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Purposefully Accidental
An unfortunate accident, an old grudge, and a Sapphic fake romance.
Since A-List actress and Hollywood's sweetheart Wren Acker came out, not only is she at the top of the acting world; she's also crush number one for her queer fanbase. Loving life, loving her job, loving her cat-everything is fantastic. Except that lack of any kind of private life.
When a car accident brings her to the ER, the bottom falls out of her world when she realizes that reserved Doctor Taylor, her physician, is Madison Taylor from camp way back when she was a kid. And boy, does Madison still hold a well-earned grudge for how that all ended.
When Madison ends up working on Wren's set as a medical consultant, suddenly everyone's assuming they're a couple. The media loses it, their fanbase grows even further, and the entire thing snowballs.
Every grudge has to be moved on from eventually, right?
Contains mature themes.
Since A-List actress and Hollywood's sweetheart Wren Acker came out, not only is she at the top of the acting world; she's also crush number one for her queer fanbase. Loving life, loving her job, loving her cat-everything is fantastic. Except that lack of any kind of private life.
When a car accident brings her to the ER, the bottom falls out of her world when she realizes that reserved Doctor Taylor, her physician, is Madison Taylor from camp way back when she was a kid. And boy, does Madison still hold a well-earned grudge for how that all ended.
When Madison ends up working on Wren's set as a medical consultant, suddenly everyone's assuming they're a couple. The media loses it, their fanbase grows even further, and the entire thing snowballs.
Every grudge has to be moved on from eventually, right?
Contains mature themes.
Audible Audio
First published September 4, 2022
204 people are currently reading
4732 people want to read
About the author
G. Benson
16 books956 followersBenson spent her childhood wrapped up in any book she could get her hands on and—as her mother likes to tell people at parties—even found a way to read in the shower. Moving on from writing bad poetry (thankfully) she started to write stories. About anything and everything. Tearing her from her laptop is a fairly difficult feat, though if you come bearing coffee you have a good chance.
When not writing or reading, she´s got her butt firmly on a train or plane to see the big wide world. Originally from Australia, she currently lives in Spain, speaking terrible Spanish and going on as many trips to new places as she can, budget permitting. This means she mostly walks around the city she lives in.
When not writing or reading, she´s got her butt firmly on a train or plane to see the big wide world. Originally from Australia, she currently lives in Spain, speaking terrible Spanish and going on as many trips to new places as she can, budget permitting. This means she mostly walks around the city she lives in.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
May 17, 2023
**'At times it's more of a learning process when readers read fiction, don't make it seems like you're studying it as art project -- just try to enjoy the story...'
3.5stars!
The storyline had a good beginning, a bit bumpy in the middle and then a very nice ending.
A recommended book!
3.5stars!
The storyline had a good beginning, a bit bumpy in the middle and then a very nice ending.
A recommended book!
November 4, 2023
Edit: November 4th, 2023, audiobook review
Someone needs to explain to me how G Benson manages to write a story that is at least in part about grief and still make me smile for most of the book. Quinn Riley’s lovely narration played a role too in making me swing from out loud laughter to eyes brimming with tears in a few moments. This story broke my heart and made me happy—really happy—almost simultaneously, and it’s a wonderful feeling. G Benson’s books always bring me all sorts of emotions but this is the one romance that leaves me feeling so light. I had a lot of fun reading Dead Lez Walking and her other romance novels usually give me all the feels—there’s a reason why there’s always a Benson book in my end-of-the-year favourite books list—but there’s a softness I associate with this one that is unique to it. Quinn Riley nails Wren’s superstar’s confidence mixed with vulnerability on the one hand and Madison’s stubbornness, her grief, her tenderness as she falls for Wren on the other.
All that makes me all the more proud that I got to suggest who I thought should narrate it (so many thanks to the author for her trust!) and the result proves it was the right suggestion, despite Quinn Riley not being either of the narrators I thought of when I first reviewed this book. I hadn’t heard her narrate anything yet when I wrote that review but I now hope she gets to voice many more sapphic stories.
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I usually begin my reviews with a quick synopsis, but I’ll keep this one especially short since the whole story is about two people discovering each other and I don’t want to spoil even in the slightest. You need to know close to nothing in order to fall in love along with them. All I’ll say is that after a car accident sends Wren Acker, one of the most famous actresses in the world, to the hospital, she is tended to by Madison Taylor, with whom she spent a few interesting weeks at summer camp when they were nine. Twenty-five years later, Madison still holds a grudge and the reunion is uncomfortable, to say the least.
I smiled so much reading this book that my cheeks hurt. The first chapter had me grinning almost immediately. Not from the first sentences since that’s the car accident but almost right after. Wren is extremely lovable and she alone would make me grin all day, but then there are all the others, the friendship with her co-star Trinity, her best friend Felix, the relationship with her mother, who is also her agent, and much less of a cliché than she could have been… And the push and pull with Madison is gold. So many smiles and grins and smirks. It wouldn’t be a G Benson book, however, if there wasn’t heartbreaking material as well, but Benson can make me cry and be grateful for it and that in itself is some sort of miracle.
While my love for Wren is straightforward, my love for Madison comes in many layers. Her ambivalence towards Wren, her desire to keep disliking her even as she falls for her, is the sweetest thing. They have so much chemistry and they complement each other so obviously that resistance is futile, but Madison still tries, for all sorts of reasons, all valid. There was never a moment when I rolled my eyes or shook my head, frustrated with either of them. Benson takes her time getting her characters to see the light and it’s exquisite. When it finally comes, that first kiss had me swooning and smiling and awwing, because it’s cute and hot at the same time.
Madison is also special to me for the way the author describes her living with ADHD. There are more and more neurodivergent characters in sapphic fiction, which is a very welcome evolution, and Madison is one of the best I’ve encountered. Benson strikes the perfect balance, the way Madison thinks and processes fundamental to who she is while not defining her. She’s complex and lovely. You’d think I have a crush on her from the way I speak about her but, you know, that wouldn’t be the most absurd thing. She really is crush-worthy.
The story and the emotions rise crescendo, they start light and fun then grow deeper and deeper but, as is usually the case with this author, never get heavy or stifling. They simply grow. By the end of the book, I had so many feelings, all of them good, I never wanted it to end. There’s so much love and tenderness and respect and understanding that even the parts that broke my heart left me with a sense of hope and possibilities. And none of it feels artificial or unrealistic. The characters are completely relatable, which is a real feat considering one of the MCs is a four-time Oscar-winning actress and the other a highly-regarded doctor and I’m so far from either of these things. And yet, they felt like people I could meet and become friends with. In a way, because of this tangible humanity, they reminded me of Meg and Sanne in Cari Hunter’s Dark Peak trilogy. The books couldn’t be less alike, but the characters feel just as real.
What got to me the most, I think, is the tenderness, the tenderness Wren and Madison feel for each other and the tenderness the author obviously has for her characters. That, and all the smiling and that featherlight feeling when I turned the last page. Like candyfloss with substance, delightful yet meaningful.
I would love for this story to come to audio. Natalie Naudus and Melissa Moran are the two (very different) narrators whose names came to mind. The former would also be perfect for Dead Lez Walking, come to think of it. Who knows, maybe someone with the power to make these two audiobooks happen will read this…
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
September 2, 2022
Love on set.
I tend to slow down my reading speed when I'm in love with a story and I did it with this book to savour every word and interaction between the characters, Wren and Madison. Yeah, it was that good.
People who follow my reviews know that I'm a huge celebrity romance fan so this story is definitely something I would enjoy. But beyond that I felt really good reading the book because it was heartwarming and had close to no angst at all, which was surprising as one of the characters was experiencing some grief (which was handled with a lot of sensitivity). The characters knew each other in childhood so they weren't complete strangers but they quibble a lot when they meet as adults. The bickering wasn't serious and I thought it was a bit childish but rather than being annoyed, I found the dynamics pretty endearing.
The romance is a slow-burn but the pace was perfect considering the storyline. Furthermore, i thought there wasn't much pining between the main couple so I was never once felt frustrated at them. In fact, I thought they had great chemistry even as friends and because they were also really likable as individuals, they were a joy to read and get to know.
Madison is a doctor and Wren is an A-list Hollywood actress. And even though they first run into each other at the hospital, a lot of the book takes place on the set of a show Wren is filming because Madison later becomes its medical consultant. I love those scenes on the set because of how descriptive the film making is and because that's when Wren's cheeky co-star, Trinity appears too.
Fantastic story, in my opinion. Thumbs up!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I tend to slow down my reading speed when I'm in love with a story and I did it with this book to savour every word and interaction between the characters, Wren and Madison. Yeah, it was that good.
People who follow my reviews know that I'm a huge celebrity romance fan so this story is definitely something I would enjoy. But beyond that I felt really good reading the book because it was heartwarming and had close to no angst at all, which was surprising as one of the characters was experiencing some grief (which was handled with a lot of sensitivity). The characters knew each other in childhood so they weren't complete strangers but they quibble a lot when they meet as adults. The bickering wasn't serious and I thought it was a bit childish but rather than being annoyed, I found the dynamics pretty endearing.
The romance is a slow-burn but the pace was perfect considering the storyline. Furthermore, i thought there wasn't much pining between the main couple so I was never once felt frustrated at them. In fact, I thought they had great chemistry even as friends and because they were also really likable as individuals, they were a joy to read and get to know.
Madison is a doctor and Wren is an A-list Hollywood actress. And even though they first run into each other at the hospital, a lot of the book takes place on the set of a show Wren is filming because Madison later becomes its medical consultant. I love those scenes on the set because of how descriptive the film making is and because that's when Wren's cheeky co-star, Trinity appears too.
Fantastic story, in my opinion. Thumbs up!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2023
Update April 28, 2023. I think my first time reading this was a better experience. It’s still enjoyable, but I found it to be slow in some parts on the second go-around. I’m actually dropping my rating from 5 to 4 stars because I don’t really think it’s worth the 5 stars…
This trope filled book could easily be too much, but it’s anything but.
Which tropes you ask? Ok, here it goes; enemies-friends-lovers, celebrity romance, fake dating, medical romance, workplace romance. I think I hit them all there. And that’s not all, on top of that Madison is grieving her wife and Wren is dealing with white cismale hetero Hollywood. Like I said, it all could be too much, but G Benson does a marvellous job. We get something from all of the topics, non of them are an afterthought or gets more attention than the other. How Benson got all of this so well balanced out is beyond me.
Back to the story, Wren is a wonderful, caring character with few good friends. Somehow I thought Felix was her gay bff, turns out he’s straight, fine of course and he’s great! Wren’s co-star, Trinity, is super fun as well. I really adore these strong secondary characters Benson writes. Madison is a bit of grump, or seemingly really, she’s just grieving in a way that has her closing of from everyone and everything. Casey, Madison’s best friend and colleague, is supportive and it’s great to read about. How Wren and Madison get together and figure things out together is wonderful. And let me tell you about their first kiss… Well, no. Go read about that. It was the best ever, don’t think anyone will ever be able to top that.
If that isn’t reason enough to want to read this book, go in for the fun dialogue and stay for how all these relationships develop and the characters grow.
Oh, slight side note, this book is longer than the usual in the genre, no complaints from me on that front. I wouldn’t have minded even more.
This trope filled book could easily be too much, but it’s anything but.
Which tropes you ask? Ok, here it goes; enemies-friends-lovers, celebrity romance, fake dating, medical romance, workplace romance. I think I hit them all there. And that’s not all, on top of that Madison is grieving her wife and Wren is dealing with white cismale hetero Hollywood. Like I said, it all could be too much, but G Benson does a marvellous job. We get something from all of the topics, non of them are an afterthought or gets more attention than the other. How Benson got all of this so well balanced out is beyond me.
Back to the story, Wren is a wonderful, caring character with few good friends. Somehow I thought Felix was her gay bff, turns out he’s straight, fine of course and he’s great! Wren’s co-star, Trinity, is super fun as well. I really adore these strong secondary characters Benson writes. Madison is a bit of grump, or seemingly really, she’s just grieving in a way that has her closing of from everyone and everything. Casey, Madison’s best friend and colleague, is supportive and it’s great to read about. How Wren and Madison get together and figure things out together is wonderful. And let me tell you about their first kiss… Well, no. Go read about that. It was the best ever, don’t think anyone will ever be able to top that.
If that isn’t reason enough to want to read this book, go in for the fun dialogue and stay for how all these relationships develop and the characters grow.
Oh, slight side note, this book is longer than the usual in the genre, no complaints from me on that front. I wouldn’t have minded even more.
November 2, 2022
This was so fun! Benson deals with some heavy stuff with one of the characters but she offsets that with humor so it never felt too heavy. I loved how this really got me to feel all the feels!
It's a long romance, I think it was 519 pages but it didn't feel that way at all for me. I flew right through it. I loved that we got to really delve into these characters and get to know not only them but the side characters as well.
This is very tropey and I absolutely loved that Benson did that. It's got enemies (sort of) to friends to lovers, medical romance, fauxmance, celebrity and the list goes on, probably.
Highly recommend!
It's a long romance, I think it was 519 pages but it didn't feel that way at all for me. I flew right through it. I loved that we got to really delve into these characters and get to know not only them but the side characters as well.
This is very tropey and I absolutely loved that Benson did that. It's got enemies (sort of) to friends to lovers, medical romance, fauxmance, celebrity and the list goes on, probably.
Highly recommend!
November 17, 2022
I LOVED all about this book and storyline. I’ll definitely reread it at a later time.
5 ⭐️ are not enough.
Hopefully there’ll be an audiobook in the future.
5 ⭐️ are not enough.
Hopefully there’ll be an audiobook in the future.
April 25, 2023
This was fun, enjoyable and I had a smile on my face most of the time while reading it :)
September 10, 2022
As fauxmance, enemies to lovers and celebrity tropes go... this book is fucking perfection!
Thank you, Benson for adding to my favourite's list.
Thank you, Benson for adding to my favourite's list.
December 2, 2023
5⭐️
Purposefully Accidental is like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day. A humorous, sensitive - and also profound - second chance and celebrity romance.
Madison is an ER doctor coping with her ADHD and still grieving for her lost wife. Wren is a four-time Oscar winner who recently came out, is currently filming a TV series, and ends up in Madison's ER after a car accident. Here she is treated by her, of all people, who still harbors a grudge against Wren for humiliating her when they were nine years old. In a somewhat curious twist, Madison ends up on the set of Wren's TV show as a medical advisor and the two have to work together for better or worse.
After losing her wife, Madison buried herself in work and my heart broke for her. It was nice to see her gradually emerge from her grief and start living her life again. First, she fights against her attraction for Wren, as she feels like betraying her late wife. I liked how she started to reconnect with her best friend Casey. Grief is hard, and sometimes friendships suffer from it too. It was also impressive to see how she deals with ADHD and what it means.
Wren is an amazing person. Despite her huge success, she never lost her footing. She had to put up with a lot of sexism and discrimination as a woman in the Hollywood film industry and for many years didn't dare to say anything or stand by her true self for fear that her career would be over before she started. All the better to see that at some point she was strong enough to do something about it. The relationship she has with her co-star Trinity is beautiful, as well as with her best friend Felix. Sometimes they were hilarious. And then there is her cat Hathor.
What I love most about G Benson’s stories, is that she can breathe a tremendous amount of life into her MCs, with all the feelings and emotions, positive and negative. Whether it's sadness, love, or fun, or they're just bickering, it all feels genuine. And it was fun, I was smiling almost the whole time, even though it also deals with the subject of grief.
Together, Madison and Wren could face every storm. In other words, I loved everything about this story.
A big thank you to G Benson and Jude in the Stars as I won this signed paperback at one of Jude's giveaways
Purposefully Accidental is like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day. A humorous, sensitive - and also profound - second chance and celebrity romance.
Madison is an ER doctor coping with her ADHD and still grieving for her lost wife. Wren is a four-time Oscar winner who recently came out, is currently filming a TV series, and ends up in Madison's ER after a car accident. Here she is treated by her, of all people, who still harbors a grudge against Wren for humiliating her when they were nine years old. In a somewhat curious twist, Madison ends up on the set of Wren's TV show as a medical advisor and the two have to work together for better or worse.
After losing her wife, Madison buried herself in work and my heart broke for her. It was nice to see her gradually emerge from her grief and start living her life again. First, she fights against her attraction for Wren, as she feels like betraying her late wife. I liked how she started to reconnect with her best friend Casey. Grief is hard, and sometimes friendships suffer from it too. It was also impressive to see how she deals with ADHD and what it means.
Wren is an amazing person. Despite her huge success, she never lost her footing. She had to put up with a lot of sexism and discrimination as a woman in the Hollywood film industry and for many years didn't dare to say anything or stand by her true self for fear that her career would be over before she started. All the better to see that at some point she was strong enough to do something about it. The relationship she has with her co-star Trinity is beautiful, as well as with her best friend Felix. Sometimes they were hilarious. And then there is her cat Hathor.
What I love most about G Benson’s stories, is that she can breathe a tremendous amount of life into her MCs, with all the feelings and emotions, positive and negative. Whether it's sadness, love, or fun, or they're just bickering, it all feels genuine. And it was fun, I was smiling almost the whole time, even though it also deals with the subject of grief.
Together, Madison and Wren could face every storm. In other words, I loved everything about this story.
A big thank you to G Benson and Jude in the Stars as I won this signed paperback at one of Jude's giveaways
September 1, 2025
2025 re-read.
This book came out in 2022, and not long after I started reading it, I picked up a stray kitten. Trying to read while also entertaining a tiny kitten was honestly a tough skill for me back then. I loved the book when I first finished it, but to be honest, I’ve forgotten most of what happened. So I figured it’s time for a reread—only now the kitten’s all grown up (but still insists on playtime). And after reading it again, I think it’s even better than I remembered.
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I’m pretty sure I’d have finished this book in less than 48hours if I did not have a new family member in the house😂 (meet Curly!)
This is one of the most brilliant celebrity tropes I have ever read. Go straight to my top 3 celebrities' romance list! Every character is lovable with lots of hilarious dialogue. Highly recommended!
This book came out in 2022, and not long after I started reading it, I picked up a stray kitten. Trying to read while also entertaining a tiny kitten was honestly a tough skill for me back then. I loved the book when I first finished it, but to be honest, I’ve forgotten most of what happened. So I figured it’s time for a reread—only now the kitten’s all grown up (but still insists on playtime). And after reading it again, I think it’s even better than I remembered.
============================
I’m pretty sure I’d have finished this book in less than 48hours if I did not have a new family member in the house😂 (meet Curly!)
This is one of the most brilliant celebrity tropes I have ever read. Go straight to my top 3 celebrities' romance list! Every character is lovable with lots of hilarious dialogue. Highly recommended!
September 17, 2022
I've read 3 books by G Benson, and I while absolutely loved Who'd Have Thought, I didn't like Dead Lez Walking and All The Little Moments at all. So I went into this one with a bit of trepidation.
I absolutely loved it!
It has several of my favourite tropes; celebrity romance and fake dating (although this barely plays a role), and those paired with good writing made for a great book!
Wren was my favourite character. She was immediately likable and I found myself looking forward to her chapters. As a 4 time Oscar winning A list actress, I wasn't expecting her to be as down to earth as she was. It was great!
It took me longer to warm up to Madison, mainly because I thought her grudge with Wren from when they were nine was ridiculous. Once she got over that I liked her better. Also, once I found out about her wife I understood why she was so isolated. If my wife died I think I'd be the exact same and get lost in grief and cut myself off too.
The side characters were fantastic too, especially Trinity and Felix. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this! Definitely recommend!
Shout out to Hathor the cat! All books are made better by cats.
Rep: Wren is a lesbian, Madison is bi and has ADHD.
I absolutely loved it!
It has several of my favourite tropes; celebrity romance and fake dating (although this barely plays a role), and those paired with good writing made for a great book!
Wren was my favourite character. She was immediately likable and I found myself looking forward to her chapters. As a 4 time Oscar winning A list actress, I wasn't expecting her to be as down to earth as she was. It was great!
It took me longer to warm up to Madison, mainly because I thought her grudge with Wren from when they were nine was ridiculous. Once she got over that I liked her better. Also, once I found out about her wife I understood why she was so isolated. If my wife died I think I'd be the exact same and get lost in grief and cut myself off too.
The side characters were fantastic too, especially Trinity and Felix. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this! Definitely recommend!
Shout out to Hathor the cat! All books are made better by cats.
Rep: Wren is a lesbian, Madison is bi and has ADHD.
September 26, 2022
5,000 out of 5. Still catching my breath.
June 21, 2024
Whew, what a ride. Purposefully Accidental is a delightful read that left me smiling and a little misty-eyed. Benson manages to masterfully take every trope we know and love in sapphic romance and nail them all perfectly.
The chemistry between the lovely Wren and Madison is palpable from their first meeting. Their relationship develops beautifully throughout the book, and I loved the superb pacing that keeps the story engaging from beginning to end.
The chemistry between the lovely Wren and Madison is palpable from their first meeting. Their relationship develops beautifully throughout the book, and I loved the superb pacing that keeps the story engaging from beginning to end.
November 9, 2023
Wow, what a sweetheart of a story. I was a little down and I said, quick, someone give me a recommendation for a happy book. This one went down like a bottle of sunshine.
Superstar actor, Wren Acker, ends up in the E.D. after a car accident. She’s treated by Dr. Madison Taylor who happens to be a childhood acquaintance but not in a good way. Somehow someway, Madison becomes the medical consultant for Wren’s tv miniseries. I won’t say more because the author’s telling is great. Sure, the book is funny as heck and had me smiling perpetually. But it’s the life the author breathes into the characters that had me hooked. Where trope stereotypes should have prevailed, she deftly sidesteps so instead it becomes this precious human story of two messy, imperfect people falling in love. In addition, the narrator, Quinn Riley, hits just the right feels to make it all a wonderful listen.
Thank you, Jude in the Stars, for recommending Purposefully Accidental but now I have a wicked romance book hangover.
Superstar actor, Wren Acker, ends up in the E.D. after a car accident. She’s treated by Dr. Madison Taylor who happens to be a childhood acquaintance but not in a good way. Somehow someway, Madison becomes the medical consultant for Wren’s tv miniseries. I won’t say more because the author’s telling is great. Sure, the book is funny as heck and had me smiling perpetually. But it’s the life the author breathes into the characters that had me hooked. Where trope stereotypes should have prevailed, she deftly sidesteps so instead it becomes this precious human story of two messy, imperfect people falling in love. In addition, the narrator, Quinn Riley, hits just the right feels to make it all a wonderful listen.
Thank you, Jude in the Stars, for recommending Purposefully Accidental but now I have a wicked romance book hangover.
September 28, 2022
I loved this book thoroughly and completely. Nothing more and nothing less.
September 10, 2024
Wren Acker is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. When she gets into a car accident, she has no way of knowing that a blast from the past will turn her life upside down. Dr. Madison Taylor is shocked when Wren shows up at her E.R. It’s not like she is a fan, she hasn’t seen any of her movies. No, she wouldn’t dare, not after what happened when they were both nine years old and at camp together. Madison has harbored resentment ever since and only when she starts consulting on Wren’s television show does she start to accept that they both have changed a lot over the years. And neither can ignore the obvious chemistry between them.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Wren and Madison. They are both so likable and both grow so much as the story progresses. I love everything about this book but the moments on set when the two characters get reacquainted with each other and really open up, those are the moments that pulled me in like no other. It’s in those quiet moments where Benson makes her case for being one of the best writers in the genre. The interactions flow so beautifully and allow the characters to show vulnerability. The moments on set also give us Trinity, Wren’s co-star, who is great comic relief and a friend to both Wren and Madison.
G Benson is one of my absolute favorite authors. Her characters always find a way into my heart, snuggle in and make a home there. Wren and Madison have stolen my heart and I am totally ok with that. This is a slow burn that Benson weaves masterfully. With every book of hers I read, I become more of a fan. I already miss these characters and I know I will be reading this book again very soon.
An ARC was received for an honest review.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Wren and Madison. They are both so likable and both grow so much as the story progresses. I love everything about this book but the moments on set when the two characters get reacquainted with each other and really open up, those are the moments that pulled me in like no other. It’s in those quiet moments where Benson makes her case for being one of the best writers in the genre. The interactions flow so beautifully and allow the characters to show vulnerability. The moments on set also give us Trinity, Wren’s co-star, who is great comic relief and a friend to both Wren and Madison.
G Benson is one of my absolute favorite authors. Her characters always find a way into my heart, snuggle in and make a home there. Wren and Madison have stolen my heart and I am totally ok with that. This is a slow burn that Benson weaves masterfully. With every book of hers I read, I become more of a fan. I already miss these characters and I know I will be reading this book again very soon.
An ARC was received for an honest review.
September 21, 2022
This was such a fun read! I’ve been a big G Benson fan since I read the fake marriage one years ago, and I’ve loved each new one I’ve picked up since. She’s great at creating characters that feel really fleshed out and putting them in dynamics that you want to root for—mains and secondary characters alike. Her writing style is also just really humorous and there were several points I laughed out loud at the inner narration of both characters. I loved pretty much everyone in this one. Wonderfully written, really fun, this will def be a re-read some time in the future for me, and one I’d love to listen to as an audiobook. Def recommend!!
October 23, 2022
What a wonderful story! There were many tropes in this book and I loved them all: celebrity romance, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers and fauxmance.
I liked both Wren and Madison right away. They were very different but fit together perfectly and the dialogues between them were often funny.
A big part of the book took place at the set where Wren was filming her newest show. You get insights on filmmaking and how it is to work on set which I thought was pretty cool.
This book was heartwarming and made me feel good and I'm sure I will read it again some time in the future. Highly recommended!
I liked both Wren and Madison right away. They were very different but fit together perfectly and the dialogues between them were often funny.
A big part of the book took place at the set where Wren was filming her newest show. You get insights on filmmaking and how it is to work on set which I thought was pretty cool.
This book was heartwarming and made me feel good and I'm sure I will read it again some time in the future. Highly recommended!
January 16, 2023
It took a long time for me to get interested in this book. Way too much Hollywood movie making and politics. And too much social media. I liked both MCs and their relationship was great once it got going. I did enjoy the serious subjects that were a big part of the story. And the fauxmance plot line was fun and well done by Benson.
People who like Hollywood romances will enjoy this book.
People who like Hollywood romances will enjoy this book.
September 10, 2022
The light of a star from the past, finally reaching your heart. Sometimes fate is purely accidental
A second chance from enemies to friends to lovers romance that will keep you entertained through all of its 500+ pages, leaving you purely satisfied and yet wanting for more.
I love this book so much, I wish I could give more than 5 stars to it. G. Benson has a way of writing that is not only hilarious, but it also makes you reflect and awe at the beauty of how the characters deal with each other.
Wren and Madison have a funny history that dates back to when they were children. It’s a history for which Madison has been holding a grudge all her life, and that she can’t escape from, being Wren one of the most famous actresses in the world. 25 years later, Wren is involved in a car accident and brought with urgency to the ER. Little did she know that the doctor who would assist her was the same child she met years ago at summer camp: Madison, who is obviously still holding a grudge from the past.
I absolutely love enemies to lovers romances, it makes them so much fun to read, especially when the dialogues are full of witty, dry and teasing banter and humor. The tension between Wren and Madison is so palpable and you already know that they will be like magnets positioned in the same poles at first, clashing and pushing each other away. And then, when the two magnets understand the dynamics of their attraction, they will succumb to the “inevitable” force pulling them together.
A love-hate-love at first-sight. A novel so full of love that will make you understand that sometimes reading the words “I love you”; “I’m falling in love with you”; “I loved you since the first moment I saw you”, are not needed. Because, sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
There’s a lot that I liked of Purposefully Accidental: the dynamics between the two main characters, how they stop assuming to know each other and then slowly start communicating, sharing bits and pieces of their past, talking about their everyday lives, and especially Madison talking about everything that passes through her mind. Madison is such an interesting human, and G. Benson has done a wonderful job in depicting how chaotic her mind can be. I literally felt the anxiety and the lack of stillness of thoughts, jumping from one thing to another, without being able to concentrate. Madison is so curious about the world, and she loves to share her knowledge, her passion for the things she learnt. There are so many quotes I highlighted from her dialogues, but the one about the stars will stay with me for a long time.
Purposefully Accidental is not only a brilliant comedy, it also deals with many important and contemporary topics, such as the movie industry being dominated by white cis men, the lack of queer content (how contemporary, thinking about companies like Netflix cancelling many queer shows), the role of women in the industry, the silent acceptance that there’s nothing you can do to change the present; the role of producers in deciding which movies are made and which will never see the light; how a simple and fake remark can make or destroy a career of someone; the impact of social medias on celebrities life; the lack of privacy; the constant privy eyes picking at everything a celebrity does; the same kind of behavior being reflected in hospital environments… how much women have to fight for having their roles be recognized without snarky remarks.
Wren and Madison are two brave women, set to make an example, set to pave the way for future generations.
An extrovert, Wren, who is so sweet, good-hearted, a typical girl-next-door, that has nothing of a haughty and spoiled rich person everybody might think of, someone who has never been lucky in love; and an introvert neurodivergent awesome and charismatic nerd, Madison, who has locked her heart long time ago and is haunted by guilt for opening it again. Grief, sorrow, loneliness… quoting the book: “Words had a way of finding you in the dark”, it’s so disarmingly true. Madison's dry humor is so funny!
All the characters in Purposefully Accidental are so well written that you’ll end up loving all of them (except the villain of the story, of course). I adore Trinity, she’s so damn funny, I enjoyed her dialogues so much, that I would read for sure a book with her as main character. But also Felix, Casey, Annie and even Wren’s mother. And do I need to mention the cat, Hathor? The cherry on the cake! G. Benson is just great in depicting friendship, I already knew it from The Thing About Tilly, one of my fav romances.
This book is hope. Hope that everything that the queer community is fighting for will be one day reality. That we won’t have to always create fanfiction for our favorite shows, because they will be “our fanfiction on screen”. No more discrimination.
Love, love, only love for this book. I laughed, smiled till my cheeks were aching, and shed some tears while reading it. The willow tree got me.
And the fashion of it? Madison's black dress had me dreaming with eyes wide open.
Beautiful. One of my fav readings this year for sure.
A second chance from enemies to friends to lovers romance that will keep you entertained through all of its 500+ pages, leaving you purely satisfied and yet wanting for more.
I love this book so much, I wish I could give more than 5 stars to it. G. Benson has a way of writing that is not only hilarious, but it also makes you reflect and awe at the beauty of how the characters deal with each other.
Wren and Madison have a funny history that dates back to when they were children. It’s a history for which Madison has been holding a grudge all her life, and that she can’t escape from, being Wren one of the most famous actresses in the world. 25 years later, Wren is involved in a car accident and brought with urgency to the ER. Little did she know that the doctor who would assist her was the same child she met years ago at summer camp: Madison, who is obviously still holding a grudge from the past.
I absolutely love enemies to lovers romances, it makes them so much fun to read, especially when the dialogues are full of witty, dry and teasing banter and humor. The tension between Wren and Madison is so palpable and you already know that they will be like magnets positioned in the same poles at first, clashing and pushing each other away. And then, when the two magnets understand the dynamics of their attraction, they will succumb to the “inevitable” force pulling them together.
A love-hate-love at first-sight. A novel so full of love that will make you understand that sometimes reading the words “I love you”; “I’m falling in love with you”; “I loved you since the first moment I saw you”, are not needed. Because, sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
There’s a lot that I liked of Purposefully Accidental: the dynamics between the two main characters, how they stop assuming to know each other and then slowly start communicating, sharing bits and pieces of their past, talking about their everyday lives, and especially Madison talking about everything that passes through her mind. Madison is such an interesting human, and G. Benson has done a wonderful job in depicting how chaotic her mind can be. I literally felt the anxiety and the lack of stillness of thoughts, jumping from one thing to another, without being able to concentrate. Madison is so curious about the world, and she loves to share her knowledge, her passion for the things she learnt. There are so many quotes I highlighted from her dialogues, but the one about the stars will stay with me for a long time.
Purposefully Accidental is not only a brilliant comedy, it also deals with many important and contemporary topics, such as the movie industry being dominated by white cis men, the lack of queer content (how contemporary, thinking about companies like Netflix cancelling many queer shows), the role of women in the industry, the silent acceptance that there’s nothing you can do to change the present; the role of producers in deciding which movies are made and which will never see the light; how a simple and fake remark can make or destroy a career of someone; the impact of social medias on celebrities life; the lack of privacy; the constant privy eyes picking at everything a celebrity does; the same kind of behavior being reflected in hospital environments… how much women have to fight for having their roles be recognized without snarky remarks.
Wren and Madison are two brave women, set to make an example, set to pave the way for future generations.
An extrovert, Wren, who is so sweet, good-hearted, a typical girl-next-door, that has nothing of a haughty and spoiled rich person everybody might think of, someone who has never been lucky in love; and an introvert neurodivergent awesome and charismatic nerd, Madison, who has locked her heart long time ago and is haunted by guilt for opening it again. Grief, sorrow, loneliness… quoting the book: “Words had a way of finding you in the dark”, it’s so disarmingly true. Madison's dry humor is so funny!
All the characters in Purposefully Accidental are so well written that you’ll end up loving all of them (except the villain of the story, of course). I adore Trinity, she’s so damn funny, I enjoyed her dialogues so much, that I would read for sure a book with her as main character. But also Felix, Casey, Annie and even Wren’s mother. And do I need to mention the cat, Hathor? The cherry on the cake! G. Benson is just great in depicting friendship, I already knew it from The Thing About Tilly, one of my fav romances.
This book is hope. Hope that everything that the queer community is fighting for will be one day reality. That we won’t have to always create fanfiction for our favorite shows, because they will be “our fanfiction on screen”. No more discrimination.
Love, love, only love for this book. I laughed, smiled till my cheeks were aching, and shed some tears while reading it. The willow tree got me.
And the fashion of it? Madison's black dress had me dreaming with eyes wide open.
Beautiful. One of my fav readings this year for sure.
January 7, 2023
3.5 that I'm rounding up to 4. That's probably generous, but 3 didn't feel right either, so G Benson gets the bump up for me here.
Wren Acker is Hollywood's girl-next-door. She's won multiple Oscars and is staring on a hit TV show opposite an up-and-coming actor. Oh, and she's recently come out. She's also just gotten into a car accident, which thankfully isn't too bad, all things considered. And the doctor in the emergency room looks really familiar, but she can't quite place her at first, and then it hits her--her doctor is Madison Taylor, a girl she knew from summer camp when they were 9 years old--the girl she dared to kiss her and shoved her into the dirt instead. And Madison Taylor, it turns out, really knows how to hold onto a grudge. For reasons of plot, Madison and Wren will be working closely together to ensure medical realism on the show Wren is filming. And, well, a romance is born.
The best way I can describe Purposefully Accidental is that felt like a fan fiction to me. And I don't mean that in a disparaging way. What I mean is G. Benson has written this in a way that a fanfic would appeal to already invested readers--readers who just want to keep reading and reading and reading. And it's very long, but I didn't actually mind it because I was enjoying it so much. So it reminded me of fanfic where an author will simply keep drawing out a story because people like it. But that doesn't mean it should have kept going on, you know? And I definitely didn't mind it, but it also meant it didn't feel like a proper novel either. Does that make sense?
But I did like it. I loved that there's no insta-love here. I love that Wren and Madison have the time to get to know each other. I enjoyed the journey, though the pacing seemed off at times (which is why it probably should have tighter). And I don't actually think many of you will complain about any of it, but I'm me, so this is what you get. LOL
I also want to mention that I loved Wren's co-star, Trinity Dray. I liked how well she and Wren got along and then how well she and Madison got along. I was happy any time she was around, which was quite a bit.
Two things that did actually bother me, but these are honestly minor:
(1) Wren Acker is 35 and has won 4 Oscars. 4 Oscars? Do you know how many people have won 4 Oscars? Katharine Hepburn. That's it. And it took her decades to do so. That means not even Meryl Streep or Daniel Day Lewis have 4 Oscars. And I know this isn't super important, but this type of character "fact" drives me nuts because it just isn't realistic. Giving her 2 Oscars would get the point across just as well and it would actually be more believable.
(2) In my last G. Benson novel, I took issue with Benson's use of the word "span" as the past tense of "to spin," which is actually "spun." In this novel, there are two instances of slamming a door open, which is not a thing. You can slam a door shut. You can slam a door against a wall. You can't slam anything open. How did nobody catch this? It's maddening.
@Kay, if you're reading this, please be aware of "smirks." Also, thanks for pointing that out. LOL
I haven't been super impressed with the G. Benson books I've previously read, but I genuinely enjoyed this one.
Wren Acker is Hollywood's girl-next-door. She's won multiple Oscars and is staring on a hit TV show opposite an up-and-coming actor. Oh, and she's recently come out. She's also just gotten into a car accident, which thankfully isn't too bad, all things considered. And the doctor in the emergency room looks really familiar, but she can't quite place her at first, and then it hits her--her doctor is Madison Taylor, a girl she knew from summer camp when they were 9 years old--the girl she dared to kiss her and shoved her into the dirt instead. And Madison Taylor, it turns out, really knows how to hold onto a grudge. For reasons of plot, Madison and Wren will be working closely together to ensure medical realism on the show Wren is filming. And, well, a romance is born.
The best way I can describe Purposefully Accidental is that felt like a fan fiction to me. And I don't mean that in a disparaging way. What I mean is G. Benson has written this in a way that a fanfic would appeal to already invested readers--readers who just want to keep reading and reading and reading. And it's very long, but I didn't actually mind it because I was enjoying it so much. So it reminded me of fanfic where an author will simply keep drawing out a story because people like it. But that doesn't mean it should have kept going on, you know? And I definitely didn't mind it, but it also meant it didn't feel like a proper novel either. Does that make sense?
But I did like it. I loved that there's no insta-love here. I love that Wren and Madison have the time to get to know each other. I enjoyed the journey, though the pacing seemed off at times (which is why it probably should have tighter). And I don't actually think many of you will complain about any of it, but I'm me, so this is what you get. LOL
I also want to mention that I loved Wren's co-star, Trinity Dray. I liked how well she and Wren got along and then how well she and Madison got along. I was happy any time she was around, which was quite a bit.
Two things that did actually bother me, but these are honestly minor:
(1) Wren Acker is 35 and has won 4 Oscars. 4 Oscars? Do you know how many people have won 4 Oscars? Katharine Hepburn. That's it. And it took her decades to do so. That means not even Meryl Streep or Daniel Day Lewis have 4 Oscars. And I know this isn't super important, but this type of character "fact" drives me nuts because it just isn't realistic. Giving her 2 Oscars would get the point across just as well and it would actually be more believable.
(2) In my last G. Benson novel, I took issue with Benson's use of the word "span" as the past tense of "to spin," which is actually "spun." In this novel, there are two instances of slamming a door open, which is not a thing. You can slam a door shut. You can slam a door against a wall. You can't slam anything open. How did nobody catch this? It's maddening.
@Kay, if you're reading this, please be aware of "smirks." Also, thanks for pointing that out. LOL
I haven't been super impressed with the G. Benson books I've previously read, but I genuinely enjoyed this one.
November 5, 2022
Hooray! Now this author knows how to build up some solid heat. MC Wren and MC Madison knew each other as kids, and a moment of "gay panic" led to Madison holding some MAJOR grudging for 25 years. Now their paths cross in an unexpected way, and their bickering and back and forth just add to the fire. The few intimate scenes (too few IMO after that long burn!) were quite charged.
I truly liked both characters, and the secondary characters. The celebrity romance trope has not gotten old for me, and Wren holds herself with such kindness and dignity in her chaotic world. She cares for her friends, her over-bearing mother, and even treats the paparazzi well (until they cross the line, then watch out). Madison is an ER doc and I have to give HUGE kudos to the author for how well she portrayed her ADHD. How she focuses, copes, her struggles and her successes. Wow, I am so impressed when authors stray from the norm.
The only point lost was for length. This was much too long and many scenes were reenacted more than needed. For example Wren would recount a story from set to Madison, then again to Trinity and/or Felix verbatim. This happened a few times, unsure why it wasn't tightened up more by editing. Even though I was invested in the characters, my attention did wane in parts.
I truly liked both characters, and the secondary characters. The celebrity romance trope has not gotten old for me, and Wren holds herself with such kindness and dignity in her chaotic world. She cares for her friends, her over-bearing mother, and even treats the paparazzi well (until they cross the line, then watch out). Madison is an ER doc and I have to give HUGE kudos to the author for how well she portrayed her ADHD. How she focuses, copes, her struggles and her successes. Wow, I am so impressed when authors stray from the norm.
The only point lost was for length. This was much too long and many scenes were reenacted more than needed. For example Wren would recount a story from set to Madison, then again to Trinity and/or Felix verbatim. This happened a few times, unsure why it wasn't tightened up more by editing. Even though I was invested in the characters, my attention did wane in parts.
October 18, 2022
You name it and this book has it. A good fun read, loved the personal politics, the film chit chat, the best friends... Highly recommended.
January 26, 2025
This is my first read from this author and I was excited to try her work. This was a long slog. The characters didn’t even decide to fake date until well into the 2nd half of the book. Prior to that was a LOT of movie making telling and not a lot of showing the characters or what was in their heads or hearts.
There was also a ton of preaching to the choir in this book. It’s a WLW book and there was so much berating of white cis men and so much of the word queer baiting. I was mad at the book for queer baiting me. I had hoped there would be a relationship much, much sooner. Alas, no kissing until well after 70% and one non-explicit sex scene that could have been so much better. After that there was a ton of closed door sex. It’s like I took forever to read this book without the payoff.
There were good things, Madison dealings with her grief, Madison dealing with her ADHD, and her friend Casey.
There was also a ton of preaching to the choir in this book. It’s a WLW book and there was so much berating of white cis men and so much of the word queer baiting. I was mad at the book for queer baiting me. I had hoped there would be a relationship much, much sooner. Alas, no kissing until well after 70% and one non-explicit sex scene that could have been so much better. After that there was a ton of closed door sex. It’s like I took forever to read this book without the payoff.
There were good things, Madison dealings with her grief, Madison dealing with her ADHD, and her friend Casey.
April 29, 2023
This was my second book by G. Benson and I was not disappointed!! I love romances involving celebrities and fake dating and this one was so cute! Both Wren and Madison had me swooning for them. The way they bickered in the beginning was chef’s kiss hehe
December 15, 2023
Content warnings: minor car accident, hospital visit (minor), hospital settings (regular), alcohol consumption, homophobia, lesbophobia, d-slur used (but by a lesbian in a 'good' way), death of a spouse (off-page, referenced semi-regularly).
Rep: Wren (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Madison (MC) is POC, cis, bisexual, and has ADHD. Side POC characters.
I loved every single second of this. Literally every single second. From the sort of meet-ugly, to the longing, the everything.
The slow burn was superb, the feelings were incredible. The chemistry was off the charts amazing. The interactions between Wren and Madison had me hanging for more.
I can honestly say this is my favourite G Benson book.
I love a good famous/not famous plot, and fake dating too? Iconic. And no third act break up? Utter perfection.
I am so happy that I read this book.
Rep: Wren (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Madison (MC) is POC, cis, bisexual, and has ADHD. Side POC characters.
I loved every single second of this. Literally every single second. From the sort of meet-ugly, to the longing, the everything.
The slow burn was superb, the feelings were incredible. The chemistry was off the charts amazing. The interactions between Wren and Madison had me hanging for more.
I can honestly say this is my favourite G Benson book.
I love a good famous/not famous plot, and fake dating too? Iconic. And no third act break up? Utter perfection.
I am so happy that I read this book.
October 6, 2022
If Wren is not the most adorable character in wlw books, I dont know who is.
She put a smile on my face from first few pages. She's also understanding, accepting and sympathetic. There is no silly drama between her and Madison's deceased wife (as I would expect from other mediocre books)
Normally a book with low angst would not be my favourite but this book is really an exception. G Benson has nailed another gem.
She put a smile on my face from first few pages. She's also understanding, accepting and sympathetic. There is no silly drama between her and Madison's deceased wife (as I would expect from other mediocre books)
Normally a book with low angst would not be my favourite but this book is really an exception. G Benson has nailed another gem.
May 5, 2023
4,25 stars
Tropey, entertaining, well written.
Probably won't need a reread, but I was thoroughly amused when reading it, so well done, G. Benson.
Side note: it's six in the morning, and I'm sitting at work after getting three hours of sleep. I should really rethink when I start reading longer books. My timing sucks.
Tropey, entertaining, well written.
Probably won't need a reread, but I was thoroughly amused when reading it, so well done, G. Benson.
Side note: it's six in the morning, and I'm sitting at work after getting three hours of sleep. I should really rethink when I start reading longer books. My timing sucks.
October 31, 2023
Celeb romances are my favorite genre, so I figured this would be a perfect fit for me. Add a fake relationship to the mix? Catnip.
Often I will read the book before listening to the audio, but not always. In this case I listened to the audio first so had no expectations. While I did enjoy it, I felt like it was overly long. But since I absolutely loved the last three hours, I started thinking of it as a long novel with a follow-up novella all in one package.
I absolutely adore narrator Quinn Riley a/k/a Jeremy Carlisle Parker, but couldn't quite get comfortable with MC Madison Taylor's voice - or her nurse Annie's. I was trying to understand why Dr. Taylor almost sounded robotic in her delivery. Although she was neurodiverse and in mourning, for me she didn't speak like a real person might until the last three hours of the book, which was distracting. This is strictly a personal preference on my part. I have friends who thought it worked just fine. I love what Riley did with A-list actress Wren Acker and the other menagerie of characters. As mentioned - in those last hours when Madison started feeling more like herself, she spoke as I would expect she would - and she was sexy as hell. I think that's why I loved it so much from that point on - I was able to just lose myself in the story.
Wren Acker is a fabulous character. Ideal, really, and everything we would want in an out Hollywood A-lister. Her character, integrity and humble nature are so appealing that it would be impossible not to fall in love with her.
I plan to wait a while and then read the book to see if I feel differently about it. It's the rare book that can keep my rapt attention for as long as this one was.
Often I will read the book before listening to the audio, but not always. In this case I listened to the audio first so had no expectations. While I did enjoy it, I felt like it was overly long. But since I absolutely loved the last three hours, I started thinking of it as a long novel with a follow-up novella all in one package.
I absolutely adore narrator Quinn Riley a/k/a Jeremy Carlisle Parker, but couldn't quite get comfortable with MC Madison Taylor's voice - or her nurse Annie's. I was trying to understand why Dr. Taylor almost sounded robotic in her delivery. Although she was neurodiverse and in mourning, for me she didn't speak like a real person might until the last three hours of the book, which was distracting. This is strictly a personal preference on my part. I have friends who thought it worked just fine. I love what Riley did with A-list actress Wren Acker and the other menagerie of characters. As mentioned - in those last hours when Madison started feeling more like herself, she spoke as I would expect she would - and she was sexy as hell. I think that's why I loved it so much from that point on - I was able to just lose myself in the story.
Wren Acker is a fabulous character. Ideal, really, and everything we would want in an out Hollywood A-lister. Her character, integrity and humble nature are so appealing that it would be impossible not to fall in love with her.
I plan to wait a while and then read the book to see if I feel differently about it. It's the rare book that can keep my rapt attention for as long as this one was.
November 21, 2023
What an amazing book! I laughed, I cried, I had all the feels. The ADHD representation was amazing and the best I’ve ever read. This author comes out time and again with marvellous books and I can’t wait to read the next! 5/5 all the way.
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