Off the Beaten Path Review

✨ARC Review✨

📖Off the Beaten Path
🖊️Madison Wrignt

This book is the ultimate representation of cozy vibes! And also, can we just take a quick moment to celebrate how gorgeous the cover is!!
This book follows Wren, a small town girl who loves her community and family. She recently purchased a cabin she wishes to renovate and rent out to tourists visiting her small mountain town. Early in the book, Wren begins to talk to a grumpy, broody stranger on a new dating app. They correspond for months without knowing who the other is. Enter Holden, a hot, single dad who has no time for love and commitment. He is dedicated to raising his daughter June. Holden and Wren have a hilarious rival relationship brewing. They are neighbors who enjoy messing with one another for a laugh. Soon enough, those laughs will turn into stolen kisses in a bar.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to take a trip to the mountains and sip on some strawberry wine under the stars. The vibes were strong. I also enjoyed the dual perspective as we got to see how real and raw the characters and their emotions are. I thought Wren and Holden’s relationship developed slowly and then sparked bright towards the end of the book when they fully acknowledge their feelings. This book had a very low level of spice, which I thought was fitting as Holden is a single dad who has hard a time letting himself be vulnerable with another woman and letting her into his daughter, June’s, life.

Read this if you like:
🏔️ dual pov
🏔️delicious banter
🏔️online dating vibe
🏔️subtle fake dating
🏔️rivals to lovers

🏔️✨🍓🏔️✨🍓🏔️✨🍓🏔️✨🍓🏔️✨🍓🏔️

Before I start will def say my 4 is more of a 4.5 stars!!!

Madison has a very unique writing style that is very closed door spice wise but it doesn't. feel like you're reading a Hallmark movie. Nothing wrong with hallmark but she doesn't write as if things will be super predictable. The worlds/towns she creates are always planned out to every little detail, the relationships and trust amongst those who live in the town is well thought out and the love is shown between the characters on the page.

I really loved Wren and Holden and how their chemistry changed from friends/enemies to lovers and what brought them together. Having June be such a prominent character was something that I loved and she helped tie everything together.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone especially those that usually read more spice/open door because this romance is so wholesome and beautiful that it's not to love it and wish you were living in their town.

I will be posting my review on Instagram and Tiktok under the user name De_van_diggity and will be posting the review around the date of release Jan. 26th -Jan 28th. I will be posting on Good reads today Jan 24th under the name Devon Mase.

I really enjoyed this story. I read it in practically one sitting. It was so cozy and very low stakes. It is perfect cozy night read you can fully relax and just enjoy the story. I also love the tension that builds between the two and the strength of the emotional connection between the two. Just a simple love story between a grumpy single dad and his sunshine neighbor. I am so thankful there was no third act breakup. There wasn't any real external conflicts and both characters were wholly and fully honest with the other through the whole story. No lies or miscommunications troupes to be found in this novel. Wren and Hold are both such green flags. Wren and Holden are open and honest with each other throughout and both show up for the other when they need it most. It is also a very sweet and swooning read. There is some tension that leaves you kicking your feet giggling but nothing explicit which was also really nice. I was so thrilled with the epilog. I cannot wait to see who is next in this series. I am already dreaming of my trip to this cozy little town and staying in a cabin right off the beaten path.

Thank you netgalley and Madison Wright for the arc of this book in exchange of my honest review 🩷

I’ve been meaning to try Madison Wrights books for so long and what a perfect way to being!!!! It was the EASIEST 5 star of my life!!! The perfect cozy read.

Single dad? Forced proximity ? Grumpy/ sunshine? “Enemies” to lovers???? SIGN ME UPPPPP !!!!! 🤭🤭🤭🤭 the most wonderful combination of my favourite tropes 🫡🫡

I enjoyed so much of Wrens and Holdens banter they were so funny and had that 2000s rom com vibe. Wren and June had that soulmate relationship and it was so wholesome to see the inspiration that Wren was to her even without realising it.

And if that isn’t enough to make you want to read this book… HE CALLS HER RED GUYS!!!!!! 🤭🤭😋😋

This will be posted to Goodreads and Amazon on 01/24/2023.

Thank you thank you thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op and Madison Wright for this ARC! I knew I was going to love this book when 1. I saw the cover, 2. the dedication mentioned Gilmore Girls and 3. being set in the Smokey Mountains. This book exceeded my expectations and is probably my new favorite book by Madison! The banter, the small town setting, the single dad trope 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 all done so well!!
I absolutely love June and Holden’s dad/daughter relationship and just want to hug them both (daddy man bun Holden can get it). Wren came in like fresh air that you could feel through the pages. The details through the whole book felt like you hopped in and were living the story with them. If there’s ever a cabin to rent in Fontana Ridge, I’m immediately booking! I can’t wait for the rest of this series and hoping the next book is Grey and Finley’s story🤞🏼🤞🏼

Madison Wright's Off the Beaten Path is romantic perfection!

Wren and Holden are the definition of opposites attract--she's sunshine and impulsivity, he's grouchy and responsible. But he has to be responsible as a single dad to a precocious six year old. He likes his quiet life, and his pesky neighbor with her bright yellow door and Christmas lights still up in January is driving him insane.

When his sister signs him up for an anonymous dating app, he finds himself reluctantly chatting with LikesStrawberryWine, and if he's honest with himself, he looks forward to their conversations. But when he finds out that Wren is his anonymous friend, things get a lot more complicated. Can their digital chemistry translate to real life? And do they even want it to?

This book was PERFECT. It's sweet and slow and tender--until it's hot kisses in the hallway and on the kitchen counter and... This closed door romance was just as sexy as many of the open door romances I've read, the tension no less palpable. I'm a sucker for a single parent romance, and this one checked all my boxes. Holden is such a good dad. He puts June first, and honestly what seals the deal for him with Wren is how much she loves June, too.

And of course--the cover. It's another beauty from Sam at Ink & Laurel, and it may have been the reason I first clicked on the book. Came for the cover, stayed for the romance. I highlighted so many sweet moments between Holden and Wren...this may end up being a romance I reread just for those tender confessions.

Off The Beaten Path
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Needing a break from a heavy read, or just in the mood for a classic romance? This is it! This is the perfect small town, single dad, hallmark love story we’ve been waiting for! This book had so much sweetness I got a stomach ache! Wren is so freaking lovable, and Holden is a big grump with the sweetest soft spot for his daughter. I love the setting so much as well as the quirky side characters. The banter was top notch and gave this book a little bit of flare that really made it stand out for me! The only reason it wasn’t a full five stars from me, is because I was dying for about 100 more pages! 😭💖
Tropes:
* grumpy meets sunshine
* Single dad
* Small town
* Forced proximity
* Clean romance

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this arc!

4.5/5 ⭐️

This was one of the most adorable stories I have read! Off the Beaten Path follows Wren and Holden, two next-door neighbours who do not get along. When Wren desperately needs help with the renovation of her new cabin, Holden is the only person who can help her, which means they will have to spend lots of time working together. Holden cannot imagine having anything in common with the girl next door until he learns that she is the woman he has been talking to for months on an anonymous dating site. This is a small town, single dad, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity romantic comedy that will have you smiling and giggling the whole time you are reading.

I enjoyed the Nashville is Calling series by Madison Wright, but this was definitely her best book yet. I am very excited to see what Madison writes next! I am really hoping we get to see Stevie, Finley and Grey in future books.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Madison Wright for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

- enemies to lovers
- grumpy sunshine
- single dad
- forced proximity
- 'you've got mail' trope
- small town
- no third act break up
- no spice

wow was I caught by surprise with this one! The cover instantly got my attention, but I hesitated to apply for an arc...I am SO GLAD I did. I feel like I was transported right into this town and story. It was so cozy and heartfelt, yet filled with emotion and depth. I didn't want to put this book down!!

THE CURLY HAIR REP!!! I COULD CRY 😭 As a fellow curly girl I have never, ever read a book that talked positively and REAL about curls. And the bonding it created as well omg I may have teared up.

I loved this book & am so excited for more to come from this series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💓

The only way Wren can afford the cabin she is renovating is to have it completed and rented out to tourists by the tourist season. When her contractor falls through, Holden, her grumpy neighbor, steps up to finish the job. Holden, broody single dad, finds himself attracted to and unable to stop thinking about Wren and her relationship with his daughter while he and Wren work side by side to renovate her cabin. Wren’s teasing of Holden really showcases their friendship before they end up together. June is the cutest little girl and obviously a daddy’s girl. Madison Wright is a new to me author and she’s got a new fan! Loved this quick and easy read.

I LOVED this enemies to lovers story. I thought the pace was perfect. I was hooked from the start. Such a fun read! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

I couldn’t put down this book!! the cutest and cosiest vibes. I’m obsessed and won’t stop recommending this book to everyone
this small town, single dad/neighbour and grumpy/sunshine was perfect. the vibes were truly everything. this is just the perfect book to cosy up to on a weekend.
Wren and Holden are so funny and cute that I can’t believe that they aren’t real. their story is beautiful and, once again, Madison Wright’s writing is stunning and makes you addicted to the story.
can’t wait for you to read this and fall in love with them!! and I’m already counting the days for more books in this series.
if you are reading this little review, consider your sign to read this book immediately!!!!

Absolutely LOVED this book! I went into this book blind, and I thought "Oh I'll just read a few chapters" BUT I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. And I ended up binge reading the entire thing. NO REGRETS.
Madison Wright knocked it out of the park with this one!
The grumpy-sunshine/opposites attract trope here was perfection! Also single-dad Holden was soo gooood! and the kisses in this book?! SO SWOONY!
I loved the characters, the growth, the flirting and banter, and just the tender, sweetness of this book! I adored it, I need it in paperback, I highly recommend this book! All the stars!

What a sweet story! I loved this grumpy sunshine, online friends to lovers, cozy romance. Holden and Wren had me rooting for them from the start, and his daughter June only made the pairing better. I liked the side characters and small town vibes and would happily return to that world. Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. The way I fell in love with this book. It was the sweetest book I’ve read in a long time and a no brainer 5 star read, possibly even a 6 star read.

Madison is a new to me author this year and now I am going to read EVERYTHING she has published because her writing is effortless. Also preordering the physical copy cause I need to annotate the hell out of this.

Wren and Holden’s story was the absolute sweetest and adding in June with this I fell right in love.

I lived for the way Wren winds up Holden it made me giggle everytime!

I also wanted to mention how REFRESHING it was to have a supportive ex and not one trying to get in the middle of Holden and Wren’s relationship.

This book was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Wren and Holden are my absolute favorite couple that Madison Wright has ever written (which is saying a lot because I am OBSESSED with Alex and Hazel...).

Overall, if you want a grumpy sunshine with a sunshine little girl in the mix then you are definitely going to want to check this book out. I loved it I loved it I loved it.

I will hands down be throwing my visa card at whatever website I can to get a physical copy of this book.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND READ THIS BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE!

i love this! it was really cute, and a good post-holiday read. i loved the small town vibes, the grumpy single dad, and how the enemies to lovers trope was handled. i also loved the side characters and how the town all rallied together for the FMC. Grey and Finley better be featured in a book soon i’m just sayin’! also june was super cute and now i wanna make all sorts of friendship bracelets.

thank you so much for letting me read this eARC!

I love a good small town romance especially when it deals with the grumpy, single dad neighbor 👀

Holden isn’t looking to date since he was burned so badly when his ex wife left him and his daughter. And he’s especially not looking to date his spunky, sunshine neighbor who intentionally tries to get on his nerves.

Wren is really starting to feel lonely and wanting to find “her person.” When Holden and her worlds collide sparks fly and Wren starts to notice things about him that she hasn’t in years of him being her neighbor.

Loved the sweet nickname he gave her and how he always put his daughter first no matter what. That he let her in and wasn’t grumpy with her.

You’ll like this book if you like:
Single dad
Grumpy/sunshine
Neighbors
Fake dating
Small town romance
Cute nicknames
Closed door romance

The sweetest mountain town romance with just the barest hint of drama, a tattooed cinnamon role of a man, and a sweet-as-pie red-headed heroine you want to be your best friend!

I also adore sweet non-3rd-act breakup endings? These are what I like to call my sleepy-time romances because they're so relaxing to read before bed, and I adore taking my time to soak in sweet, uncomplicated love stories before bed!

**Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

i absolutely devoured this book! this was my first madison wright novel and i had the best time with this one. this small town, single dad, neighbour romance was filled with the coziest vibes and yummy angst between wren + holden!!! the vibes were immaculate and instantly made you think of the coziness of gilmore girls or virgin river. you could instantly feel the gravitational pull between wren and holden that you couldn’t help but keep reading just patiently waiting for THE moment between these two. i really enjoyed all the supporting characters too!!! i can’t wait to read more madison wright novels and also see all the future magic she creates!!!! if you want to amplify your reading experience i highly recommend listening to stick season album by noah kahan or evermore album by t swift <3

pub date: january 26th 2024!!!!!!!