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.

Brigadoon meets Groundhog Day in Ashley Poston’s most recent magical realism romance. Eileen "Elsy" Merriweather, a literature professor, gets stranded one night en route to the annual reunion of the Super Smutty Book Club she's been a part of for years, and lands IN Eloraton, the world of Quixotic Falls, her favorite romance series. Everything is just as described in the series--with blurry spots where the author hadn't quite imagined some details, like the complete menu at the Possum Cafe, famous for it's pancakes. Of course, since the local B&B is still under renovation (as that's where the storyline left off in a previous book), the only lodging is town is in the charming loft of the cozy bookstore, now under new management.

Eileen experiments with influencing storylines and attracting a specific, beloved, and still unattached character, but it’s Anderson, the cynical guy who runs the bookshop--the one NEVER mentioned in the series-- that she finds the most intrigue (and connection) with. Living IN your favorite book series sounds like a dream come true, but it begins to take on a stuck in a nightmare quality. There's no WiFi, no cellular connection, and no Internet -- how can Elsy escape and get back to her real (mundane) life--and once she finds a way, will Anders come with her?

I love how Poston plays with time and place in her novels, and her exploration of what it means to be lost/escape from your life. This one is truly an love letter to readers, as Elsy discloses she didn't believe in falling in love with reading until it happened to her. Every chapter contains literary allusions and Easter eggs referencing other fandoms, and plays with the tropes of the romance genre, both incorporating grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and meet-cutes. The world-building was excellent, reminiscent of Stars Hollow. In spite of the honey-themed everything, the novel is sweet without becoming too saccharine. The story gets a little meta when the series is described as parallel, more than linear; NYC editor Benji from The Dead Romantics is a side character as a member of the Super Smutty Book Club (though it might be a bit much if the series that Elsy is such a fan of is the one his dead grandmother penned, that Florence is ghostwriting...)

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #ANovelLoveStory via #NetGalley courtesy of Berkley.

2.75 stars rounded up to 3.

Eileen is a woman who loves to get lost in the perfect happily-ever-after book. You see, she knows that imaginary men can't leave you at the altar. Eileen feels most safe in a cozy book and is looking forward to escaping to her annual book club retreat. Unfortunately her car breaks down on the way there and she finds herself stranded in a town so charming it might be the setting in one of her HEA romance novels. Has Eileen found herself in the setting of her favorite romance series, frozen in time? And who is that grumpy character that she can't remember from the series? How did she get here and how will she get back home...or does she even want to return to real life?

A Novel Love Story is my first novel by Ashley Poston. I think it had an adorable premise that immediately sucked me in. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in their favorite comfort book world at least for a short time?! I enjoyed the magical elements sprinkled throughout and the grumpy x sunshine type trope. But I'm not sure that it worked for me as much as I was hoping it would. I found Eileen to be a bit annoying and Anders to be pretty rude. I also found the romance to be a little too immediate/sudden. They can't stand each other but then suddenly they're kissing and I didn't really feel any chemistry between the two.

I have heard that Poston's Seven Year Slip is great, so maybe I'll go back and try that one. I'm sure if you enjoy her other books you will enjoy this one as well. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I absolutely love Ashley Poston, I usually cannot put her books down. The premise of this one immediately had my attention. How cool would it be to be in your favorite book? Like talk about a dream come true. The issue I have is pacing and chemistry between the characters. I found myself struggling to pick this book up - because I felt like majority of the time nothing was happening and the relationship really lacked spark and chemistry.

This book is truly a love letter to rom com readers, and I loved that this book played with the idea that I always day dreamed about. What if I could step into my favorite romance series and just live there for a while? How wonderful would that be? If you have ever had that thought when waiting for the next book in your favorite series, than you will fall into this book the same I did and probably just as quickly. Just know that Post on has a wonderful voice and style, but the quirky and unique way of storytelling may give you a moments pause before leaping into the magical realism that informs this book. But once you make that leap, this book will draw you in and not let you go!