Definitely Better Now is both a gut punch and also a warm hug of a story. While I’ve not struggled with alcoholism myself, Emma’s story still very much resonated with me and I absolutely adored her as a character. I loved her journey of opening up to people after spending so long isolating herself. I loved how she stood up for herself when she needed to and also learned to give others grace. I really enjoyed seeing her and Ben’s relationship evolve so much. Also, the look at breaking generational cycles was really interesting. And that ending, so beautiful and such a full circle moment. I think fans of Adelaide and Margo’s Got Money Troubles will really enjoy this one.
CW: alcoholism, grief, death of a parent, drug use, sexual harassment

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the gifted digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh, Emma. Some characters just burrow their way into your heart. You can see yourself in them. You have a soft spot for them. Emma was one of those characters for me. This book was a breath of fresh air. It was a quiet, touching story about navigating life in recovery. It takes a special author to write a story like this. On page, it seems like not much is happening at times but the character growth and story are simply flowing that easily. It’s easy to get lost in. I cannot wait to see what this author does next.

if you like books that are a little deeper and have a beautiful message then this is the book for you!! This story follows Emma who is a recovering alcoholic and shows us her journey through AA (which was so interesting to learn more about the AA process) we also get to see her mend and process her relationship with her father who is also an alcoholic. This was a beautifully written story of a girl who is trying to figure it out and make a better life for herself. As a person who’s witnessed people struggle with addiction, Emma felt so real and I just have such a soft spot for her. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it had me rooting Emma on no matter what. I loved the slight addition of romance through Ben and thought he did a great job supporting Emma. I also loved the journey Emma took to learn how to trust and let people in again. This is definitely not a lighthearted read but nonetheless it is beautiful and I adored it. It’s out NOW so give it a read!!! I feel so lucky to have received this ARC and I am so thankful 🥺🫶🏼 thank you thank you thank you harlequin publishing!!

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson was an amazing debut novel!

Emma is one year sober, and she feels like everything should have fallen into place by now. But there are many things that still seem to not be going right - her relationship with her dad, her inability to date, her job, and her feelings towards her sponsor and her AA group. Emma must learn that life is messy even while sober, and how to accept all aspects of life, as well as how to accept help and love from others.

As someone who has personally experienced addiction within families, I felt that this was such a great portrayal of that struggle. I loved how Robinson balanced the serious aspects of sobriety with the humor of daily life, embarrassments, and growing pains. I laughed, cried, and felt joy for Emma while reading this novel.

This is one I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of to reread now that it is released.

Thank you NetGalley and Mira Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my review.

3.5 stars

Sometimes, a book captures a particular moment of a reader's life so effectively that it's scary, and that definitely happened for me with aspects of this debut from Ava Robinson. While those personal connections gave me some solidly terrible flashbacks and kept me engaged, I'd have loved to feel so dialed in all the way through.

Ava is 26 and she's been sober for a year. Like all freshly sober people, Ava has had enough time to start to enjoy some of the benefits of a life NOT muddled by debilitating hangovers, consistently cringy decisions, and even dangerous behavior. ALSO like folks who are at just that stage, Ava is navigating her way through some tough terrain. What's it like to be in a romantic relationship without alcohol? What's it like to try to be social around other "normies" when you're not sure if you can manage yourself in grown people's social settings? How, possibly, will you face lifechanging personal losses and changes without the escape alcohol can provide (and you don't know how to give yourself because you've always used alcohol for this purpose)? These and many other related questions and topics are expressed like an actual pro by Robinson. I feel confident saying this because I lived it and watched (and have continued to watch) many, many others do the same for multiple decades now. Robinson really nails the recovery experience, and for me, this is an absolute highlight of the book. It was also - even decades out - really tough to read because it's so well-articulated. Folks who are in recovery (or who have guessed they maybe should be) may struggle with how relatable parts of this are.

Now, while the aforementioned element is spot-on, Ava's journey is a bit inconsistent in terms of pacing and engagement. Parts of this novel were too slow for me. While building romantic relationships in sobriety is a major hurdle, I also wish that hadn't been so much of the focus, especially where there are so many other interesting connections to be explored here. Part of this is Ava's age, I'm sure, but for a person who is finally starting to look inside and get to know herself, I'd have loved to see a little more exploration of other parts of her life.

Overall, I enjoyed this listen (props to the inimitable Karissa Vacker - as soon as I saw who the audio narrator was, I snapped up this option). I'll definitely be back for more from this author.

Painfully honest and laugh out loud funny, this endearing tale of a young alcoholic left me wanting to read more. I found the FMC to be so relatable, sober or not. She was self-deprecating in a hilarious way, and was so cringeworthy with some of her encounters that all you could do was go along with her.
I loved the romance piece tied into this, and the lovely coming of age story for someone you just can't help but root for!
Kudos to the author for making this piece so relevant and easy to engage with!

I've read lots of memoirs and fiction about people struggling with active addiction and the early days of sobriety, but this book that focuses on Emma's second year of sobriety, and her reemergence into the world, confident in her sobriety but not necessarily ready to share herself with the people around her. Managing situations sober for the first time makes a lot of things feel like they are happening for the first time to Emma, and she's learning a whole new way of managing people and experiences. I was really attached to this character, and this story, and ultimately it was a really warm, truthful feeling story.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade - MIRA for the digital review copy.

Definitely Better Now was one of those books that grabbed hold of me from page one. The writing voice is spot-on, drawing us immediately into the awkwardness and confusion of Emma's interior world. I could relate to and understand how she arrived at her decisions, even if I didn't always agree with them.

The plot challenges Emma without undoing her in a way that felt true to life. There was just enough going on to keep the momentum, but not so much that the book screamed "hello I am fictional." Dealing with awkward online dating, trying to decide if your coworker is into you, and your dad being weird all at once is a lot, but it felt like a realistic kind of a lot.

I really enjoyed how Emma got to relearn autonomy. The specific AA group she's been in for the past year is incredibly structured and you can see her chafe against that at times. I was nervous for how that might play out, but really pleased with where we wound up.

In all, this book had me laughing and crying, which is always a good sign in my opinion. Definitely Better Now felt authentic and powerful without going over the top, and I can't wait to see what Robinson does next. I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys heartfelt novels about the challenges of life that ultimately have a realistically hopeful conclusion.

For those expecting a light-hearted, funny narrative about what it's like to be sober, this is not that book. It’s mostly quiet, and it’s heavy.

Emma is a 26-year-old recovering alcoholic, navigating life with two distinct personalities—Work Emma and Real Emma. She finds it safer to hide behind the professional, courteous persona she has carefully crafted. She’s determined to keep her sobriety —and the person she used to be—a secret, and making friends is difficult because most social interactions involve drinking. But when she’s reluctantly roped into joining the Fun Team to help plan the office Christmas party, she’s forced to interact with coworkers, including the arrogant guy from Finance. She’ll also have to deal with Ben, who makes her heart race—the guy she likes but doesn’t know how to date.

While I can’t say I relate to being addicted or going through recovery, I can relate to the part of her that's a confused introvert trying to find her way. Having used alcohol as a crutch for years, she's now learning to navigate a life that feels unfamiliar without it.

There's some romance in this book, but it isn't a major plot point. I liked that while being endearing and heartwarming, the romance didn't overpower the themes of recovery and self-discovery.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel—it’s well-written, insightful and the main character is likable. While the book doesn’t dive into any huge dramatic moments, it offers a raw and honest portrayal of Emma learning to live a sober life and starting to form meaningful relationships again. More importantly, it’s about her learning to love herself and rebuild trust.

My only qualm is that some parts of the book felt predictable and seemed to be more geared toward a mid-twenties audience.

Overall, despite tackling heavy themes, the book wraps up quite well and showcases incredible growth in Emma’s character.

Thanks to Harpercollins and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book is beautiful in its realistic depiction of someone dealing with life after sobriety. It has been one year since Emma has had a drink or done drugs, and of course life would come at her hard. This book shows how Emma deals with all the ups and downs of life once one is sober. I appreciate that it is not a light and fluffy path, but one filled with twist and turns. I also apricate hearing her inner thoughts on her interactions with the AA community, and people who once were a huge part of her life. I think having books like this that show life isn’t perfect allows others on this journey to find representation and know that it is okay to not be okay, and still find a way to hold on to your new beliefs.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

DNF at 39%. I was really excited about the premise of the book and am always happy to feature books that represent those difficult subjects like alcoholism. Definitely Better Now started strong and had such promise! But by about 20% I was so bored with the main character I was trudging through because I’m not a quitter and I hate dnf’ing books. Overall there wasn’t enough happening to hold my interest, though. I think this book might be better enjoyed by a younger crowd that is still in the dating and bar scene.

Thank you anyway to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mira books for the free advanced reader copy.
Emma has lived in every borough but Staten Island, Emma has never had a serious relationship, and Emma is an alcoholic in recovery.
Emma, now one year into sobriety, is uncertain how to navigate life now that her change is less raw, and she is hoping all those changes ahead will be a magic fix to make her “better.”
Yet, Emma learns there is no magic switch for life. She spends a lot of time trying to spare new, improved, shiny “work” Emma from “before Emma,” but as she learns, even a past she so desperately wants to hide has contributed to who she is in the present.
I loved watching Emma learn how to feel. After spending a lifetime numbing herself, her reaction to making adult friends, dating, and navigating her complicated feelings toward her father seem to be Herculean efforts. Yet Robinson does a beautiful job showing how messy, scary things that make you feel fragile are often what add so much richness to life.
Robinson's writing is inviting, raw, and filled with a tiny bit of humor. I really appreciate the way she wrote about Emma wanting to feel and be “normal” because who hasn’t felt incapable of fitting in? The parental relationships here are particularly poignant, with Emma struggling to embrace her parents’ flaws.
There is a tiny romance here, but it is not the focus. Instead, dating presents more obstacles for Emma to navigate: Is coffee a date? How do you kiss sober? I loved seeing her figure it out with Ben, a thoughtful and patient partner. The non-linear nature was refreshingly realistic and added to the depth of Emma’s development.
𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘸truly a book about finding yourself, navigating life, and learning that sometimes it is okay to be a mess. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary women’s literature!
It's an absolutely stunning debut novel, and I look forward to reading her next work!

This book had a slow start for me, and the detailed descriptions of AA rules and traditions almost turned me off at first. It felt like a companion book to someone's sobriety journey, with a play-by-play of what to expect.
Later on, I came to see it as a step in Emma's journey of healing - at the beginning of the book, she follows all the rules and sees it as her path to salvation - hence why we get such detailed descriptions of meetings and conversations with her sponsor. As she deals with personal issues, loss, and self-doubt, not everything about the specific flavor of AA she joined matches her needs, and it is nice to see Emma put herself first.

I truly enjoyed the book - it is well written, the love story is realistic, and family relationships are relatable. Everything makes sense and nothing felt pulled together in a rush.

You will probably enjoy the book even more if you have some sort of healing/sobriety journey yourself, but it is a great read regardless.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is put on December 17.

Now that she’s been sober a year, Emma can think about dating and life outside of work and meetings. Was it always this complicated though?

I loved this story that follows newly sober, Emma, as she begins her second year of sobriety. Life, especially dating, while sober is a lot different than when not. I thought this was a really accurate look at the early days of sobriety and how naive and fresh you feel. No matter how old you are, you’ll feel new. Emma also has some family drama to work through, as well as work antics which added humor. I really enjoyed this one, despite a slightly slow pace it was so real and I was rooting for Emma.

“Every part of my life had gotten better and richer when I stopped drinking, but this, this alone was a reason to never drink.”

Definitely Better Now comes out 12/17.

Emma’s story really resonated with me, even though we couldn’t be more different. Her awkwardness, dry humor, and determination to rebuild her life after hitting rock bottom made her feel incredibly real. I especially loved the sweet, slow connection she builds with Ben—he’s such a genuinely kind character, and their dynamic had me rooting for them the whole way through.

The details about Emma’s sobriety journey, like her trying out different AA meetings, felt so real and thoughtfully done. It was a great reminder that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all and that people need to find what works for them. Those parts of the story really stuck with me.

If I had one gripe, it’s that I wanted more from the other characters. Emma’s coworkers and family felt a little one-note at times. Maybe that’s because the story is so focused on Emma’s perspective, but it would’ve been nice to dive deeper into their lives, especially since so much of her journey is about building healthier relationships.

This book felt like an honest portrayal of what it’s like to rebuild your life while navigating sobriety, complicated family dynamics, work drama, and dating. It’s messy and imperfect—just like real life—but that’s what makes it so relatable. Emma’s story reminded me that growth takes time and that we’re all just figuring it out as we go.

If you enjoy heartfelt stories about resilience, growth, and finding your place in the chaos of life, this book is definitely worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had many elements that I enjoyed and some I did not. By about 15% in, I felt that Emma was sort of pretentious and preachy - especially as she compared her different personalities of Work Emma, Sober Emma, and Drunk Emma. I do feel that she got more relatable and down to earth as the story progressed. I thought it was interesting to read about her experiences in her AA group (which 100% feels like a cult) and how she genuinely believed in all the rules and prayers. I think if I were in her position, I'd be much more skeptical.

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing of this story including the imagery of the city - it helped make the setting in NYC feel real but also beautiful, especially when many stories in NYC have a way of romanticizing the city. This story and the writing also had good anxiety and grief representation and the author was able to make me feel like I was in Emma's shoes with her writing.

I loved this book 🥺 Just as the description reads, this is a novel about navigating sobriety and complicated family dynamics, and it is indeed both witty & heartbreaking.

Emma is 26 years old, and a year sober. She’s spent the last decade of her life under the shadow of substances, mostly alcohol, but now she’s “clean” — she’s attended every AA meeting, completed all of her steps, she’s followed every “rule” they’ve told her to… so why does her life still not feel “perfect” like she imagined it to be? Navigating through corporate work life, making & maintaining friendships, and trying to figure out how the heck to date and have a real relationship. Add to the list: a sudden bombshell in her already complex and stressful family life.

A reminder that through it all; work, friendships, love, heartbreak, grief… it’s messy, and it hurts, but it’s GOOD. Life is so much better when you let yourself FEEL it all and face it head-on. And you’ll have people who want to love you through every step, if you let them. 🤍

This book comes out on Tuesday, and I would definitely recommend picking it up at some point. Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars, rounded up.
I adore Emma. She is such a lovable narrator, and I rooted for her every step of the way. She is relatable, even though I have never struggled with addiction or alcohol use, which makes her a great character for being a window into another perspective, and I'd imagine she would also make a phenomenal mirror for readers who can relate with the struggles she goes through.

The story revolves around Emma's life as a single woman who is *officially* one year sober at the start of the book. This means she can date, she's got a little more freedom, and she.... should feel different, right? But Emma isn't sure she does.
The narrative of this is very character focused. It's more about Emma, her journey, her life, and her perspective, than it is about anything else. While Ben is a great romantic interest (I love Ben almost as much as I love Emma), he isn't the focus, nor is his romance. The focus is Emma. If you go into this expecting a rom-com, you'll be bummed. While there are light/humorous moments, and while there is a romantic plot woven through the story, the focus is rather on Emma and a coming-of-age-esque story.
There were a few twists and turns that got me, and one plot point that hit way too close to home for comfort - I'd recommend looking up warnings if you've got some things you don't necessarily want to confront in your ARC on a plane, or you might end up bumming tissues from a stewardess.

Overall, I loved the story and the premise and the narration in this book. There were a few points where the pacing felt ever-s0-slightly off (and these parts alternated between being way too fast paced - how did we get here?! and way too slow), but in general this was a lovely novel. It's not lighthearted though - and I'd hesitate to recommend it to someone looking for a light holiday read. There is mention of holidays, and there are funny parts, but holy moly is it heavy and thought-provoking.
If you're looking for a character-focused novel that dives into the depths of alcoholism and explores the various ways that we can grow and change as people in the face of (all sorts of - not just alcoholism) hardships, this is a great choice. I'd steer clear if you're looking for something light-hearted, and I'd caution you against going into this completely blind and reading it on a late-night flight.

This is a strong debut novel. Emotions spilling out in every page. The story of Emma, celebrating her one year of sobriety, is heartbreaking and emotional. the life of an addict is not romantic. It's frantic, chaotic, frightening. All the time. This author brought all that to page in this journey of someone in recovery. I was a mess reading this book. I have first hand experience with someone who had struggles with addiction and what it is like to try to be supportive. This books gives new perspective of the struggles addicts have each and every day. The amount of spiraling going on the heads of people who have to make choices for themselves to survive, which non addicts can't fathom. Emma is readying herself to celebrate being one year sober, when she meets someone who makes her feel new emotions, and as if that is not enough, there are other twists which come up, questioning her ability to stay on the path of sobriety. This story shows, in such a raw manner, that life does not stop happening just because you have reached a milestone.
Bring your tissues when you read this book, but it will be worth it.

I gave this book 4 and half stars. I loved how this book was her her first year as a sober adult. It shows how it affected all aspects of her life including never having a boyfriend or even sex as a sober pension. Emma meets Ben who is a coworker and they are seeing if he can break down her walls and get her to see she is worth loving. Emma also has a complicated relationship with her father and she shows us how she has navigated all of the trials of staying sober while attending AA meetings. The book was well written and I can’t wait to also listen to this on audio. Not sure if this was just the early release of the Kindle but when Emma is texting with Ben, you never know if she is thinking something or texting it. There is no way to know.