Reviewed by Nandita Keshavan for Readers' Favorite

Madness or Love describes the start of a relationship between Victoria, an aspiring hotel manager in London, and Ian, a Hollywood rising star, who stays at the hotel. Despite Ian's popularity, Victoria does not relate to him in a star-struck way like the other female staff. Both of them become intrigued by the unique bond between them, which they notice at the start. Despite their mutual attraction, they become friends and Victoria is cautious about letting the relationship progress any further due to Ian being based in the United States and being busy with his acting career. The reader has the benefit of knowing the inner thoughts on both sides and this gives the characters an intimate connection to readers, and readers a significant advantage over the characters. How they keep in touch, grow close as friends and deal with the challenges and doubts as to whether they are loved in return is the main feature of the plot.

Author Selina Bodur writes in a unpretentious and non-superficial way. She depicts true moods and feelings, and the chaotic but beautiful moments of a soul mate relationship in its infancy. The characters experience excitement, insecurity, fear, surrender, longing and need for each other. In describing the range and depth of moods, the book highlights essential human experiences without excessively embellishing them.

Thus, Bodur deals with them in a very candid way, making the characters very real and credible. She draws characters’ moods liberally without compromising on their clarity and poignancy. I identified with Victoria’s character immediately, and also could identify with the way in which she is attracted to Ian. Both are very sincere and emotional at heart, and their story is moving and at the same time full of lighthearted moments of friendship. This book will appeal to people who are interested in reading about a relationship interplay of mutual attraction, cautious chemistry, sincere friendship and pure love.