This book enveloped me in a warm, cozy hug, and I couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire journey! Madison Wright has made a fan out of me with this delightful read, and it's safe to say this won't be my last time reading her books. The stunning cover initially drew me in, and the enticing description sealed the deal!

Readers meet Wren, our kind-hearted, free-spirited protagonist, and she immediately resonated with me. Her genuine nature is truly endearing, and I particularly loved the sweet detail of her assisting June with her curly hair – a small touch that added so much warmth. On the other hand, Holden, with his tough exterior, reveals a true softie at heart, especially in the tender moments he shares with June and Wren. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, and the sweet, tender moments between them are enough to make anyone swoon!

The character growth throughout the book is a standout element. Wren's journey toward accepting help, something she readily offers others, adds a layer of authenticity. Witnessing Holden and Mia navigate their co-parenting relationship for June is heartwarming, and the book's emphasis on healthy conversations about co-parenting, recognizing that all relationships and families are unique, is especially poignant.

The inclusion of side characters and the charming small town added an extra layer of quirkiness that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm genuinely excited to see what the rest of the series has in store! This book is a testament to Madison Wright's talent for crafting heartwarming tales, and I can't wait to dive into more of her stories.

This book releases on January 26, 2024! Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!!

At 47% in I knew this book was going to be in my top ten reads of 2024. Not only is the banter between Holden and Wren impeccable but Madison Wright has a writing style that is so beautiful and descriptive it truly makes you feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a book. Holden and Wren are two of my favorite characters and seeing their development made me feel so many beautiful feelings. I will never stop recommending this book and cannot wait to be able to purchase a physical copy.

I LOVE this book. With all my heart. I already was a fan of Madison's work. But this book exceeded all my expectations.

I was so invested in these characters. I have never read a book with the single parent trope. And it's never my fav in movies. But I absolutely loved it in this story. It works so well!
June was adorable and she really added to the story. Her relationship with Holden, her growing love for Wren. I loved it.

Holden has been hurt in the past. He is not a single parent by choice. June's mom left them when June was an infant. They got married when Mia fell pregnant. Out of duty, not love. And it just didn't work. They were never meant to be partners in this capacity. And I love the messaging around this. Marriage doesn't always work. A marriage born out of duty doesn't always work. And people should not feel forced to get married just because they are expecting a baby. Co-parenting can be beautiful, and be more beneficial to the child too! Because everyone knows where they stand and there is no awkward tension or forced closeness.

I love how the dynamic between Holden and Mia changes. His perception of her, her actions, her responsibility. Holden wants what's best for June but he learns and grows in what that looks like. And I love that for them!

Now. Wren. I ADORE her. She is sunshine incarnate. She is energetic, gives love so freely, is warm, gentle, kind. But also funny and a tease. She loves to get on Holdens nerves hahaha. And she is a curly girl! We love to see it!

Wren & Holden are neighbours. And the most interaction they have is when she deliberately gets her mail delivered at his house so he has to bring it to her. It drives him up the wall. But as their relationship develops, his attitude toward the packages changes too, lol.
Also this book has text messages!!! More specifically, anonymous texts on a dating app. This is how Wren & Holden grew close without knowing it was their neighbour. It really was a fun bonus to this already amazing story!

I can keep on rambling about this book. But let me finish with this. As a child of divorce, I really appreciate the messaging around marriage here. It doesn't always work. Forced marriage causes hurt. Some people are not meant to be together and that's okay. I also loved how protective Holden is over June and how much care he took in introducing a new person into her life. He takes care of his little girl. And later on he takes care of Wren too. And she let him. Because she knows he will catch her when she falls, console her when she's sad, rub her back when she's tired and hold her when she is scared. He is there for her. And she is there for them. Together.

Cute and clean!

This is a lovely story featuring a single dad and the adorable, funny neighbor that gets on his nerves. It's a little enemy to lovers, grump - sunshine and I couldn't put down. Not because "i can't wait to read what happens next", but because the writing is smooth, and the story glides naturally and it's all sweet and cozy small town goodness. Just how Wren and Holder's love evolves and how they find their rhythm.

Overall, this is a charming read I am grateful to have received in order to share my view on it.

This was so cute! I love all the Taylor references and June is so cute! I love how Wren fit into Holden’s life and with his family. Holden is grumpy but underneath it all he’s such a sweet heart and I just love see him, June and Wren together 🥹 I also love that found family vibes from the small town and the scenic mountain descriptions. Overall, a very nice romance to enjoy by the campfire!



Thank you Madison, publisher and netgalley for the arc. I am always honest about my reviews!

*enemies to lovers
*penpals
*you’ve got mail vibes
*single dad
*forced proximity

I absolutely loved this book; it had all my favorite tropes in one!

The book started out reminding me of "You’ve Got Mail," but it was set in the Appalachian mountains! How perfect is that?! I loved both the characters, Wren and Holden.

Holden was such a great dad - he thought about his daughter in every single decision!

Holden and Wren had such good banter and chemistry. I absolutely loved them.

Thank you, Victory Editing, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🫑

ARC Review:

I saw the cover art reveal for this book and added it to my TBR immediately. It was so pretty and I wanted to read this story. It did not disappoint.

It started a little bit slow for me, but by about 25% I was all in. I love the development of the relationship between Wren and Holden. They have a little bit for everyone. Grumpy single dad and sunshine town golden girl, with You've Got Mail vibes, and a teeny bit of fake dating thrown in there. This book has no spice, but it is definitely steamy, and the tension is so good. You definitely root for them throughout.

The relationship between Wren and Holden is great, but the absolute star of the book is the relationship between Holden and June. Not much can make you melt like a fully dedicated single dad who wants to do the best he can for his kid. And the relationship between Wren and June that develops in the midst of her budding relationship with Holden is beautiful. I loved every moment they were together.

I'm also fully invested in several of the side characters and hope they will be getting books as well because I need to know more! (*cough* Finley and Grey *cough*)

Thank you Madison Wright and NetGalley for the eARC.

Read December 12-14, 2024

4 ⭐️

Oh my— this was so cute!!! I had the best time reading it, caught myself smiling at my kindle way too many times!!!

This book’s follows Wren who is overwhelmed with a charity auction and a cabin renovation she can't afford, but finds solace in an anonymous dating app friend. To her surprise, the friend is her grumpy neighbour, Holden, who becomes entangled in Wren's cabin project.

First time reading this author and it did not disappoint at all. This was such a cozy and sweet rom-com! The MCs tension was unmatched and I loved their relationship, especially Wren ordering packages to Holden’s house and him getting annoyed all the time— peak comedy if you ask me! Wren is a sweetheart and her relationship with June (the MMC’s daughter) was heartwarming.

This book is the perfect read for winter! ❄️

Read if you like:
🪵 grumpy x sunshine.
🪵 small town.
🪵 single dad.
🪵 forced proximity.
🪵 a smidge of fake dating.
🪵 slow burn with lots of tension.
🪵 no third-act breakup.

Thank you to the author, Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright will be coming out on January 26th.

📚 Off The Beaten Path
The Mountains are Calling Series Book 1
✍ Madison Wright
📖 Romance
4.8★⚊
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"𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬"...
.
This book!!!!!💜💜
It had me laughing and it had me swooning..
Perfectly written, with a funny and sweet fmc and a grumpy, extremely good looking single Dad..
Holden has been abundantly clear about not dating anymore, he is focused on raising her daughter June, and with his job he doesn't have time  to go out, nor he wants to, but Finley (Holden's sister) sign him up to an app and he started receiving texts from some women, but there is one particulary text that Holden will be curious about..
Wren, is Holden's neighbor, she's always had been pushing his buttons until driving him crazy.. making pranks to him, lashing out witty banter..
But there is a saying: from hate to love there is a fine line .. and who knows, maybe is what Holden needs in his life..
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🌌 All the feels 🌌

💜 Small town
💜 Grumpy/sunshine
💜 Single Dad
💜 Second chance
💜 Rivalry neighbor
💜 Fake dating
💜 close proximity
💜 slow burn
💜 cabin renovations
💜 sleeves tattoos
💜 strawberry wine
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🌌 Pub Date January, 26 🌌
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Special thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for this Arc. The opinions are on my own.
.

I would like to start my review by noting that I binged this entire book in a single sitting. I was hooked from the dedication on. Wren and Holden's story was absolutely precious, and I couldn't put it down (literally).

There are so many aspects of this story that I loved in particular:
- Wren's relationship with Holden's daughter June was absolutely precious. I especially loved Holden's internal monologue as he got to watch how easily Wren fit into their lives and how quickly Wren grew to care for June. It was so sweet to read these moments from his perspective/get to see just how much it meant to Holden to have someone want to take care of him and his daughter for a change.
- All of the side characters were lovely. I especially loved Myra and Melissa, who were clearly inspired by Babette and Miss Patty from Gilmore Girls. The family dinner scenes at Holden’s mom’s house added so much depth to his character. (Fingers crossed that the second book is about Holden's sister Finley and best friend Grey!)
- I LOVED how easily Holden and Wren communicated with one another, especially given that it negated the need for a third act breakup.
- I adored all of the subtle nods to Noah Kahan and Gilmore Girls; they were executed in a way that felt appreciative of the source material rather than feeling like a mere reproduction.

There were a few plot points that felt a bit underdeveloped to me, which brought my overall rating down to 4 stars:
- I would have loved to see more of the online friendship between Wren and Holden prior to them knowing who the other was. There is a lot of reflection from both character’s about how to rationalize that relationship with the versions of each other they’ve come to know in real life, but we never really see the full scope of that entailed. I think expanding this aspect of the story would add a lot of depth to Wren and Holden's relationship.
- There are a few times that Wren thinks about how she “doesn’t feel rushed” to have sex with Holden; then, later in the book, the reader can infer that they have crossed that final threshold at some point, but there’s no real acknowledgment about the emotional impact of this from either character. I don’t think this novel needed any on-page sex scenes to be great; however, given that the character’s made a conscious decision to wait, I would have liked to at least see the emotional impact/the circumstances that led to them finally deciding that it was time.
- I felt that some of the nicknames were a bit overused, which reduced their significance towards the later half of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Off the Beaten Path, and plan to request the second book in the interconnected universe as soon as it is available on NetGalley.

My review will be shared to Goodreads upon submission of feedback to NetGalley (linked to my profile) as well as my Bookstagram account (linked below).

thank you netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.25/5

this book follows wren and holden. Wren had purchased a super cute cabin in the small mountain town of fontana ridge ( that she can’t afford) and when her contractor pulls out of her project she’s freaking out. In comes holden blankenship, her grumpy (and hot) neighbor who is the dad of the most adorable six year old june. of course being around each other will mean they won’t fall for each other…right?

I read this book so fast. It is so captivating and it is so easy to read in one sitting. This was the perfect small town, single dad romance. I loved every minute of it. Madison's writing is so good at transporting you to this small town filled with comfort. I adored Wren and Holden and June, they were perfect and I loved the little family they created. One thing I love about single dad romances is when it's a 6 year old daughter and watching the FMC form such a tight bond with the little girl.

Read if you like:
🌸 small town romances
🌸 grumpy x sunshine
🌸 no third act breakup
🌸 single dad
🌸grumpy but only soft to her

I could honestly talk about this book forever!

Off the beaten path by Madison wright will be available on January 26 on amazon and KU!

this is my favorite Madison Wright story yet! I absolutely loved everything about this story, from start to finish it was perfect 🥹❤️

Wren is such a fun, happy- spirited, deeply kind and loving person. I just loved the way she was so quick witted in every situation with Holden, always meeting his grumpiness with her clever sunshine. and the way she loves just everyone in her life, always being genuinely kind and loving to absolutely everyone. she’s just such a fun, loveable character! and Holden is the best grumpy single dad ever! he has the world on his shoulders raising his adorable & hysterical daughter, but has so much love for the people he keeps close in life. she prioritizes family— always loving and protecting them wholly. he’s so freaking hot for it oh my gosh ❤️‍🔥

and I absolutely LOVED Wren & Holden together!!!! they had, in my opinion, the ~perfect~ enemies to lovers type of relationship because it was never meant or cruel, always just poking jabs at one another that were more or less harmless, both of them are truly good and kind people so they never let their little feuds be taken too far. it was so seamless to see them become so much more! the way Holden just accepts Wren into his circle of love & protection, wanting to make things right for her however he can; and Wren being so open and loving in her developing interest in him is so freaking beautiful to read 🥹❤️

all of the characters, the whole plot, every single part of this story is just absolutely perfect. I loved it so much. and all the side characters are amazing, I am so ready to read more Fontana Ridge stories!!! 🤍🤍🤍

thank you for the arc!!!

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✰ 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘥
✰ 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯
✰ 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
✰ 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴
✰ 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘹 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦

Off the beaten path is Madison Wright's latest release and an absolute delight. It's already on my best reads list. I love that Wren and Holden were neighbors, I loved the "you got mail" vibes, I love the single dad trope especially when the kid is so adorable. Honestly there's nothing about this book that I didn't enjoy.
Reading it felt like getting a warm hug. I highly recommend it and this author. Her books are simply great for me.

Release date: January 26th

*arc kindly provided in exchange of an honest review

OFF THE BEATEN PATH by Madison Wright ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was such a sweet and cozy romcom! Wren (the main character) was so likable in this. She was confident, funny, gave grace to others, had big dreams, and was pure sunshine. I was rooting for her from the very beginning. And yes Holden was a grump, but the sweetest Dad that wins your heart! This is probably not a book I will remember forever, but a quick, easy read, that will leave you with a smile on your face.

This book follows neighbors, Wren and Holden. Wren is in the process of renovating her cabin, when her current contractor has to back out. Wren is shocked when Holden offers to get the job done for her. As they spend more time together, the layers are peeled back and a connection happens!

Perfect if you like:
•Enemies to lovers.
•Single dad.
•Small town romance.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Mood: 🌮🍩

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“You’re like our little spot off the beaten path. You have to work do find it, but when you do, it’s breathtaking.”

Wren is in the process of renovating a cabin she purchased on a whim to turn into a rental property. She is working with the towns local contractor to get it ready in time, but a situation leads to him backing out. When her grumpy neighbor Holden finds out, he tells her he can get it done. Usually, Wren finds joy in getting on Holden’s nerves, but the more time they spend together on the renovation the more she wants to actually get to know him. Little do they know they have actually been communicating as strangers for months now.

Off the Beaten Path has:
🍓 Grumpy/ sunshine
✨ Single dad
🍓 Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced proximity
🍓 The Smokies

This was a sweet romcom that pulled me in. I loved the dynamic between Wren and Holden. They had great banter and tension, but we also get heartfelt moments. I loved the moments we see Holden as a single dad to June bug. The side characters felt like one big family.

I highly recommend this book, and it comes out on 1/26!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy of this ARC

First off, give me a story based in my backyard (the Smokies) and I’m there. Secondly, I will forever and always love Madison’s way of making you fall in love with her characters. I really love Wren’s personality. Glass half full, bubbly, always willing to help with a bit of a mischievous sassy side. Holden is such an amazing dad, fiercely protective and so loving to his little girl, June. June is a spunky little firecracker and reminds me so much of my little girl. I really enjoyed wren and holden’s chemistry and the way their relationship was built and tested. They were easy to root for and Madison did a great job at making their relationship build in a way that didn’t feel too rushed. I was a little hesitant when it came to the ex wife but it didn’t feel like it took up an overwhelming part of the story but just enough to see the dynamics and understand everything. The side characters were fun and quirky as I have come to expect from her previous books. Overall this sweet romcom was just what I needed over the last few days! It’s definitely worth the read and I’m excited to see what’s happening next in the mountains!

This was a cute romcom, with a lot of adorable qualities. I loved the grumpy/sunshine and single dad tropes. Both MCs were likable and fun to read.
The beginning was a little bit hard for me to get into, because it felt like a bit of a quick jump from the dating app messages to the realizing/fake dating, but I thought the second half of the book was smoother. The plot felt a little bit flat for me, with not a lot happening overall.
I did enjoy the lack of third act breakup. It was really refreshing to have June’s mother not be conniving, genuinely want a role in her daughter’s life, and to see the healthy coparenting conversations.
Overall this was a really cute and feel-good story.

absolute perfection!! if you love forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, single dad books - this one is 100% for you.

madison wright never disappoints. thanks to netgalley and victory editing for the arc!

thank you net galley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

this book follows wren and holden. Wren had purchased a super cute cabin in the small mountain town of fontana ridge ( that she can’t afford) and when her contractor pulls out of her project she’s freaking out. In comes holden blankenship, her grumpy (and hot) neighbor who is the dad of the most adorable six year old june. of course being around each other will mean they won’t fall for each other…right?

this has got to be the easiest 5 stars of my life. i literally started this book last night and i finished it today. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. if you know me you know how much I love a grumpy (but he’s actually a softie) male lead and holden wasn’t any different. And WREN she was the most adorable sunshine lead and i just loved how her relationship progressed with holden and his daughter june. i’m immediately preordering the paperback so i can have it on my shelf.

“What am I, then?” “You’re mine.”

4.5 ⭐️
.5 🌶️

what a sweet, swoony, small-town romance filled with heart-warming friendships, forced proximity, and the sweetest single-dad dynamic I’ve ever read about! this was such a cozy, engaging, easy read that made me fall in love with all the characters in Fontana Ridge.

the story follows Wren, a fun-loving, go-with-the-flow type of girl who has sunk all her money into renovating a cabin by the mountains. To say she’s stressed is an understatement, so when she impulsively signs up for an anonymous dating app and creates a friendly bond with a stranger, he becomes a bright spot on her cloudy days. When she discovers that stranger is none other than Holden, her longtime grumpy neighbour with a six-year old daughter… well things get complicated. feelings develop, walls are broken down, and holden quickly realizes that Wren is the one he didn’t know he was looking for all this time.

I absolutely LOVED this book! it had all the best parts of a romance book, without the drama of a third-act breakup or something intense happening between the couple. Sometimes you need just a heartfelt love story with some low-stakes and that’s what this book was! I loved that there was a natural, gradual pacing from dislike, to sort’ve friends, to friends, to more. June felt like the perfect buffer to their relationship and added a lot of sweet, tender moments between her and Wren. I loved how great of a dad Holden was and how he always put June first. the friendship bracelets were one of my favourite parts of the story. something so small like that played such a significant role in the development of the story and the characters, so clever!

This was truly such a delight to read. thank you Victory Editing, NetGalley, and Madison Wright for the ARC! I highly recommend you read this if you’re looking for a low-stakes, cozy, heartfelt romance!

read if you like:
🎀 small-town romance
🎀 single dad with TATTOOS!!!
🎀 forced proximity
🎀 hilarious banter
🎀 grumpy x sunshine
🎀 slow-burn with no spice (but lots of tension)

Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright releases January 26th (mark your calendars) on amazon and KU!