One year sober, Emma has transformed much of her life. She has a steady office job, attends AA meetings regularly, and is in frequent contact with her sponsor.

But, even with all the effort she’s put in, life still isn’t easy. She hasn’t spent time developing friendships and relationships with the people in her everyday life. And she wants to put herself out there to try dating again, but doing that sober is so scary.

I fell in love with the story of Emma, the changes she’s undergone, her emotional growth, her learning to be openly vulnerable, and her search for connection and where she truly fits.

And, goodness, I sure did adore steadfast and steady Ben. Honestly, is there anything better than a quiet love interest blushing to the tips of his ears due to banter? I don’t think so.

I laughed; I cried; and I cheered Emma on.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Harlequin Trade Publishing. All review opinions are my own.

4.75⭐️ rounded up! The ending is what demoted it a little, but it was soo good the whole way through. I loved how imperfect and raw Emma was. She was so brutally and heart-wrenching honest with us. It was comical, but it was tough. She’s lived so many lives and is still trying her to be better. We see her figuring out this potential romantic relationship and she’s so hesitant and overthinking everything. I loved her, but I was also mad at her for self-sabotaging!! There are definitely trigger warnings to be wary of. I loved her healing. We know she’s been sober for one year now, but she’s still figuring things out, which I think is so important to demonstrate and see. I also like the idea of how different methods of healing and communication and community can be good for different reasons and for different seasons. Just because one thing doesn’t work for someone doesn’t mean that thing isn’t good or isn’t fine/effective. It also doesn’t mean that another thing/way isn’t equally as fine or good. (I feel like that is cryptic but hopefully it makes sense, especially for people who’ve read the book lol). The lead male character was so perfectly sweet. I want one of him! This book was a classic, girlie-pop romance. The new wave of these modern covers and the bright colors and the character artwork is impeccable. 10/10 recommend. So honest, so sweet, so cutesy, so real, so much heart!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA, for this touching, genuine, and fantastic ARC!

This book wasn’t a good fit for me, unfortunately. I tried to continue reading on, but I just couldn’t get into it. Started out very slow and it didn’t catch my attention at all. DNF the book after a few chapters.

A new fave ☁️☕️💌

There was something so painfully charming -and at times relatable- about seeing our main character fumble through life but ultimately finding herself. Bearing witness to her character growth and knowing that she started off plagued with so much self doubt just made the ending that much sweeter and satisfying.

This book exists in its own genre in my head Messy Women Making Messy Decisions. Sort of like Crushing and No Hard Feelings by Genevieve Novak, or Really Good Actually by Monica Heisey. All these books dive into the interiority of women’s lives and shows the painful and embarrassing parts of life all while including this very specific type of humor that I love. It’s heavy, but so funny.

This was a beautiful story about sobriety, parental relationships, a very unique coming of age, and sure, love ❤️

Much thanks to Mira Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

A beautiful story of recovery - through addiction, through her relationship with her father, through learning how to become a real friend again, and, most importantly, how to trust and love herself again. Emma is a former train wreck who has just hit a year sober, she’s gone through the steps and came out the other side as a new person. But she still has so much more growth and learning to accomplish. Her story was so endearing to me (a crush on the office IT guy? Being nominated to plan the office holiday party?) as much as it was heartbreaking. I didn’t expect to cry so much, but I was in tears for a good portion of the end of the novel.

Some may consider this a romance, but the romance, while I really enjoyed it, was not the highlight of the story for me. The father/daughter relationship at the core of the story was my favorite part.

All of the characters were so well developed. The writing was great. I truly am so excited to see what comes next for this author.

I really loved having a story from a not so perfect character and the growth she made over time in all aspects of her life.

This book was just ok for me. I didn’t love it - I didn’t hate it. I do want to thank the publishers for this arc!

Thank you @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for the Advanced Reader eCopy of Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now.

I can count the funny moments in this book in one hand. I was expecting Eleanor Oliphant or I Hope This Finds You Well vibes from this one, and did not get it.

Learned a lot about sobriety, addiction, AA, and one’s recovery journey. I liked Emma and Ben’s relationship progression, and the highlight for me was Emma’s reconnection with her father. There was not enough moments of redemption to balance out all of Emma’s first person self-deprecating internal monologues, and that for me was the weak point of this book. I did appreciate the anecdotes on power, and our human nature to seek control despite not having any.

What a great read! I found myself thinking of this and what would happen next in the moments I was unable to read it. Of course, it’s difficult subject matter and being inside Emma’s head can be hard sometimes. But, I think this book provides such insight into what the struggle may look like for someone struggling with addiction and the anxiety it brings to try to be a “good, normal” human with the social challenges life can bring. The introduction of HG and the Big Book also added a complexity that I enjoyed. The whole book introduces characters that opens up a debate of what makes a good or bad person. Maybe as Ben said, there’s no villains or fools, just people. Also speaking of Ben, heart eyes forever!!

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is a heartfelt read that dives into addiction, sobriety, mental health and family.
Emma is navigating sobriety, dating, navigating friendships and family issues. I enjoyed Emma's journey and her relationship with Ben.

This book took me by surprise in the best way possible! It was one of those books that had me stopping to reflect. It is depressing at times due to the heavy topics, but there is a lot of dark humor mixed in. My favorite kind of books are ones that deal with messy characters who experience growth and this delivered. It was tender and thought provoking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin trade Publishing/MIRA for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emma, 26, has just celebrated her first year sober and with her new adopted lifestyle, she is ready to put herself out there. Emma is open to dating, she’s on the party planning committee at work and she’s even working on her difficult familial relationships. This witty, relatable, and heart-felt debut novel effectively captures what it is like to be a young woman in NYC living a newly sober life, including all of the ups and downs.

I enjoyed it. There are some really good moments that make you raise your eyebrows and think “damn” but then there are moments that are a bit slow or repetitive (in nature) but don’t aid or contribute to the progressing narrative. Emma is a complex and vulnerable character who lays bare so many dark and emotional moments from her past; however, I had a hard time connecting with her. It felt as if she had one foot in the door and the other out.

Instead of Emma’s romantic relationship with a co-worker (Ben) being a big theme in this book, I would have much rather enjoyed seeing how her relationships with her mother and “work friend” Vanessa played out, especially because her previous rocky friendship with Susannah had a big part of who she was as an alcoholic and how she approaches friendships now.

Overall, this was an impressive feat for a debut novel and Ava should be proud for accomplishing such an important topic in a healthy, realistic yet empathetic way. I was cheering Emma on in the end when she left her somewhat toxic AA group and found one that seemed much more her speed! I am excited to see what Ava has in store for us next!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I came in expecting a train wreck main character; which, who doesn’t love? But I ended up with a deeply relatable, touching story. I loved Emma and seeing her growth through the story. And Ben is one of my favorite book boyfriends I’ve read. While I really enjoyed the relationship aspect of this book, I loved that that wasn’t the main focus of the story. This book is about so much more than the romance. It’s about growth and acceptance, and grief and family.
I’m so glad I got to read this book and loved it so much I was able to pick a physical copy through BOTM. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.

⭐️3.75
One year sober and Emma is ready to celebrate and take on the world. She soon realizes that just because she’s sober, doesn’t mean life isn’t complicated.

This one is a cross between a Rom-com and women’s fiction. There is an overall theme of “growing up” while navigating friendships, worklife, and dating while still newly sober. An unresolved, difficult relationship with a parent brings a heaviness to the last part of the book.

I liked the workplace drama and seeing how Emma handled some pretty awkward situations. Overall, loved watching Emma discover her OWN truth, apart from all the other people in her life, including her parents. I look forward to reading more from Ava Robinson.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

Pub date: December 17, 2024

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. My opinions and review is my own.

This book was a look into the mind of a woman dealing with the grasp of becoming sober and basically starting their life over again. Throughout the book it is interjected with past stories and humor which made this an enjoyable read. I thought it was hard to get through sometimes so it took me longer to enjoy.

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Contemporary novel following a young woman navigating both life and relationships as a recovering alcoholic. While this novel has romance in it, the story primarily focuses on the other types of relationships that Emma has distanced herself from as she’s tried to rebuild herself. Written so well it is hard to believe this is a debut. So much heart and honesty is seen in this fictional character. Emma was written as a relatable young woman during a transitional time of her life.

Ava does a great job at tackling the seriousness of alcoholism and blending it with the right amount of humor for this somber topic.

I adored Emma with her hopeful, yet honest, approach to sobriety. She was easily relatable and her character was just so authentically raw and emotional. I loved how she was able to look objectively at her life and choices and still want to do and be better.

Her journey was not easy and her growth was incredible. She also had an amazing support system in Ben and her new found family. Ben was a great supporting character and provided just the right amount of romance to the story. He was someone that really made Emma want to blossom. He was so respectful of her recovery, never judging and always patient with her.

A Year of Emma is a poignant and heartfelt debut that explores themes of addiction, sobriety, family trauma, and self-discovery. At 26, Emma is one year into her sobriety journey, supported by her sponsor and the HG group. As she navigates her relationship with her free-spirited, alcoholic father and grapples with her identity, Emma’s path is both painful and transformative.

The story shines in its portrayal of Emma's internal struggles and the challenges of rebuilding her life. Her interactions with Mitchell, an office adversary, and Ben, the kind and steady IT guy, highlight her growth and vulnerabilities. Ben, in particular, stands out for his patience and respect for Emma’s boundaries, even during frustrating moments.

While there’s a hint of romance, this book leans more toward women’s fiction, focusing on Emma’s emotional journey. The story delves into the intricacies of AA, offering an authentic look at the path to recovery. Though not a light read, it’s a realistic and satisfying tale of resilience and self-acceptance.

I tore through this book in 24 hours and thought it was delightful and honest. Emma as a messy 20 something navigating sobriety and workplace relationships felt loveable and relatable in spite of being impossible sometimes. Lots of AA talk and family addiction stuff woven in but I found it interesting and true to life.

Fans of stream of consciousness, slice of life style narratives will enjoy this.

I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and prose and felt the introspection (albeit too brief for my preference) was well done.

I quite liked the way this author wrote the romance aspects of this book. If the author writes a full Romance in the future I’ll be the first in line to preorder. It was sweet. In fact I think had this been heavier on the romance it may have worked better.

Actually that brings me to my largest critique - this book tried to do A LOT, rather than focusing on and diving into a single, or maybe two aspects/plot points we got a tiny snippet of too much at once.

Not only is she dealing with navigating dating post 1 year sober but there are at least 5 other major struggles for the FMC. While I understand that real life often does have a plethora of struggles at once, presenting them in this manner in such a short book gave me little to no satisfaction. We only saw surface level exploration of each topic, and I wanted more.

It felt like every time I really started to get into the narrative of drama unfolding we’d switch gears, and I was left wanting more.

My other critique is that this is marketed as being funny and I just don’t think it was that.

I think this had the potential to be a truly spectacular book. In the end the narrative pulled me in too many different directions and failed to give any one plot point enough attention.

I will certainly check out more from this author in the future and I think as a debut it’s quite decent.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.