That was such a sweet and wholesome read! I adored Junie, she's such a cutie! I absolutely loved the writing style and will definitely check out more by this author in the future.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel much of a connection to the characters. It's a slow burn but I still hope we got more of a build up, especially when it comes to their penpal days.

What to expect:
- small town
- single dad
- grumpy x sunshine
- neighbors
- anonymous penpals
- dislike to love
- no 3rd act break up
- dual pov

It's been a week since I finished this and my heart still aches thinking about how much I loved this book.

Off The Beaten Track follows Wren and Holden, neighbours who haven't always seen eye to eye. But when Wren's contractor has to back out of fixing up her cabin in time for the tourist season, Holden agrees to step in to take the reins on the project. The more they spend time together, the more they fall in love. And Holden's relationship with his daughter is so sugary sweet that I need a dentist appointment.

The more romance I read, the more I realise I don't need conflict in my life so the lack of third act breakup made my heart soar. There was no deception, no secrets - just pure love. I am just infatuated. This is such a tender romance and I need all the recommendations I can get for books like this.

Tropes
↠ Single Dad
↠ Opposites Attract
↠ Small Town Romance
↠ Grumpy x Sunshine
↠ Closed Door
↠ No Third Act Breakup

I cannot wait to see which characters we get to learn about in this ongoing series.

Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute small town romance! I fell in love with Wren and Holden's neighborly banter turned friendship to lovers. I loved how sweet Holden was even though he was "tough" to people who didn't really know him. It was so nice to see their friendship grow and change. I loved how both Holden and Wren opened up to each other and were always there for the other when they needed it most.

4 stars

I was so excited to receive this book as an eARC on Netgalley (thank you!), because I had really high hopes for it.
Not only does it tell the story of two people who fall in love on an app without knowing that they are neighbors in real life, it also has the single dad trope, is a small town romance, is kind of grumpy x sunshine, has fake dating and many other promising tropes and qualities.
All of this could've been soooo good.
Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The writing wasn't very good in my opinion, the characters and whole story felt a little surface-level. The anonymous-chatting-plotline and the grumpy-sunshine got resolved way too quickly. I didn't connect to any of the characters and June annoyed me to no end cause her whole character just revolved about her addiction to sweets.

It had a lot of potential and I got through it very quickly, could feel some of the chemistry between the main characters.

Because of the rating I will not post this review on websites other than Goodreads.

Wren Daniels is in over her head. Between organizing a charity auction and trying to renovate a cabin she can't afford, she's barely keeping her head above water. The only bright spot: her new best friend she met on an anonymous dating app four months ago. That is, until she discovers he's the last person she would've expected - her grumpy next-door neighbor.

Holden Blankenship likes life just he way it is - just him and his daughter. After his wife left him, he's spent years working to put his life back together. His daughter is the light of his world, his family, and a surprising new anonymous friend. But when his new pal turns out to be his neighbor who drives him nuts, he's not sure what to make of it. Especially when her contractor backs out of her cabin renovation last minute and he finds himself offering his help. Now Wren is getting under his skin in a completely different way and turning all his carefully laid plans upside down.

As Wren continues to show up for Holden, and he keeps proving to her that he's not actually as standoffish as he seems, the lines between friendship and more start to blur. Their relationship may have had an unusual start, but some of the best things in life are just a little off the beaten path.

This was the most adorable small, mountain town romance! Between the grumpy tattooed single dad, the cute-as-a-button little girl, and the bubbly ray of sunshine red-headed neighbor, this cast was impossible not to fall in love with. This was a feel-good love story without any spice, just a tender bond forming between Holden and Wren, and little June being the cutest little addition. This was my first book I've read by Madison Wright, and I absolutely adored her writing style and will be getting my hands on all her books from here on out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is an absolute gem! I was completely captivated by the dynamic between the grumpy and sunshine personalities of the characters and the intricacies of the plot that enveloped them. What struck me the most was the pacing of the story—it was just right, never feeling rushed or bogged down by unnecessary drama. The fact that the characters were mature adults who could communicate effectively, despite their personal struggles, added a layer of realism that I appreciated.

When I heard the premise—single dad, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers—I couldn't hit the "sign me up" button fast enough! These are some of my favorite tropes, and the way they were expertly woven together in this story was pure magic.

Actual rating: 4,5☆

❥ 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

⬥︎ This book is definitely a favourite!!! I can't tell you how much I loved this!

⬥︎ Wren Daniels and Golden Blankenship are neighbours who have been bickering with each other ever since he moved into the house across Wren four years ago.
When they're alone at night in the comfort of their homes, they open the hometown dating app and talk to each other without knowing it.

⬥︎ FIRST, I want to emphasise how refreshing it was to read a single dad romance where both main characters are the same age and she's not his daughter's nanny. Second, June bug 😍😍.

⬥︎ I loved every second of this book! It was a book that had me laughing from the first chapter to the last.
I loved seeing the banter between Wren and Holden, right up to the moment when they realise that have been talking to eachother every night thinking it was a random person.

⬥︎ I love the way Wren tells Holden that they're friends, even if he doesn't want to be and he's like 'No', but at the same time he can deny that he lets himself be carried away by Wren's joy.

⬥︎ Despite being a book full of cute moments that make you laugh, we also see a side of doubt and uncertainty because of past traumas and the fear of not being enough for the people they care about.

⬥︎ I loved the genuine way Holden and Wren's relationship developed. How little by little they found themselves thinking about each other until they could no longer deny how their feelings.

⬥︎ I loved every single moment in this book, sometimes I found myself with a tear in the corner of my eye because of all the emotions I had while reading this.

⬥︎ Also Wren's moments with June were 🥺😍🥰🥰♥️♥️♥️♥️😭😭😂😂💕🥳😍😍😍 wordless!

⬥︎ If you like single parent, a meddling hometown and a cute six year old with a sweet tooth, this is a book you don't want to miss.

⬥︎ Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

Really enjoyed this book! The cover drew me in because I love a redhead and I was immediately obsessed with this setting and these characters. Would definitely recommend to any of my fellow contemporary romance lovers! 4/5 stars

Cute story! Clever twist on the friends to lovers/Enemies to lovers trope, with Wren and Holden friends online but not so much in real life. Set in a small town....a sweet rom com as promised by that gorgeous cover, Wren and Holden were adorable together. I look forward to the next book. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

I fell in love with this book, that I literally read it 2 times!! You guys need to stop what you’re doing and just READ IT!

This is my first Madison Wright book and I absolutely loved it.
Because of "Heartless" by Elise Silver, single dad romance trope has been on my search! This book definitely was what I was looking for.
Not only did this book use the single dad trope, it also gave us the grump/sunshine, forced-proxmitiy, and small-town tropes: All of my few favorites.
Also let's talk about the banter between the two characters.! It was truly one of kind. It was just cute knowing that she gets under his skin, but you know well that he just didn't mind at all.
Even though it was a closed door romance, it somehow still included a little spice element. It always felt like when something was about to happen, something interrupts it. It was for sure a slow burn, but in the end it was worth the build up. Not all romance is "love at first sight".

I will for sure continue to read Madison Wright's books. She did not disappoint.

A story that develops slowly, with some confusion on the part of the protagonists, with a most adorable girl, and with little stories that leave us wanting more.

Off the Beaten Path is a romantic novel with hints of laughter that escapes your hands. I really liked that it is told from both perspectives: Wren and Holden, it always gives a special touch to the story and allows us to delve deeper into the characters' thoughts, which also means we can empathize more with the story.

When I finished the story I said, "oh, it seemed short" and the truth is that it is a little more than 350 pages. It's not short, and at the same time I felt like I wanted a lot more. But I'm sure the author has other plans in mind and I'm eager to know what she'll bring us in the next books.

I liked the story, light, enjoyable, interesting, it combines many cliché situations (which I loved) and at the same time gives us an interesting freshness through the complex stories of certain characters.

Thanks Madison Wright for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly I want to thank NetGalley and Madison Wright for the arc of this book!
This was such a delight. The banter between Wren and Holden had me giggling and kicking my feet. I didn’t know much going into the one and I was so pleasantly surprised with it. You have grumpy sunshine, single dad, and even a little bit of fake dating in here. Oh and it’s also a small town romance, so really what’s not to like? This was so wholesome, and I really enjoyed it.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for a review
This was an adorable read! The story held my attention and the way the story and characters were wrote made me genuinely care for them. This was such a wholesome read

This was my first Madison Wright book and it most certainly will not be my last! I really enjoyed her writing style and how the characters were relatable and loveable. Wren was such a ray of sunshine and Holden was a grumpy single dad -- MY FAVORITE! I go crazy for a single dad haha! The tension between the two was amazing and the banter had me giggling. What a fun small-town romance!

3.5 stars rounded up. This was such a sweet, wholesome romance! I loved the small town/mountain setting. The main characters and all of the side characters, including the cutest daughter, were very lovable. What really sold me on this one was that there's no third act break up. I do think that the tension at the end of the story was there and then gone a little too quickly so it seemed a little out of place or just there to replace the third act breakup. Also, this is a very minor me thing, but strawberry wine was mentioned way too much. We understand that's the FMC's favorite drink without it being mentioned on almost every page. Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and I'm excited to see what's next in this world/series. Read if you love guarded single dads, you've got mail vibes but in the digital age, and small town romances.

This book is a pure delight! Everything Madison writes is amazing, and this is no exception. The characters and town are so real. I can’t wait to go back to Fontana Ridge!

An easy read! I really enjoyed it. Wren and Holden are the prime example of how a grumpy sunshine trope is to play out. Love how sweet wren was. It felt like a hallmark movie on pages!

Thank you netgally!

I read this cozy romance in two days, and I absolutely fell in love with Wren + Holden. Wright does an amazing job with making the readers fall in love with her characters. The story has strong "Gilmore Girls" energy that I absolutely eat up, and I appreciate that Wright really builds the relationship based on strong emotional attachment and not just sexual chemistry (even though there is quite a bit in there). I'm hoping for more stories to come that features other side characters in this world. It was a lovely read, and I will be reading more of Wright!

I really enjoyed all the tropes in this, single dad, forced proximity, sort of (enemies to lovers). It was lovely and romantic, there was no third act break up which was fantastic! There was no on page spice but i dont think it needed it. and i wasnt upset that it we didnt get any 'scenes'