"Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Alexandria Bellefleur left me with mixed feelings. The story follows Truly, a romance novelist, and Colin, a divorce attorney, who start off clashing on a relationship podcast but eventually develop undeniable chemistry. The book is filled with humor, spice, and engaging banter, which kept me entertained.

I enjoyed watching Truly and Colin's relationship unfold, especially through their text exchanges and dates. Their chemistry was apparent from the start, and the representation of bisexuality added depth to the story. Truly's Instagram mishaps were both cringeworthy and hilarious, making her character relatable and fun.

However, I had some issues with the plot and characterizations. Truly's efforts to reunite her separated parents felt immature for her age and took up too much of the story. It seemed unrealistic and distracted from the main romance. Additionally, Colin’s lingering issues with his brother dating his ex, and Truly’s extreme reactions to her parents' separation, felt overly dramatic.

The dialogue and pacing were hit or miss. While I enjoyed the banter at times, it often felt forced and cringeworthy. The quick shift from hate to love between Truly and Colin was hard to believe. I also wished for more resolution on side plots, like Colin's family issues and more involvement from characters like Lulu.

Despite these flaws, Bellefleur's writing style is strong, with great descriptions and emotional depth. The novel's mix of sweetness, spice, and representation made it an enjoyable read, even if it didn't fully meet my expectations. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" is charming and ends delightfully, though it has its share of shortcomings.

Thank you Alexandria Bellefleur and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

I had no idea what this book was about, but I saw the cover, and that was all I needed. Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), are you in the room with us? I’m not sure if it was intentional that Colin on the cover looks just like the hair himself or what, but either way, he is the blueprint for the perfect Colin McCory. He has consumed my brain, and I swear he is a top-book boyfriend from here on out. His constellation of moles? Are you kidding? As a person with very noticeable moles all over, I felt seen and loved it so much that Truly adored them.

The banter between Truly and Colin is some of the best I have read in a while; it’s the kind that has you grinning and kicking your feet. I could not get enough of it. The book could have been just conversations between the two, and I would have loved it just the same.

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, for providing an eARC of Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback. Below are my honest opinions.

Truly is a bestselling romance novelist, but she currently feels some major imposter syndrome. She caught her fiancé cheating on her and her parents just announced that they are separating after thirty plus years of marriage. Her views on love are a tiny bit skewed and she's just agreed to be on a very successful and popular podcast to give relationship advice to its listeners. She reluctantly joins the cast and meets handsome Colin who is a divorce attorney. He's the realist to her hopeless romantic. She strongly disagrees with his views on love and decides she absolutely cannot co-host the podcast with him.

A few days later, he tracks her down at an adult boutique her best friend, Lulu manages, sincerely apologizes and begs her to give him and the podcast another chance. They quickly go from enemies to friends to something else entirely and Truly discovers that they have more in common than she could have imagined, including their shared queerness. He's funny, charming, supportive and there's just something about him that Truly cannot get enough of. He wants to pursue her, but she isn't sure she's ready for another relationship. He's patient and supportive of her wishes. She can't help but wonder, is he truly, madly, deeply in love with her, or is it all too good to be true?

This book made me laugh out loud and swoon. The spiciness was perfection! I loved Truly's quirky family that insisted upon using theater lyrics in their conversations around the house and I love how quickly Colin played along. I loved Truly's best friend, Lulu, and all of her spunky quirkiness. I loved how patient and supportive Colin was of Truly. This book was wonderful and if you haven't read it yet, you should!

Truly is a romance writer whose parents long and loving relationship has made her a hopeless romantic. Shortly after walking in on her long term fiancé cheating on her, her parents announce that they are taking a break from their relationship, shattering Truly’s stance on love.

Truly goes on a podcast with Colin, a divorce lawyer, and the chemistry they have is enough to make Truly almost immediately forget that her 6 year relationship is over.

The banter in this book is unmatched. I’d read a whole book of Truly and Colin’s banter.

Where this book falls short for me is Truly’s emotional immaturity. She attempts to “Parent Trap” her parents, she doesn’t take the time to really acknowledge or grieve her 6-year relationship, and she’s just so naive. It got to the point where I was wondering what Colin was seeing in Truly because of her immaturity and that she was never as interested in him as he was in her.

Thank you Alexandria Bellefleur, Avon Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was my first Bellefleur book, and I admit I was a little concerned to see this marketed as a queer book when the main characters were male and female. There was only one off-hand comment in the beginning that Truly was bisexual, and then no further discussion for several chapters. I am really glad that I stuck it out though, because about halfway through the book, there is a beautiful conversation between the two main characters where they are coming out to one another as bisexual, and they have really meaningful conversation about what counts as queer. It was pointed out in the book that the FMC's straight-presenting prior relationship was queer just by virtue of her being queer, which is a perspective I had not previously considered, despite being queer myself. I thought it was a beautiful commentary on bi erasure and imposter syndrome.

The book was very well written, and I loved the banter between all the characters. The Taylor Swift references were perfection and not overly gratuitous. The spice was really good and actually took me a little by surprise at the end. The plot and subplot were all engaging. I'll be going back and reading all of Bellefleur's previously published novels now.

I dunno, I had a hard time with this one. I couldn’t connect with it. I finished the book but never really loved it. I did love Colin. Not Truly so much.. Colin though that man is a 10, really probably the only reason I kept reading was because of Colin.

Over this was a good book. Is it my favorite of those the author has written no. The main characters have great banter and I would have loved even more time with them on the podcast and Caitlin but I appreciated their texting and conversations. Colin is great! I like him more than Truly and I loved how the author wrote a male who knows what patience, communication and giving people their space is. Great writing there.

I think unfortunately it was just too many ideas floating in the plot and not all of them were tied up that keeps this from being an amazing book. I didn’t like her parents. They were juvenile and annoying. We get too much of them and the epilogue is their vow renewal and our mains don’t even really talk to each other. Also Truly and Colin have differing views of romance (thank you podcast) but this is never explored and her parent’s relationship is what is. Definitely missed opportunity. We never get resolution on his family and his f-ed up brother and his wife.

Overall still a satisfying, fun, steamy well written book and I can’t wait for what comes next.

4.5 stars!

Truly Livingston and Colin McCory might just make you fall in love again. Also, men written by women? HOT. If only every woman could find herself a Colin McCory. I genuinely think the world for hetero women would be a better place.

I have to shout out the tropes in this one:
*enemies-to-lovers (ish)
*he falls harder first
*witty banter - like holy shit is it witty and sexy and funny and I could go on forever
*open-door romance (hell yeah brother)

I genuinely cannot say enough good things. I only took away a half star for the slight insta-love that's going on here. I was able to overlook it with how good the spicy scenes were. AND I MEAN GOOD. I will be recommending this one to any one with a pulse, k thanks.

Rating: 3 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶️

This book was steamy as hell!!! But as for the story, I’m not sure there was much of one that really developed? The relationship between Truly and Colin developed quickly and the banter was great and then the plot was lost.

Truly was sometimes childish for a woman in her late twenties. Colin is an angel though and I would die for a man who’s obsessed with me.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of this one!!!

I fell in love with the MC's. Sadly, this book lacks the plot I'm looking for. It's plays heavily on the miscommunication trope and towards the end if felt like Colin was being used for his queerness not just a quality of him.
He found a perfect match in Truly though. Cause F*** that ex man...
STEAMY romance for sure! Tension is great. Chemistry is great. Just misses the mark for my current reading habits.

Truly is a romance author who has been struggling with her own love life. She signs up to cohost a podcast with “realist” Colin, and they immediately get off on the wrong foot. But don’t worry. That doesn’t last for long…

Truly, Madly, Deeply had some great stuff going on, particularly the relationship between Truly and Colin. Their banter was funny and it was great to see Colin fall hard and fast. I also loved Truly’s parents and her relationship with them. I was disappointed in some of the other parts of the story, though. It felt like there were several storylines thrown together so some felt rushed and incomplete. But overall, an entertaining read.

On an unrelated note, because of the cover I pictured Steve from Stranger Things as Colin. Anyone else??

Unfortunately, this one was not a favorite.

I think my main issue is that I really wasn't sure what the plot was supposed to be? We got the Colin plot and I did love their first meeting, but I wasn't really sure where else the plot was going when the parents separating was introduced. I feel like the B plot was rather unnecessary and made things a little muddled.

I enjoyed some of the spice and dynamic between these two (Colin is such a good boy) and I think that was a great part of the book. I especially enjoyed the last maybe 20% of the book when we got a bit more of the story behind Colin (though I still don't really understand that family dynamic either).

Overall, not my favorite but not awful either. I can see why certain people really enjoyed it but I don't think this one was for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. AB writes books I like honestly - they are sweet and swoony and fun. Stakes are low. I think this might be one of my favorites of hers.

I loved the queer rep - two bi characters. I loved the dom aspects of Truly and how she was finding herself but I also wish that was fleshed out a bit. There was a great bit about is it weird if we both consent to it. And I loved that. I also loved the musical theatre nerd of it all!! I hated Colin’s family and wanted more of a comeuppance - family biphobia and nastiness is never nice.

A few criticisms - this man is obviously Steve from stranger things and it should be illegal to have this cover like that’s 100% his face. And I wish AB would stop saying “mole splattered skin” like we get it he has a lot of moles. It was prob in the book 40x.

Truly is a true romantic - so much so, she’s even made a career as a romance author. She agrees to cohost a podcast sharing relationship advice and is excited until she meets her cohost. Colin is a divorce lawyer and doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. His views on love are the complete opposite of Truly’s. However as the two become friends, they realize they have more in common than they initially thought, and Truly finds herself increasingly attracted to Colin. But the question remains, is Colin willing to let himself fall in love?

This book is SO GOOD. The banter, the chemistry, the enemies to friends to lovers path - it is all done so so well. Seeing both Truly and Colin learn to open up to each other and trust each other is such a beautiful journey. This book was truly a joy to read.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I enjoyed this romance. Colin is epically swoon worthy and a top-notch heart stealer. As for Truly, my feelings were much more a mixed bag. Sometimes I liked her...and sometimes not so much. Still, I did like them together as a couple and I liked reading their story.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I really loved the bi representation. I especially loved the conversations of bi erasure when in a hetero-passing relationship. Colin is also a great MMC. However, that is really where the positives end for me. I found Truly to be insufferable. She is incredibly immature, cannot make up her mind, and frankly leads Colin on constantly throughout this book. He deserves better. I cannot get over the Parent Trap plot with her parents and that as a late twenty something, Truly put so much of her own stock into the success of her parents' relationship. I also felt like a lot of the relationship building between Colin and Truly was lost to too much emphasis on spice. Sadly, I think this book was pretty poorly written and really didn't have the emotional elements and relationship building I look for in a good romance.

This book is just so adorable and swoon worthy. I absolutely adored Truly. She was just such a delightful character. Her stubbornness and chaotic energy brought me joy. She’s unapologetically herself, which I love in a romance heroine. Colin is also extremely well drawn, with plenty of depth despite not getting his perspective. The plot moves along nicely, with a handful of hilarious shenanigans and plenty of heart. Bellefleur knocks it out of the park once again.

This one was extremely spicy with a lot of banter. I would have read it in one sitting if I could. Another classic for Bellefleur.

REVIEW: Truly, Madly, Deeply, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Truly, Madly, Deeply was my first read from Alexandria Bellefleur, and it didn’t disappoint! Truly is a romance author who believes in happily ever afters. That changes quickly when she catches her fiance cheating on her and finds out her over-the-top romantic parents are separating. Then Truly is asked on a podcast to talk about romance advice. She is paired up with Colin, a family law/divorce lawyer, and chaos begins.

First of all, I really enjoyed Bellefleur’s characters, Colin and Truly. They were both written with strong backstories and depth, making me understand the characters and their choices. I also love the evolving relationship between them. I’m a sucker for good enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract tropes, and this definitely filled that for me. They also had some of the best interactions together. They had many funny moments where they would tease each other and have great banter back and forth. You could also tell that Colin and Truly genuinely cared for one another with many check-ins and sweet moments. Then their spicy moments, wow, they were intense. They had great conversations about things they liked while still having some very heavy, heated moments. Lastly, I loved that Bellefleur had LGBTQ+ representation with both Colin and Truly. They are both bisexual, which you don’t see often represented in stories.

There were a few things I wasn’t a big fan of. First of all, the premise makes it sound like the podcast is important to the story, but by a certain point in the book, we hear nothing more about it. Also, the conflicts in the story were pretty minor and seemed to tie up pretty easily, so there wasn’t as much drama or a problem to solve as I would like.

Overall, I love Truly, Madly, and Deeply, and I will definitely be reading more from Alexandria Bellefleur!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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I have had mixed emotions about Alexandria Bellefleur’s books in the past, but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this one in spite of my many qualms. I have a weakness for a bisexual, bratty simp of a male love interest and I do think that carried this book for me. The main character was much less likable and I found her issues with her parents’ separation to be quite shallow and lacking in a lot of self awareness. I think the book would’ve been much better with a more thought provoking, relatable internal conflict. I also wish the surrounding characters were better developed, but they fell quite flat for me.

That said, the chemistry of the main characters was really great and I did find myself laughing at the relatable awkward blunders of their early interactions. The sex scenes were delightfully atypical to the other books I’ve read and very tailored to the characters’ dynamic. That to me is enough to keep me interested in Bellefleur’s novels going forward.