truly which i didn't understand and even now, still don't. also, if i took a shot for every time truly pointed out his moles, i would have to get my stomach pumped.

this was a couple that definitely doesn't last after the epilogue lol.

the dialogue was unbearable at times. the humor, wit and banter felt so forced and was often very cringe. it was trying to be funny, quirky, and flirtatious but it felt so millennial and that's coming from a millennial. it added to the immatureness of the characters and i couldn't take them seriously at all. the pacing was also all over the place. they went from hate to love in a matter of chapters which if done right, can be believable, but not in this case.

overall, this read more like a YA romance than an adult one. the conversations, dialogue, and plot, all felt juvenile. and the way the ending worked out in the most perfect of happily ever after ways?
p l e a s e.

I loved Truly, Madly, Deeply! Truly and Colin were great. I loved their banter and the slow burn of their romance. Their dynamic was 🔥🥵. It might have been a five star read for me if the plot line with Truly trying to parent trap her parents didn’t make me physically cringe. Other than that the book was great. Still loved it and would recommend it.

I was so thrilled to have been approved for this title, because just LOOK at the gorgeous cover. There are two characters kissing in a bookstore and one of them is standing on a stack of books! If that's not #goals I don't know what is. But that doesn't actually happen (at least not that I can recall) so I was definitely a little bummed there. That being said overall I was pretty pleased with this book. It was a cute, quick read with some steamy scenes and our MMC was basically a cinnamon roll I just wanted to squish. He was absolutely wonderful and I'm pretty sure I would die for him. I enjoyed our FMC as well, but not to the same extent. She probably could have used some therapy for a handful of problems that she had, but that's not overly unusual. I want to note that I myself am a cis-het person, so I don't really have much standing in this area, but I personally thought the bi rep and the conversations the main characters have about it was very well done, but in the end it's not really my place to say, so take my thoughts there with a grain of salt. The other thing I really loved about this story was the humor. To me this was the exact definition of a rom-com, and it really delivered on the comedy aspect. The FMC's best friend was delightful and I really do hope that Bellefleur's next book (or at least a future one) features her as the heroine. Now onto my biggest problem with this book, and the reason it wasn't a 5-star read for me; in the end there wasn't really a conflict. Sure, to begin with we had the whole "I hate him, he's a jerk" conflict, but by the end the entire conflict the main character was facing was just about her parent's relationship. And maybe I'm just unimpressed because my parents were never actually together, but while it sucks your parents might get a divorce this woman was not 8, she was in her late 20's or early 30's (I don't remember which one) and probably just needed to go see a therapist to deal with these things, not meddle like she did. But honestly in the end I still enjoyed the time I spent reading it, and the good definitely outweighed the bad. I won't say that Bellefleur is my favorite author ever, but her books are cute and enjoyable enough that I'll certainly go on reading them, and would not be afraid to recommend them to those looking for a good LGBTQ+ romance novel.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 4/30

Alexandria Bellefleur is one of my favorite romance authors, and I’m always excited to read her books. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one as much as I loved her other novels.

Truly and Colin meet while recording a podcast where they give people advice on love. They get into an argument on air, and Truly hopes to never see Colin again. But Colin is so cute, and she can’t stop thinking about him…so when he comes looking for her to beg her to go back on the podcast, she begrudgingly accepts.

The banter between Colin and Truly is flirty and cute. I loved their text exchanges and the moments they spent together in the first half of the book getting to know each other. The spice is very spicy, and there’s lots of it! (woohoo!) The discussion surrounding bi-erasure is important and educational. I also think Colin is a sweetheart, and I love everything about him.

What really didn’t work for me here was Truly. She’s incredibly immature for 27, and I had a difficult time getting past that. The book opens with her fiance of six years cheating on her, so she has reasons to be guarded and unwilling to jump into a relationship with Colin AT FIRST. But she continues to use that excuse throughout the book, and it gets very old very quickly. While I enjoyed all the flirting, I still didn’t feel enough tension between Truly and Colin. I needed just a little more character development and a little less spice (I know…who even am I right now?!)

There’s also the “parent trap” scenario where Truly tries to trick her parents into getting back together, and that also feels very out of place and immature.

With quirky side characters, lots of steam, and a sweet and handsome MC, this rom-com is a quick, fun read that most romance lovers will enjoy. I’m looking forward to Bellefleur’s next book. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for my advanced copy.

Read if you like:
*bisexual rep
*single POV
*open door spice
*grumpy/sunshine
*fast pace