Katherine Turner’s Madly Deeply Wildly is a poignant and emotionally charged story of a woman’s journey toward healing, self-discovery, and love. The novel follows Renata, a writer who has lost her words, as she finds the courage to leave her abusive boyfriend after several years of physical and emotional abuse. Renata moves back to her hometown and takes a job as a cashier at a local cafe, where she forms strong bonds with the people around her, who become her chosen family. Along the way, she begins dating Chad, a goofy yet observant baker, and slowly begins to disentangle her painful past from her present.

Madly Deeply Wildly is an engaging and well-written novel that adeptly captures the complex emotions of a victim of gaslighting, domestic abuse, and rape post-trauma. Renata’s journey is raw and authentic, with the readers rooting for her to overcome the scars of her past and live her best life. Turner’s portrayal of the conflicting thoughts and feelings that plague Renata on a daily basis is heart-wrenching and realistic, making it easy to empathize with her struggles. While the novel’s pacing is swift, with the story delving straight into grief and abuse at the beginning, the plot’s development is engaging and well-structured. The romantic subplot between Renata and Chad is undeniably adorable, although some readers might find the romance to be too fast-paced, given Renata’s past and ongoing PTSD. Furthermore, while Chad is written as the ideal book boyfriend, some readers may find his character to be too perfect, but he is precisely what Renata needs at the time.

Turner has written an uplifting and inspiring novel that illustrates the power of resilience, love, and self-discovery in overcoming past traumas. The supporting characters are endearing, and readers will find themselves invested in their lives outside of Renata’s story. Ultimately, Madly Deeply Wildly is a must-read for anyone who has experienced trauma and is looking for hope and inspiration to overcome their struggles.

Pages: 378 | ASIN : B0BZMQSZGV

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/04/26/madly-deeply-wildly/