In Truly Madly Deeply, L.J. Shen delivers a visceral love story that balances scalding attraction with soul-deep vulnerability. As the first book in her Forbidden Love series, Shen introduces a world where emotional landmines, unresolved history, and complicated loyalties collide under the roof of a high-end restaurant—and inside the hearts of two deeply flawed characters.
Famed for her turbulent romances and angst-heavy narratives, Shen once again fuses elegance and darkness, gifting us a romance that is as tender as it is terrifying. This isn’t just a story of rekindled feelings or forbidden temptation—it’s a narrative about people unraveling, reforming, and learning to choose love in the face of deep personal risk.
A Searing Second Chance Cloaked in Complication
The novel centers on Ambrose Casablancas—a culinary mastermind with Michelin stars to his name—and Calla “Cal” Litvin, his baby sister’s best friend, who shows up at his restaurant needing a job, a break, and perhaps, unknowingly, a final shot at love.
Their history is checkered with avoidance, missed timing, and unspoken longing. When Cal walks into Ambrose’s world again, she’s no longer the awkward girl from their past—she’s a woman on the edge, radiant with resilience. And Ambrose, ever the controlled force, is on the brink of breaking his cardinal rule: Don’t fall for Cal.
But things get more complicated. There’s a violent stalker shadowing Ambrose’s life, a restaurant teetering on opening, and a multimillion-dollar deal at stake. The high-pressure environment only magnifies the buried emotions between them. Shen orchestrates the slow burn with finesse, making every accidental touch, every shared look, every bite of food laced with double meaning.
Plot Elements That Hook and Hold:
- Return-to-hometown romance with old wounds laid bare
- Proximity trope—working together in a tense, high-stakes kitchen
- An escalating stalker subplot that brings unexpected suspense
- Unspoken bonds twisted by family ties and emotional self-sabotage
- Emotional redemption through confrontation, confession, and care
The Characters: Full-Bodied, Flawed, and Fierce
Ambrose Casablancas
Ambrose is a man defined by restraint. Controlled to the point of cruelty, he channels his passions into culinary perfection while locking away his heart. But Shen never lets him sit in stoicism for too long. Through layered introspection and raw moments of collapse, we witness the cracks forming. He is not a villain—he’s a man afraid of his own softness, terrified of what Calla awakens in him.
His arc is rich with conflict: familial pressure, business responsibilities, and a protective streak that often veers into possessiveness. But Shen makes his transformation believable—earned through grief, guilt, and a growing need to feel something real.
Calla Litvin
Calla is the emotional centerpiece of the book. A vibrant, emotionally open woman who masks deep pain with humor and awkward charm, she’s endlessly endearing. She’s lost—personally, professionally, emotionally—and yet she continues to fight, not only for her own dignity but for the people she loves.
Where Ambrose is guarded, Calla is vulnerable. Where he retreats, she reaches. Her courage to confront pain, both past and present, is what makes her shine. Shen gives her the agency so often stripped from heroines in this trope, allowing Calla to be more than a foil—she’s a full-bodied force of her own.
Other Noteworthy Characters
- Dylan Casablancas (Ambrose’s sister, Calla’s former best friend) adds texture to the story, balancing loyalty with inner conflict.
- The stalker, while a shadowy presence, adds urgency to the narrative.
- Restaurant staff and extended family inject humor and warmth into an otherwise emotionally charged setting.
Themes That Simmer Under the Surface
Forbidden Attraction vs. Moral Boundaries
What sets Truly Madly Deeply apart is its understanding that forbidden love is not merely about social defiance—it’s about emotional consequence. Shen explores how guilt, obligation, and self-protection can taint even the most innocent of desires.
Grief and Emotional Inheritance
Both Calla and Ambrose are shaped by loss—of family, of innocence, of dreams deferred. Their connection becomes a mirror, forcing each to confront the parts of themselves they’d rather keep buried.
Sensuality as Language
Food is not just a backdrop in this book—it’s an emotional dialect. Shen uses culinary scenes to blur the line between professional passion and personal craving. Taste becomes intimacy, recipes become coded messages, and the act of feeding someone becomes an offering of trust.
Vulnerability as Power
Perhaps the novel’s strongest theme is its insistence that love requires risk. Both characters must shed their emotional armor, one painful piece at a time, before they can meet each other fully. Shen does not romanticize this process. It’s messy. It hurts. But it is also necessary.
The Writing: Sharp, Sensual, and Stirring
L.J. Shen’s prose in Truly Madly Deeply is evocative without being indulgent. Her metaphors linger long after the page has turned—especially when she writes about pain, food, and the silent conversations between two people refusing to say how much they care.
She captures the tension between Calla and Ambrose with simmering precision. Dialogue is fast-paced and biting, yet emotionally loaded. Shen doesn’t waste words—every sentence pushes the story or deepens character insight. Her background in dark romance shows in how she handles intensity—never gratuitous, always grounded in emotional stakes.
Writing Strengths:
- Character-driven tension that unfolds naturally
- Gorgeous sensory detail in romantic and culinary moments
- Emotional introspection that feels honest and unforced
- Dynamic pacing that balances smoldering romance with thriller-like suspense
Constructive Criticism: Where the Spice Could Have Been Balanced
While the novel excels in delivering a gripping and emotionally intelligent romance, a few areas could benefit from a touch more finesse:
The Suspense Element
The stalker subplot, though intriguing, feels underdeveloped compared to the central relationship. It introduces high stakes but resolves a little too neatly, lacking the payoff the buildup deserves.
Relationship Development Pacing
Some readers may find that Ambrose’s transformation from emotionally unavailable to openly affectionate happens quickly in the final act. A bit more internal struggle during the transition would have added even more believability.
Repetition of Inner Conflict
At times, Ambrose’s internal monologue loops over the same emotional ground—particularly his guilt over wanting Calla. Trimming a few of these moments would keep the narrative leaner and more impactful.
Series Context: The Forbidden Love Trilogy
Truly Madly Deeply lays a solid foundation for Shen’s Forbidden Love series, and fans will no doubt be eager to see what comes next.
Book 2: Wildest Dreams (2025)
Expected to explore another emotionally fraught couple with their own brand of forbidden love, this sequel will likely expand on the interconnected world built in Book 1 while pushing deeper into themes of obsession, loyalty, and healing.
Book 3: Handsome Devil
Currently under wraps, this final installment is rumored to be the darkest of the trilogy. Given Shen’s trajectory, readers can expect emotional carnage softened by moments of exquisite connection.
Books with a Similar Flavor
If Truly Madly Deeply has you craving more, these books will keep your heart full and your emotions frayed:
- Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker – for second-chance romance wrapped in corporate ambition
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas – for vibrant, emotionally expressive heroines
- Credence by Penelope Douglas – for complex emotional tension in taboo relationships
- Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas – for forbidden love with sharp introspection
- Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino – for the ache of lost time and rekindled affection
Final Thoughts: A Deeply Satisfying, Sometimes Dangerous Love Story
L.J. Shen’s Truly Madly Deeply is not a gentle romance—it’s one that bites and bleeds before it blooms. With richly drawn characters, emotional heat, and a narrative that respects complexity, Shen reminds us why she remains a powerhouse in contemporary dark romance.
This is a love story for readers who enjoy their passion served with a side of pain, their banter sharp, and their endings hard-earned. Yes, it follows familiar beats—but Shen plays them with such conviction that they feel entirely new.