📚A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston📚

📆PUB DATE: Today!
➡️Swipe or see below for synopsis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: E-book
Read if you like:
✍️Beautiful writing
📚Books about books
💖Magical realism

Thank you berkley for the #gifted advanced e-book copy of A Novel Love Story! This book is for the book lovers🫶💙 Our main character Eileen is on her way to a solo reading retreat when she gets caught in a storm… and in the town her favorite book is set in. Ashley Poston’s writing is so flowery and so good you can’t help but fall in love with the setting and the characters. A Novel Love Story is full of relatable characters and plot twists that make everything make sense🙌 . There’s magic and surreal experiences that make the story so unique.

I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as The Seven Year Slip, but that was my favorite book of 2023 so this one has big shoes to fill. I wasn’t fully into the romance until about 75% in, and knowing the characters in the fictional town aren’t real kept me from getting attached to them.

If you enjoyed any of Ashley’s previous books, you need to read this one as it has her signature unique and magical plot and beautiful writing🪄💖

This is my second Ashley Poston novel after The Seven-Year Slip, which I think was my favorite book of 2023 so I had high expectations. However, this was a slower start for me. I LOVE the concept. Elsy's book club takes a trip every year and when everyone backs out, she decides to still go. While she's driving there, her car breaks down in a small town but that small town ends up being the fictional town from her favorite book series!

It would be so fun to be dropped into a fictional town with fictional characters. I think it took me a little time to be immersed in the world as we are trying to learn about the town from Elsy. I enjoyed it and all the shenanigans that happened and learning about this fictional book series. Once I got a handle on all that was happening and the romance started to take over I enjoyed it even more!

The last 20% of the book was sooooo good. I actually cried a little bit. I couldn't put it down. It had a good ending. I think I might re-read this one now that I know the fictional series and town/townspeople better to get a better feel for it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Ashley Poston is an auto-buy author for me for many reasons. Firstly, I am a SUCKER for magical realism which she has nailed down to a T! Secondly, her books are always filled with the most dreamy romance imaginable. Reading her writing often feels nostalgic, in the best way. I was incredibly excited to read A NOVEL LOVE STORY which promised a story filled with bookish characters, another favorite element in a book of mine. I really enjoyed the setting and overall storyline. I felt like it was unique and yet felt familiar as all of Ashley's previous work feels. While there were many things I loved about this book, where it fell flat for me was the connection between Elsy and Anders. I wanted to believe their connection however, I wasn't completely invested. Overall it was a cute read but THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP still remains as my #1 by Ashley!

Synopsis in a sentence (or two): In Ashley Poston's latest book, A Novel Love Story, the protagonist finds herself in an idyllic New York town that seems lifted directly from her beloved book series. The catch? The setting and its inhabitants are as fictional as the stories she adores.

Overall Thoughts:
This novel reads like every booklover's dream which is why I wholeheartedly recommend this one to magical realism-loving readers. What reader hasn't wished to find themselves in the setting of their favorite book? The story starts similar to a Hallmark movie, with Elsy arriving in the picture-perfect Eloraton, though the fantasy element may seem overly perfect.

About 20% into the book, it becomes apparent that the story might be closer to Groundhog Day than a Hallmark show, with the main characters aware they're part of a narrative unknown to the others. Elsy and her love interest, Anders, are the only ones who realize they're in a fictional town. Both Elsy and Anders have a strong understanding of the other characters' backstories, yet the future of Eloraton remains uncertain due to the author's death. The plot does slow down midway, but the developing romance between Elsy and Anders is engaging. Anders, the brooding owner of the town bookstore, makes for the perfect crush. Not only did I love his character, but I also loved watching Elsy's internal struggle of choosing between a fantasy existence or a return to reality. This is the perfect beachside read for book lovers.

Read this if:
I recommend this one to readers who love:
-JoJo Moyes, Katherine Center, Emily Henry, Lynn Painter
-Magical realism mixed with a bit of bookish romance
-Beautifully developed main characters living in a well-developed fantasy world

Rating: 4.0

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the Digital Review Copy of A Novel Love Story All opinions are my own.

Review will post on inked up margins blog on 6/24
Book post will post on instagram @in.the.mo.ment on 6/25
Goodreads review is posted

📚 Pub Day Review 📚

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
📚
This book was a whimsical, achingly beautiful love letter to reading. There were so many fun literary references that made me smile. I read it in less than 24 hours and couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely perfect and I loved every second of it. Eloraton sucks you in, immerses you in everyone’s storylines and love lives, and makes you want to move in and stay forever. It was idyllic, quaint, and just the right amount of quirky. I need the Quixotic Falls books to be a real series that I can read. The romance was heartwarming and tender, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️ 1.5
📚
Read if you like:
▫️magical realism
▫️small town
▫️grumpy x sunshine
▫️slow burn
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Thank you to Berkley, NetGalley, and Ashley Poston for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The premise of the book was so lovely - a woman who unexpectedly ends up in the fictional town she loved reading about in a series by her favorite romance author. I totally imagined if it was like I drove around and ended up in Virgin River. I feel like I'd know Jack's bar and I always say I can totally imagine the characters and that's what happens to Eileen once she realizes she's in Eloraton. However, as much as I loved Anders, I just didn't feel the chemistry. And the magical parts to this book just didn't really work for me. I really lost interest in the middle - it felt LONG to me. Honestly the 3 stars is just for the creative premise and the cozy town and Anders. One star for each!

This is the first book I’ve read by Ashley Poston and wow it did not disappoint! I loved the idea of jumping into a book and the magical realism of it. The writing was also stellar, with amazing descriptions of the setting. I felt like I was truly there with the main character. It did read a bit more like women’s fiction, so I found myself wishing for more romance, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Otherwise looking forward to reading more books by this author!

This was another unique magical realism story from Poston. Her books are such comfort for me and I know they will always brighten my mood. I loved the way Elsy talked about books - it was just so relatable. Yet, I felt like this was missing something and just couldn’t put my finger on it. In the end it, it was cute, lighthearted and a good read for a summer night.

The premise of this one drew me in. Imagine visiting the world of your favorite book, meeting beloved characters, exploring the small town and its landmarks, and experiencing a place you only know through your favorite books. Literature professor Elsy Merriweather unexpectedly gets to do just that when she suddenly finds herself in the fictional town of Eloraton from her favorite book series. Then she meets the handsome but grumpy bookstore owner Anders, yet she can't place him from the books. The author of the series passed away, and the last story remains unfinished. After Elsy's own heartbreak, is she the one to help bring the town its storybook ending?

I love Ashley Poston's unique storytelling. Her stories combine magical realism and romance with deeper issues like loss and grief. Her lovely, descriptive writing captures the sometimes bittersweet realities of life inside a whimsical dreaminess. With this book within a book, Poston's picture-perfect small town and charming characters help facilitate Elsy's growth throughout her journey as she sees new meaning in the stories she knows so well.

Told in a single POV, this grumpy/sunshine romance is a slow burn interspersed with flashbacks from Elsy's real life. There was a bit of repetitiveness, but overall, this is such an enjoyable read and one I recommend. This book is a love letter to the romance genre and to readers who love escaping into books, obsessing over and discussing them, and forming deep connections to fictional worlds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the free book!

This was a very unique and cute love story. Imagine taking your favorite romance series and being able to navigate that story as your own character in the story. Cool right?? Well that’s sort of what Elsy was able to experience after having car troubles. It was almost like a dream being that Elsy loved books and stories and this particular author’s story! Elloroton came to life right before her eyes. She met characters she knew of and loved and remembered scenes just as she read them. But, there was something off but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

A story within a story about a story. lol Elsy lucked up right when she thought her luck may have run out on her way to her Bookclub retreat. One special piece that I really loved and thought was so cute was Elsy with our grumpy sunshine Ander’s niece Lily and her broken book. 🥹

I got lost in the magical realism along with Elsy! Towards the end when Elsy was back in the “real world” was a dream come true for her and her best friend. Then the meet cute coming to the HEA was the icing on the cake!

Do you ever just want to get lost in your favorite book? Well this is what happens to the FMC Elsy and she’s traveling to her book club’s cabin for a much needed getaway. I fell in love with Ashley Poston’s books after reading The Seven Year Slip. Poston’s ability to tell a good love story with magical realism elements was superb. She just has a way with drawing you into this world that she builds and with characters that are all just so like-able.

I must admit, there were parts of the story where I wasn’t quite sure of how to feel. The book was a bit too slow for my liking and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I was hoping for a different ending. But I loved the characters, the relationships, the character development, and the underlying premise of letting go of what you are accustomed to and letting yourself heal and evolve. This was an ode to all romance books and romance book lovers. Although, it wasn’t my favorite Poston book, it is still a book that I would recommend.

𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨
📖 Single POV
📖 Slow Burn Romance
📖 Magical Realism
📖 Small Town
📖Found Family

I am in my romance era and this book just proves that fact. This is the first Ashley Poston book I have read and I WILL be reading more because of this book. Heartache and honey bake all beautiful, sweet imagery wrapped up in a swoon-worthy bookish bow, this book is everything I needed it to be and more.

Elsy is OBSESSED with Rachel Flowers’ romance series, so much so that she is a part of a book club that talked about the books. But after everyone bails on their book club week and Elsy’s fiancé breaks off their engagement, she decides to travel to upstate New York anyways to drink wine, cry, and read romance alone. But when a storm comes out of nowhere Elsy pulls into a town to wait it out. What she doesn’t realize is she’s in Eloraton, a town that shouldn’t exist, from her favorite romance series. What was supposed to be a trip focused on heartbreak, just may be the healing journey Elsy needed most and oh she may find her happily ever after in this fake town.

I adored this book SO much. Had me tearing up by the end. I feel like any bookworm can see parts of themselves in Elsy and I think that’s why I loved the book so much. She’s us and being able to connect with a character that way is everything for me. I can’t wait to read Ashley’s other books. I need to stop crying and go start them now!

Ashley Poston has done it again and given us another incredible contemporary romcom with fun mystical/magical elements. Poston’s books are just what a romcom should be, fun, earnest, comforting, and just predictable enough it feels like a warm hug.

Ashley Poston is the queen of magic realism romances! A Novel Love Story is a celebration of storytelling and the readers who cherish fictional worlds.

A Novel Love Story finds Elsy at a crossroads. She feels stagnant as she watches her friends grow up and enter into exciting new life chapters. Elsy’s insecurities were incredibly relatable, especially for anyone familiar with the shift that begins as we enter our 30’s. Poston is incredibly skilled at carving out an emotional arc for her characters and this book is no exception.

My favorite part of this story was the quirky, magical elements. The town of Eloraton is a character itself. It reminded me of idyllic abodes of bygone sitcoms and there were elements that reminded me of the television show Once Upon a Time. A fictional town made real has all the trappings of a perfect romance setting. It was the perfect place for Elsy to sort through her feelings and discover her desires.

I enjoyed the enemies to lovers romance between Elsy and Anders, though it did feel like they switched from dislike to love a little quickly. In the end though, I was moved by the way they were able to help each other heal and find their own version of a happy ending.

Many thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

I have heard such good things about this author's previous books that I was excited to get my hands on this one. The synopsis of the story seemed very intriguing, so I was ready to dive in. I just wish I loved the story as much as I was hoping I would. I didn't feel the connection between the two main characters, and the story was very slow going. I didn't even feel a connected to the side characters. I did feel that the FMC had more of a connection with her best friend then she did to the MMC. I still look forward to reading the author's previous books, since I have heard how much people love them, but this one wasn't my favorite. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

a beautiful love story with a hint of fantasy! ashley poston does it once again! i love her writing so much and will always pick her books up

4.5 stars

“My story wasn’t that interesting, anyway. A three-star read at best. I could imagine the trade reviews – Though she tackles the mundane of her life with aplomb, nothing happens to Eileen Merriweather. Angst-ridden backstory told in deeply regrettable prose. An utterly skippable read.” This passage right here. This is everything. How many people have been in their own heads and thought this exact same thing? I know I have, too many times to count.

Eileen (Elsy) has been going through the motions. She is at a job that she doesn’t like, her fiancé dumped her a week before their wedding, everyone around her seems to be moving on. An annual book club retreat is the one thing she is looking forward to and now everyone seems to be cancelling at the last minute. Elsy is determined now to go anyways, even if she is alone. Losing her way in a terrible storm finds Elsy in her favorite fictional town of Eloraton. With a car needing repairs that could take a few days, Elsy is not mad at the prospect of having to stay.

But Eloraton seems to be stuck where the author has left them, except for the grumpy bookstore owner Anders. Perhaps he is the new character in Rachel Flowers unfinished fourth novel. The weird thing is that he actually knows this town is fictional, and is not happy that Elsy is affecting the town in little ways. Excitement doesn’t begin to cover how Elsy feels. She wants to see and do everything, meet every one of her favorite characters. And now that Elsy is here, things start to move forward and change a little. So does Elsy.

I loved watching her introspection and discovering things about herself. And the attraction to Anders was warm and slow. You can’t help root for them. This ran my emotional gamut, it has everything you need. I highly recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A NOVEL LOVE STORY
.
How many times as readers have we wished we could jump into the world of our favorite book and characters?!?
So often!
That’s exactly what happens to Elsy in A Novel Love Story. After getting lost on her road trip, Elsy finds herself in Eloraton, the setting of her favorite book series. She immediately meets the grumpy bookseller that does t want her in town….
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what I liked:
📔Magical realism
💕Book within a book
📔Character growth
💕grumpy x sunshine trope
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What I wanted more of:
The romance: I felt the main characters were lacking chemistry and I didn’t love the ending.
3 ⭐️
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Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a charming story, filled with heartwarming characters. Eileen’s favorite book series doesn’t exist in our world but, through Eileen’s eyes and emotions, I could feel the coziness of her beloved novels. I love the friendships she formed, and the romance that crept up on her. I will always read Ashley Poston’s books after The Dead Romantics. There’s even a little reference to it, which I adored!

4 ⭐

What to expect:
• Magical realism
• Finding yourself in your favourite book
• Cozy summery small town setting
• Grumpy bookstore owner MMC
• Befriending your favourite characters

Sometimes these ‘right person but there’s an impossible catch’ romances can make me nervous but I trust Ashley Poston after reading The Dead Romantics.
I adored the lush and whimsical atmosphere and setting of this book, and I fell in love with Eloraton and the characters that lived there just as much as Elsy (our FMC) did.
The feeling of being surrounded by your favourite story, being part of the town you’ve only dreamt and read about and becoming a part of the community was so beautiful and cozy to read. And I couldn’t put the book down, I had to find out how the threads and mysteries of Eloraton all tied up! And I felt like all of this was resolved really well.
Elsy and Anders' chemistry was more subtle, but I truly fell in love with them together. And the last quarter of this book had me sobbing, I was just so emotionally attached!

This book felt like a perfect five star read for me, until I read the ending.

My feelings on the ending (SPOILERS)

I loved the bittersweet reveal about who Anders actually was. And although I wanted them to stay in Eloraton so badly, I was happy and understood them leaving together after they both had learnt so much about themselves.
But my heart felt ripped out when, after a perfect scene, HE STAYS AND SHE LEAVES!! And just so he can chat with another woman!!
I felt so betrayed, and even after all of that the ending only really felt like a HFN.


I did love this book and Ashley Poston’s writing is incredible, but I didn’t find the ending satisfying which is such a shame.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley and for this ARC