I enjoyed this so much that I ran and ordered this author’s other 3 books.

This book starts out in the most explosive way, and while it’s introspective and character-driven, I never wanted to set it down.

Romance novelist Truly walks in on her fiance with another woman, she receives horrible news from her parents… and then she gets to debate romance, as a romantic, against divorce lawyer Colin for a podcast.
It goes… poorly. (As one might expect!)

Except the viewership is great, the host wants her and Colin back, and Colin is super interested in Truly. The chemistry is there, y’all!

I loved these two. Colin and Truly are both queer, and reading about their experiences was a joy. They are such soulmates — I loved how Colin fell first, and how sweet Truly is even when she wants to be her toughest.

This was just so genuine, from Truly’s theater nerd parents to the delightful spice, to the way this novel simply made me feel. I’ll be rereading this as soon as I can get a physical copy in hand.

So in all- I recommend this as a top romance for this year. And fair warning, if you’re new to this author, you’ll only want to read more of her work.

This was such a fun read. The characters were both larger than life but also so very real. The connection between our two main characters made me believe in love again, so there’s that. I love that both the main characters are bisexual. The conversation about bi-erasure, especially when in a straight-presenting relationship, was great. Colin McCrory is also maybe one of my favorite new book boyfriends. Thighs for days? Sign me up! He’s such a cutie.

There were times when the timeline was a little confusing, but I got over it for the sake of being obsessed with the storyline. This book is also completely millennial-coded but it made me enjoy it even more. I giggled out loud several times because of it. So do with that information what you will. I enjoyed that aspect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon HarperVoyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

truly truly truly obsessed with this book.
i was hooked IMMEDIATELY!! from page one i was inhaling every word and couldn’t put it down. there was a quote in this book that called truly’s writing “compulsively readable” and that is EXACTLY how i felt reading this!!

the characters were genuinely so! much! fun!! and the banter was top tier!! truly and colin were the perfect amount of enemies to lovers where i was never off-put by the “hatred” and was simply giggling over their chemistry. and let’s talk about it, THE CHEMISTRY! OFF THE CHARTS!! i was NOT expecting this book to be as hotttt as it was (not mad, very pleasantly surprised) but wow wow wow i was literally gasping at multiple points. it was toooo good!

i was a bit worried that truly’s whole cabin weekend getaway plan was going to be a bit much/immature for me but honestly i didn’t mind at all and if anything i really felt for her and was rooting for her by the time it came around.

just loved these characters and their journey together and their growth as individuals!! i loved truly’s parents and their little side journey!! and i lovedddd catie and lulu (i do wish we got more time with them since both were such fun characters and such large parts of truly and colin’s lives)!!

genuinely such a fun and earnest and sparkly and deeply romantic story. just loved it. i already know i’m going to be recommending this constantly come june.

**thank you soo much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!**

Truly, Madly, Deeply by @a.m.bellefleur
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I was SO stoked that I got to read an arc! I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book with every fiber of my being. Truly and Colin were so sweet and perfect and tender and SEXY! Colin just on his knees (literally and figuratively) for his girl constantly and that being his happy place!!!! 😅😅😅 Also, Lulu is the BEST (I’m obsessed with her, can we get her her own book???) and Truly’s parents were SO FUN!!! I am shouting from the rooftops: GO READ THIS BOOK! That is all. (It’s so good I’m ordering a physical so I can read it over and over and over!!!)

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks @harpervoyagerus for the arc!
Pub date: 4/30/24

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur
Truly Livingston is a bestselling romance author whose view on love has been flipped upside down. To make matters worse she's asked on a dating podcast to give her 'romantic' outlook against a realist perspective made by Colin McCory, an extremely hot family lawyer. When Colin crosses a line and she storms out never to return, she was not expecting him to beg her for another chance, or how much she liked it when he begged.

I'd like to start by saying this is not a book I would usually pick up, but I'm glad I did. The moment I met Truly I knew I would love her, her cutting remarks and brutal sarcasm were right up my alley. This review really belongs to Colin. I love the way he handles Truly and how absolutely whipped he is by her at the same time. If this man doesn't give everyone butterflies by the end of the book then I will have truly lost hope in the world. I read this book in one sitting and the plot kept me hooked the entire time, I became invested so quickly in much more than the main relationship. I only have two nitpicks. First, the ending. I felt left hanging for more resolve specifically with Colin. Secondly, the cover, I feel that does not do the book justice.

This book has put Alexandria on my radar as someone who knows how to craft a story that keeps me turning pages. I’d recommend this book to fans of Ali Hazelwood and Sarah Adams who are looking for a little more spice.
Characters- 3/5
Plot- 3/5
Spice- 5/5
Rating- 3/5

** Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. **

Truly Livingston makes a living off of romance. For her, everything in her life should lead to her own great Happily Ever After. But when she catches her fiancee with another woman, she is convinced that her own HEA just isn't in the cards. Enter Colin McCrory, a family lawyer who has worked on enough divorces to see romance through anything but rose colored glasses. Sparks instantly fly when these two are thrown together to record a podcast all about love and relationships. Their differing viewpoints constantly at battle. And when those sparks turn into a a passionate inferno...well...Truly's HEA might not be lost forever.

Truly, Madly, Deeply may just be the best book Alexandria Bellefleur has ever written - and with her catalog of work that is saying something.

The characters are fantastic, fully-formed and real. Even the supporting cast feel like flesh and blood people. The humor and banter is on point, as is the flirtatious bickering between Truly and Colin.

Best things about this book: bisexual representation, those STEAMY scenes, and best of all...NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!

This was a very sweet love story. I loved both main characters.

I wish it had focused more on the podcast and Truly's name drove me nuts because I kept forgetting it was the name of the main character.

In her latest delightfully queer romcom about two disastrous bisexuals, Alexandria Bellefleur gives us her hottest book to date. In Truly, we get the delightfully sarcastic, whip-smart novelist who’s been burned in love and suspicious of Colin, a delightfully snarky yet earnest lawyer who falls fast and hard but keeps putting his foot in his mouth. Their banter is a series of zings and sparks, and had me, a diehard fan of the movie “Cutting Edge” wanting to say “toe pick!” while kicking my feet in delight. When they finally do stop arguing enough to realize they like each other, Colin gives a steamy lesson in how to please a woman and should probably give some sort of seminar, if not a full Ted Talk. What continues is a whole lot of escalating spice and readers will need a fan if not an ice pack by the end.

Bellefleur continues her long trend of love interests uniting in the midst of hard family dynamics and self-doubt, and includes all the touchstones of a perfect romance novel. What’s more, in their conversations about being bisexual, Bellefleur gives a beautiful depiction of what it feels like to be bi, especially when one comes out later in life. This book gets all the stars.

4.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded to 5)

Truly is a romance writer who essentially loves love and she believes she’s on her way to her happily ever after. That is until she catches her fiancée cheating on her and her parents, whom she based her entire view on love, are separating.
She joins to co-host a podcast where she’s supposed to give people advice on love and essentially feels like she isn’t fit since her entire view on happily ever afters has been destroyed. In the same podcast, she meets her co-host, Colin, a divorce lawyer, who is basically her complete opposite and has a more “realistic” view on love.
Although she finds him extremely attractive, the minute he opens his mouth they just don’t see eye to eye, he says something that hits close and she ultimately walks out of the podcast and doesn’t look back.
Colin, find his way back into her life, asking for a second chance, a fresh start between them, also apologizing for what he said and asking her to comeback to the podcast again.
Truly agrees, which leads to her getting to know him better, going from almost enemies to friends to more.

I read almost 50% of the book in one sitting because I was dying at their bickering and banter. The amount of times Truly would bite at Colin and would be stunned when Colin gave the same energy with his jokey flirty banter back, ohhhh I lived for it!!! THE MOUTH THIS MAN HAD, the amount of times I would scream and just say “Jesus Colin!” because I too, like Truly, would be shocked. And even though they bickered a lot, they were just perfect for each other, they fit. Colin was simply obsessed with Truly and would do anything his power to make her happy and comfortable and safe and I just simply loved that 💗
Truly, I loved her. She reminded me a little of January Andrews from Beach Read in the sense that they are both romance writers and whose views on love have been shattered. Seeing her open herself to Colin, even though she claimed to “hate” him, was just wonderful to see. AND THE WAY SHE STOOD UP FOR COLIN!! Bless her honestly.
I just love how she cares deeply about the people she loves, to the point that she even tried to Parent Trap her parents which was hilarious, girlie just has a big heart and I loved how Colin understood that.
In the end, Truly and Colin are my Bi icons! and I loved this book!!

What a warm fuzzy read. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, a heartless romantic getting her foundations rocked by the realities of love and trying to find her way back to it. While I found the main character Truly a little whiny at times I still found myself rooting for her and at the end of the day shes just a 27 year old girl (which, same girl, same). And Colin? Good god all mighty talk about swoon worthy! I love a man who is just absolutely down bad from the jump and gives as good as he gets.

I loved this book and would definitely read again, 4.5 stars

I absolutely adored this book. It gave everything a romance needed to give. I loved both of the main characters, and I loved the best friend as well!! This romance was a perfect slow burn, but also about two individuals who really clicked so fast. The banter and the tension was everything and I fell in love and could not put the book down. I love love love text messages in books, and these literally had me giggling like I was the one texting Colin. Speaking of Colin! One of my new favorite book boyfriends. He was funny, sweet, obsessed with truly, and so patient and kind with her. Truly is someone who is a romantic at heart, but all of her depictions of romance in her life (her own relationship as well as her parents) start to crumble in front of her eyes. I loved reading about this and the fears that Truly developed, and then seeing her love someone again with her whole heart. It was so beautiful to read and I loved this element of it, with truly normally being a romantic and colin being more of a realist. The connection they formed over their sexuality journeys as well added a whole other layer to it and I loved it so much. Seeing both of these different but similar people come together in one of the most romantic stories was everything and more.

I felt so ambivalent about the book. Truly (the FMC) catches her fiancé with another woman (though the fiancé seems like a jerk and they were on a break). She breaks it off and then she meets Colin on a podcast his sister hosts and the sparks fly. So far so good. Very spicy times. (Top notch spicy) She believes in love and marriage because her parents perfect marriage. Then they tell her they are splitting and she looses her mind. This is where the book kind of lost me. She comes up with a parent trap scheme to get her parents back together, because if they don’t work no one does. And Colin is a level headed family lawyer who’s ex broke up with him because he came out as bi and then she started dating his twin brother and his family likes the brother better than him. Which is all a bit out of left field and is never resolved past Colin kinda telling his mom off (I wante a statement of them going no contact it give me the whole HEA). But my biggest issue was the parents go from being separated to getting back together for no real reason and so Truly can believe in love. I wanted her to realize her own love path without needing to have the last chapter be about her parents salvaging their marriage. If the reunion of the parents had bee an epilogue moment, maybe I would have felt better about it, but by making it the lady chapter, the writer made it the most important moment in a book that should have been about Truly and Colin.

arc review
Romance author Truly Livingston believes in love and happily ever afters, until her parents and idols for true love decide to separate. With the addition of her fiancé cheating on her, her view on love as drastically shifted. As a love expert guest on a podcast, she meets her cohost Colin McCory, cynical divorce lawyer and realist. After a spat on the podcast causing Truly to walk out, Colin hunts her down and begs for her to come back. Truly realizes that they have more in common than she thought.

I have not stopped thinking about Truly and Colin since I finished this. I flewww through this and finished it in under two days. BISEXUAL REPRESENTATION!!! This is really such a cute, feel good book. The enemies to friends to lovers made my heart swell. Colin is so perfect to me, he is truly an ideal bf; so caring and kind and patient and understanding. Ughhhh🫠 The banter was unreal and the chemistry had me blushing!!! Colin has a way with words like no other.

This book has made its way into my ultimate favs and I cannot wait to reread it.

Everyone please read this, releasing on April 30th. Thank you netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Alexandria Bellefleur

“Because everything she wrote had a teeny tiny piece of her embedded in it. If Colin liked her books, he had to like her, right?”

One of the best romances I’ve read this year! It was so funny & the banter between our two MC was just *chefs kiss* there were so many moments when I literally laughed out loud & other times when I cried (twice, but I’m a cry baby)

This is the perfect enemies to lovers, he falls first, slow burn. Not only is the spice absolutely delectable but the way he just absorbs freakin lutely adores the FMC will for sure make you swoon.

Thank you so much NetGalley & the publisher for this incredible ARC, not only will I be buying a physical copy but I will also be shouting from the mountains how great this book is. Can not wait to get my grimey hands on Colin & Truly 💗

Alexandria Bellefleur hasn’t had a miss for me yet so I was super excited for Truly, Madly, Deeply, and this is one steamy, adorable read! Romance novelist Truly just found out her fiancé is cheating on her when she walks into the podcast studio to guest star and meets the host’s brother Colin, a divorce lawyer and sparks fly. This opposite attracts romance was fun and sexy. The banter was just perfect and funny and witty. It’s sharp and quick and I loved this enemies to lovers. I will say Truly has some only child syndrome and she feels very immature at times. This is a very sex motivated romance book book, and I don’t say that as a bad thing. It’s sexy and these two have sizzling chemistry. They balance each other, they push each other, and they do such great steps to grow and I liked how the third act conflict played out. Colin is a dream, he’s so attentive and just shows up for Truly in such meaningful ways. And Truly has such a beautifully big heart. It’s a fun romance with a lot of heart. It’s heartwarming and witty and I’d definitely recommend!

Delightfully swoony and deliciously steamy, Alexandria Bellefleur’s latest is a must read for all romance lovers.

Truly is a romance writer. Colin is a divorce attorney. It’s no surprise when they clash as guests on a popular podcast. What is a surprise is the fact that Truly can’t get Colin out of her head. It doesn’t help that he keeps popping up in her life. These two flirt ridiculously, endure social media mishaps, and reappear on the podcast all before everyone in their life eventually gently pushes them together.

This book is just. so. good.

Colin is down soooo badly for Truly it is unreal. He’s the definition of emotionally-intelligent, if-he-wanted-to-he-would, book-boyfriend-material. Truly swings between a relatable disaster and someone I want to be when I grow up. The side characters are hilarious, the banter is on point (and abundant!), and the chemistry between Truly and Colin could light the book on fire. If you haven’t (pre)ordered this one yet— what are you waiting for?

As I was reading this book, I had a blast. The banter is top notch, the spice is SPICING, and the conversations about bisexuality, bi-erasure, and being queer in a het-presenting relationship were wonderful. The strongest parts of this book are the discussions about sexuality and about what constitutes enough for a relationship to last the test of time. However, when I sat down to write my review, I found myself thinking of more things that I didn't enjoy than things that I did. Honestly, if I had rated this book on vibes alone and not had to write a review, I would have given it five stars. My critiques are below, skip if you don't want to see them!

I think my biggest issue from this book is that there are two half-formed plots that should have been merged or one would have been cut. Truly's perfect parents are getting a trial separation, and she finds out after she caught her fiancé cheating (also, having her boyfriend say that he was practicing ethical non monogamy when he was clearly cheating is a slap in the face to poly people who have to struggle to be taken seriously). So she decides to parent trap her parents back together - plot one. The second plot is Truly's relationship with Colin, who she is falling fast for, but her distrust in love holds her back. The parent trap plot takes a backseat for most of the book after everyone tells Truly it's none of her business and a bad idea. She doesn't listen and -- well you would think it would blow up in her face and she would learn that its totally fine for relationships to end and that she should keep her nose out of everyone's business, but it doesn't happen. Her parents end up thanking her and getting back together by the end. Ugh. So much for character growth.

Truly, throughout all of the book, acted more like an indulged spoiled teenager than a successful adult with (apparently) a massive publishing contract. I don't know what a 32-year old lawyer (who seems to have a great practice, though we very rarely see him doing any lawyer-ing) would see in someone who seems so immature. She doesn't engage in much character growth (or much writing, for being a full-time author), and everyone acted like she was the most amazing human. Oh, and she is very smol and so very tiny. Colin was lovely as a starry eyed optimist, but I wish we would have gotten his POV to see his internal dialogue. He's a bit...too perfect (other than the fact that his ex girlfriend is married to his twin, but we never get a clear story on why they didn't work out). Everyone is rich with dramatic parents -- Truly's love her but can't talk to each other unless its in Broadway song titles, Colin's are the stereotypically cold WASP family of 90s movies.

I also think using the likeness of a real person on the cover is...a choice, but that responsibility lies with Avon.

Vibes and spice? 5 stars.
Bisexuality conversations? 5 stars.
After a critical look back? 3 stars.

Still love Bellefleur's work and will be reading what comes next.

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!

maybe it was me, but the podcast element seemed like it was a big part of the book, but honestly there are like only 4-ish episodes that are talked about and one 1/2 that are in depth.

COLIN WAS HEAD over heels for truly and it was the cutest thing ever. one of my favorite things is when the male lead calls her “baby” i love me a unique nickname, but sometimes it gets stale when it’s said over and over again, so i lvoe a classic “baby”. he was so willing to go down on her and it was… hot. colin is like my new book boyfriend, he’s so sweet even when truly was not doing well and supported her through everything. him being obsessed with her AND BLUSHING!! UGHH!! THATS SO CUTE

truly is honestly an amazing character, but i do wish she would stop putting her parents’ relationship on a pedestal and thinking she knows about their relationship more than the actually people in the relationship. she was very flip floppy about her relationship with colin which i get, but honestly she was still such a good character to read from.

i wished the parent trap part of the book was removed, but overall it was so cute!!

I've really loved the author's other books, and even thoroughly enjoyed parts of this book SO MUCH. However, it felt like a speedrun challenge with how quickly the characters raced from rivals to friends to lovers, and it was so repetitive in wording choices and descriptions (which I can usually overlook a bit, but it happened a lot and, in my opinion, the choices weren't great the first time, let alone the second or third).
In addition, there was at least one scene that hit my brain as "this is from [insert rom com]," and it took me out of the story I was reading because of how directly it matched. I say at least one because I can name the one but vaguely remember having the same thought at a different point but can't remember what it was.
Truly's immaturity throughout was also a struggle for me - I can understand where it's coming from to a point, but it was just... a lot. I fully expected to identify with the romantic over the realist here, but there wasn't a point where I could because I was so exasperated with her.
If I didn't know better I would've thought this an early draft waiting to be fleshed out more rather than a book nearing publication and I was sodisappointed by that. If you're looking to pick up something by this author, I'd recommend her other books.

2/5

Truly, Madly, Deeply was a quick read. I enjoyed the banter between Colin and Truly. I liked that their relationship had a little bit of a slow burn to it. The texting scenes between Colin and Truly were cute. It made their relationship feel more authentic. I thought Truly and Colin's characters were well developed. It was nice to see characters with depth. Although Truly had some dramatic moments, it tied in to her overall story arc. I liked the side characters, especially Lulu. She added an amusing comedic layer to the story. The only thing that wasn't my cup of tea was the show tunes storyline.....those discussions went over my head. Overall, this was a fun and easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.