Have you ever wanted to escape into your favorite book? Meet your favorite characters and hangout with them? Me? Personally, I know I would die in Prythian, but stepping into Stars Hollow? Getting coffee from Luke's? That's what happens to Elsy, she gets lost in a storm and pulls over/ her car (sweetpea) dies in the fictional town of her favorite unfinished series because the author passed away without getting to finish it. Elsy's also running away from her own problems (as a reader I felt personally victimized lol) and just happens to run into the grumpiest love interest, Anders, which I will say there is a reveal on and I'm not sure how I feel about it? It was weird, but I also understand why it was done that way, I just wasn't a fan of it. There is a mention of our favorite chef! As well as a cameo from Benji! Personally I love it when there's crossover. Overall a lovely read!

I admit that I started this story intensely skeptical of the premise. Even after 7 year Slip, I wasn't sure that the story writing would be strong enough to suspend my disbelief.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Ashley Poston delivers again, mixing magical realism, character development, and falling in love in her trademark charm that pulls you in right alongside her characters. My heart melted multiple times, though the suspense before the final HEA was almost too much (in the best way). Highly recommend.

This book was so cute and cozy! I loved the mystery of why Eloraton existed and who Anders was throughout the whole thing. The feeling of being in your favorite fictional small town matched with trying to tie up loose ends was also very endearing. I loved the reveals, and most of all I loved that they got a happy ending still.

I loved, loved, loved this new magical realism romance by Ashley Poston. The main character Elsy gets stuck in the fictional town of her favorite book series and tries to figure out the ending to the incomplete series while staying with a man who may or may not be a character from the books. This is a book lovers’ dream book, and it feels like a warm hug. Also, I love how Poston references her other books in it! Multiverse, possibly?

poston is on another level with her romance plots. after loving 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱, i was excited for 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. a book in which our fmc gets to live out a HEA in her favorite romance series? sounds like a romance reader's dream!

of course, poston's writing is stunning as ever - its warm, cozy, and has the most beautiful love declarations. while i did find some of the build up to the plot to drag on for a bit, the last 25% of the book was stunning. elsy's story takes you on a ride; its bittersweet, charming, and has great character growth. it cements that love isn't linear and you can have more than one in a lifetime.

thanks berkley pub for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

"A Novel Love Story" by Ashley Poston is a delightful homage to the magic of both romance and literature, seamlessly blending the two in a tale that is as enchanting as it is endearing. From the first page to the last, Poston skillfully weaves a narrative that captures the essence of love in all its complexity, while paying tribute to the timeless allure of romance novels, storytelling, and every book with a Fabio cover.

At the heart of the novel is protagonist Eileen, a heartbroken literature professor who finds herself transported to Eloraton, the fictional town from her favorite book series. There, she encounters her very own “book boyfriend,” Anders, who is all too aware of his role in the fictional landscape. Eloraton, known for its small-town charm, perfect couples, and happy endings, is thrown into disarray by Eileen's arrival. Determined to restore order to the town and resist falling for Anders’ grumpy charm, Elsy has to come face to face with her own unhappy endings and learn to put herself first before she can help others.

What truly distinguishes "A Novel Love Story" is its richly drawn cast of characters, each embodying various romance tropes with a clever twist. As a romance reader, discovering these easter eggs was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel. It's evident that this book is a heartfelt homage to the genre, a love letter penned by Poston herself. With each novel by Poston, I find myself consistently impressed by her witty prose and imaginative concepts, as her deep affection for literature radiates from every page. Poston expertly incorporates references to beloved books and authors, enriching the story with depth and texture, even featuring a couple of appearances from familiar characters within the Poston universe.

In the end, "A Novel Love Story" is a charming and uplifting read that is certain to warm the hearts of readers far and wide. With its endearing characters, sparkling prose, and heartfelt romance, this novel is a genuine delight from start to finish. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a love story that will evoke tears of joy long after the final page is turned.

Have you ever wanted to slip in between the pages of your favorite book? To find yourself living in the city, town, village, or whatever setting is there? Have you wanted to meet the characters who you have come to think of as dear friends--to finally meet your fated "book boyfriend?" That is exactly what happens to Elsy in A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston.

When Elsy's book group friends can't make their annual reading retreat to upstate New York, Elsy decides to go on her own. With her favorite books, comfortable clothes, and boxed wine packed into her (somewhat) trusty vehicle, she heads north, eager for the time to recharge. But a rainstorm somehow gets her off track. After narrowly missing a pedestrian in the road, Elsy takes shelter in the nearby pub...and begins to think that everything here is just a little too familiar.

Elsy and her book group friends have never found a satisfying conclusion to their favorite romance series; the author tragically passed away before finishing the final story. Now, Elsy finds herself in Quixotic Falls, interacting with the characters she has loved for so long and trying to figure out how all of their stories end. But the biggest question soon becomes: does Elsy truly want to leave this charming fictional town?

A NOVEL LOVE STORY felt a little slow to me at first and took me a little by surprise in that odd way when you feel like you've begun in the middle rather than the beginning of a story. After finishing the book and spending some time reflecting on the story, though, I think my experience as a reader mirrors Elsy's experience after crossing over the one and only bridge into (and out of) Quixotic Falls. The confusion, the odd sensation of not knowing what's going on, and the conflicting desire to both go and stay all at once are all things Elsy is feeling. Ultimately, the experience is one of self-discovery and healing (for the character and this reader) and one that I hold warm feelings for. A NOVEL LOVE STORY is heartbreaking, amusing, witty, and bright.

I sincerely thank NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley, for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. A NOVEL LOVE STORY will be published on June 25, 2024.

AP writes melancholic happiness (and sadness!!) and I eat up every time!!!

A sweet, bookish love story that sent me into Eileen’s world in much the same way she finds herself in Eloraton.

A whimsical, wonderful story that made me so happy! It was like a love letter to all romance readers and their book club friends, and I adored it. Who wouldn’t love to find themselves in the small town of their favorite book with all the characters, what a dream! It skillfully intertwines elements of magical realism with a sweet story about love, friendship, and finding our place and what makes us happy.

This was too cute! I mean who hasn't wanted to fall into that romance series town where only good things happen to everyone! Also I am obsessed with Butters.

In true Ashley Poston fashion, this romance novel also gives off magical/mystical vibes. When Elsy feels she is stuck in life, her only thought is to take the annual book club trip alone...where she literally gets stuck in a "fictional" small town. There, she realizes she's in love with all the characters and needs to decide if she really wants to leave.

dnf@38%
I tried I really did but these characters are so boring and the plot is so slow I can't do it. I read this on my kindle and not once did I think about it when I wasn't reading it I literally forgot it existed.

This was my first read by this Author and it will NOT be my last. This was the perfect mix of Gilmore Girls meets every small town romance that I just love, with a hefty dose of whimsy. I think this is easily one of my favorite reads so far this year.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy. While I liked the premise of the story, it was just a little too rambling for me.

This was a cute story and I always love this authors work. It is light yet tells such a deep story. This cover snd book are both adorable!!!

Short and sweet review time! Ashley Poston once again writes a novel that pulls at all of my emotions. I was either laughing or on the verge of tears reading this. You can tell the author wrote this for all of us book lovers and it shows throughout the entire book.

Who wouldn't want to end up at their favorite fictional world?? I would never want to leave!!

This is SO much more than a love story (as all of Poston's books are), I fell head over heels for Anders and for every single character.

I fell in love with the world Poston created and all the characters in this cute fictional town. The only thing that made me a little sad was that this didn't have as much romance as I would have liked to have seen.

It was honestly such a beautiful book and I wish it was a real place!

Ashley Poston. The way you write men…..I want one..not want…need one.

This book broke my heart and sewed it back together by the end. I really could not put this book down the minute I started.

The one thing I absolutely love about Poston’s books is that I always think I know the ending….but then she changes it up on me…breaks my heart and then put it back together by the end.

Also what I would do to stumble upon my favorite romance book town and meet all of my favorite characters….and maybe one hot bookstore owner😉

You know that feeling when you finish a book and don’t want it end….that was me last night in the early hours of the morning after finishing this masterpiece. I need more.

I’d also love a copy of this Eloraton series 🥰

I loved that Elsy got her book boyfriend!


Thank you Berkeley romance for the arc.

This book was so enchanting. A beautiful story about grief, hope, learning to invite love in again and being the main character in your own story! Ashley Poston has a way of making fictional characters come to life. They feel as real to me, as the characters in Daffodil daydreams felt Eileen! I loved every second of this amazing story!

I loved The Seven Year Slip so I was so excited to be able to read Poston’s newest book, A Novel Love Story! Thank you Berkley Publishing for the free book! #BerkleyPartner

It did not disappoint! Elsy is lost in her life, stuck in her life, after her bad breakup, and realizes that she didn’t live her life for her. But she found her home in a romance novel series, predictably cheesy but it felt like home. Her book club took a trip every year but no one could make it this time around so Elsy decided she would go alone. She gets caught in a rainstorm and pulls off into a small town. It takes her a while to realize but she ended up in the fictional town, Eloraton, from her favorite book series. I love that Poston’s novels take us to wonderful places and I think it’s such a great change from the romcoms we are used to. I enjoy her writing and I love her characters.

I did think that at some points it dragged on. In the middle, I was just kinda ready to get to the point already and in the end, I felt the same way. Each of the ending chapters could have been the last but I was annoyed to flip the page and find another chapter… maybe because I was already moody and ready to finish a book(?) but I do stand by it dragging a little at some points. Besides that point, it was still a great book with a fun storyline!

On the lighter and fluffier side, for sure--for fans of Gilmore girls and readers who dream of escaping into their favourite romance author's books. Very light-hearted; nothing heavy or complicated, loose ends get resolved easily and without much wit. I definitely felt a lack of earned chemistry, both with the love interest and her friends, and the dialogue didn't read as particularly real, for me. Definitely for a reader who wants a fluffy, cute romance for a summer weekend read where they can turn their brain off.