L.J. Shen is usually a go to for angsty, emotionally charged romances, and Truly Madly Deeply had all the right elements: a grumpy, brooding MMC, a sunshine (or supposedly sunshine) FMC, and a second chance, enemies to lovers dynamic. Unfortunately, while the premise was solid, the execution left something to be desired.

The Story & Characters
Calla Litvin (Cal) and Ambrose Casablancas (Row) have history—one that resulted in a massive fallout when Cal’s best friend (and Row’s sister), Dylan, caught them together. Fast forward years later, and Cal is back in town after her father’s passing, struggling to find her footing while working up the courage to start her true crime podcast. Row, now a world renowned chef, is still as grumpy and infuriatingly hot as ever, and he wants nothing to do with her. Naturally, Cal ends up working at his restaurant, and the tension is instant.

I love a brooding alpha man, and Row fit that mold perfectly. He’s driven, intense, and emotionally unavailable in all the best ways. Cal, on the other hand, was meant to be the quirky, upbeat counterpart to his moodiness, but I found her more melancholic than charming. Instead of lightening up the story, she ruminated a lot—on her past, her lost friendship, her struggles, and it made the book feel heavier than I expected.

The chemistry was definitely there, but the push and pull dragged on too long. It was 500 pages of this and I was over it after like 200. Both Cal and Row were stuck in an endless loop of “we can’t be together” while simultaneously making it obvious that’s all they wanted. There were moments of sizzling tension, but the payoff felt delayed, and I found myself wanting them to just talk it out instead of overanalyzing everything.

Also, the “mystery” of Cal’s anonymous online friend, McMonster, was painfully predictable. The second it was mentioned, it was clear it would be Row. I don’t mind a little predictability in romance, but this reveal lacked impact.

Cal’s obsession with the 90s was a bit much. I love a nostalgic throwback, but it felt excessive—especially since she wasn’t even alive during the decade. Instead of adding charm, it made me feel old and has me asking myself why that was the thing she clung onto after her traumatic accident.

This was a dual POV narration with Teddy Hamilton and Lila Winters. Teddy Hamilton? Fantastic as always. His deep, gravelly voice is perfect for grumpy MMCs, and he brought Row to life effortlessly. Lila Winters, on the other hand, was a miss for me. She sounded flat at times, overly dramatic at others, and I struggled to connect with her portrayal of Cal. 

Truly, Madly, Deeply had moments of brilliance—a well crafted grumpy MMC, some great tension, and L.J. Shen’s signature angst—but it felt slower and more drawn out than necessary. If you love second chance romance with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic and don’t mind a bit of emotional heaviness, you might enjoy this one. But if you’re looking for a truly lighthearted sunshine FMC, this might not fully hit the mark.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with reservations. If you’re an L.J. Shen fan, give it a go. If you’re new to her work, I’d start with The Kiss Thief or Midnight Blue instead.