A Novel Story is an ode to romance readers everywhere. Ashley Poston wrote this book for all of us readers who have felt homesick for the places and people within the books we read.
I adored all of the characters within the story. The author is an absolute genius for making the book series that the main character, Elsy, loved feel real. She also has a gift for making me laugh and cry on the same page.
Another fantastic Ashley Poston romcom!

Ashley Poston…. the author that you are.
if I could live in any book, it would definitely be yours.

this story was so unique, whimsical, and absolutely beautiful.
this seriously felt like a huge hug to all of us book lovers who find comfort and safety in stories and new worlds. I adore Elsy and related to her in so many ways. The amount of times I thought “That’s actually me” about her is crazy AND comforting.

I now want to live in Eloraton! Getting to experience a characters favorite book world was so unique and truly magical! it made me feel nostalgic in a way.
the amount of beautiful quotes I highlighted… something about Ashley’s writing speaks to me and hits hard.
this story had so many life lessons and things I needed to hear at this point in my life.

“Sometimes a book can change your life.” well that’s literally every book Ashley Poston writes…❤️‍🩹

I thought of so many songs that fit this book so here’s some

ceilings- lizzy mcalpine
risk- gracie abrams
I hate it here- taylor swift
right where you left me- taylor swift
it’s time to go- taylor swift
margaret- lana del ray
feels like- gracie abrams
ghost of you- 5sos

thank you netgalley for providing me this eARC <3

Many thanks to @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 6/25/24.

This was such a unique take on a romance novel, and I had no clue what to expect after I read the blurb, I just knew I had to read it. I've never read anything quite like this, and it was just so warm and cozy. I could literally picture the town in my head. It gave me Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) and Bluebell (Hart of Dixie) vibes. If you're looking for a not your normal type of romance novel, small town, cute bookstore, and great characters, this is definitely the book for you! I'm off to buy the authors previous books now!

Elsy is on a road trip by herself to go to a secluded cabin and do nothing but read for the whole week. She packed a stack of books and brought with her her favorite series, Quixotic Falls Quintent. Unfortunately, Elsy's car breaks down, and she finds herself in a small little town with no cell service. Things look oddly familiar to her, when she realizes all the town peoples names and all the landmarks are all the exact same as what's in the Quixotic Falls Quintent series, except for the grumpy bookstore owner.

I just read The Seven Year Slip and was excited to get my hands on Ashley’s newest before publication. I love the premise and the lead. I was a little frustrated with the shift into a miscommunication plot, but I also didn’t see the twist coming at all. I never do. Ashley created a town that a book lover would want to visit with charm, mystery, romance, and honey. Like Eileen, I think this will be a revisit time and time again.

A Novel Love Story is just that - a love ode to book lovers and their romance books.

Eileen, fresh off a broken engagement, is headed off on her annual book club retreat solo (no one could make it this year but she refuses to give up on the ritual) and stumbles into the town of her very favorite unfinished book series where she encounters her favorite characters. She discovers that there is more to the happy ever after endings and learns what it means to write your own story.

Poston does a wonderful job of writing books for readers. This book is an ode to book clubs everywhere, the way a story can soothe and comfort you when real life is tough, how friends bond over stories, and I really enjoyed the main characters arc of finding her path. As someone who is a part of an online book club and has found her people that way - I felt very seen and comforted by these aspects and just know readers everywhere will love it for this part alone.

Unlike the other two novels, the romance in this one did not feel as natural to me but I also think the main characters story could be perceived as more of the focus than their relationship. I wish the two had more chemistry between them and it felt a touch insta-lovey but I did enjoy the spice and ending.

As a lover of magical realism, I once again love how Poston wove her tail with just a little bit of the fantastical element to make it plausible without seeming unlikely.

Vibes:
Book references galore
Small town
Magical realism
Grump sunshine
Broody book boyfriend
Happy ever after
Grief discussions
Wide cast of characters

This was a tough one for me. I didnt feel the chemistry between the two MCs and the sex scenes were a bit of a let down... I wish I liked this one more but I just was "okay".

Thank you for this eARC.

A Novel Love Story is a charming escape into a world where fiction becomes reality and happily-ever-afters are just around the corner!
Elsy Merriweather is on a quest for her own happily-ever-after, but she never expected to find it in the pages of a book—or in the quaint town of Eloraton, straight out of her favorite romance series. From the sweet honey taffy to the grumpy yet irresistible bookstore owner, every detail feels like it's been plucked from the pages of a novel.
The author weaves a delightful tale filled with whimsy, romance, and a touch of magic. As Elsy navigates the challenges of bringing the town to its storybook ending, readers will be swept away on a journey that blurs the lines between reality and fiction.
With witty dialogue and heartwarming moments, A Novel Love Story reminds us that sometimes the greatest adventures can be found within the pages of a book—or in the unexpected twists of real life. So grab a cozy blanket and prepare to be enchanted by this delightful read!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Ashley Poston's romances are always so unique, and this one was no exception. Really fun and the characters all felt real.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

This book is not just a romance, it is a love letter to all book lovers and to all of us who have ever dreamed of visiting a book world and the characters that live there. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it is probably one of her best books yet!

Eileen, known as Elsy, is really feeling stuck in her life at the start of the book. She is unhappy with her job, feeling very unlovable, and now her friends have deserted her and cancelled their yearly get together in upstate New York. She was easily one of the most relatable characters I have ever read. She felt very real in all of her emotions and her desires. My heart went out to her and I wanted to give her a big hug almost instantly. I loved her reaction to finding herself in Eloraton, and to meeting all of her favorite characters. I also understood her need to help them all find their happily ever afters as well. The slow burn romance was also well done, and I totally got why she was so hesitant to have any feelings for Anders.

Anders was adorable. He is also vulnerable and emotionally broken in ways that are slowly revealed over the course of the book. He was another character that I instantly felt a connection to and wanted to give him a happy ending. He is coming from a place of grief and just wanting to move on with his life, but totally unable to.

The world building was magical. I loved all of the characters that we met in this book, and would love to read this fictional series. The writing is clever and delightful and so rich in detail that I almost wanted to look this town up on Google maps! I loved all of the themes in this story, such as Elsy’s coming to terms with her self worth and facing the decisions she has made in her life. Grief is also a big theme with both Anders and Elsy dealing with a the loss of people they loved. I also loved all of the references to the writing process that Elsy finds behind the garden. ln addition, I adored how the whole fictional boyfriend storyline worked out and the ending was perfect.

If you are an Ashley Poston fan, I think you will just love this one. If you are not yet a fan, this would be the perfect book to start with. If you are a book lover, especially a romantic one, then this is the book for you.

3.5 stars. I know that I knew, at the time I requested this book, that the author also wrote The Dead Romantics (which I loved). I had forgotten that by the time I read the book, though-- which is probably a benefit to this review: if I had consciously remembered the connection, I would have had higher expectations. I did find myself thinking frequently throughout the reading that the set-up had a lot in common with The Dead Romantics-- unattainable hero who isn't on the same plane of existence as the heroine.

This is a sweet story that will be perfect for summer-time reading. For a literary-adjacent book in a bookstore setting, this title is better than Love at First Book.

I found a lot of the narration to be repetitive, belaboring the same couple of points repeatedly. Tighter storytelling could have provided more room for depth without compromising the pacing.

eARC from NetGalley.

one of my most anticipated reads of the year and over all i enjoyed my time. it felt like getting to dive into your favourite book and living out the story with you as the main character. ashley’s writing felt like a love note to the genre of romance and romantics as a whole. she really encapsulated the beauty and art of finding ones self through literature. her writing will always be a fav of mine and the concept of this book is truly such a dream. the dead romantics + the seven year slip are some of my all time favourite romances but unfortunately this felt a little eh for me. i think my expectations were set in the direction of a swoony, heartfelt romance and to be honest there wasn’t a lot of romance in this one. it felt like a woman’s lit-fic and i feel if i had that mindset going into this one i would have enjoyed it a lot more. i kept searching for the romance and when the romance aspects showed up it was a bit repetitive and i didn’t really feel the chemistry ☹️!!!!

over all, i enjoyed the small town feels and i loved the unique concept of this novel i was just expecting a bit more romance

one of my most anticipated reads of the year and over all i enjoyed my time. it felt like getting to dive into your favourite book and living out the story with you as the main character. ashley’s writing felt like a love note to the genre of romance and romantics as a whole. she really encapsulated the beauty and art of finding ones self through literature. her writing will always be a fav of mine and the concept of this book is truly such a dream. the dead romantics + the seven year slip are some of my all time favourite romances but unfortunately this felt a little eh for me. i think my expectations were set in the direction of a swoony, heartfelt romance and to be honest there wasn’t a lot of romance in this one. it felt like a woman’s lit-fic and i feel if i had that mindset going into this one i would have enjoyed it a lot more. i kept searching for the romance and when the romance aspects showed up it was a bit repetitive and i didn’t really feel the chemistry ☹️!!!!

over all, i enjoyed the small town feels and i loved the unique concept of this novel i was just expecting a bit more romance

Ashley Poston somehow manages to write a book that always sucks me in and makes me feel all the feels. The world of Eloraton was so dreamy and perfect. It is exactly how you picture a Hallmark movie town, just with the catch its also Groundhogs day every day. But everything changes when Elsy comes to town. I loved how Elsy and Anders interacted. Their relationship was full of tension and so many adorable moments. The story had me hooked from start to finish.

A Novel Love Story
By: Ashley Poston
Romance
First, The Seven Year Slip was one of my favorite reads of 2023. I was very excited to read this one. Ashley has a way of taking the concept of romance and spinning it into a magical adventure that is unlike any other books I’ve read. I really enjoyed this story. The concept and imagination combined with the relatable situations of the characters made for fantastic reading. If Ashley writes it, I will read it.

Ash Poston never misses, and this book had me hooked FROM THE BEGINNING. I adored Elsy from the start, and the fictional town she built within the book sounds like a place I would want to visit!! I cannot wait to have a copy of this on my shelf. <3

Eileen, on her way to her summer book club vacation, gets lost and arrives in the town of her favorite romance series by Rachel Flowers - Eloraton. Stranded without the ability to leave Eileen (or Elsy) has to immerse herself in this fictional world without altering the characters stories. Elsy meets bookstore owner Anders, who is not a part of the Eloraton she knows. Through her time in Eloraton, Elsy falls for Anders and discovers what he is hiding. This paranormal romance style has become a favorite of mine, it helps me become more invested in the romance because even if it seems unbelievable, it is! For me, It was hard to get invested in the main characters, because a lot of time was spent fleshing out the characters of the Rachel Flowers series. I wish somehow the Eloraton world had been integrated slightly differently, because I couldn’t settle into either world.
Readers who enjoy Emily Henry, Casey McQuiston. and books about book lovers will really enjoy this story!

Emotionally undone by another Ashley Poston book…it must be that time of year! Her upcoming book has the beautiful mix of romance and magical realism I’ve come to love in her writing, and at the same time, it’s a paean to books and stories and the feelings they gives us, and it was so lovely.

Eileen is an English professor at a college. And while she’s more than happy talking about classic works, she’s a huge romance reader. Even when her life goes wrong, her favorite books, her best friend, and her book club bring her joy. Although everyone else is unable to make the book club’s annual retreat this year, she’s determined to go to the cabin in the Catskills, to read and drink wine.

On the way, she gets lost in a rainstorm and winds up in a charming small town. And then her car won’t start. But the people seem so nice and the town seems so familiar…and then Eileen realizes that somehow she has wound up in Eloraton, the setting of her absolute favorite romance series. In Eloraton, the burgers are always a little burnt, the honey taffy is always sweet, and it always rains in the afternoon. What a perfect place to wait for your car to get fixed.

The more time she spends in Eloraton, the more Eileen realizes that the characters are stuck, because the author died before the fifth book could be finished. The characters don’t realize why they’re stuck, but Eileen inadvertently creates some ripples that actually move things forward, much to everyone’s pleasure. Everyone’s except a handsome yet grumpy bookstore owner, who doesn’t want Eileen to ruin things.

Eileen realizes that she hasn’t been happy in some time, not until she arrived in town. Can’t she just stay in Eloraton, with these characters who have become her friends? How tempting it is to lose yourself in a place you love.

At first I worried this would be silly, but it’s so richly told, so vibrant. As with all of Poston’s books, this isn’t for everyone, but it filled my heart so much. I am an absolute fan of hers.

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy! The book will publish 6/25.

This is any rom com lover's dream, to be actually absorbed into the literary world that you know so well, and where everyone gets a happily ever after. While this novel did make me want to read the novel series it was based on (even though it was fiction), and imagine which series I would want to be absorbed into, I could not identify enough with the MC to want to keep reading it. I DNF'd at 50%.

I really enjoyed the premise of this one and felt compelled to keep reading each time I picked it up. It was a cute celebration of reading and the many ways readers find home in fictional worlds.

I would say the love story wasn't as strong as I'd hoped, and it did feel like a really quick ending (but I seem to be saying that a lot lately, so maybe it's just me?)

Fans of cute small town stories will enjoy this.

Eileen has had a rough few years. Her fiancé calls off their wedding, she feels like she’s going nowhere in her job, and now her closest friends - her romance book club - have bailed on their traditional week-long summer getaway to discuss all things romance. So Eileen makes the trip on her own, making the drive from Georgia up to rural New York state. Only Eileen doesn’t make it to their cabin, instead finding herself caught in the rain and in the very same (fictional) town her favorite series is set in. As Elsy waits for her chance to get back on the road, she sees her chance to fix the issues the author wrote into the town: mending relationships, rebuilding friendships, and solving a problem involving a mysterious, haunted toilet. The problem? The tall, bookish bookstore owner, Anders, was never a character in this story. He’s an outlier who seems to be the only town citizen who knows he’s in a story. The even bigger problem? Elsy is falling madly in love with him….

Oh, how I wanted to fall instantly in love with this plot and these characters. I think it’s just ingrained in readers to want, at some point, to disappear into their favorite story and live there. This plot should’ve been such an easy sell. It’s what we’ve dreamed of. But the plot of A Novel Love Story - the details more than anything else - just fell a bit flat for me. I love Ashley Poston’s writing and language, and that hasn’t changed. This was still a solid story for me, but it just couldn’t compare to The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip. I was swept away in those stories, wishing I could’ve lived in them and spent time with the main characters, but Elsy and Anders never really came alive for me. Maybe because they spent so much of the book trying to find themselves, I was never invested in them finding each other. I would actually love this story more if the romance was taken out and this was solely about Elsy finding her way back to herself after heartbreak. That, to me, was a more compelling storyline than the lukewarm flirting happening between Elsy and Anders for most of the book.

I usually spend the entire time reading an Ashley Poston book, whether YA or adult, rooting for the main characters to get together, but I found myself caring more about their individual, emotional healing than I did any sparks between them. The steam between them was nice, but almost seemed secondary to everyone else’s journey.

If you’re looking for a romance with supernatural elements in it, A Novel Love Story can’t compare to Poston’s previous two novels. However, this novel does offer some wonderful growth when it comes to characters moving beyond heartache, all while still asking readers to believe in the fantastical.