Genre: contemporary romance

Only hours after catching her fiance with another woman, historical romance author Truly Livingston (pen name Truly St James) agrees to be on a podcast where she meets divorce lawyer Colin McCory. Some of the relationship advice Colin gives out during the recording hits a little too close to home for Truly, and tempers flare. But Colin (and his sister Caitie, the podcast host) aren’t willing to give up on Truly, and Colin begs her to come back on the show. Soon, they find themselves texting, and b the time Colin asks Truly out, she’s more worried that she shouldn’t like him than the fact that she dumped her ex recently. 

This may be the horniest book I've read all year. This heats up fast, and it stays hot.  Look I can’t do this review any more justice than @stephreadsallthebooks who said “my full review for it was ‘this Ken’s job is oral’ so take that as you will.” That sums up Colin in a nutshell. I loved every moment of banter and pure passion on the page, with Bellefleur keeping the mood fun and quippy. Since Truly is a historical romance author, she’s good at analyzing her own banter, and the self-awareness throughout adds to the total charm. 

It’s also delightfully low angst. Colin falls first, and so very head over heels for Truly, and he’ll do anything to get her to catch up to his feelings, but he’s open and honest about everything. Sometimes you need a book that is a total breath of fresh air filled with the hottest steamy scenes you can imagine, and this book does exactly that. Colin and Truly are both bisexual, and they have an open and honest conversation about it early on that helps Truly pinpoint her imposter syndrome of having only ever been with a man. All of the side characters are well-developed, and if Truly’s parents are a little quirky for quirk's sake, it still works really well. And a perfect utilization of one of my favorite tropes - last name as a pet name, for both characters!

I thought this book was cute. It started off really well and after that I was hooked. I really liked the writing as well. I thought some things were a bit cheesy but nothing that took away from the story.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s queer romances are always a pleasure to read. Truly, Madly, Deeply (not to be confused with the fabulous Alan Rickman movie) is a very sweet enemies-to-lovers romance between queer historical romance author Truly and family (divorce) lawyer Colin, whose meet-cute takes place when they spar about relationship advice on his sister’s top-rated podcast. The chemistry between them, masked by flirty bickering and sexual innuendo, is really hot and the sex is steamy and raw. However, it’s Colin’s kindness, devotion, and protectiveness towards Truly and the way she both challenges and defends him that make this such a special love story.

This is a slow burn, somewhat enemies-to-lovers romance featuring two bisexual characters (although there is a discussion between them where Truly questions whether she can legitimately call herself that if she’s never acted on it with any woman). Honestly, the only things that keep it from a 5* rating are the overabundant scenes where Truly and her musical theater-loving parents talk about serious stuff using song titles and lyrics. It was cute at first, but then became absurd. I also started getting annoyed by how many times (six) Bellefleur mentions Colin’s moles. Otherwise, I definitely recommend reading it.

I DEVOURED this book in a matter of hours cover to cover, and have quite literally nothing but amazing things to say!

I'd only read Bellefleur's debut prior to this, and I definitely enjoyed it, but this has reminded me of how badly I need to get to her backlog. From the first page, I was already in love with Truly, and I fell for Colin just as fast once Truly meets him. These two have absolutely electric chemistry, as well as the kind of relationship where they genuinely are constantly making each other better. Their beginning is very rocky, but not in a way that makes you want to dislike either of them, and their antics on Caitlin's podcast are hilarious and feel so very genuine. They spend some time in a limbo space where they are both flirty and trying to feel the other out, and sometimes this part in a rom-com can get boring if not done well, but Bellefleur was able to give me the butterflies-in-your-stomach, excited by everything this new & interesting person is letting you learn about them kind of feeling. Their banter is hilarious, and their eventual physical connection is absolutely off the charts sexy & romantic. All of this put together made for a romance that I couldn't put down unless someone pried it out of my hands.

I loved the balance of serious and playful in this story. Truly has just faced a sequence of events in her life that left her questioning everything she previously believed about love, making her job as a historical romance author incredibly difficult, and making her doubt herself as she explores the possibility of being more with Colin. Colin has a some difficulty with family, that we eventually get to see play out on the page with Truly as backup to support him. Both of these characters are openly bi-sexual, and they both have faced some level of difficulty navigating this within families and/or social spaces, but this struggle is nowhere near being the central focus of the book, and rather something that just exists & colors their experiences in beautiful ways. All of the topics within are handled with absolute grace and don't bring the story to a place that feels too serious for a rom-com, and rather gives it that perfect amount of depth I'm always looking for in the genre. We also have a cozy lakehouse setting for a good chunk of the book, making it translate very well to a summer romance if you find yourself in the market for it!

I see this being an absolute favorite romance of the year for me, and cannot wait for the whole world to get their hands on it and become just as obsessed with it as I am. Thank you so very much to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eArc of this!

He's a realist, she's a romantic, opposites (seemingly) attract and turn friends to lovers

I liked this book in theory, I think there were some really nice parts, the banter was top tier, their discussions were moving and important and the T Swift references hit every time. However, I didnt love the way it was written/some of the word choices (mole covered skin? no thanks)

I got so scared when this book tried to throw a third act breakup at me 96% INTO IT but IT’S OKAY WE’RE GOOD! This book has been marked SAFE from a third act breakup!! I love when romance books realize you can have conflict without one, it’s so refreshing!

Anyway, onto other things. This book was so cute!! I was drawn in by the man who looks suspiciously like Steve Harrington on the cover and I’m so glad I judged this book by its cover, because it was such a fun read. I did not know going into it how much it was going to speak to me as a theater kid, but Truly, named after Truly Scrumptious, and her theater kid parents were so much fun to read about.

I understood a lot of the struggles Truly had with her parents’ separation. As someone who’s been there I know how it can mess up your whole perspective on life and I always love seeing that explored in romance books, but it’s even more interesting to see when the character navigating it is a romance author. I’ve seen that explored before, definitely, but I never get tired of it, so I loved it in this.

The best part about this book, by far, was THE BANTER. This was straight up some of the best banter I have ever read? Like, it was just so good I’m kinda shook over it actually? Literally amazing. The chemistry between these two characters was just off the charts.

Also, Colin is so dreamy I’m obsessed. So kind and selfless but also funny and stubborn and as someone with anxiety he’s exactly the kind of man I need tbh, I love him.

The only issue I had with this book was the writing style got a little millennial cringe sometimes– not all the time– and while I thoroughly enjoyed some of the spice scenes, there were some I enjoyed less than others, so they just didn’t quite all hit. But this was not enough to take away enjoyment of the book.

It was an amazing read and I’m really glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. You can pick up Truly, Madly, Deeply on April 30, 2024.

This book will definitely appeal to romance readers who enjoy witty banter, steamy romance, and rivals to friends to lovers. Alexandria Bellefleur does a great job introducing these characters and incorporating bisexual representation. But I personally found a lot of issues with the writing, and some of those choices turned me off to the book in a big way.

I found myself outwardly cringing at times when two characters engaged in conversation, especially about sex or pop culture. Several dialogue scenes just felt unrealistic and almost unnecessary? I wish we had more of a driving plot for this book because these conversations otherwise felt like filler. I understand that we're learning more about the characters' personalities, but so many conversations felt repeated or just so cringy that it made me dislike the characters more than appreciate them.

I read the words "pink, plump lips" way too many times. Same goes for "stripped his cock" and "prowled up her body." These specific choices just weren't my cup of tea.

I also found myself frustrated with the FMC's choices and attitude toward other characters. Every time she brought up her parents' perfect marriage and refused to accept their decision to separate, I wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall. Why is it her business? What if two people ultimately aren't right for each other? I can't believe the MMC, a divorce lawyer, never at any point brought up how some couples HAVE to get divorced for reasons their kids might not understand. It felt like the FMC and author were so set on a "happy" ending for the parents and main couple that the book felt unbelievable. It didn't feel like the FMC ever truly grew over the course of the story because she got everything she wanted! She didn't face any consequences!

While I was drawn in by the cover of this book, I'm sad to say it ultimately wasn't a great reading experience for me. Other romance readers will definitely find things to love about it, but it just wasn't for me.

Format: Kindle (ARC)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really liked it, read it!
🌶️ Rating: 3.5

"Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Alexandria Bellefleur is an absolute delight. I’m new to Bellefleur's writing, she had me hooked from the beginning and I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotion and charm infused throughout the story.

Truly - I love this girl (she can be a bit of whiney at times, but understandably so)
Colin - LOVE HIM!! He’s just…it. Ok, trust me on this.
Lulu - Truly’s best friend…she had me cracking up.
Caitlyn - Colin’s sister, she just needs to be a FMC in her own book…love her too. Throw in Lulu while you’re at it. LOL

The banter between Colin and Truly was the best. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at their antics one moment and then find myself swooning over their heartfelt moments the next. Bellefleur truly excels at creating authentic relationships that readers can easily invest in.

Overall, "Truly, Madly, Deeply" is a solid four-star book and a must-read!! I'm looking forward to reading more of Bellefleur's work in the future.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur is another wonderfully written romance story.
This was absolutely wonderful!
The characters journey to love is so delightful, and I am happy to be there for every step. The character development is fantastic, and the chemistry and banter between the characters is fantastic.
The banter and chemistry is just phenomenal!
Another engaging read that I absolutely loved!

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I don’t really have words to express how much I adore this book, so I’m just going to list all the things I loved (since lists are my number one love).

~Colin
~Colin & Truly’s banter
~how Colin and Truly were so supportive of each other
~the seriously sexiness of all the steamy scenes
~Colin (he deserves to be on this list twice)
~no third act break-up
~Truly’s belief in true, lasting love
~bisexual representation
~legitimately heartfelt and emotionally deep
~did I mention Colin?

And there you have it. Basically, you just should read it. It was so good, I’ve started researching Alexandria Bellefleur and her entire backlist because I need them

Thank you to Avon Books for the review copy!

Ooo this one was a lot of fun. The opening scene had my jaw on the floor and it only continued from there.

The banter was great and the cover alone had me picturing Steve from Stranger Things as Colin, which was just perfection.

Seeing Truly go through the entire spectrum of emotion on her feelings about love kept me engaged the entire time.

Add in a scene where she is sick and he buys out the pharmacy!? Get out of here- my favorite!

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I always know I’m going to have a great time with Alexandria Bellefleur’s novels and this was no exception. Truly, Madly Deeply was a charming and bingeable romance with humor, spice, and top notch banter. Truly, a romance novelist, guest stars on a relationship podcast alongside divorce attorney Colin. The pair butt heads almost immediately, but successful ratings draw them back on the air together. And maybe Truly doesn’t hate Colin after all.

I loved watching Truly and Colin’s relationship develop, first through text messages and then through actual dates. I was CRINGING and laughing at Truly’s (truly) terrible Instagram faux pas. While there isn’t much heat in the entire first half of the book, it is still incredibly horny lol. The chemistry between Truly and Colin is undeniable from the very beginning and is palpable in every interaction we get between them. I loved how absolutely wild Colin was for Truly and how he doesn’t even attempt to hide his desire for her. I was also here for the bisexual representation and Colin and Truly’s discussion about what it means to be queer in a world that loves labels.

Read if you like:
*Opposites attract
*Bisexual representation
*Memorable secondary characters
*The Parent Trap

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for a review copy.

Absolutely loved this! If you like banter and rivals to lovers this is your jam.

These two had insane chemistry & I highlighted so much of their banter. I flew through this book, I couldn’t stop because I was so entertained.

I also love the representation of bisexuals here!!

This reminded me a bit of Rival Radio by Kathryn Nolan so if you liked that you’ll like this.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur is a rom-com and the story of Truly and Colin.
 
Truly is a bestselling historical romance author and I loved seeing her passion for books and writing. She is a hopeless romantic and believes in a happily ever after also thanks to her parents' amazing marriage. However, she hasn’t found the one for herself until she meets Colin. Truly is such a loving and confident character and I adored her.
 
Colin is a divorce lawyer and while a lot of people view this as a negative profession, he likes it and has a very good grasp of people. He is a man who has build a good life for himself, and he loves a partner with his very being and a lot of men could learn a thing or two from him. He is total bookboyfriend material and I absolutely love Colin.
 
Colin‘s sister has a podcast in which she invites guests and they give relationship advice and that’s how Truly and Colin meet. From the beginning they have superb chemistry, and the banter is my favorite part because they don’t like each other at first. The story starts off very slow and there were definitely some lengths in the book while it went too fast towards the end and that was the only thing I didn’t fully like. Truly and Colin are a power couple, and I liked their story a lot.
 
Overall, Truly, Madly, Deeply is a lovely romcom and you’re in for a good time with Truly and Collin. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

The writing was good actually; but it’s the characters and plot that absolutely tanked it for me. They should have been aged much younger than they were in the book because it was giving immature.

There’s no way at 27 I’m setting a whole parent trap for my parents who are separated and literally falling into a depression bc of it. It’s okay to be sad, but the way Truly was so fucked up over her parents potentially divorcing was so embarrassing for miss girl.

A lot of it was childish honestly—down to the crying bc her mom always made her soup when she’s sick and now she’s sick without her mom??? It’s different if she were going through a bunch of shit and then like wanted comfort, but literally nothing crazy was happening.

Also, the MMC still not being over his brother dating his Ex??? Me, personally, I like my men OVER their exs 100%. Who cares if you’re still mad at the fact that your brother was horrible enough to date her, to still focus on it would make me, the current girlfriend, uncomfortable and annoyed.

The dialogue was also kinda corny. There I said it.

But the writing honestly wasn’t bad; I think if characterizations were different and there was a more compelling plot, it would be really good. But even the plot was so boring. Mostly fluff.

Anyways, there are a ton more I could say but that’s the jist of it.

I received an uncorrected advanced copy from netgalley and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

I have enjoyed Bellefleur's previous books (My favorites being 'The Fiance Farce' and 'Written in the Stars' having gone back to listen to the audiobooks several times), and this is perhaps her only book that I found myself having no problem putting down. Normally I have to speed through the whole thing in near one sitting.

What I like about Bellefleur's writing is that it is current, clever, and swoony, but this book, while in the same world as her other books (some Fiance Farce crossover in characters with a direct mention to Bitsy, Caleb the contractor, and a vague mention of Tucker), this one didn't hit the same. While there was undoubtedly a lot of cleverness in the writing, this one felt like it was trying too hard. I found myself getting a bit turned around in some of the flowery descriptions and having to double back to keep up with some of the slower moving conversations. Also compared to her previous works, the steam in this was, uh, a bit more vulgar than in previous works.

The balance of the plot points and their timing as the story felt a bit off as well and the parent trapping as a whole and its resolution was odd. Also like other people mentioned I wish Lulu or the podcast and even Truly's deadlines, or Colin's work could have factored in a bit more. I guess perhaps this book felt a bit untethered. This was an uncorrected proof, so who knows what exactly would change, if anything (I only picked up on a few typos as it was).

I'd probably still listen to an audiobook version of this book, and I also wouldn't hesitate to check out any future works by this author, and while there were some cute moments in this one, it is not my favorite of the bunch.

I'm sorry but I had to DNF this about halfway through. Mostly, I take issue with a 27 year
old parent-trapping her parents??? Ma'am, you're an ADULT. I understand your world being rocked after you've believed something for so long and was a foundation for how you've lived your life but I just cannot suspend my disbelief to an almost 30 year behaving this way.

I enjoyed Colin and Truly but it wasn't enough to keep me in the story. Maybe I'm jaded and it's my own issue but alas.

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

Truly, Madly, Deeply was another excellent book by Alexandria Bellefleur. A bit too many Taylor Swift references or mentions for my personal taste, but very sweet nonetheless! The romance is sweet, the spice is spicy, and the reminder of what it means to be queer is needed.

I wish we had returned to the podcast again at the end. I wish more had resolved with Colin and his family. I wish we had more Lulu and the sex shop. But overall, a good read with a delightful ending.

"Truly, Madly, Deeply" is the first book by this author that I have read. It was super down to earth and filled with likeable characters. It reminded me a little of a more realistic Rosie Danan book. I'm not always into an opposites attract trope but this one worked for me. Also, it was nice to see bisexual representation in a hetero-presenting couple in a well-rounded way. The complicated relationships surrounding the main couple was a beautiful thing to see as well as both characters developed and felt more comfortable asking for what they want.

Alison Cochrun is another author that is a good read-alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the ARC.

When faced with the prospect of her parents' 30 year marriage crumbling around her and her own engagement falling to pieces, romance author Truly St. James is finding out that maybe love isn't all sunshine and roses. And when she meets a hot and equally frustrating family law attorney who butts heads with her on the realism of love in general, she finds her whole world turned upside down.

First things first - the banter in this book is top notch. I love books where their love language is dragging their partners to filth and being clever about it. Both Truly and Colin have the other's number and regularly roast each other for their own form of foreplay. What it creates is a funny and hot dichotomy between the two that is hilarious from start to finish.

I didn't particularly care for the naivete that Truly demonstrated for her parents relationship. At almost 30, I feel like the concept of parent-trapping her parents is a bit unbelievable and is something that I would expect to find in a YA novel.

But overall, it was a cute book with good banter and some pretty hot spicy scenes. I really enjoyed myself with this one.