Such a cute small town, I could spend forever there. Romance felt truly rushed, like I had missed an entire chapter, and the ending was off. Lots of little tidbits for book lovers to overall a fine story.

I am a certified Ashley Poston lover girl. Her books never disappoint and this was no exception, absolutely riveting. I felt really seen by this one, especially, in contrast to her others; “I was scared. I didn’t need love. But oh, oh, how I wanted it.” I have never related to a quote more.

I really enjoyed this book! This is my favorite of Ashley Poston's books that I've read. The concept was new and different, and I felt like the story made sense. The characters in the town and the main characters were so cute and fun and funny. I wasn't entirely sure how it was going to end, but I liked how it did end. I would recommend this to many patrons and friends. Thank you to Berkley for this ARC!

Cute, fun, but ultimately hard to get through. I wish I could have loved but it felt rushed and contrived.

This was one of the most delightful books I've read in a while. It reads like a Hallmark movie, but one with spice and personality. If you're anything like me, it will make you want to get lost in upstate NY, drive over a random bridge, and end up in the town from your very favorite book series. This book is smart, funny, and surprisingly surprising.

“I was scared. I didn’t need love. But oh, oh, how I wanted it.”

I want to start this review off by saying that Ashely Poston has a magical ability to make me cry 30% through one of her books. Half of my comments consist of “love Poston’s humor,” “Ashley WHY,” and, most importantly, an embarrassing amount of notes screaming that we get another Benji cameo in one of her books.

A Novel Love Story hit too hard– I saw myself in Elsy, in her love for romance novels, a safe way to experience love and happy endings without risking heartbreak. The chapter detailing her story with Liam did fully make me cry. I’ll admit it. Poston has a way of making her characters come to life, and I found myself sympathizing with Elsy, feeling her devastation and heartbreak, her desire to get lost in familiar pages.

The concept of this book was so fun! I loved the details like the half thought-up menu, the graveyard of drafts, the repeating cycle of the days. My only complaint is I wish we knew more about HOW this fictional town came to life like it did– maybe it’s the fantasy fan in me, but I want all the details because it’s such a fascinating concept.

“I couldn’t remember the last time someone kissed me this passionately— savored me, like I was the last sentence in his favorite book.”

Onto Anders. I thought he was a touch bland compared to some other love interests Poston has given us, but I did enjoy seeing him and Elsy grow close, even if I did see the “twist” coming. As usual, Poston gave us a beautiful love story without relying too heavily on “spice,” which I find a lot of contemporary romances relying on to show us the connection between the main couple. Sometimes love is sugary spaghetti and tweed jackets, and it’s enough to make me want to bawl my eyes out :)

Another amazing read from Poston, absolutely 100% reccomend, I wanna open a bookstore now.

What an incredible story! I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one day. The author did an amazing job describing the small town and characters. I felt like I was a part of the story!

I had fun with this book but I wanted ✨more✨! the premise is that our main character Elsy finds herself in the town of her favorite romance series with the characters she knows and loves!! I've definitely had dreams of something like this happening, and it's honestly a really cool idea.

this isn't my favorite Ashley Poston book so far, even though the premise really speaks to me! I know I'm in the minority bc I've not loved a book by this author yet, and some of my favorite people really love her, so I think this is definitely just a me thing!

I really liked how we got the lore of the town and the characters, and found myself wanting more of that! Give me the series that this made up town is based on please!! I found our main character a little annoying, and I felt that the writing had really repetitive moments. I loved Anders, but I didn't necessarily buy into the chemistry.

I loved THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP, so I was thrilled to receive this one early. Overall, I thought the writing was fun and the setting was charming. I totally could have seen this as a Christmas setting, too! It was a little too cutesy for me — I wanted some tension — but it was a fun read that lovers of Gilmore Girls will absolutely adore. Just had that vibe to it. I will definitely read more of Ashley Poston’s work!

imagine you're on a road trip to your friends annual "book club" retreat you rent a whole dang cabin for, end up lost, in a storm, & almost hit a man in the first town you come across. oh, and end up stranded bc your car broke down and the local B&B is closed.

but wait, you actually recognize the town? it's almost like it's been plucked from your favorite book series.
but that's crazy, there's no way. that's crazy.

that man you almost ran over? he's the local book store owner and has the only available place to crash in a loft above the store. But you don't remember his character from the series...?

THE BANTER OHMYGOODNESS 10/10

If you have ever wondered what falling for a book boyfriend is like, you need to read this! I cant say enough about how incredibly thought out and the attention to details, Its exactly how I would expect living in a story would feel. I loved how cozy and romantic the entire experience felt, even at the end when she made her choice and let him make his.

I will say that finding out Anders story, and how he played into the town was absolutely perfect. It was a complete shock, but I couldn’t have thought of anything better.

written for the:
"right where you left me" girlies
I LOVE the fantasy / magical aspects in a contemporary setting that end up in all of of Ashley Poston's books!

This was very cute! My first Ashley Poston book so I can't compare to her earlier novels. It was very cozy and easy to get sucked into.

Title: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Publication Date- 08/20/24
Publisher- Berkeley
Overall Rating- 3 out of 5 stars

Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Don’t look at me.


Urg. I am so disappointed and I can’t quite figure out if it’s a me problem or not. Maybe you will decide after this review. I can’t believe I am saying this but I DNF’d this book at about 30 percent in. This did not feel like the Ashley Poston who is one of my favorite authors. However, I do think there are people out there who will enjoy this, let’s start with that.

If you like Hallmark and a cozy, light hearted time, give this a try. The premise is really cool and if you want something that lacks depth, which we all do from time to time so no shame, this is the book for you.

That being said, I wish I would have been more of Poston’s ability to create meaningful stories and connection. Some of the lines just felt so shallow and cringey. I hate to use that word it feels mean and I know that she can do better. I think what may have happened is that she wrote for a different audience and different tone and that’s okay, it just didn’t work for me.

There was a lot built of archetypes and stereotypes of characters (not in a harmful way just in a way that didn’t feel creative). Overall, this just wasn’t for me and I hope it lands in the hands of people who have the correct expectations. I hope that her next novel is more in the vein of her previous too but good for her for exploring a different style and way of storytelling.

A fun tale with a twist!

I went into this one blind, knowing I enjoyed her previous books, and happily ended up on a journey that's different from your typical romance plot.

Once Eileen's car breaks down and she finds herself stranded in the fictional small town from her favorite romance series, all I could picture was myself in Virgin River and never wanting to leave.

Watching her interact with all of the quirky, yet lovable characters she's come to know and adore through reading their stories was such a fun adventure. Even the broody bookstore owner Anders was a delight to get to know once he opened up.

This was a great way to end the summer, and I feel as though any romance reader can especially relate to this book, making it a great read. The audiobook was narrated by Dorothy Dillingham Blue, who is a new-to-me narrator, but she did a fabulous job of bringing everyone's characteristics to life!

A Novel Love Story was sweet and magical story from Ashley Poston, whose debut - The Dead Romantics was just one of my most favorite rom-com stories. It was just so fun and I love how she includes a bit of magic into all of her stories.

This was a cute read - felt a bit like Book Lovers - and was definitely a nod to all romance novel readers everywhere. A kind of love story to love stories. It was charming and sweet but just kind of OK for me. I missed a lot of the signature cleverness and snark from her debut, but if you just love warm and cozy love stories - than this one definitely is for you!

A cute, cozy romance novel. This was a love story with just a minimum amount of drama and a few twists and turns. Really enjoyed the characters and the plot. Perfect story to curl up with on a rainy day.

This is easily one of the most interesting romance books I have ever read. The novel's unique premise—a literature professor finding herself literally caught up in the pages of her favorite romance series—sets the stage for a delightful and imaginative journey that blurs the line between reality and fiction.

Eileen Merriweather is a character who will resonate with anyone who has ever sought refuge in a good book. Her love for happily-ever-afters is put to the test when she ends up stranded in Eloraton, a charming town that is as fictional as it is real. Polston's description of Eloraton is so vivid that it feels as though the reader, like Eileen, has stepped right into the pages of a beloved story. From the sweet honey taffy at the candy store to the predictably rainy afternoons, the town is a perfect blend of nostalgia and magic.

The plot takes an intriguing turn with the introduction of a grumpy yet irresistibly captivating bookstore owner. His mysterious presence in a world that should be familiar to Eileen adds depth to the narrative, creating a tension that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. As Eileen grapples with her role in bringing the town to its storybook ending, she discovers that her own happily-ever-after may be more intertwined with this fictional world than she ever imagined.

I mean, yeah I ugly cried.

This was so cute and I absolutely loved the characters in this magical little town! I mean yes we didn't know how and why the town happened but there is just something about the magic of it all that made me not care to know.
Also, I agree with other reviews about the third act breakup being slightly ridiculous and not needed because it took some of the romantic magic away but other than that I loved every second of it !

Thank you to the publisher for a copy!

I love Ashley Poston’s writing and her cozy settings, but I didn’t connect with these characters. I knew that Elsy loved these people and this town, but I struggled to care or connect as an outsider.
I also felt like the romance was minimal for most of the book and then super amplified the last 25%

I think this could have benefited from being a duology!

Elsy, on her way to seclude herself with her books for the week, finds herself in the middle of a strange town that she vaguely recognizes after a big storm ⛈️ turns out it’s the town her favorite book series takes place in! How will she get out and who will she meet along the way? 🧐

I LOVED dead romantics - it was the last book I read in 2022 and it was so good! Seven Year Slip was a bit of a disappointment for me but I still enjoyed it and I was excited for this one! Novel Love Story slots in with Seven Year Slip - it was good but I think Dead Romantics just holds such a high bar 🫣 I didn’t really trust the romance but I liked Elsy enough as a main character and the story itself was super interesting! 😍

I love the magical realism and stories Ashley Poston writes. This one was so fun and I love the living in a favorite series. This gave me pleasantville vibes kinda. The characters were so unique and I love the way it was told. The ending wasn’t my favorite. It just felt fast and lackluster.

*Thank you netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.