A review by b_addie_readsbooks
Truly, Madly, Deeply by L.J. Shen

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Overall: 4.5⭐️
Romance: 4.5🩷
Spice: 3.5🌶️
Characters: 3.5👤
Plot: 3.25💥

Pretty much every character in this book infuriated me especially, during the first quarter of this book. But I found myself unable to look away from the train wreck anyway. Even by the end I wasn’t really a big fan of anyone except for Row. Sue me, I love a pathetically in-love man no matter how grumpy.

I don’t typically like a second chance romance premise and this was both second chance romance and friendship so I was suffering the first few chapters. Thankfully they all mostly make up pretty quickly and then it turned into a 12/10 childhood crushes to hate to love story with great banter, deep feelings, and of course a side of trauma for the plot. 

Admittedly there were a few times I thought “just how long can this book be???” But overall I think it made sense for the characters, even if the plot felt a little rushed in some areas and dragged out in others. I mean it all ended well so I’m not complaining too much.

I think this started as a nice little time passer that somehow snuck up and surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Kinda like turning on a soap opera before going to bed only to stay up until dawn binge watching the whole thing because oops! you got invested. Definitely an entertaining read!

P.S. this did very much remind me of that tiktoker and her neighbor’s love story (
quirky uniquely awkward girl oblivious to just how in love with her the guy right in front of her is because she’s too scared of getting hurt so they break things off because of how much it hurts him just to be near her if she won’t accept his love until finally she learns she needs him just as much and that he’s worth risking her heart for
)