"Love was a bunch of things that added up to bigger things.
Love was feeling valued. And accepted. Just the way you were. It was never feeling too much or not enough, even though often you were both, because Love loved you anyway. Not in spite of it, but because of it."

This book was such a sweet, engaging romance with a touch of magical realism. A Novel Love Story follows Eileen, who crashes her car on the way to a cabin and suddenly finds herself inside her favorite novel—where she meets Anders, the grumpy-but-charming love interest. As she navigates this dreamlike world, Eileen has to decide whether to stay in the storybook life she’s always wanted or return to her real one.

I was hooked from the very first page. The concept felt nostalgic—who hasn’t dreamed of stepping into their favorite book? Eileen was such a relatable character: optimistic, independent, and quietly struggling to find her place in life. I loved watching her grow from feeling lost to discovering her true passion. Anders won me over too, especially once his softer side came through, though I did wish we learned a little more about his past. Their slow-burn romance was charming and believable, full of tension, banter, and heartwarming moments that made me swoon.

The side characters—Pru, Junie, Maya, Ruby, and Gemma—were delightful, adding depth and warmth to the story. The pacing never dragged, and the balance of whimsy and romance kept me turning the pages. Overall, this was a cozy, feel-good read about love, friendship, and finding yourself. If you enjoy romances with a dash of what should be impossible, you’ll adore this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was cute! It was the fun whimsical book that I expected from Ashley Poston. It was definitely more fluff than her other books. I did feel like it lacked some emotional depth than her other titles. The romance also felt second to ger discovery of the town. The pacing was a bit off as well. Overall, this was a sweet escape read.

I was super excited to read this book, and honestly, I don’t understand why it’s gotten mixed reviews because I loved it! The writing was so easy to get into, and I really enjoyed how the story explored the deep connection between an author and their reader. It was such a beautiful experience watching Elsy literally live inside her favorite romance book. The world-building and little details were so vivid, and I found myself loving not just the fictional love interests but also the side characters, especially Elsy’s friend. The romance between the main characters was definitely a slow burn, but once it finally picked up, it was totally worth the wait. Overall, this was such a good read. enjoyed it sooo much and would absolutely recommend it to any romance lover who enjoys a bit of magic and heart.

So beyond grateful for another perfectly-written story by Ashley Poston. She has her own sub genre, and I loved this one as much as her debut. She pens the perfect escape reads.

tied with seven year slip for my fav Ashley Poston!!! I would lOVE to spend a day in Ashleys mind to watch her get these ideas- seriously, it's incredible!! I don't think I've cried this much over one book in the last six months- especially right at the end oh my gosh.

I don't want to give spoilers here but the MMC was literally a grumpy angel. And I love him.

I really enjoyed the Seven Year Slip so was excited when this book arrived. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it as much as Seven Year Slip. I found the story not as plausible and didn’t connect with the characters. I really wanted to love this one more, but just didn’t. However, this will not deter me from reading more of Ms. Poston’s books.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Ashley Poston takes those late-night thoughts that every bookworm has and crafts them into a beautiful romance between a woman who's desperate for an escape and a man who hasn't figured out how to move forward. The cast of characters was charming, the romance tender and intimate, and the story comparable to a warm hug.

Ashley Poston is one of the very first authors that got me interested in the romance genre. As someone who's a big fantasy reader, I always look forward to the magical elements that she sprinkles throughout her stories! I loved the small-town feel and bookish topics in this story. The ending fell a little bit flat for me in comparison to her other books, but overall I still enjoyed this cute romance from start to finish!

I love Ashley Poston's books. They are always unique and something I can really escape into. A Novel Love Story was a perfect example of this. It was a great blend of storytelling, romance, humor and magical realism that completely sucked me in. Book lovers will LOVE this book and even if you're not an avid reader, this is a great book to spend the day with.

Absolutely one to read.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book, the premise seemed like something I’ve never read before and I’ve previously loved the authors work. However, it fell short for me. The pacing felt very slow and I found myself caring more about the side characters than the main romance. The book series within this book seemed more interesting to me than the actual book itself.

Love, love. Four Stars.

Here is my scoring system in a nutshell. Five star books are not only engaging from beginning to end, but they are also beautifully written. Four star books are well worth your time - engaging and well-written. Three star books aren’t bad- engaging but perhaps slow or clunky in parts. Two stars, I finished but it was difficult - something about the pacing, the story or the writing was not compelling. One star - just don’t!

5 STARS= Definitely YES!
4 STARS = YES.
3 STARS = Maybe.
2 STARS= NO.
1 STAR = DNF; Definitely NO!

I’m not sure magical romance books are my thing, but the author did a great job with it! I really rooted for the main character, and the twist towards the end was a pleasant surprise!! I would definitely recommend this book!

I like books that are set in the present and loosely talk about the past. Too much back and forth and I loose interest.

Falling too fast for me is also something that irks me. 5 days is too fast for me. You can fall for someone quick but not love. Nope.

In general I enjoyed the story and like the authors writing.

I will read more from her.

Ashley does it again! I swear, each of these books reads like a movie that plays out in my head. I loved this book and cannot wait to see in on the big screen (hopefully someday!)

This was so cute and whimsical and everything I love in an Ashley Poston novel. The heroine decides to go on her book club's annual trip alone since everyone else bails, and she finds herself breaking down in this strange town that she quickly realizes is the town from her favorite romance series. I loved the cozy vibes of this one as the heroine spent time with the town's bookstore owner and tried to understand why she was there and what she was supposed to do to be able to leave. I love the magical whimsy of Ashley's books, and make it a bookish whimsy? I'm sold.

This was cute! Cute, but a little hard to follow. It was a bit difficult to keep track of what was happening in real time (or magic time?) versus flashbacks. I loved all of the characters, but… there were a lot to keep track of.

Also idk about the romance between the FMC and the MMC. It was very insta, but also… he left her for someone else?? but then came back?? idk man!

(Thank you, Berkley, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

so whimsy and so romantic. a lot of this was happening in the MC's head so i wouldn't necessarily say there was a story here but i love how Ash Poston writes all kinds of love. so, so beautiful ❤️

I absolutely loved A Novel Love Story! Ashley Poston crafts a magical, heartfelt tale that had me smiling and swooning from start to finish. The story follows Eileen, a literature professor who somehow finds herself inside her favorite romance novel’s world — a quirky small town stuck in time, full of charm and secrets.
What really got me was how the book blends fantasy with real emotions about grief, healing, and new beginnings. Eileen’s journey felt personal and genuine, and the chemistry between her and the grumpy bookstore owner was so sweet and authentic. The setting felt like a warm hug, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished.
If you love cozy, romantic stories with a sprinkle of magic, this one’s a total win. It’s clever, charming, and full of heart — exactly the kind of book I needed.

his book was so much fun!! I loved how it was a book that had book lovers, a book slub and people who adored books. Eileen is having a life crisis after her fiancé broke up with her and has just been going through the motions in life for a while now. The only things she looks forward to is her book clubs meeting every year in the cabin (I loved that the book club was name super smutty book club (c). However after plans fall through Eileen decides to go make the trip and enjoy herself alone. Eileen favorite book is also called Daffodil daydreams. After a storm Eileen stumbles upon the small town where the book was set and is in shock to see all her favorite characters and spots in the book alive. She has one problem thought Anders the books tore owner who is determined for her to leave without disrupting anyone in town. I loved Anders and Eileen's chemistry and I loved all the details about daffodil daydreams and Eileen's excitement for the book. This book was so magical and I loved the unique plot. I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting. The small town vibes in this book along with the characters and just the awe I felt reading this book were like no other!! Overall this is a must read and I loved it so much!!!

This is such a charming, delightful, sweet, and sexy romance. An English professor stumbles into a mysterious town during a storm and finds herself in her favorite book series. Ashley Poston knows what she’s doing! And the way Anders calls Eileen “sweetheart” is perfect.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.