As hard as it was to pick this book (or any book) up after my Hopper passed, this was a really lovely one to have already been in the middle of. Emma is celebrating one year of sobriety and learning that as beautiful as being sober is it isn’t the only thing that will solve all of her problems. I enjoyed navigating a year in Emma’s life grappling with her past, her uncertain present, and her bright future.

Definitely Better Now is an emotional and overall heartwarming story of a young woman navigating life after her first full year of sobriety. I swooned at the romance, cried about her complicated relationship with her father and grief over his death, and left the book feeling like I'd gained something after reading it. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who hates the miscommunication trope, as I found the characters constant reckoning with the truth very refreshing. I rated this book five stars because I enjoyed it and would read it again.

4/5 stars

This novel transverses many serious topics, like addiction, sobriety, and mental health. Well done and with humorous prose at parts, Robinson does this justice as we navigate these issues with our main character, Emma. With honesty and genuine curiosity, Robinson masterfully brings Emma on a roller coaster journey of acceptance, perseverance, and family healing. This is one you don't want to miss if you love literary fiction that feels like a second coming-of-age.

Thank you Netgalley and Ava Robinson for the ARC and chance to review this book!

Definitely Better Now is a heartfelt and engaging contemporary romance that beautifully explores healing, self-discovery, and new beginnings. Ava Robinson crafts relatable characters whose journeys toward love and personal growth feel genuine and inspiring.

The story balances moments of emotional depth with lighthearted humor, making it both touching and enjoyable. The romance unfolds naturally, with authentic chemistry and thoughtful pacing that keeps you invested.

Perfect for readers who enjoy feel-good stories about second chances and finding happiness on your own terms, this novel offers a warm and uplifting escape.

This story beautifully captures the relationship with one self in times of insecurity-specifically recovery in this book. I found the book captivating and truly felt for the MC. Even non-addicts can probably relate to the inner monologue and how we perceive external relationships and how they affect us.

This book felt so realistic that I had to double check it wasn’t a memoir. I loved joining the main character for her journey and her struggles felt so relatable, even for someone that doesn’t drink (like me) because they don’t like the taste. Would recommend this to anyone, but especially someone experienced with addiction. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a sweet story. Emma's struggles and insecurities were real and her growth throughout the story. Looking forward more from author.

Oof I was not ready for this one. “Definitely Better Now” is a delightful twist of a story—I went into it thinking it would be your traditional lighthearted rom-com, but this one has serious depth. Yes, there is still the humor, fun banter, and sweet love story that is always present in a good rom-com. But the characters have so many layers, complexity, and deeply personal character growth throughout. (Not many books make me cry, but this one did!)

“Definitely Better Now” follows Emma, a recovering alcoholic who has hit her one-year milestone as sober. Does she have everything figured out because of this huge achievement? Absolutely not. Is she getting there? Slowly but surely. Carefully navigating Emma’s journey as an alcoholic who is desperately trying to find herself now that she’s sober, Ava Robinson weaves together a beautiful story of self-discovery, family, overcoming trauma, and life in all its beauty and hardships.

Thank you to Ava Robinson, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I ended up reading this later than I thought. It was good. Nothing WOW. I’d recommend it to someone tho if they wanted to read about a total train wreck of a character. It’s one of those, I don’t want to watch but I can’t look away kind of feelings. I get the becoming sober is hard and changes you but that doesn’t mean she has to let people treat her like garbage

4/5. I think the author did a good job showing the struggles that can come with sobriety. How do you share with people that you are sober and on your journey to celebrating one year? What happens when life throws curveballs and you have to find new coping skills? What happens when you no longer fully agree with the teachings of AAA? Sobriety isn’t a one and done situation and I found the author tried to show the complexity of life for someone who has done the work to get to a place of freedom from alcohol and how you aren’t just freeing yourself from a drink but also losing people along the way.

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.