3.75* This was a nice story of finding yourself and your purpose. The writing was beautiful throughout

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy. This book is out November 17th (P.S. it is also a BOTM pick for December)

Poignant with a lot of moments of reluctant triumph, this is a (somewhat) darkly cute story of how Emma tumbles unwillingly and headfirst into Being An Adult, learning to appropriately navigate work, friendships, and relationships without the crutch of her addiction. I found myself rolling my eyes, giggling, and feeling some serious heartstring tugs. Would recommend!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this E-ARC.


Definitely better now:
1. I hate Mitchell.
2. I love Ben - so far. I’m only 47% in.
3. I just want to scoop Emma up and carry her in my pocket.
4. At 47% in this is for sure not the turn I thought this book was going in. I’m excited.

5. This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be.

Emma stopped drinking. She wants to be a better person. She wants to remember things and not sleep with random men in bars and not know their names. She wants to be demure work Emma and keep things professional.
She’s doing a good job. This book was exactly as it was described. Emma is living her life. And this book is telling us what’s happening. It’s pretty straight forward. She struggles with things. She gets horribly sad things thrown at her. It’s a beautifully sad story about a girl trying to make a better life for herself. I enjoyed it.

Wow what a powerful book. I fully enjoyed this one and definitely cried several times. I found it so raw and real. I highly recommend.

I really appreciated Emma’s character and her sobriety journey is relatable and real. Emma didn’t always make the “right” decisions but they were definitely realistic. I appreciated Ben’s character and how we respected Emma. This book did take longer for me to read because I found the pacing to be slow. There were moments where I was wishing for more to be happening, I found it interesting enough to keep going and to read further books from this author.

This was a tough read it was dark and dealt heavily with alcoholism and grief. With that said it was a beautiful story but not something I could see myself reading again. This was my first book from this author and enjoyed the simple, easy to read writing.The characters felt very real but a few were a little annoying. The pacing on this one was an issue for me when it got into some of the AA information I found myself losing interest. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson is a touching and emotional story about love, healing, and second chances. The book follows Emilia, a young woman struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event. As she tries to rebuild her life, she meets Simon, a kind and understanding man who helps her navigate her fears and insecurities. Their relationship blossoms slowly, with both characters dealing with their own personal baggage, making their connection feel authentic and heartfelt.

The author does a great job of portraying the complexities of trauma and recovery. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their growth throughout the story feels real and earned. The romance is sweet, and the chemistry between Emilia and Simon is genuine, making for a compelling and emotional read.

I just finished reading Definitely Better now by Ava Robinson and feel completed blown away. This is a debut?!?! It's SO good. Good isn't enough of a word. This book grabbed me immediately and didn't let me go. It might never let me go. Emma was such a dynamic FMC. So vulnerable, so flawed, so relatable, so genuine. I loved how Robinson didn't shy way from the messiness and self doubt that Emma was going through. A story about family dynamics, becoming sober, and trying to figure out how to live life without the devastating comfort that came with your vices. But also, make it funny. She made it so funny! There is grit and there is with and betwixt the two lies Definitely Better now. I can't rave enough about this one.

A debut novel that follows a recovering alcoholic and her interactions with the world—her family, coworkers, and potential love interest—while sober for the first time. It’s a heavy but fulfilling read that will make you want to hug your loved ones close.

This one hit soooo close to home, which made me love it so much more—even when it put me in all my feels. Definitely one of favorite books of the year.

Heads up, you might need tissues for this one 😭😭😭

(Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

This debut book was full of depth and felt like a letter that was written to the reader from a friend. Emma shares her story with alcoholism and how it feels to navigate life while keeping sobriety. It plays apart in her relationships, new and old and she grapples with life events in a new light that is described thoughtfully and with grace.

From looking inside of New York City from the outside it was a cool look into a life I do not have, but find interesting. The way Robinson describes upstate New York compared to The City made me kind of chuckle as I am from Western New York and could see how Emma felt visiting her father when she was a child.

This book brought me to tears and also made me laugh. I think everyone should read this book! It has such a good mix of highs and lows, there is no sugar coating life sometimes.

Thank you @netgalley and MIRA Publishing and Ava Robinson for with ARC in exchange for a review

Absolutely loved this one. It was heartfelt, very relatable, witty & emotional.

Emma is a recovering alcoholic who has one year of sobriety. We get to see her navigate this new and unfamiliar chapter in her life. She’s having to do a lot of things for the first time as a sober person. In many ways, she is having to learn to live all over again.

Emma is heavily involved in AA and is struggling to maintain a relationship with her father who is also an alcoholic.

The story tackles addiction, mental health struggles, family dysfunction, and fragmented friendships. I just loved Emma, she is so real. I was rooting for her the whole time & really connected with her character. I loved seeing how much she evolved throughout the story.

There is a romantic element to the story, but it felt secondary to me. Definitely reads more like Contemporary Fiction with a bit of romance. I would really recommend this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

The descriptive and authentic dialogue in this story immediately captivated me. Robinson's words drew me into the book. I enjoyed it so much. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've been struggling to finish this one.

I'm sober myself, and thought I'd be the perfect target for this book but I feel like it drags in parts. I never really get to understand Emma's reasons behind not drinking. It makes her character development seem dry and dull. I really really wanted to like this book. I think I'd recommend it to my friends who like chick lit, but I don't think this book would be enjoyed by anyone that's gone on a sober journey themselves. Emma comes off as shallow and doesn't stop feeling sorry for herself enough to like her as a character.

This was such a funny and heartfelt debut!

Emma is celebrating one year of sobriety and it’s time to take the training wheels off and start living a normal life. Except aren’t things supposed to be easier now?

Navigating her sobriety while nursing a new crush, a forced position on the Fun Team responsible for planning her company’s holiday party, and a challenging relationship with her estranged father is A LOT. Emma has to learn to trust and believe in herself. Luckily she has a lot of support.

This realistic portrayal of Emma’s addiction draws readers in, allowing them to empathize with Emma's journey of acceptance and growth. It's an inspiring read that resonates deeply. I loved the romance at the heart of the story and the nuanced characters of Emma and Ben.

The story was well-written and well-paced and I devoured it in just a few days. This was an amazing debut and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequintradepublishing for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5-4 ⭐️
This book was a heavy read. The way it provided insight into AA meetings and a person battling alcoholism alongside other personal struggles was truly impactful. It showed how life can change if effort is put in, emphasizing that tomorrow is not promised and reminding us to love our loved ones while they’re here and cherish each day.

The book also highlighted that no one has to face their struggles alone. It conveyed the importance of empathy, teaching that we may never know what someone else is going through, so we should never judge a book by its cover.

This story definitely made me reflect deeply, so I took my time with it. I loved how it portrayed the process of dealing with grief and how it showed Emma learning to trust again. I also appreciated seeing Emma reconnect with her father, which brought her journey full circle. It beautifully illustrated how she became the person she is, learning to speak up for herself and finding strength to stay sober despite her life’s challenges.

Additionally, the romance in the story added another layer of depth. I loved how Ben supported Emma and how their relationship grew, even when they had to take time apart.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut novel.

Okay. Here’s the deal. It was good. Just good. Before starting, I had no idea what to expect. Maybe some hard-hitting literary fiction about a woman going through sobriety. Hopefully a main character who I can empathize with and root for. Sadly, I didn’t feel that connection to the main character, Emma.

Definitely Better Now hits some heavy topics but does so in a “slice of life” way that I found myself being taken away from the original story. Do I think someone would enjoy this? Yes. Would I read it again? No.

Know that this is not the rom com the cover might suggest but that it's a terrific read about a woman who has just completed a year of sobriety and is starting over. Emma is 26 and she's got a new life, a new job, and a new outlook on life. Ben, the chief of IT who comes to fix her computer sparks something she hasn't felt before but that's not the point of this journey. She's got to navigate toxic harassment (and you'd think she'd stand up for herself with management earlier). She's learning to make friends. Her mom's life is changing. And then there's her dad who is also an alcoholic. This has thoughtful and helpful insight into AA and to the life of someone working the steps. And it was so much more than I expected. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A terrific relatable character and great storytelling make this an excellent read.

What a beutifully written novel. The cover is *chef's kiss* and I had the hardest time putting the book down. I was so invested into the FMC that I felt like I kind of new her by the end of it. Wow. Who knew books about 26 year olds could be so good?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This debut is a bittersweet and witty look at sobriety, love, and family chaos. Emma’s struggles with navigating dating, her estranged father, and holiday stresses were raw and relatable, and the writing style made her journey feel authentic. Also, the budding romance with Ben added warmth to the storyline. A heartfelt and charming read for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review is currently posted at the links provided below. A Pub Day post or story (& repost of review) will be published on Instagram on Dec. 17!

Heavy topic but great book. I cannot say that I know much about alcoholism, but this book helped me walk through some of the struggles that go with being in recovery. This is a debut novel for Ava, and it was worth reading! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!