Ava Robinson's debut novel, Definitely Better Now, offers a refreshing and deeply human exploration of life after addiction. The story follows Emma Finley, a 26-year-old New Yorker celebrating one year of sobriety. While her external life appears stable; steady job, AA meetings, and newfound clarity - Emma soon discovers that sobriety doesn't erase life's complexities. From navigating office dynamics and family tensions to tentatively stepping into the world of dating, Emma's journey is both relatable and poignant. Robinson masterfully balances humor with raw emotion, creating a narrative that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

What sets this novel apart is its authentic portrayal of recovery. Emma's struggles with self-doubt, guilt, and the fear of relapse are depicted with sensitivity and depth. Her budding relationship with Ben, a kind-hearted IT guy from her office, adds a layer of sweetness to the story, highlighting the challenges and joys of dating while sober. The dynamics within Emma's family, especially her interactions with her estranged father and overbearing mother, further enrich the narrative, offering insights into the complexities of familial love and forgiveness. Robinson's writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the nuances of Emma's internal and external battles. Definitely Better Now is a standout debut that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of personal growth, resilience, and the messy beauty of life.

This book has so much heart. I loved that it showed addiction and recovery in an honest and engaging way. Starting the book with Emma’s anniversary of 1 year of sobriety meant that we got to follow her ups and downs as she navigated sobriety and dating. I believed Emma’s journey, conflicts, backslides, and successes. While it definitely dealt with heavy topics, I did see a hopeful story as well. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that fits those themes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC!

This story crawled into my brain and stayed there. Full review to come! Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC!

Some people might say that Emma is unlikable or a frustrating narrator and I would disagree. Emma is a recovering alcoholic and she thinks that entering her first year sober means she's absolved or that she's "normal" now and that's not true. You still have to deal with all the things that came before and will come after. She's messy and doesn't always get things right and has a hard time accepting that. I liked Emma, I enjoyed her coworkers, Ben, and even New York City itself is a character. I felt like her struggles were real and I understood her motivations and was even frustrated when she didn't ask questions I wanted her to ask. I look forward to what comes next from this author.

I don’t know why, but I did not think I was going into a romance with this. I expected it just to be a contemporary fiction but I did love it! I thought it was a super cool concept in the drinking culture that we have these days. The relationships were really sweet and really realistic. And the journey was a fun one to follow!

This story hit hard in all the right ways. Ava Robinson does a phenomenal job portraying addiction from the inside; the shame, the self-doubt, and the constant battle to just be okay. Poor Emma. You feel every ache of her journey.
But you also get to see her grow. She navigates recovery with so much heart, and her strength quietly shines through. It’s raw, real, and ultimately hopeful.
A beautifully honest story of falling apart, and choosing to put the pieces back together.

This was such a cute, feel-good read! Ava Robinson perfectly captures that warm, fuzzy, slow-burn magic that makes you root for the characters from page one. I found myself smiling more than once and fully invested in their journey. It’s the kind of story that feels like a cozy hug—easy to fall into and hard to put down. Definitely a charming pick-me-up, and yes, I’m definitely better now after reading it.

It took awhile for me to get into this book, but was I did I was hooked. While not an alcoholic myself, I am the daughter of an alcoholic who I lost due to it. This book broke me. While it may not be for everyone it ended up making me think about the life I had with my dad differently.

Dual read this book flipping back and forth between the audiobook and the physical book. I loved the journey of discovery and self realization Emma went through. I laughed … and definitely cried. Such a good read!

This little novel is well written, playing with themes of office romance, while also exploring the experience of getting sober, specifically the time after the first year where many stories end. This is not a heavy book, and the privilege of the characters makes the stakes relatively low stakes. This was a nice palate cleanser read after some heavier texts. This book knows who its target audience is and delivers to that audience.

Rating: 5 stars!

Why is this so sad?! I didn't expect to be sobbing at the 70% mark of this book. We follow our main character, Emma, as she tackles this new world of sobriety, the quams she has with herself, and her growth through her AA program. There is heartbreak, disgusting office bros, and family (found, lost, found again?) that make this a read that wasn't what I thought the book would be, but ended up loving so much. Thumbs up. Cheers to you Ben.. You big ol golden retriever!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Finley is one year sober and is trying, sometimes awkwardly, sometimes hilariously, to figure out what comes next. She’s not falling apart, but she’s not exactly thriving either. And that’s what makes her an interesting choice of narrator : she’s funny, sharp, self-deprecating, and just the right kind of messy.

Definitely Better Now is not a story about hitting rock bottom. It is about what happens after. The not-so-glamorous middle part : therapy, slowly rebuilding your life and learning how to be around people again, and maybe even fall for someone.

There is no big dramatic twist or magical resolution in the story. Just a woman doing her best to become a better version of herself. Sometimes, she succeeds. Sometimes she doesn’t. In her novel, Ava Robinson walks the thin line between funny and heartfelt. It is emotional with moments of loneliness, guilt and regrets. But it is always balanced by Emma’s stubborn hope in the future.

Ava Robinson’s debut appealed to me from the MINUTE I heard/read about it so I jumped on Netgalley and then also added it to my BOTM box - all the Ava Robinson for me!! And it was worth it!

I really loved how this was a little bit of everything - I was touched by the characters vulnerability, I was provided with a realistic perspective on sobriety, the romance was cute, and I laughed. It was smart and also fun. The content was rich but the delivery was approachable. I just really appreciated this book and enjoyed it. Excited for what Robinson will write next and I hope that this will get this one out there more. It’s worth it!

4.5 stars
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson!

This book was messy in the best way—funny, honest, and super relatable. Emma is such a chaotic little gremlin (with a heart of gold), and watching her stumble through recovery, awkward office life, family drama, and cringe dating moments was equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. I saw a lot of myself in her.

It’s not really a romance, though Ben is a total sweetheart. This is more about figuring out who you are, even when things don’t go according to plan. Some parts of the AA stuff felt a little intense, but overall I loved the realness of it all.

Highly recommend if you like character-driven stories with humor, heart, and a bit of emotional chaos.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved this book. Emma was so funny and I hate to say it- but realistic. If you've ever had a freak out that you can't explain but takes over every atom in your body you could relate to her not so great choices but the author also wrote a realistic regret/apology arc right after. None of the messes were that far out there and every character was super lovable.

It wasn't what I would consider plot driven but there was enough random conflict to push you through to the next moment.

AA was a side character which I thought was interesting as someone who isn't in AA I learned a few things, but the author put a slight spin that bordered on religious ideology. Like she LOVES AA.

Ben was an amazing love interest, but this book was absolutely not a romance. This is a coming of a age and a reconning with accepting who you are, warts and all.

Funny, honest, tinged with both humor, lightness, and darkness, with a dash of #romance, and a reminder that redemption is available to all of us. This one is both joyful, hopeful, inspiring, and brutally real – and I think we have all had moments in our life when we can relate to this #bookcover.

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Emma is twenty-six, single, and working in New York, and has radically changed gears from her life struggling with alcoholism, partying, and cringe worthy interactions and regrettable one night stands she can’t remember. Newly sober for one year, dedicated to her recovery and AA meetings, progress, and sponsors, and thriving in her office job, she feels on the up and up in every way.

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As she struggles with her dating life, a newfound IT guy and her nomination to the dreaded office party planning committee threaten to add confusion and stress to her life that concerns her, in her early stages of recovery. When she is unexpectedly hit with a devastating family tragedy, she is forced to reckon with her own identity, sobriety, family relationships, romantic relationships, and outlook on life, as she navigates sobriety, grief, loss, pain, regret, confusion, and the world around her.

I couldn't put this book down, like I was reading this book in the car (passenger princess) at dinner, before bed you name it. I love a quirky book y'all

Definitely Better Now was a sweet and easy read, centered around Emma’s personal growth and her journey through sobriety. One year sober at the start of the book, Emma's nervousness about navigating new experiences and relationships without alcohol felt very real and relatable. Her story of rebuilding her confidence and stepping outside her comfort zone was inspiring, and her romance with Ben was a highlight—warm, genuine, and well written. That said, the plot was fairly predictable, and the ending lacked the emotional impact I was hoping for. Still, it’s a charming story with heart and an important message. This was a 3.5 star for me rounded up to a 4 for rating purposes. I am thankful to have gotten the ARC for free from MIRA from Netgalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I’m glad I went back and gave this another chance. It had giggle out loud moments and tender pieces that really brightened the subject matter so much. Emma’s sobriety journey was so much more relatable in different facets than just the sobriety journey itself. The growth that comes from dealing with grief and not having someone in your life that was a complicated relationship really hits close to the heart. I loved how patient Ben was while maintaining boundaries because that’s absolutely crucial to a successful relationship. Their nerdy tender moments were truly some of the best.

3.5 stars

*Definitely* an interesting story, and I thought it was a respectful take on alcoholism and sobriety. I just didn’t like how the story became all about one particular thing towards the end.