Maladaptive: A Magical Realism Romance for Daydreamers

by Julie Gunn

Everyone has daydreamed about being in a relationship with their celebrity crush, right?

Jules has spent over a decade escaping into a vivid a life where she’s confident, loved, and married to Hollywood’s golden boy, Chris Jones. It’s been her safe place, her secret, her maladaptive daydream.

Until she meets him.
And he recognizes her.

As fantasy crashes into reality, Jules must confront the life she’s been avoiding and the version of herself she only dared to imagine. Can the love she created in her mind survive between two very real, very different people?

Maladaptive is an emotionally rich magical realism romance about mental health, identity, self-worth, and the blurry line between imagination and intimacy.

Perfect for fans of celebrity romance, neurodivergent and emotionally vulnerable characters, found family, and healing arcs.

Get your copy of Maladaptive today and step into a story where fantasy meets reality, and love finds a way through both.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 12, 2026

Reviews

[Katelyn | CreativelyKatelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the opportunity to beta read this, and haven't stopped thinking about it! The concept was so unique, and the characters were fresh and different. I can't wait to read the final copy!

[Makayla Finnegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate enough to be an early reader for this book back in early 2025. I am a very picky reader and I often DNF things once I am uninterested but, not only did I finish this book I read it all in one sitting! The concept was captivating and so was the writing! It’s raw and emotional while still maintaining its lighthearted and mystical vibes, It wasn’t overly cliche or repetitive either which was really nice! I’ve been following Julie’s writing journey for a while now and I truly cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy to reread it!!

[Abrianna Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to beta read Maladaptive, and it completely blew me away. I devoured this book! I truly didn’t want to put it down! The concept is incredibly unique, the writing is raw and emotional yet light and magical, and nothing felt overly cliché or repetitive.

There was a moment that made me immediately want to reread the entire book just to catch all the subtle hints, which says everything about how thoughtfully this story was crafted. If you love emotionally rich romances, magical realism, and characters who feel deeply real, this is a must-read.

[Mandy Fipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the wonderful opportunity to Beta read this book, that being said, it is truly one of the most unique book ideas I have ever read. The author does a great job at mixing world building, romance, and unexpected surprises. One such surprise made it so I immediately went and reread the entire book so I could pull out all of the hints leading up to it. I love this book and can’t wait to get a hard copy!

[lys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and refreshing love story. Genuinely loved the fmc & mmc together, they were so fun. If you love celebrity romance stories, definitely add this to your tbr!

[Guilherme Correia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to read Maladaptive as a beta reader, and it’s one of the few books that hooked me enough to read straight through.

[Angela Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flawed characters, raw emotion, and twists that hit hard. Julie Gunn delivers a story that stays with you. I absolutely loved this book!

[Christina Nugent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story for every little girl that dreamed of being part of the fairytale. For every girl that has lived a thousand lives in books. This book was full of drama, angst, a little mystery, romance and everything you could ask for. All I can say is READ, READ, READ.