There is always something so intricate about the way L.J. Shen writes her characters. They have so much depth to them, even if they’re minor. There is a character for everyone in her stories.
Truly, Madly, Deeply is a great second chance / it was always you story. I really liked broody Row paired with the colorful Cal. The two just work, even though every thing about them is opposite. I think the scene of them talking on the swings was my favorite as you got to see a side of Row that was often hidden.
It was a little bit romantic suspense, at times, but thankfully for my anxiety quickly resolved itself. It was a little bit long for my liking, which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5, I found myself nodding off at times.

The audio was fantastic though! The narrators did a great job portraying the characters.

This, unfortunately had a lot of tropes and personality traits of men that I just really don’t like in books. For example, I hate when the men are mean. I don’t like when they’re mean to the female protagonist regardless of their excuses or if it’s just an act. it’s just icks me out and makes it really hard for me to like them and it also just ends up feeling misogynistic . I also just hate when men in books are unnecessarily crass and overly sexual like it’s not sexy at all to me. it’s just giving like 14-year-old boy who just discovered sex and it’s really uncomfortable for me to read.

Like to me, it just veers into pervert territory but whatever floats your boat I guess.

This is something that will forever irritate me in recent romance books for an ever reason they feel the need to make every pop culture reference. It’s almost like a competition. Why are you mentioning “my Roman Empire”or why is her ringtone friends by BTS like we did not need that in the book.

Plot was boring AF. A 14 hour audio book and somehow nothing happened. The best thing about these cheesy new adult romances is the convoluted plots. But this just opted out of having one entirely.

Yeah Calla was unbearable. No notes.

Also, why does everybody in these romance books have to have a weird name??? like even the baby has a weird name!! gravity?!? are you joking?? that is insane!!

But… I will say the smut was in fact good for once. Let’s just ignore the kitchen scene :)

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

The tension in this book was incredible, I loved the past and present relationship. I just didn’t feel that attached to the characters except for Dylan I loved Dylan haha. The town was adorable and the story to do with it was interesting. I just felt like the grumpy sunshine trope was pushed quite a bit, like exaggerated grumpy guy , super happy girl but she’s faking it, it’s been done a lot and it’s cute but also feels a bit generic now. The rest of the romance wasn’t though. Third act bothered me but there’s not many romances that it doesn’t it’s just Mc or heroine making a dumb mistake and always makes me feel uncomfortable haha, but that’s me. First 50% I didn’t want to put it down because how good the tension was the rest was pretty good too but first 50% was just incredible.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 23rd September and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of October

This was a classic enemies to lovers romance that I enjoyed so much. The narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. The chemistry was written so well and I loved all the the banter between Row and Cal. There was also a lot of intense and strong moments to this book that made it that much better.

Truly, Madly, Deeply has two of my favorite tropes, grumpy x sunshine and enemies to lovers! Cal is Ambrose's little sister's best friend. This should mean she is off limits. He really tries. Cal know her besties brother is not for her. Her best friend has made it perfectly clear that they will no longer be friends if anything happens between them. With Cal working closely with Ambrose, the lines drawn get harder and harder not to cross. The story was so good. I loved the spice and all the banter between all the characters. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series! The narration was just right! Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for an advance audio-copy of Truly, Madly, Deeply, in exchange for an honest review.

The book centers around a complex, anti-hero male lead, Cal, whose initial cruelty is initially off-putting. His harsh interactions with Row, the FMC, are described as sharp and painful, making it difficult to initially connect with him. However, as the story unfolds and Cal's emotional barriers begin to crumble, revealing his wounded heart, you will start to understand his motivations.

Row, too, presents a challenging character. While her self-sabotaging tendencies can be frustrating, the reviewer finds her endearing and ultimately sympathetic. The unraveling of her past adds a layer of depth and understanding, making her struggles relatable and heartbreaking.

Despite their initial harsh exteriors, the connection between Cal and Row is undeniable. I believe that once you are able to look beyond the surface, you will find yourself deeply invested in their journey. The narration further enhances this experience, bringing the characters to life and contributing to the overall enjoyment of the story.

'Truly, Madly, Deeply' is an emotionally complex darkish romance that subverts expectations. While it delves into darker themes, the palpable connection between the two leads and their compelling character development make it a rewarding read. I highly recommend this audiobook, particularly for fans of LJ Shen's work and those who enjoy stories that explore the depths of human emotion and connection. Just remember to be prepared for a darker tone and to check the trigger warnings before diving in.

DNF @ 75%. I really thought I was going to love this book and ended up disappointed. There were a lot of things I LOVED, but so many things that gave me the ick 🥴

First off, the MMC is the best part of the book. Loved him. He was grumpy, fell first, *slightly* morally gray, the FMC’s best friends brother, would burn the world for the FMC, and he’s a hottie chef. I’d date him.

The FMC? A different story. She drove me NUTS. She is completely obviously to everything. I get she has been through some trauma, but she got on my nerves the majority of the time.

The plot also seemed overly complicated and filled with too many tropes. Idk why but it wasn’t working for me.

I thought I could finish, but when it got to the zucchini and candy cane I tapped out.

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK 😍

4.75 STARS!!

it's losing half a star rating though, because of that zucchini and candy cane scene. my brain truly didn’t need to imagine it, each to their own with that I guess but oh my gosh!! the banter in this is everything i needed and exactly my sense of humour.

it's a best friend-brother romance but kind of a second chance too because cal leaves row broken hearted after their one moment together. row was completely down bad for cal but the cold and broody front he put on was crazy good. they have secretly had feelings for one another and all their interactions are filled with snark and so much tension, I love it,

i also liked the little subplot of trying to figure out who was after row. i loved dylan’s character and how she always spoke her mind. seeing a character with traits cal was new to me, but seeing her growth was wholesome.

i read this book exactly when i needed to, if you are itching for a good hate-to-love, with good banter, so much angst and a bit of drama, you’ll love this one 🫶🏻

also in NEED of tate and gia’s book asap xx

I am beyond obsessed with the way LJ writes. This book was phenomenal. From friends to enemies to the hottest lovers… she just makes me want to keep reading forever. Row and Cal kept me on the edge of my seat, and I love them together more than I’ve ever loved an LJ couple. SOOO good!!

Truly, Madly, Deeply in love with Ambrose Casablancas.
This book had me hooked. Row has loved Cal forever, and she broke his heart. Could he survive if she breaks it again?
The chemistry, banter, and text message exchange is so good. This book had a wonderful set of side characters that added to all the banter. The moms…. Oh how I loved the moms.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook. And wow Lila Winters and Teddy Hamilton did a phenomenal job with this cast of characters.
They gave this book life, and I was living it.

Absolutely more than 5 stars…. A definite read or listen.

This love story full of misunderstanding and childhood disappointments and hurts will break your heart, but also put it back together again. I always enjoy a best friend's sibling trope and these two characters lit up the pages along with the pregnant sister. The audiobook was a great way to enjoy this story and I loved the way the narrators brought this romance to life.

LJ Shen does it again! The angst she writes is always so good! I loved the narrators and they did a great job! Thank you so much for the audiobook.

First off, I loved the audio narrations. Teddy Hamilton as Ro was spot on! Lila Winters also did a great job.
I did really like this book. This is my first book by this author, and I would definitely listen to more of her books. Cal’s character development and issues were great. I enjoyed the plot and the conflict was pretty good. The spicy was hot. I loved Dylan and hope she gets her own story.
This book was just way too long and drawn out. I thought some unnecessary scenes could easily be cut out to move the story along. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. Grumpy chef and a quirky heroine. Sign me up!
Huge thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this book!

5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Spice

Tropes:
Small Town
Enemies to Lovers
Best Friend's Brother
Second Chance
Grumpy x Sunshine

🎧 Narration: Teddy Hamilton & Lila Winters absolutely killed it. This was my first time to listen to Lila Winters & I will absolutely be looking for more from her bc she was excellent as Cal. I loved her cadence it was so pleasant to listen to even at 2.5x. && Teddy Hamilton as a hot grumpy chef?! say less. he was so good. this is definitely an audiobook you don't want to miss.

okay fine, this book was so dang good i will be rereading it & i have no shame. i loved these two. their past & present are both SO messy & it was such a journey to get these two flawed humans to the finish line & i ate up every single second. 10/10 SO GOOD. this book is funny, swoony, sexy & a really engaging story. highly recommend! (and the paperback is so pretty!)

A list of the reasons I love and enjoyed reading this book

Best friends older brother, it’s just very hot
He’s a chef.
The amazing curated song selections as chapter headings, this is the the first playlist from a book that I’ve actually listened to
The creation of Cal and Ro because I love them.
It has everything I love from an LJ Shen book.

LJ has a way of pulling you into her stories and being able to listen to this one, I felt immersed in Stain Drop and Calla and Ro’s story.

The narrators were great! I loved the dual pov and seeing things from both perspectives. I also loved Dylan and can’t wait for her book! She’s feisty and I know it’ll be good.

Calla’s trauma was handled well imo and I loved how Ro helped her deal with and stand up to her past. I also loved for grumpy Ro was (very typical LJ and I loved it!!) and how he was only soft for Cal (and his mom and sister of course).

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I enjoyed this book. I’m not sure if I clicked with the narrators, so I struggled to just listen, but I started listening while I read, and it was better. However, this book was too long, with too many side plots. I typically love a best friends brother trope, and while I enjoyed the angst and most of the spicy scenes (the kitchen scene, I’m sorry, WHAT?!, blocking from my memory), I could have lived without one or 2 of the side plots.

This book was alright but the narration was perfection.

I loved Teddy Hamilton's narration so much. He has the perfect voice for this kind of character and he truly delivered for Ro.

I also enjoyed Lila Winter's voice for Cal. She did a great job.

For the story itself... I wasn't the biggest fan. But before that, I will say something nice. I liked that Cal came home for her mom and stuck around to make sure she was ok. Her hometown is a place of major anxiety for her so I appreciated this. I also like the very sweet think Ro did for Cal at the end of the book but I will not be spoiling that for anyone reading this.

Ok, on to the review...

Let's start with our love interest.

I found that Ro was unnecessarily aggressive about every little thing and it got pretty aggravating. It made for a lot of miscommunication and a love interest that is hardly tolerable. He claims to be in love with Cal but then turns around is a total jerk to her. I think that Cal forgave him too easily along with his sister Dylan. She was horrible to Cal and it took until Cal's father died for her to let up and stop being a bully towards her.

I think all the characters in this book are deeply flawed and that's ok but I just wish there were more redeeming qualities about them so that they were more likable.

One other thing that irked me was that Cal is constantly convincing herself that she is a terrible person to love and Dylan validated that idea over and over again right to her face. I thought that was so messed up and it makes me unable to root for Dylan at all.

As I'm thinking more and more about this I keep thinking of things that just didn't sit right with me. Like how Cal was supposedly obsessed with true crime to the point that she wants to start a podcast about it yet she barely talks about it. More time should have been spent exploring this career path.

Another thing is that Cal has a fear of men but for some reason she trusts Ro inexplicably despite him being a total douche and treating her like garbage for years and years after the incident occurred. I wish there was time spent with him slowly earning back her trust instead of her just blindly accepting him as a good guy when clearly, he's not.

I think this book would benefit from some rewrites mainly focusing on character development.

Overall, I rated this a 2.5/5

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

**A Sizzling Romance That Captivates**

I absolutely devoured this audiobook! LJ Shen weaves a fiery, emotional romance between Ambrose Casablancas and Calla Litvin that left me breathless. Ambrose, the conceited and enigmatic chef, and Calla, the quirky and compassionate sunshine, create a delicious tension that’s impossible to resist. The storyline masterfully balances passion, humor, and vulnerability, making their journey from antagonistic tension to explosive chemistry incredibly satisfying.

The narration by Lila Winters and Teddy Hamilton was fantastic. Teddy Hamilton, my favorite, brought Ambrose to life with his deep, commanding voice, perfectly embodying the brooding chef. While I enjoyed the narration, I do wish it had been read as a duet, considering how little Row has his own chapters. A duet performance would have added even more depth to the character dynamics and heightened the already electric atmosphere.

Overall, "Truly Madly Deeply" is a must-listen for anyone craving a heartfelt, intense romance. Ambrose and Calla's story is one you'll want to revisit time and again!

3.75⭐, 3.75🌶️

So my overall review of the book is while I generally enjoyed it and thought the premise was cute, I felt myself critiquing it a lot as I listened, and that kept bringing me out of the fun vibes I wanted to have. Maybe it was just me? Also, the review below just feels much more negative for the book than I actually felt. Cause I did like parts of it! But I can type out critiques better than just writing "this was cute" over and over. Soooo it is what it is 🙃

The cover had me thinking (honestly idk why) that this would be darker, but other than a little enemy battling for this second chance romance, it was a pretty cute romance! I loved the premise of this best friends brother second chance storyline, especially with the unique opening of the book, but the rest of the book didnt feel unique enough and just ran long for me. I couldn't fully connect to either of the characters, which I get Cal was supposed to be more unique but I felt like she was tooo unnecessarily quirky, but Row turning from grumpy to a secret cinnamon roll for her just didnt land for me? And unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy the "grand reveal" that Cal loved Row the whole time, it felt a too too obvious for me.

THE KITCHEN SCENE?! 🥵 when you though one was enough, and then the second thing?! It gave me so much anxiety reading it. Like hot, but also...the sanitary concerns.

🖤Childhood Friends to Enemies(ish) to Lovers
🩷Second Chance Romance
🖤Best Friends Brother
🩷Grumpy x Sunshine

Also, as a true crime girly...I loved that little boit of the book. But it just was weird? Like who is a true crime junkie but ONLY talks about wanting to start their podcast but never talks about true crime in any other context? It just didnt land for me.

Also...If I ever met a person named gravity, I would think they were joking...

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!