Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Truly, Madly, Deeply

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

15 reviews

kyeruhh's review against another edition

fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I’m so conflicted on this. On the one hand, I loved Colin and the talk abt feeling insecure in one’s sexual identity bc of a lack of experience (I too have only been inside the airport). That said, I didn’t love Truly, so the whole book being from her perspective wasn’t my favorite thing. She felt very immature, especially with the whole parent trap thing. Bestie, you’re 27. Get a grip. I’m also not a huge fan of pop culture/trend references in books bc I feel like it dates an otherwise fun story. Regardless, I had a good time reading this. Alexandria Bellefleur is definitely becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors.

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callidoralblack's review

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emotional funny lighthearted

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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etymoye's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Genres: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, LGBTQ Romance (Bisexuality)

Tropes: Dislike to Love, Workplace/Office

Moods:Emotional, Funny, Lighthearted

This was very cute and funny. I LOVED Colin. He’s basically all-in from the get-go, despite the somewhat rocky interactions the couple has for a while. I also loved that the book repeatedly seemed to intentionally subvert expectations based on romance novel stereotypes–despite Colin being a divorce lawyer who doesn’t really believe in a HEA, he knows he wants to be with Truly and doesn’t falter in that. Truly, the romance novelist, is the one who struggles with commitment on the other hand due to her fiance cheating on her and the looming possibility of her parents’ divorce.

I did struggle a little with their banter at times which was I dropped half a star. For the most part, their back-and-forth is hilarious, but there are a few times when it felt a little distracting as the reader. The couple would be having a conversation and I’d legitimately be trying to follow what they’re saying, but then their conversation would get kind of derailed by the banter, and I’d find myself wondering what they were even talking about originally.

Safety Stats:

Ages:

Truly is 27, Colin is 32.

Cheating:

Truly’s fiancé cheats on her at the start of the book, and she breaks up with him. No cheating occurs between or on the hero or heroine.

Other OM/OW:

Truly has an ex-fiancé who cheated on her, but she is not pining for him.

Separation:

Not really. Truly almost breaks up with Colin in the 3rd act due to her cold feet about relationships, but in a nice subversion of expectations, they stay together and agree to work through it.

Triggers:

Truly’s fiance cheats on her in the beginning of the book. Additionally, there's some BDSM-lite interactions that take place between Truly and Colin (he asks her to "be a little mean" to him during sex) but it's clearly discussed and both parties are into it.

HEA/HFN?:

I’d say somewhere in between. Couple is engaged in epilogue.

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beebowbabe's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I ATE THIS UP

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babyfacedoldsoul's review

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Was not for me

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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I buddy read this with @readingwithtemperance (IG & on here) & we had a great time. Colin is probably my favorite book bae of my recent romance reads, & I am still hot & bothered by him lmao.

Truly (romance writer) goes on a podcast with Colin (family attorney, but works on a lot of divorces), and their views on love and relationships are quite different, causing a ton of friction. They end up continuing on with the podcast after mostly settling their miscommunication and misunderstanding, but Truly cannot ignore the growing sexual tension between them. Amidst this, Truly's parents drop some groundbreaking news to her that turn her world on its axis. Her best friend Lulu who works at a sex toy shop is along for the entire ride, providing the goofiest commentary and much needed comic relief.

Truly and Colin's tension was written so well - I could feel it seeping out of these pages omg!!!!! The steamy scenes had me absolutely sweating ajhslfhdkfshdfsjhdfdsljf. Their text messages were so flirty and fun, and rang authentic to me as someone who is awkward, truculent, and bad at flirting. I was genuinely grinning so hard reading their interactions, and think Bellefleur did a great job of illustrating a growing connection between the two.

I thought the Parent Trap-esque plan for Truly's parents was annoying because your parents getting divorced is not about you (like yes, your feelings are absolutely valid and they matter, but you can't force or guilt your parents into staying together, come on Truly babyyyyy). However, I sympathize with her pain, and recognize that you don't know how you act until it happens to you. Their Sondheim tradition had me absolutely cackling though.

Colin's family (besides his sister who runs the podcast... I am forgetting her name, I'm sorry!) can suck it and I hope they step on Legos barefoot for the rest of their lives!

Overall, this was such a fun romcom - I giggled, I swooned, I broke a sweat, and I would love to see it onscreen hehe.

Steam Rating: 3.5 out of 5 - including a public sex scene at a lake, my GODDDDDD

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readingwithtemperance's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The way that Alexandria writes just has me absolutely devouring her words. She has such a flare for the dramatic.

In this book we follow Truly (a best selling historical romance author) and Colin (divorce lawyer) definitely an unlikely pair for sure.

The book wastes no time grabbing your attention.

On the first page Truly catches her fiancé cheating on her. And then her parents tell her that they're seperating.

A whirlwind of emotions for sure.

Then enters Colin who achieves nothing but royally pissing Truly off in the beginning.

I love how he won her over.

Colin was probably the highlight of this book for me. He's so thoughtful and kind.

And not gonna lie I kind of love the way this man begs. My my does he do it WELL.

There were definitely lots of cringe moments though. The whole

parent trap

situation gave me intense secondhand embarrassment. But I'm glad it worked out in the end.

I also really hated Colin's family (aside from his sister of course). They were all just so pretentious, entitled, and RUDE. I wanted to fist fight them all.

I was so happy when Truly stood up for Colin.

The spice was fantastic, but no surprise there given its Alexandria Bellefleur. Definitely a great book to read with a friend (I did hi Brittany!).

Overall I really liked it and the ending was sweet.

I loved that her parents renewed their vows.

But I was so dissapointed that we didn't get to see

the engagement. Especially since Truly was the one who proposed in her last relationship.

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elliott_the_clementine's review

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Alexandria Bellefleur always writes fluffy, sweet books that feel like a strawberry-banana smoothie on a warm summer day, and Truly, Madly, Deeply is no exception as another trope-filled queer romance for gooey-hearted queer people. A pleasure to read!

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naysia_reads's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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literaryintersections's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this book. AB writes books I like honestly - they are sweet and swoony and fun. Stakes are low. I think this might be one of my favorites of hers.

I loved the queer rep - two bi characters. I loved the dom aspects of Truly and how she was finding herself but I also wish that was fleshed out a bit. There was a great bit about is it weird if we both consent to it. And I loved that. I also loved the musical theatre nerd of it all!! I hated Colin’s family and wanted more of a comeuppance - family biphobia and nastiness is never nice.

A few criticisms - this man is obviously Steve from stranger things and it should be illegal to have this cover like that’s 100% his face. And I wish AB would stop saying “mole splattered skin” like we get it he has a lot of moles. It was prob in the book 40x.

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