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.

This book had some good lessons and touched on serious or dark topics in a way that was approachable and relatable.

I really enjoyed Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson. The main female character has struggled with alcoholism in the past and will be celebrating a year of sobriety. Therefore, we go along for the ride while she rebuilds relationships with family and friends, and navigates new relationships both in and off the job. A few struggles arise through the story and we get to see how this impacts her recovery. As a mom with a young adult daughter who recently struggled with addiction, I found it very helpful and theraputic to read a story told from the perspective of a young woman with similar struggles.

Emma has hit 12 months of sobriety from alcohol. She’s been working, going to meetings, and getting her life back on track. But life has a way of throwing obstacles in your way when you’re trying to find the right path for yourself. A cute IT guy could be an obstacle but it could also be a step in the right direction.

I absolutely LOVED reading a romance that focused on addiction and recovery and the very real struggles that the process comes with. I really enjoyed watching Emma’s character grow and stand up for herself. I appreciate that this was a different kind of romance and was really invested in this story!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Ava Robinson, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on December 17th.

I did the audio version of this and am glad I did, I don’t know if it would have hooked me as much in the physical version. But it was a great story, about a young girl navigating dating, her family, and sobriety,

Emma is newly sober. With sobriety comes many obstacles that are foreign and almost too hard to handle. Ava Robinson creates a heartwarming, emotional story about sobriety and self-discovery that felt relatable and comforting given my own life experience. Definitely recommend to anyone new to literary fiction or looking for a digestible, quick read.

Thank you Ava Robinson, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration.

Ava Robinson’s debut novel, Definitely Better Now, follows Emma Finley, a 26-year-old New Yorker who has just celebrated her first year of sobriety. Emma is ready to re-enter the dating world. However, she quickly learns that her new sobriety doesn't magically fix everything else in her life.

What makes this novel stand out is its honest portrayal of recovery including setbacks, revelations, and victories. Emma is flawed and vulnerable. making her someone you want to root for while you read this book.

A great debut! I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Thank you for the ARC. I had pretty high hopes for this book, but I found it to be like every other book that falls into this genre. The main characters all seemed to be very two demensional and I found it difficult to root for them. I didn't find this story or characters to be too compelling and it was hard to give it a positive review, even though I was rooting for it.

As someone who has had to start over, this book made me feel way less alone. I absolutely loved this story. I can't wait to read more from this author.

4.5 ⭐️

Definitely Better Now tells a very specific story yet manages to be widely relatable to anyone who’s ever struggled in life. Filled with humor and pathos, I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely the sort of book that stays with you long after reading it.

Karissa Vacker did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Ava Robinson, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'll be honest, when I picked up this book I had no idea what I was getting into. - but I really enjoyed it! 

The character Emma felt so real. I could feel her highs and her lows as she learned all about her life as “Sober Emma”. I wasn't expecting so much family the her family, or a new romance to take hold. 

Overall, the story really pulled me in and I enjoyed it!