What do you think?
Rate this book
Madly Deeply Wildly
Renata is a writer. Or…she was. After finding the courage to leave her abusive fiancé, Damien, and move back to her hometown, Renata realizes she has lost not only her words but herself. She navigates life with a caution she never knew before and doesn’t let anyone too close.
Inspired to honor her promise to her late father to always follow her heart, she takes a job at a local café and sets her sights on reviving her love of writing. With the café’s friendly owner, Fern, and upbeat barista Caroline, Renata discovers much about life, friendship, and love. Renata’s life is looking up, and when she hits it off with handsome baker Chad, she believes she may finally find her happy ending.
But her relationship with Chad triggers wounds from her past, which she hides from him while grappling alone with the resultant fear, trauma, and shame. Chad may not forgive Renata once he discovers she’s been lying to him, and after a dangerous appearance from Damien further jeopardizes their relationship, the decisions she makes will determine the course of their relationship. Can Renata escape Damien for good and learn to trust again? Or will echoes of her past destroy their future?
Inspired to honor her promise to her late father to always follow her heart, she takes a job at a local café and sets her sights on reviving her love of writing. With the café’s friendly owner, Fern, and upbeat barista Caroline, Renata discovers much about life, friendship, and love. Renata’s life is looking up, and when she hits it off with handsome baker Chad, she believes she may finally find her happy ending.
But her relationship with Chad triggers wounds from her past, which she hides from him while grappling alone with the resultant fear, trauma, and shame. Chad may not forgive Renata once he discovers she’s been lying to him, and after a dangerous appearance from Damien further jeopardizes their relationship, the decisions she makes will determine the course of their relationship. Can Renata escape Damien for good and learn to trust again? Or will echoes of her past destroy their future?
- GenresRomance
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2023
1 person is currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Turner
8 books38 followersKatherine Turner is an award-winning author, and a life-long reader and writer. She grew up in foster care from the age of eight and is passionate about improving the world through literature, empathy, and understanding. In addition to writing books, Katherine blogs about mental health, trauma, and the need for compassion on her website www.kturnerwrites.com. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 14, 2023
Let’s make some dough!
Oh so yummy Chad, a dreamy book boyfriend for sure!
Escape into a love story that’s so hard but so ohhh good!!
Renata just left a mental and physical abusive relationship after being brainwashed by a monster. You will read about her psychological journey that will frustrate and touch you in such ways that only those who have been there could only relate. There’s so much heartbreak and strength in all of it. I was swallowed right into it from the start, because of such captivating writing.
The characters are fun, relatable, loveable and frustrating. I personally know how the mental abuse is difficult and relatable, but its teaching is highly recommended. A HEA that is what one can only wish for everyone who’s been through half of what Renata went through.
Thank you Netgalley, @kturnerwrites
and Josha Publishing, LLC for approving me to read and review, I absolutely loved it and must read more from Katherine.
Oh so yummy Chad, a dreamy book boyfriend for sure!
Escape into a love story that’s so hard but so ohhh good!!
Renata just left a mental and physical abusive relationship after being brainwashed by a monster. You will read about her psychological journey that will frustrate and touch you in such ways that only those who have been there could only relate. There’s so much heartbreak and strength in all of it. I was swallowed right into it from the start, because of such captivating writing.
The characters are fun, relatable, loveable and frustrating. I personally know how the mental abuse is difficult and relatable, but its teaching is highly recommended. A HEA that is what one can only wish for everyone who’s been through half of what Renata went through.
Thank you Netgalley, @kturnerwrites
and Josha Publishing, LLC for approving me to read and review, I absolutely loved it and must read more from Katherine.
June 16, 2023
ARC REVIEW
It’s so hard to write about a book that tackles such a heavy topic like domestic violence in a sensitive way. It’s such a big topic and to wrap it up in a 300 page romance novel is near impossible.
Nevertheless Katherine Turner managed to do so in a great way. I think it was written fantastically in regards to that topic.
My only downfall with this book is it just simply wasn’t for me, I am unsure to pinpoint what it was, but the pacing for my personal taste was a bit clunky and I found myself struggling to get into it. That is no fault to the author however as I do believe it was written well overall.
Going into this I do recommend checking the trigger warnings as it is quite detailed in certain scenes.
It’s so hard to write about a book that tackles such a heavy topic like domestic violence in a sensitive way. It’s such a big topic and to wrap it up in a 300 page romance novel is near impossible.
Nevertheless Katherine Turner managed to do so in a great way. I think it was written fantastically in regards to that topic.
My only downfall with this book is it just simply wasn’t for me, I am unsure to pinpoint what it was, but the pacing for my personal taste was a bit clunky and I found myself struggling to get into it. That is no fault to the author however as I do believe it was written well overall.
Going into this I do recommend checking the trigger warnings as it is quite detailed in certain scenes.
April 13, 2023
I really enjoyed the story, and the idea was really good, but (and I want to remind you this is just my opinion) the writing style was not one of my favorites. With that said I think the characters were well developed, I would have liked more depth for their emotions, everything was a bit too cliche.
What I really liked was how the traumatic abuse was addressed, how it shows that despite everything you can heal and find support and stability when you least expect it, and I really liked the MMC, not too much of an Alpha type, but more of an emotional support one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I really liked was how the traumatic abuse was addressed, how it shows that despite everything you can heal and find support and stability when you least expect it, and I really liked the MMC, not too much of an Alpha type, but more of an emotional support one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
This was a really great story, and I felt like the author did a really good job writing about a heavy and sensitive topic. This tugged at my heartstrings because I have been in that situation. It's extremely hard to leave and you do feel like you lose yourself. Renata is a writer, or should we say was. She left an abusive relationship, and it seems like she has not only lost herself along the way, but her words as well. This book is about second chances, finding ourself again, and getting that HEA that everyone deserves. I enjoyed the characters and the style of writing, and thought this story flowed nicely.
July 12, 2023
My god, the word GOBSMACKED was invented for this book. It's a love story, but it’s also a love letter to art, to creativity, to warmth.
Hello, to my favourite book of the year. I’m so glad to have found you. 5 stars are inadequate, so take 10 instead. I don't have enough words for this book. It is perfect. I am now broken and all other books are trash.
Just know that if I ever have to pick a romance to defend for my entire life... this is definitely the one.
Seriously, pick this one.
Hello, to my favourite book of the year. I’m so glad to have found you. 5 stars are inadequate, so take 10 instead. I don't have enough words for this book. It is perfect. I am now broken and all other books are trash.
Just know that if I ever have to pick a romance to defend for my entire life... this is definitely the one.
Seriously, pick this one.
April 20, 2023
Katherine Turner is a new-to-me author so I didn't know what to expect with this book. After a few chapters in, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but I soon found myself fully engrossed in this story.
Renata is a writer who can no longer find her words. After leaving an abusive relationship, she's trying to find her own way. She gets a job at a local cafe and makes friends with her co-workers. She also catches the eye of baker Chad. Although Renata doesn't want to enter another relationship, she soon finds herself falling for Chad, but she struggles to share with him the trauma of her past. As her past comes back to haunt her, in more ways than one, Renata has to fight to keep her past from destroying her future.
Although this book is definitely a romance, it's much more than that. It's truly a story of survival. It's a story of overcoming one's past and fears. It's a story of learning to live again. This is a very slow burn and it's not what I'd really consider a steamy read. This is more of an emotional romance than a physical one. The relationship between Renata and Chad had me rooting for them from the beginning, but I will admit that I had some frustrations along the way. I absolutely adored Chad. Seriously, a guy can't get much better than him. Renata is a strong heroine and I could feel her fears, but at one point, I was so angry with her that I really thought that I was going to end up disliking her. I had to step back for a second and remember all that she'd been through and look at things through her eyes to understand where she was coming from.
For some readers, there will be definite triggers in this book. Renata has been abused physically and emotionally and although it's not what I'd consider graphic, some abuse does take place on the page. Personally, I felt that Renata's story was written respectfully well and is an honest look at how one woman survived and overcame abuse to find happiness and love again.
Renata is a writer who can no longer find her words. After leaving an abusive relationship, she's trying to find her own way. She gets a job at a local cafe and makes friends with her co-workers. She also catches the eye of baker Chad. Although Renata doesn't want to enter another relationship, she soon finds herself falling for Chad, but she struggles to share with him the trauma of her past. As her past comes back to haunt her, in more ways than one, Renata has to fight to keep her past from destroying her future.
Although this book is definitely a romance, it's much more than that. It's truly a story of survival. It's a story of overcoming one's past and fears. It's a story of learning to live again. This is a very slow burn and it's not what I'd really consider a steamy read. This is more of an emotional romance than a physical one. The relationship between Renata and Chad had me rooting for them from the beginning, but I will admit that I had some frustrations along the way. I absolutely adored Chad. Seriously, a guy can't get much better than him. Renata is a strong heroine and I could feel her fears, but at one point, I was so angry with her that I really thought that I was going to end up disliking her. I had to step back for a second and remember all that she'd been through and look at things through her eyes to understand where she was coming from.
For some readers, there will be definite triggers in this book. Renata has been abused physically and emotionally and although it's not what I'd consider graphic, some abuse does take place on the page. Personally, I felt that Renata's story was written respectfully well and is an honest look at how one woman survived and overcame abuse to find happiness and love again.
June 18, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this early access! I’m literally obsessed! 😭😍
First… please read the trigger warning.
The story is about Renata. A young lady who left her abusive fiancé, moved back to her hometown and is determined to get her writing career back. She promised her late father that she would follow her heart so she signed up for a writing conference and got a job as a cashier at a local café.
As she struggles with finding herself and build a new life, she catches the attention of Chad. One of the bakers at the café. As their love story unfolds, parts of her past come to the surface. Can Renata find the truth in her blurry memory to fix the broken part of her world?
This book TORE ME APART! It was so freakin good. By chapter 3, I was in tears. It broke me and put me back together beautifully. I read this over Father’s Day weekend not realizing how perfect it would be. And Chad…. He’s officially at the TOP of my book boyfriends list… his love and gentleness toward Renata killed me inside. 😭 he was 100% patient with her and I’m just in awe of his character.
This novel is my favorite of the year. The author writes so beautifully and creates a story that heals parts of your heart that you didn’t know were broken…
I’m begging y’all, do yourself a favor and please buy this book… it’s such an amazing story. It will do something to your soul that you didn’t know you needed ❤️
First… please read the trigger warning.
The story is about Renata. A young lady who left her abusive fiancé, moved back to her hometown and is determined to get her writing career back. She promised her late father that she would follow her heart so she signed up for a writing conference and got a job as a cashier at a local café.
As she struggles with finding herself and build a new life, she catches the attention of Chad. One of the bakers at the café. As their love story unfolds, parts of her past come to the surface. Can Renata find the truth in her blurry memory to fix the broken part of her world?
This book TORE ME APART! It was so freakin good. By chapter 3, I was in tears. It broke me and put me back together beautifully. I read this over Father’s Day weekend not realizing how perfect it would be. And Chad…. He’s officially at the TOP of my book boyfriends list… his love and gentleness toward Renata killed me inside. 😭 he was 100% patient with her and I’m just in awe of his character.
This novel is my favorite of the year. The author writes so beautifully and creates a story that heals parts of your heart that you didn’t know were broken…
I’m begging y’all, do yourself a favor and please buy this book… it’s such an amazing story. It will do something to your soul that you didn’t know you needed ❤️
June 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was absolutely brilliant and beautifully written. As a survivor of domestic abuse and a diagnosis of PTSD, I related to Renata on every level. What she went through was so accurately portrayed, you could literally feel her pain and fear. Very well done on the authors part describing what it is truly like to have PTSD and the courage it takes to navigate domestic violence.
BUT my favorite part was reading about Renata’s resilience and growth throughout the story…it was so inspiring and gives so much hope. The way she chooses herself and her healing is such a powerful important message that left a huge impact on me.
This story broke me, healed me, tore me apart, put me back together in all the best ways. Most importantly it left me with hope. Hope that there are still good patient loving men out there after experiencing relationship abuse. And Hope is sometimes all we have left to hold onto.
This book was absolutely brilliant and beautifully written. As a survivor of domestic abuse and a diagnosis of PTSD, I related to Renata on every level. What she went through was so accurately portrayed, you could literally feel her pain and fear. Very well done on the authors part describing what it is truly like to have PTSD and the courage it takes to navigate domestic violence.
BUT my favorite part was reading about Renata’s resilience and growth throughout the story…it was so inspiring and gives so much hope. The way she chooses herself and her healing is such a powerful important message that left a huge impact on me.
This story broke me, healed me, tore me apart, put me back together in all the best ways. Most importantly it left me with hope. Hope that there are still good patient loving men out there after experiencing relationship abuse. And Hope is sometimes all we have left to hold onto.
June 18, 2023
ARC Book Review
Madly Deeply Wildly
A Novel Written By Katherine Turner
Fiction - Romance
Published June 23, 2023
426 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author has created a great cast of characters in this book. Characters to fall in love with and root for. This book has a small town setting with a found family trope. Be aware of the trigger warnings for domestic abuse.
The main character, Renata, returns back to her home town after escaping from an abusive relationship. She has always wanted to be a writer, but she is now suffering from writer’s block. She finds a job at a cafe which changes her life.
The pain and suffering from an abusive relationship don’t end when you leave your abuser. It takes years to heal yourself. Renata discovers she needs to build her own strength before she can give her love and trust to another man.
“You must always follow your heart. Trust it - if you listen, it will never lead your astray.”
“I’m not glad I went through the things I have in my life, but I’m glad they led me to you.”
Madly Deeply Wildly
A Novel Written By Katherine Turner
Fiction - Romance
Published June 23, 2023
426 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author has created a great cast of characters in this book. Characters to fall in love with and root for. This book has a small town setting with a found family trope. Be aware of the trigger warnings for domestic abuse.
The main character, Renata, returns back to her home town after escaping from an abusive relationship. She has always wanted to be a writer, but she is now suffering from writer’s block. She finds a job at a cafe which changes her life.
The pain and suffering from an abusive relationship don’t end when you leave your abuser. It takes years to heal yourself. Renata discovers she needs to build her own strength before she can give her love and trust to another man.
“You must always follow your heart. Trust it - if you listen, it will never lead your astray.”
“I’m not glad I went through the things I have in my life, but I’m glad they led me to you.”
July 1, 2023
Wow. That’s it, that’s the review.
I will almost automatically rate a book 5 ⭐️ if it brings tears to my eyes. This book did it almost every time I picked it up. Renata has done it, she’s escaped her fiancé Damien, and is making a new life for herself.
Katherine Turner does such an amazing job of depicting grief, fear, starting a new life, and growth. The way she incorporates journal entries that are Renata’s raw and unfiltered thoughts brings such a phenomenal level of intimacy. You see first hand Renata’s growth and her ability to open up and trust again.
Chad, Fern, and Caroline are an amazing support system. They are patient and empathetic. They listen, and let her do what she thinks needs to be done in order to heal.
I can’t stop obsessing over this book, please read it. While we will never truly know what domestic and sexual abuse is like unless we experience it, Katherine turner does a phenomenal job of sharing that POV.
I will almost automatically rate a book 5 ⭐️ if it brings tears to my eyes. This book did it almost every time I picked it up. Renata has done it, she’s escaped her fiancé Damien, and is making a new life for herself.
Katherine Turner does such an amazing job of depicting grief, fear, starting a new life, and growth. The way she incorporates journal entries that are Renata’s raw and unfiltered thoughts brings such a phenomenal level of intimacy. You see first hand Renata’s growth and her ability to open up and trust again.
Chad, Fern, and Caroline are an amazing support system. They are patient and empathetic. They listen, and let her do what she thinks needs to be done in order to heal.
I can’t stop obsessing over this book, please read it. While we will never truly know what domestic and sexual abuse is like unless we experience it, Katherine turner does a phenomenal job of sharing that POV.
April 7, 2023
TW: physical and sexual violence
abusive ex fiance
Renata's mom passed away due to a hemorrhage when she was just a baby, her dad died in a car accident when she was fifteen.
She lands a job at a local café in her hometown and begins dating Chad. while hiding her past with lies.
Grin ear to ear. ;)
Definitely crying when reading this line. Chad really loves her. 🥹
Okay so, let's continue,enough with quotes, as she finds her writing voice again, Renata realizes she can't keep lying to Chad and comes clean about her past.
About Renata's writing project, it's deeply personal and was inspired by her own experiences with domestic abuse. Renata hopes that her story will provide comfort and support to other survivors, letting them know they are not alone.
This book incredibly amazing and well written. The author has a way with words that kept me hooked from start to finish. Thank you to Josha Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy.
abusive ex fiance
Renata's mom passed away due to a hemorrhage when she was just a baby, her dad died in a car accident when she was fifteen.
She lands a job at a local café in her hometown and begins dating Chad. while hiding her past with lies.
“It’s only a little cheesy—but I can go cheesier if you like.”
Grin ear to ear. ;)
“You are worth fighting for, Rena love.”
Definitely crying when reading this line. Chad really loves her. 🥹
Okay so, let's continue,enough with quotes, as she finds her writing voice again, Renata realizes she can't keep lying to Chad and comes clean about her past.
About Renata's writing project, it's deeply personal and was inspired by her own experiences with domestic abuse. Renata hopes that her story will provide comfort and support to other survivors, letting them know they are not alone.
This book incredibly amazing and well written. The author has a way with words that kept me hooked from start to finish. Thank you to Josha Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
I was hooked from the start with this one! I love a good tragic dramatic story with romance. Steer clear if you’re easily triggered with partner abuse.
I enjoyed the style of writing except to me, it seemed there was so much character description constantly and I felt it unnecessary.
Overall I enjoyed it very much and would read it again!
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed the style of writing except to me, it seemed there was so much character description constantly and I felt it unnecessary.
Overall I enjoyed it very much and would read it again!
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 11, 2023
I absolutely love this book!! To be able to watch Renata’s transformation from being a woman coming out of an abusive relationship to a strong survivor who learned to love herself was amazing. It was great to be able to go on that journey with her even when there were times I was like what are you doing?? You never realize how much fear can hold you back from living or being loved by those around you.
Renata was a writer and her life was about writing she was good at it. She was engaged to Damien who was very abusive to her, but loves to make her feel like it was her fault or that she was the problem and he wasn’t doing anything to her. He made her feel like she was crazy, alcoholic and she was losing her mind. She had a best friend named Connie who tried to help her ,but because Renata was in such denial about what was happening to her she pushed her out of her life. He would keep her trapped in their place for weeks and celebrated when she lost her dream job because her writing started to slip. One day she was able to escape and moved back to her childhood town to start over.
Renata moved to an apartment in Amestown for a great start. She had no self esteem, no faith and even dressed in clothes that were bigger then her. She walked into a cafe to apply for a job where she meets the owner named Fern. Fern hires her on the spot because she likes her name because it was unusual. On her first day she meets Caroline who helps her find who she is and change her life. She also meets Chad a baker who is drawn to her from the first moment they meet. Renata is so scared to be in a relationship and constantly tries to compare Damien and Chad because she is afraid that if she opens her heart to Chad then he will change the way Damien had. Chad is determined to prove to her that he isn’t Damien. Chads love for her is unwavering even when she lies about her past to him. When she comes clean to him it only makes their bind stronger.
I love their relationship and how patient he is with her. Fern and Caroline are two friends who you wished you had in your corner. It was great to see how much Renata changed Adams life bc of their shared experience and even softened him so he could get help. Katherine Turner did such a great job with this book. Thank you Net Galley, Joshua Publishing, and Katherine Turner for letting me read this ARC for my honest review.
Renata was a writer and her life was about writing she was good at it. She was engaged to Damien who was very abusive to her, but loves to make her feel like it was her fault or that she was the problem and he wasn’t doing anything to her. He made her feel like she was crazy, alcoholic and she was losing her mind. She had a best friend named Connie who tried to help her ,but because Renata was in such denial about what was happening to her she pushed her out of her life. He would keep her trapped in their place for weeks and celebrated when she lost her dream job because her writing started to slip. One day she was able to escape and moved back to her childhood town to start over.
Renata moved to an apartment in Amestown for a great start. She had no self esteem, no faith and even dressed in clothes that were bigger then her. She walked into a cafe to apply for a job where she meets the owner named Fern. Fern hires her on the spot because she likes her name because it was unusual. On her first day she meets Caroline who helps her find who she is and change her life. She also meets Chad a baker who is drawn to her from the first moment they meet. Renata is so scared to be in a relationship and constantly tries to compare Damien and Chad because she is afraid that if she opens her heart to Chad then he will change the way Damien had. Chad is determined to prove to her that he isn’t Damien. Chads love for her is unwavering even when she lies about her past to him. When she comes clean to him it only makes their bind stronger.
I love their relationship and how patient he is with her. Fern and Caroline are two friends who you wished you had in your corner. It was great to see how much Renata changed Adams life bc of their shared experience and even softened him so he could get help. Katherine Turner did such a great job with this book. Thank you Net Galley, Joshua Publishing, and Katherine Turner for letting me read this ARC for my honest review.
June 20, 2023
Wow, what a roller coaster of emotions! You will (probably) laugh, (definitely) cry, and have all the feels with this one.
Renata is trying to rebuild her life and self-confidence after leaving her long-term boyfriend (trigger warnings for PTSD due to emotional and physical abuse from a domestic partner). She used to be a prolific, creative writer until Damien crushed her spirit in every way. Now, she's trying to prove to herself that she can be independent again and that she can find the words lost to her.
Fern, Caroline, and Chad welcome Renata with open arms into their cafe family. Caroline quickly becomes Renata's best friend, taking her shopping, being her confidante, and supporting her in any way she needs. Fern is more than just her boss, though, she's a friend...and Chad...well, he's nothing like what Renata's used to. He's funny and observant, inquisitive and open. She keeps telling herself she isn't looking for a relationship, but could Chad be what she needs to heal from her last relationship?
A well-written romance that will have you happy one minute and screaming in frustration the next. Renata definitely has issues and they rear their ugly heads when you least expect them, creating chaos in her relationships. The characters are all well-developed and have their own voices.
My only complaint is that Renata bites the inside of her lip constantly to stop herself from smiling, even when it wasn't necessary for her to. It's like she thinks that smiling at anyone or anything for any reason isn't allowed or something, even when it's in response to something funny. That just kind of annoyed me by the end of the book, but other than that, the writing was great and I really enjoyed the ride.
All in all, a great romance with grief, healing, found family, and love of yourself and others. If you like a happy ending with all the other feels thrown in, then you will probably enjoy this novel.
Renata is trying to rebuild her life and self-confidence after leaving her long-term boyfriend (trigger warnings for PTSD due to emotional and physical abuse from a domestic partner). She used to be a prolific, creative writer until Damien crushed her spirit in every way. Now, she's trying to prove to herself that she can be independent again and that she can find the words lost to her.
Fern, Caroline, and Chad welcome Renata with open arms into their cafe family. Caroline quickly becomes Renata's best friend, taking her shopping, being her confidante, and supporting her in any way she needs. Fern is more than just her boss, though, she's a friend...and Chad...well, he's nothing like what Renata's used to. He's funny and observant, inquisitive and open. She keeps telling herself she isn't looking for a relationship, but could Chad be what she needs to heal from her last relationship?
A well-written romance that will have you happy one minute and screaming in frustration the next. Renata definitely has issues and they rear their ugly heads when you least expect them, creating chaos in her relationships. The characters are all well-developed and have their own voices.
My only complaint is that Renata bites the inside of her lip constantly to stop herself from smiling, even when it wasn't necessary for her to. It's like she thinks that smiling at anyone or anything for any reason isn't allowed or something, even when it's in response to something funny. That just kind of annoyed me by the end of the book, but other than that, the writing was great and I really enjoyed the ride.
All in all, a great romance with grief, healing, found family, and love of yourself and others. If you like a happy ending with all the other feels thrown in, then you will probably enjoy this novel.
June 23, 2023
Title: Madly, Deeply, Wildly
Author: Katherine Turner, new to me
Book cover: didn't care for it. Needed something brighter to go with the sunflowers.
Format: eBook
Page Count:426
Setting-Amestown
Genre: Adult Fic, Women's Fic, Romance
Tropes: found family
Rating:4.5
Source: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.
Quick summary: Renata is starting life over after living a nightmare. She doesn't have much, but with friends and a handsome chef at work she finds the courage to follow her dreams and make her father proud.
Content warnings/triggers: Domestic violence, sexual /physical abuse
Characters-Main and Minor
Renata -suffers from PTSD, finding herself again. She promised her father she would pursue writing. She does some journal writing. The flashbacks are difficult to read. She is ashamed and embarrassed about her past, so she lies to Chad about it.
Chad - chef, baker. Great book boyfriend-caring, protective
Caroline-marries Fern
Fern-Hires Renata for her first job after moving on by herself
Connie-Renata's former bff, pushed away when she was w/ Damien. They haven't spoken in 7 years, but they reconnect.
Conflict: Renata has to build her self-esteem back. She has to trust that she can do things on her own. She has to learn how to have a healthy relationship with a man.
Resolution: Renata gets all the encouragement she needs from friends and Chad. She gets her HEA
POV 1st person
What I enjoyed/Favorite part: Renata being able to trust Chad with her body and soul.
Author: Katherine Turner, new to me
Book cover: didn't care for it. Needed something brighter to go with the sunflowers.
Format: eBook
Page Count:426
Setting-Amestown
Genre: Adult Fic, Women's Fic, Romance
Tropes: found family
Rating:4.5
Source: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.
Quick summary: Renata is starting life over after living a nightmare. She doesn't have much, but with friends and a handsome chef at work she finds the courage to follow her dreams and make her father proud.
Content warnings/triggers: Domestic violence, sexual /physical abuse
Characters-Main and Minor
Renata -suffers from PTSD, finding herself again. She promised her father she would pursue writing. She does some journal writing. The flashbacks are difficult to read. She is ashamed and embarrassed about her past, so she lies to Chad about it.
Chad - chef, baker. Great book boyfriend-caring, protective
Caroline-marries Fern
Fern-Hires Renata for her first job after moving on by herself
Connie-Renata's former bff, pushed away when she was w/ Damien. They haven't spoken in 7 years, but they reconnect.
Conflict: Renata has to build her self-esteem back. She has to trust that she can do things on her own. She has to learn how to have a healthy relationship with a man.
Resolution: Renata gets all the encouragement she needs from friends and Chad. She gets her HEA
POV 1st person
What I enjoyed/Favorite part: Renata being able to trust Chad with her body and soul.
May 28, 2023
Great read! It had all my emotions going throughout this whole book. Renata is a girl who was in an abusive relationship and her growth on how she gets out of that relationship and finds herself again.
I love the character growth with Renata but also the relationship growth between her and Chad! I love that it puts you into the mind of Renata and her past and you get to know about her abuser and how he made her feel and how she has PTSD and her working and growing through her trauma throughout the whole book.
I didn’t like how it felt like we were missing pieces of the story sometimes. While I was reading it was like we were talking about one day and then the next it was 6 months later. I feel like I missed out on some of Rena’s growth and her working through her trauma. I wish we could have learned more about her therapy sessions and the short stories she wrote for the journal about her and Chad’s relationship. It never really says anything more about what happens with Chad through those 6 months, I would have liked to know about his therapy and how he was going through the breakup too.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It made me cry as well as laugh. I’m so glad Rena got her “happily ever after” at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to a reader who likes a quick read that like’s character growth.
I love the character growth with Renata but also the relationship growth between her and Chad! I love that it puts you into the mind of Renata and her past and you get to know about her abuser and how he made her feel and how she has PTSD and her working and growing through her trauma throughout the whole book.
I didn’t like how it felt like we were missing pieces of the story sometimes. While I was reading it was like we were talking about one day and then the next it was 6 months later. I feel like I missed out on some of Rena’s growth and her working through her trauma. I wish we could have learned more about her therapy sessions and the short stories she wrote for the journal about her and Chad’s relationship. It never really says anything more about what happens with Chad through those 6 months, I would have liked to know about his therapy and how he was going through the breakup too.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It made me cry as well as laugh. I’m so glad Rena got her “happily ever after” at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to a reader who likes a quick read that like’s character growth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2024
I tried a million times to write something clever about this book to start off the review, yet I went back and deleted this first sentence over and over again. Why? Because this book is a rollercoaster. Taking you through Renata’s journeys of sorrow, horror, friendship and love, it is a whirlwind of a novel.
I have to say I enjoyed reading the book, although some parts were tough to sit through… not because of the subject matter but because there was quite repetitive dialogue and I had a bad taste in my mouth about Chad. Half way through the book he rubbed me the wrong way. I know he is portrayed to be a gentleman and an overall amazing person, yet it didn’t do it for me. There were traits that screamed RED FLAG, and after everything Renata went through I wanted her to get the F away from him.
Overall the story has huge potential, I got through it fast and it kept me engaged. It touches on a story that many of us know too well, thinking things are our fault when they aren’t and it is a journey of self rediscovery that reminds us to be true to ourselves and to put our selves first. If the dialogue wasn’t so repetitive it would’ve been a definite 4 star for me.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say I enjoyed reading the book, although some parts were tough to sit through… not because of the subject matter but because there was quite repetitive dialogue and I had a bad taste in my mouth about Chad. Half way through the book he rubbed me the wrong way. I know he is portrayed to be a gentleman and an overall amazing person, yet it didn’t do it for me. There were traits that screamed RED FLAG, and after everything Renata went through I wanted her to get the F away from him.
Overall the story has huge potential, I got through it fast and it kept me engaged. It touches on a story that many of us know too well, thinking things are our fault when they aren’t and it is a journey of self rediscovery that reminds us to be true to ourselves and to put our selves first. If the dialogue wasn’t so repetitive it would’ve been a definite 4 star for me.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2023
My heart, this is so much for than a just a romance. It was a story of healing and watching Renata grow and heal from all the trauma she endured with her abusive ex-fiancé. She was looking for a fresh start in her hometown and attempting to make it on her own after being repeatedly told she couldn’t do it. Now did her fresh start include a new relationship? No, no it did not. Life is funny that way and Chad was just who she needed to help her heal. While the healing journey isn’t always linear, they faced a few bumps along them way. One of them being her ex-fiancé showing back up like nothing was wrong. While this was a catalyst to their relationship taking a turn for the worse, it’s what Renata needed to pick herself first. It was the push she needed to do more of the individual work needed to help heal her trauma and manage everything. She reclaimed pieces of herself that she had lost while with Damien and glued herself back together. And with the happy ending tying everything back together, including reuniting lost friendships and relationships, it was well done. My heart broke for her when relived a memory and was piecing together that she was a survivor and wasn’t crazy like her ex said she was. I loved this story from beginning to end and seeing her healing journey and finding her words again.
June 3, 2023
Renata escaped her abusive relationship with her ex Damien and through a series of events of trying to get back to her old self she meets Chad. A relationship blooms between the two, but not without some bumps brought on by her past. Chad is wonderfully observant and very overprotective. One could even say, too overprotective.
This book had me in my feels. It really shows the toll that an abusive relationship has on your mental health, your self worth and your future relationships. It shows how difficult the trauma can make life in general, for both sides of the relationships. Katherine did a beautiful job writing this, I found that I was learning things about myself and how I was reacting to Renata's way of handling things. I had to put myself in check a few times and I think learning that will only help me in my everyday life. You could say this book is the love story of Renata and Chad, but really it's the love story of Renata finding and loving herself.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
This book had me in my feels. It really shows the toll that an abusive relationship has on your mental health, your self worth and your future relationships. It shows how difficult the trauma can make life in general, for both sides of the relationships. Katherine did a beautiful job writing this, I found that I was learning things about myself and how I was reacting to Renata's way of handling things. I had to put myself in check a few times and I think learning that will only help me in my everyday life. You could say this book is the love story of Renata and Chad, but really it's the love story of Renata finding and loving herself.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
June 27, 2023
✨Arc review✨
Madly Deeply Wildly - Katherine Turner
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book follows Renata who has left her abusive ex Damien and is trying to figure out life without him. While working in a cafe she meets Chad who she is instantly attracted to.
This isn’t a typical book that I would gravitate to. I originally thought it would be much more romance based where as it was much more focused on dealing with her healing process.
I did love how Renata developed and healed throughout this book. Char was just the sweetest and cared so much for her. Even so the romance aspect fell a little flat for me. I really liked each character and how they grew through the book.
There was also some pacing issues, that combined with the 3rd act break up didn’t make this a favourite.
Even with these issues I think the story is beautiful. Please check trigger warnings before reading as there is some heavy content
✨PTSD
✨Cinnamon roll MMC
✨Abuse
✨Found family
✨3rd act break up
Thank you @netgalley for the arc
Madly Deeply Wildly - Katherine Turner
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book follows Renata who has left her abusive ex Damien and is trying to figure out life without him. While working in a cafe she meets Chad who she is instantly attracted to.
This isn’t a typical book that I would gravitate to. I originally thought it would be much more romance based where as it was much more focused on dealing with her healing process.
I did love how Renata developed and healed throughout this book. Char was just the sweetest and cared so much for her. Even so the romance aspect fell a little flat for me. I really liked each character and how they grew through the book.
There was also some pacing issues, that combined with the 3rd act break up didn’t make this a favourite.
Even with these issues I think the story is beautiful. Please check trigger warnings before reading as there is some heavy content
✨PTSD
✨Cinnamon roll MMC
✨Abuse
✨Found family
✨3rd act break up
Thank you @netgalley for the arc
May 26, 2023
I thoroughly recommend this book for romance readers who are looking for something real. The love here is hard earned and ultimately feels authentic. Renata has just left an abusive relationship and finds new friendships, family and love in a cafe and bakery. It's an insta-love with Chad, who is the king of cinnamon rolls. Renata's journey towards self-love first takes time and I did feel for Chad during their breakups. There's longing and angst and steam and baking and laughter and music and so much more.
My main quibbles are that as an Australian, I can't imagine a romantic hero being named Chad. But as this book shows, names can have wildly different connotations and meanings. Also his quick affection feels a bit like love bombing.
Overall Katherine writes beautifully, gets the reader into Renata's mind and show us the many and complex faces of domestic abuse, without this becoming misery porn. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Turner and the publisher for this ARC.
My main quibbles are that as an Australian, I can't imagine a romantic hero being named Chad. But as this book shows, names can have wildly different connotations and meanings. Also his quick affection feels a bit like love bombing.
Overall Katherine writes beautifully, gets the reader into Renata's mind and show us the many and complex faces of domestic abuse, without this becoming misery porn. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Turner and the publisher for this ARC.
Read
June 28, 2023Madly, Deeply, Wildly by Katherine Turner
Thank you to @breysbooktours and the author, @kturnerwrites, for the opportunity to read this #eARC in exchange for my #honestreview. This book is now available for purchase.
Renata used to be passionate about two things - writing and running. But an extremely toxic relationship with her abusive ex has left her jaded. Determined to pick up the pieces of her life and find normalcy after leaving her ex, Renata wanders into a coffee shop and applies for a cashier job. Before long Renata has made a fast friend in Caroline and caught the eye of Chad, resident baker extraordinaire and brother of Caroline’s girlfriend, Fern. She falls fast and hard for Chad but trouble begins brewing in paradise when an unwelcome face from the past turns up again looking for trouble.
This was a sweet story and I’m so glad that Renata had such a powerful growth arc in the book. This book is a bit of a slow burn and there is minimal spice so definitely keep that in mind. Also, definitely check out the TWs for this book if you have any you need to be aware of. This is an emotional read for sure. The story was a bit cliché at times but I think that romance novels are allowed to be a little cliché. I really liked Caroline’s character and I think we all need a friend like her in our corner.
TWs: eating d!sorders, PTSD, trauma response, r@pe, manipulation, @buse, drugging, stalking, threatening, gaslighting
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 3.5/5
Thank you to @breysbooktours and the author, @kturnerwrites, for the opportunity to read this #eARC in exchange for my #honestreview. This book is now available for purchase.
Renata used to be passionate about two things - writing and running. But an extremely toxic relationship with her abusive ex has left her jaded. Determined to pick up the pieces of her life and find normalcy after leaving her ex, Renata wanders into a coffee shop and applies for a cashier job. Before long Renata has made a fast friend in Caroline and caught the eye of Chad, resident baker extraordinaire and brother of Caroline’s girlfriend, Fern. She falls fast and hard for Chad but trouble begins brewing in paradise when an unwelcome face from the past turns up again looking for trouble.
This was a sweet story and I’m so glad that Renata had such a powerful growth arc in the book. This book is a bit of a slow burn and there is minimal spice so definitely keep that in mind. Also, definitely check out the TWs for this book if you have any you need to be aware of. This is an emotional read for sure. The story was a bit cliché at times but I think that romance novels are allowed to be a little cliché. I really liked Caroline’s character and I think we all need a friend like her in our corner.
TWs: eating d!sorders, PTSD, trauma response, r@pe, manipulation, @buse, drugging, stalking, threatening, gaslighting
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 3.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2023
This was a powerful story of surviving and healing trauma, more precisely domestic abuse. It is such a hard subject and it can be hard to shy away from saying the real things and showing the real reactions a survivor could have but the author represented that reality really well. The supporting characters were key players to the story as they helped Renata with her healing and to move the story along. Chad was also a highlight for me. He went above and beyond learning about Renata's past and trauma and how to support her. I felt like Renata's trauma and healing journey was depicted accurately and it was easy to feel empathic towards her. For me the pace of the story and the writing style is where I had a harder time with. The story kind of felt like a journal of the FMC's day to day healing journey. The pace a too slow for me and the day to day journey made it hard to keep my full interest. This book will definitely make you feel all the emotions and really hits you in the feel. This really hits close to home for anyone who ever lived any kind of domestic abuse.
June 19, 2023
Madly Wildly Deeply is a beautiful story of Renata finding who she is, overcoming big things, and learning to thrive. Her past is horrible and one that no human should ever have to experience, trigger warning physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. I love the found family trope and these people are who made the book for me.
Caroline was by far my favorite with a close second to her brother Brandon. Unfortunately Renata being as helpless as she was for most of the book was hard for me. I understand the struggles of leaving her abusive relationship and having PTSD from that but I have a hard time with weak characters. This is absolutely nothing to do with what she went through, I just wish her strength came through sooner.
Overall, this book had me in tears a few times so check the trigger warnings. The overall growth of Renata was beautiful and she gets her second chance to love and be loved.
Caroline was by far my favorite with a close second to her brother Brandon. Unfortunately Renata being as helpless as she was for most of the book was hard for me. I understand the struggles of leaving her abusive relationship and having PTSD from that but I have a hard time with weak characters. This is absolutely nothing to do with what she went through, I just wish her strength came through sooner.
Overall, this book had me in tears a few times so check the trigger warnings. The overall growth of Renata was beautiful and she gets her second chance to love and be loved.
June 20, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
🌶
After leaving an abusive relationship, Renata moves back to her hometown and gets a job where she meets her future best friends AND soulmate 🩷 there her healing journey begins ✨️
Renata is such a special and strong person!! I love her tenacity but also her vulnerability 💕
I really love 👨🏻🍳 Chad, he is the sweetest and is such a charming guy! Perfect for Renata! They go through their ups and downs and I loved how realistic their relationship seemed and I loveeeeeed Caroline!! She is the best friend a girl could have!!
Renata struggles with PTSD. It was so hard reading the flashback scenes between her and her abuser and the times he showed up 😠 (it was hard but good to read-im a DV survivor) it definitely gives someone who has never been in an abusive relationship some insight.
If you enjoyed It Ends With Us, your going to like this!!
🌶
After leaving an abusive relationship, Renata moves back to her hometown and gets a job where she meets her future best friends AND soulmate 🩷 there her healing journey begins ✨️
Renata is such a special and strong person!! I love her tenacity but also her vulnerability 💕
I really love 👨🏻🍳 Chad, he is the sweetest and is such a charming guy! Perfect for Renata! They go through their ups and downs and I loved how realistic their relationship seemed and I loveeeeeed Caroline!! She is the best friend a girl could have!!
Renata struggles with PTSD. It was so hard reading the flashback scenes between her and her abuser and the times he showed up 😠 (it was hard but good to read-im a DV survivor) it definitely gives someone who has never been in an abusive relationship some insight.
If you enjoyed It Ends With Us, your going to like this!!
June 29, 2023
Foolishly and perhaps naively, Renata chooses her first serious male partner poorly. Like a rotten apple in her basket of life, the choice negatively affects a myriad of things, and her existence spirals in a dangerous downward trajectory. Finally, after a traumatic event, she breaks from the toxic relationship, and it takes time for her to re-engage on a positive path. A new job, new friends, and a new man help.
Turner’s title, "Madly, Deeply, Wildly" alerts readers the novel is a romance, and the story won’t disappoint fans of the genre. While emotionally entertaining, the book offers more than a simple love story, however. Turner provides gripping insight into the mental baggage left behind by abusive personal relationships. The journey back can be as challenging for those attempting to assist victims as for the victims themselves.
Beyond the story’s primary romance, Turner explores the importance of human connections. Life is a daily negotiation requiring the frequent collaboration of many, and Renata learns she can’t achieve her maximum potential by walking the path alone. Beyond her budding romance, an eclectic group of friends, family, co-workers, and mentors guides her back to exhilarating productivity. The author’s apt title describes the ultimate sensations enjoyed in an enduring relationship, but it may also hint at how to pursue our most coveted goals.
Turner’s title, "Madly, Deeply, Wildly" alerts readers the novel is a romance, and the story won’t disappoint fans of the genre. While emotionally entertaining, the book offers more than a simple love story, however. Turner provides gripping insight into the mental baggage left behind by abusive personal relationships. The journey back can be as challenging for those attempting to assist victims as for the victims themselves.
Beyond the story’s primary romance, Turner explores the importance of human connections. Life is a daily negotiation requiring the frequent collaboration of many, and Renata learns she can’t achieve her maximum potential by walking the path alone. Beyond her budding romance, an eclectic group of friends, family, co-workers, and mentors guides her back to exhilarating productivity. The author’s apt title describes the ultimate sensations enjoyed in an enduring relationship, but it may also hint at how to pursue our most coveted goals.
May 19, 2023
A beautiful yet incredibly heart-breaking book that explores the struggles of healing from the trauma of an abusive relationship (both physical and emotional) and trying to build a new life again. I loved seeing Renata gain strength throughout the book and learn about herself again and also find love. Although this deals with a lot of hard, raw elements I found this to be such a fun book with an adorable romance with loads of chemistry. This is a great book for romance fans as it's unique from anything I've read before yet still gives you all those heart-warming feelings.
August 28, 2023
A Lifetime Movie in a Book
Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: I’m not a fan of contemporary romance. Just isn’t my genre. Not since I was twelve, sneaking Harlequin Romance novels.
Madly Deeply Wildly is a great stand-alone Lifetime movie in a book if you’re ever in the market for one. Sometimes you need to be swept away by a story—plain and simple.
In short, Renata is a writer who has lost her words. I can relate. It happens. She’s lost her ability to write freely because of trauma and is recovering from an abusive relationship. Again, I can relate.
Enter a dreamy baker who shows her that not only can she love and trust again, but she can also write. Only he isn’t fully responsible for her newfound faith in herself, he merely shows her the strength she already possesses and she takes it from there.
A redemptive story of a woman doing what so many of us have had to do: start from scratch and find strength within because it’s never found outside ourselves.
Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: I’m not a fan of contemporary romance. Just isn’t my genre. Not since I was twelve, sneaking Harlequin Romance novels.
Madly Deeply Wildly is a great stand-alone Lifetime movie in a book if you’re ever in the market for one. Sometimes you need to be swept away by a story—plain and simple.
In short, Renata is a writer who has lost her words. I can relate. It happens. She’s lost her ability to write freely because of trauma and is recovering from an abusive relationship. Again, I can relate.
Enter a dreamy baker who shows her that not only can she love and trust again, but she can also write. Only he isn’t fully responsible for her newfound faith in herself, he merely shows her the strength she already possesses and she takes it from there.
A redemptive story of a woman doing what so many of us have had to do: start from scratch and find strength within because it’s never found outside ourselves.
May 1, 2023
4.5 stars
Renata just got out of an abusive relationship with her fiancé Damien and moved back to her hometown. She’s an aspiring writer but she lost her words. While on the journey to finding her ability to write again, she gets a job as a cashier at a cafe. Here, she meets Fern, Caroline, and Chad—a trio of friends that welcome her into their group. She begins to date Chad and find her words again. Damien unexpectedly comes back. Will Renata and Chad be able to make their relationship work, or will Renata’s past ruin their future?
I really enjoyed this book! It’s the first book I’ve ever read by Katherine Turner and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought Renata was so strong. She went through so much in her life—the loss of both her parents, an abusive relationship (see the trigger warnings below), being laid off from her job—and she came out stronger than ever in the end. Chad was a great presence in her life. He was just a normal guy, but he was so understanding and thoughtful. I honestly loved that he was so normal and down-to-earth. He knew exactly what Renata needed and was so aware of her emotions, and his own emotions. He had his own demons too and could be extremely over-protective. Caroline and Fern were also great supporting characters. Caroline was my favorite. It was a really beautiful story. Renata came to terms with and overcame her past. She learned to love again, while also finding herself, learning to love herself, and moving forward with her career.
TW: physical and emotional abuse and rape
Madly Deeply Wildly comes out on June 23! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Renata just got out of an abusive relationship with her fiancé Damien and moved back to her hometown. She’s an aspiring writer but she lost her words. While on the journey to finding her ability to write again, she gets a job as a cashier at a cafe. Here, she meets Fern, Caroline, and Chad—a trio of friends that welcome her into their group. She begins to date Chad and find her words again. Damien unexpectedly comes back. Will Renata and Chad be able to make their relationship work, or will Renata’s past ruin their future?
I really enjoyed this book! It’s the first book I’ve ever read by Katherine Turner and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought Renata was so strong. She went through so much in her life—the loss of both her parents, an abusive relationship (see the trigger warnings below), being laid off from her job—and she came out stronger than ever in the end. Chad was a great presence in her life. He was just a normal guy, but he was so understanding and thoughtful. I honestly loved that he was so normal and down-to-earth. He knew exactly what Renata needed and was so aware of her emotions, and his own emotions. He had his own demons too and could be extremely over-protective. Caroline and Fern were also great supporting characters. Caroline was my favorite. It was a really beautiful story. Renata came to terms with and overcame her past. She learned to love again, while also finding herself, learning to love herself, and moving forward with her career.
TW: physical and emotional abuse and rape
Madly Deeply Wildly comes out on June 23! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 1, 2023
4.5 stars
Renata just got out of an abusive relationship with her fiancé Damien and moved back to her hometown. She’s an aspiring writer but she lost her words. While on the journey to finding her ability to write again, she gets a job as a cashier at a cafe. Here, she meets Fern, Caroline, and Chad—a trio of friends that welcome her into their group. She begins to date Chad and find her words again. Damien unexpectedly comes back. Will Renata and Chad be able to make their relationship work, or will Renata’s past ruin their future?
I really enjoyed this book! It’s the first book I’ve ever read by Katherine Turner and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought Renata was so strong. She went through so much in her life—the loss of both her parents, an abusive relationship (see the trigger warnings below), being laid off from her job—and she came out stronger than ever in the end. Chad was a great presence in her life. He was just a normal guy, but he was so understanding and thoughtful. I honestly loved that he was so normal and down-to-earth. He knew exactly what Renata needed and was so aware of her emotions, and his own emotions. He had his own demons too and could be extremely over-protective. Caroline and Fern were also great supporting characters. Caroline was my favorite. It was a really beautiful story. Renata came to terms with and overcame her past. She learned to love again, while also finding herself, learning to love herself, and moving forward with her career.
TW: physical and emotional abuse and rape
Madly Deeply Wildly comes out on June 23! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Renata just got out of an abusive relationship with her fiancé Damien and moved back to her hometown. She’s an aspiring writer but she lost her words. While on the journey to finding her ability to write again, she gets a job as a cashier at a cafe. Here, she meets Fern, Caroline, and Chad—a trio of friends that welcome her into their group. She begins to date Chad and find her words again. Damien unexpectedly comes back. Will Renata and Chad be able to make their relationship work, or will Renata’s past ruin their future?
I really enjoyed this book! It’s the first book I’ve ever read by Katherine Turner and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought Renata was so strong. She went through so much in her life—the loss of both her parents, an abusive relationship (see the trigger warnings below), being laid off from her job—and she came out stronger than ever in the end. Chad was a great presence in her life. He was just a normal guy, but he was so understanding and thoughtful. I honestly loved that he was so normal and down-to-earth. He knew exactly what Renata needed and was so aware of her emotions, and his own emotions. He had his own demons too and could be extremely over-protective. Caroline and Fern were also great supporting characters. Caroline was my favorite. It was a really beautiful story. Renata came to terms with and overcame her past. She learned to love again, while also finding herself, learning to love herself, and moving forward with her career.
TW: physical and emotional abuse and rape
Madly Deeply Wildly comes out on June 23! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews