3.5 Stars
A Novel Love Story is a book for readers. It does what may readers wish could happen to them by putting a reader in her favorite book world. I enjoyed the surprise and wonder Elsy felt finding herself in the fictional world of Eloraton. It was fun to get to know the small town and its characters through her eyes. That being said, this book was missing the romance I expected to find in a Poston book. Elsy and Anders were good characters, but they lacked chemistry. Their romance was missing a spark or something to make me feel connected to them as a couple. The romance almost felt like an afterthought to the town and its people, which gave this book a women's fiction feel rather than a romance. That being said, I still enjoyed reading A Novel Love Story. Readers are going to enjoy it, especially those who like their books light on the romance aspect of the story.

When I received the email that I had been granted an ARC of this book from NetGalley, I literally canceled all my plans, downloaded it to my Kindle, and spent the entire day reading. I want to live in Eloraton. It really is that simple! What an absolutely magical book. It wasn’t quite as good as The Dead Romantics but it was close! Give me a few days and this may end up being 5⭐️. Just wow- and I am not at ALL a rom-com, romance reader.

I had really high hopes for this. I absolutely adore The Seven Year Slip, it’s one of my favorite books ever, but this one didn’t quite come close for me. It was a sweet and comforting read. The plot was interesting and new, but I think it lacked in the romance department. The story was so much about the town and the characters in it that i couldn’t feel the chemistry between the main characters when it came to their relationship.

I love Ashley’s descriptive and whimsical writing, it’s so cozy and warm. But I did notice some really repetitive descriptions, although I loved the fact that Anders smelled like black tea (yum), “his minty gaze” was used one too many times for me to be able to ignore.

Over all I think she is such an amazing author but this book unfortunately wasn’t my favorite.

Another fun and whimsical read from Ashley Poston. I really enjoyed the way she thought about what happens to book characters once the story ends. Are they stuck? Are they doomed to repeat the same day over and over? And of course, I was delighted to join Anders and Elsy as they made their way towards their own happily ever after.

rtc. this was so so sooo good!! ashley poston never fails.

thankyou netgalley for this arc. all opinions are my own and are totally unbiased and unpaid.

I really wanted to love this, but I’m not sure how I feel. To start, I wouldn’t say this reads as romance, but more like women’s fiction.

The plot revolves around the FMC, Elsy, ending up in the fictional town of her favorite book series. It sounded like the perfect concept, but it just fell flat for me.

The town itself would’ve been fine if it was a cute small town romance vibe, but the town and the town’s characters felt more like a cartoon and less like a romance novel.

There also really wasn’t any palpable chemistry or tension between Elsy and Anders. I would’ve probably been able to look past all of that if the book was exciting or un-put-downable…but unfortunately I was generally waiting for something to happen the whole time.

To be fair, it was cute at times and there were also emotional parts that I enjoyed. But it all worked out too perfectly and quickly. There just wasn’t the usual depth I would expect from this author.

Ashley Poston is uniquely skilled at breaking her readers’ hearts wide open only to put them back together again. A NOVEL LOVE STORY is the latest example of Poston’s one-of-a-kind, on-page emotional wizardry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC.

4.5
I adore the way Ashley writes, her storylines are always so unique and her writing captures you whole. This book was so no different.
I found myself relating to Eileen as a book lover as well. She was very easy to love and connect with and in the end lived every readers dream of meeting her fav characters in her fav book world!
I loved that you were left wondering throughout the whole book, “whose story is this?!” Because it added to the mystery throughout. The themes of love in relationships and friendships and family in these characters lives is so easy to find yourself in. Ashley writes about grief so well and frequently and I think it’s so refreshing to see done in the right ways.

Also random- but while reading this book Twilight was mentioned and I was wearing my Edward Cullen tshirt, The Hobbit was mentioned while Lord of the Rings was playing in the background, boxed wine was mentioned as I was drinking boxed wine … it was crazy weird coincidences lol

I absolutely adored the plot of this book so much! It was so cute to see it play out. It was nice to have a new type of plot to read because I haven’t seen this type used before!

Our main character, Eileen finds herself in desperate need of a vacation after all her wedding planning and no wedding… after her fiancé expresses he’s in fact not actually ready for this next step she finds herself shocked and heartbroken. While on the road for distraction heading to her bookclubs cabin her car decides to have a mind of its own, breaking down in a small town away from reality. Eileen stumbles into her favorite series in real life and has the chance to meet all her favorite characters. (every book readers ultimate dream!)

This was a very emotional read as many heavy topics are discussed. Poston always has such an amazing way discussing important yet difficult topics and she does it with such elegance and grace.

However I did find this story to be dragging at some points and it left me bored, I will always support this author as she is an auto buy author for me! I wish there was more romance, I really did feel like Anders and Elsy lacked chemistry and acted more like siblings feuding than people flirting.

This was a really sweet, thoughtful story that evokes feelings of the movie Pleasantville x Gilmore Girls but bookish.

I couldn’t get past how many times Anders’ eyes were referred to as minty however. This literally became the bane of my existence so I had to deduct points.

Overall, this is comfy cozy and cute! A lovely little love story.

Ashley Poston is one of my favorite authors. In my mind, she's not capable of writing anything unreadable. Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip are two of my top favorite books. I love how Ashley writes with such magical enchantment. A Novel Love Story did not disappoint. Not quite on the same level as her previous books, but enjoyable, magical and all the romance that keeps me reading. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me the chance to read another great book by Ashley Poston.

I want to start by saying I LOVE Ashley Poston's writing and her previous book, The Seven Year Slip, was my favorite romance read of 2023. So, of course, I had high expectations going into this book and was SO excited to get an early copy. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver for me. Elsy is a romance novel enthusiast, who has relied heavily on her favorite book series to get her through a tough time in her life. While on a solo road trip, she has car trouble and finds herself stranded in a quirky small town. However, she quickly realizes it isn't just any small town- she has somehow stumbled into the setting of her favorite books. The concept is SO unique and fun, but I really struggled to connect with the characters. The romance took too long to develop, and I just didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. The writing was great, and there were lots of really fun, charming, and whimsical elements to the story that I think lots of readers will enjoy. But, overall, this was just okay for me.

I loved this book! The writing was phenomenal and moving. Ashley Poston did it again! I cried and laughed and felt so vulnerable (in the best way) I already want to go back and reread my favorite lines. I can’t wait for the book to come out and for others to enjoy it just as much!

I enjoyed the concept behind this story very much. The characters were lovable and funny and the town of eloraton was darling but I just didn’t find this to be a memorable book, unfortunately. There was a bit too much repetition for my liking and the slow burn was stretched too much for me. Once the romance arrived it started and ended quickly which was disappointing. I was skimming the chapters once I hit 80% and I ended up skipping to the end anyway when I reached the last five chapters. This isn’t to say this story was a flop, I believe this will be a successful story based on the fact that it was a very “bookish” book—you’ll know what I mean once you read it—and the message behind the fmc’s journey to finding herself again. A solid three stars from me.

This novel is a testament to the community of romance readers. It’s a love letter to everyone who has ever felt like a secondary character in their own lives. It’s a warm reminder that you are and have always been enough. It’s a promise to love yourself first and that’s okay to prioritize what you want. It’s a promise that love is still out there after heartbreak and that you can be happy again. A Novel Love Story reminded me (just as it reminded Eileen) of why I love to read.

I’m the first to admit that I adore romances and that while small-town romances aren’t my cup of tea, bookish communities are something I (and I’m assuming you since you’re reading a book review) am intimately familiar with. Romance readers are as crucial to the story as the romance itself. Reading this novel feels like being seen: yes, that’s exactly what fandom feels like. Yes, happily ever afters are comforting. Yes, romance is the perfect escape. Everything about reading and community in this novel was a yes.

Beyond the kinship I felt for this novel, the main character was wonderful. Eileen was flawed and human and so achingly familiar; as book nerds, she is the kind of person we can all relate to because we’ve all felt what she feels to some degree. Her life has left her behind and she’s uncertain of the future, so of course she escapes into her favorite romance book town (though this time, literally). And haven’t we all wanted to escape reality for a little while and fall into our favorite story? Haven’t we all wanted to meet our favorite characters and watch their romances come to life?

Yet rather than being saved by a romantic relationship, Eileen has to learn to love herself again. Yes, I’m well aware of how cheesy that sounds, but there’s something so wonderful about reading a romance about a woman who learns to pick herself. Who prioritizes who she is as an individual over who she is in a relationship. Don’t get me wrong, Anders was swoon-worthy (he owns a bookstore, loves romance novels, and always remembers to make Eileen coffee in the mornings even though he only drinks tea) but watching a character prioritize herself is something I’d love to see more of in this genre.

My one issue with this novel was the pacing. The last 100 pages were incredible, but the story took a while to get started and was slow in the middle as well. Maybe that’s because I’m used to reading romances with higher stakes (as in we will both die soon because our kingdoms are at war or my reputation will be ruined forever unless we agree to a marriage of convenience), but I found the pacing to be too slow.

That being said, the raw emotions in this book made it memorable. I cried, I laughed, I smiled, and I was reassured that love is real. Essentially, A Novel Love Story does everything a good romance should do and more. If you love romance novels of any kind, read this book. If you love whimsical stories that won’t let you go, read this book. If you love feeling understood as a book nerd, read this book. Basically, go read this book!

Ashley Poston is a must read for me. I'm not sure what I would call her special blend of romance and sci-fi, but I am here for it. This book was wonderful. Did it take a little too long to get to the point at first? Maybe. Was the MC's relationship with her best friend seemingly a little obsessive? Also maybe. But the premise, the characters, the detail, even the heartache was worth it in the end. (And oh, do you feel like you've been gut-punched at one specific part.) Point is, this book is great and Ashley's novels will continue to be some of my most recommended.

In Ashley Poston's enchanting novel "A Novel Love Story," Eileen Merriweather, a book aficionado who prefers the safety of fictional worlds, embarks on a transformative experience that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. After her car breaks down on the way to her annual book club retreat, Eileen finds herself stranded in Eloraton, a quaint town that appears straight out of her beloved romance series. Here, she discovers that the town is trapped in the late author's unfinished story and believes she has a role to play in bringing it to a satisfying conclusion. As Eileen delves deeper into the town's mysteries, she encounters Rhys, a bookstore owner with mint-green eyes and an undeniable attraction that unsettles her. However, Rhys is opposed to Eileen's involvement in the town's fate, leading to a delightful tension between them. As Eileen navigates the complexities of Eloraton, she uncovers secrets about herself and her relationship with her favorite fictional world. Poston skillfully weaves together elements of romance, fantasy, and self-discovery, creating a captivating story that keeps readers engrossed until the very end. Poston's writing is witty, heartwarming, and effortlessly engaging, transporting readers to the charming world of Eloraton. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the romance between Eileen and Rhys sizzles with chemistry. The author also explores themes of destiny, the power of stories, and the importance of embracing life's unexpected adventures. With its blend of nostalgia, humor, and heart, "A Novel Love Story" is a delightful read that will resonate with readers who cherish the magic of books and the transformative power of love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the privilege of an advanced review copy of this super fun book.

I am officially an Ashley Poston fangirl. I read and loved The Dead Romantics over Valentine’s Day last year so I had high expectations for this upcoming title. It did not disappoint. Like The Dead Romantics, the plot requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but that just makes it all the more unique and fun to read. I loved the way the book celebrates stories and the role they can have in our lives. I think the characters had chemistry and while I predicted a few twists, there were still some surprises.

Will this book be everyone’s cup of tea? No. But it was definitely mine and I look forward to sharing it with readers at my library.

This was a feel good, sweet romance with not a lot of spice. I enjoyed the imaginary town. It went a little long for me in places, but overall, I enjoyed it.

3.25 🌟

I had really high hopes for this one because I’ve seen so much love for her other books, but this was just okay for me. I enjoyed her writing and I thought the storyline was so fun and unique, I just didn’t feel the romance for the majority of the book. The last 35% is where the romance really picked up and I started to feel a bit more invested in the story! I was definitely rooting for the main couple towards the end, but I just didn’t feel super connected to the characters and I honestly wasn’t sure how it was going to end (which I sort of liked!) I went into it expecting really high romance, and it just missed the mark a bit for me!