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

Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

23 reviews

amandab0514's review

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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triple_m's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Such a good book with a really healthy and dynamic couple! Genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.

I didn’t love the parent trap plot line, but sometimes we revert to childish behavior when interacting with our parents, no matter our big ages.

Love the discussions and validations about bisexuality.

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danireadit's review

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funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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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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just_one_more_paige's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

You know how, every once in a while, you come upon a book that is just perfect for you? The exact right story with the exact right characters at the exact right time? Well, other than the fact that I am pretty sure any time would have been the right time in this case, this was that book for me. I am going to say this here at the beginning and I'll probably repeat it a few times throughout this review, but I seriously cannot stress enough how much I will *never* be over this book.

Truly is a bestselling romance novelist, but between the recent breakup with her fiance (he cheated) and her parents marriage - which she has always held up as an example of a perfect relationship - her belief in love and happily ever after is facing some real outside challenges. Colin is a bit more of a realist in his outlook on relationships; in his practice as a family lawyer, he deals with a lot of divorce cases. When the two meet as guests on a well-known podcast brought in to give relationship advice from opposite ends of the love spectrum, sparks fly. Colin's advice hits Truly in her recently-soft spots and even his hotness can't overcome her defensive responses. However, a few days later, Colin reaches out to ask for a restart and after some pushing from her bestie, Lulu, a legitimately heartfelt apology from Colin, and an internal pull that she's totally pretending isn't happening, Truly gives in. With more time spent together - and realizing that he is truly an amazing guy, one that she is happier spending time around than not - that internal pull towards Colin gets stronger and stronger, harder to ignore. Truly will have to decide if she's ready to risk her emotional safety for a chance at true love, despite all her recent life experiences that upended her original belief in the concept.

Bellefleur is very much an auto-read author for me, as I have read every single contemporary romance she's published and they're all great. (See my previous reviews for Written in the Stars, Count Your Lucky Stars, Hang the Moon, and The Fiancée Farce.) Each one is uplifting and feel-good, funny and quirky, with great dialogue and wonderful steam/spice. And in particular, her fully rounded representations of bisexuality are, for me, everything. She is outspoken both in her novels and IRL on behalf of the bi community and in her efforts to bright light to bi erasure. As a bi person in a hetero-presenting relationship, that means so much. And in the case of Truly, Madly, Deeply - this was central to the plot in a way that made me feel *very* seen. The conversation Truly and Colin have coming out to each other hits soooooo hard. I love Bellefleur for giving it. And it's hard to separate that out from this review, and I don't think I want to anyways, as that's so much a part of the book's wonderfulness, but I do want to be transparent about it.

Anyways, oh my goodness this was magical! By only five chapters in, I was grinning ear to ear at this combative flirty dialogue, the sexual tension, and epic back and forth banter-arguing. I cannot with how much fun I had with it (as Lulu said, it was better than pay per view). For me, this book was entirely centered around Truly and Colin. I mean, I loved Lulu as a bestie and Caitlin as Colin's sister. Fantastic and fun side characters. And there were low key some other plot things happening, like Colin's shitty family and Truly's parents separation (and her plan to get them back together), which were fine (nothing special, but you know, a good story needs multiple aspects). But mostly, Truly and Colin were *it,* and those other pieces added just enough to see how perfect they were together in the ways they supported each other through moments they couldn't deal with alone.

Let me break down all the things I loved. First of all, is anyone else picturing Colin as Steve from Stranger Things? I mean, look at the cover art. It cannot just be me. And the personalities fit...it's that saucy-irreverent, but still totally sweet/soft/sincere shit, and it really presses all my buttons. Love them both. Plus, here, the deep dives into random topics, spouting off like a wiki article, that’s what my IRL man is like and I roll my eyes, but I love it...so that's only making Colin hotter. And it's not just his genuine desire to be safe and respectful of Truly, nor his clear attraction to her physically, nor the perfect mix of heartfelt and [lightly] contentious verbal sparring throughout (though it's all those things too). But the spicy scenes hit exactly right for me too, tbh. I don’t usually like dirty talk, it often seems forced or awkward when I'm reading it, but Colin’s monologue about what he’d done thinking about Truly…I mean, PHEW. Which is then followed up by a raspy voice (I love a raw-rough-needy, struggling to maintain control, voice) and a “rough pull closer” to finally kiss and break the sexual tension: perfection. I SWOON. Later too, there's a small thing that comes up, possibly not something most readers will really register even. But for me? The hand at the neck (Colin's at Truly's neck) that would normally make one feel terrified because it’s so vulnerable, but the right hand, from someone you know treats you gently, is different, touching something deep and primal. I honestly don't know how Bellefleur is doing it, but she’s hitting ALL my notes, even the smaller ones, in a way I don't remember a romance doing before. Anyways, all that to say, Colin is basically the perfect man.

Random final notes. First, this book also managed to include some lovely romance tropes, while avoiding my least favorites: miscommunication and the forced third-act breakup. Not having those two here was icing on an already pretty spectacular cookie cake. Second, as always, the oblique references to Bellefleur’s other books/characters (Fiancée Farce, for one, if I’m not mistaken) - a theme throughout all her Seattle-based novels, is something fun that I enjoy spotting while reading.

Look y'all. I devoured this book. It was perfect for me and, to end where I began, oh my fucking god, I will NEVER be over this book.

“But disagreements are natural. Normal. [...] But peace doesn't mean the absence of conflict. That's not realistic. It's about being able to have those inevitable disagreements without being contemptuous or defensive.”

“With anyone else she might've considered the moment broken, but with him it just felt like turning to the next page in a book she'd never read. A book she;d left lingering on her nightstand for weeks, picking it up and putting it back down, her hopes for it so high she feared there was no earthly way the reality of it could live up to her expectations, too afraid she wouldn't like the ending.” (If that isn’t the most relatable book nerd romance shit I’ve ever read.)

“Love launched ships and started wars and inspired sonnets and drove people to madness. Love was heaven and hell, sin and redemption. It was as real to her as any other force of nature, hurricanes and earthquakes and lightning storms and meteor strikes. It fascinated her as much as it terrified her as much as it humbled her and - [....] Love had to be enough. There was no point if it wasn’t.” (Like if there weren't enough signs and reasons that this book was everything for me, I literally have a tattoo that says "love is enough." UGH.)

“I happen to be wildly in love with you. Isn't it obvious? You fucking own me, Truly.”

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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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onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? No

5.0

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_thebookishbarista_'s review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

“I’m pretty keen on being kept by you.”

This book was pretty good. For awhile, I felt like it could be a five star, but after taking a step back and analyzing it, I realized that I defined didn't love it quite that much (especially compared to some other five star books). But this book follows Truly (side note: I hate the name) who is a romance author, and at the beginning of the book she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. However, the show must go on, and she does the podcast episode she had scheduled. Enter Colin. Colin is the type of man I want okay. Like to me, he's by far the greatest character. But he's a divorce lawyer also on the podcast, and he immediately gets under Truly's skin. Eventually, their dislike becomes more friendly and flirty.

I will say, I didn't enjoy what the main plot of this book ended up being. I feel like the main romance got buried under the spice and then when it was spice, they were focusing on the parent's relationship.

All I'm saying is, Truly doesn't have to be a little meddling crybaby, because her parents don't owe her an explanation on their relationship. Like I get being upset, especially using them as an example of what love should look like, but the parent trap scheme took everything way too far.

I did however love the bi representation and the discussions around that.

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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

Content Warnings

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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