I absolutely loved Emma's story. Not only was the office life relatable, but I also really appreciated the look into what it's like to end a friendship as an adult. Emma's journey starts nearly a year into her sobriety, and I thought that this was an excellent plot device because we get to cheer for her as she creates her new normal.

Besides the swoony, office romance, there are a lot of relationships explored in this – even with herself. She has to navigate forgiveness in many ways.

I loved the banter and dialogue along with the deeply heartfelt messages in this story.

This was an easy five stars to give!

Definitely Better Now, a debut for Ava Robinson and narrated by Karissa Vacker, was a fun listen. Its starts off with Emma on her one year anniversary of being sober. Throughout the story, there were parts where Emma is put through some sticky, or stressful situations and learns that being sober means confronting your problems instead of hiding from them. But she learns to confide in new friends when she learns to open up to those who only want to be there for her. I adore Emma and her journey as it is not an easy one.

I loved this one and would like to listen to or read more from this author. I liked it and enjoyed it , thank you for the early arc!

4.5 stars.

Emma has officially been sober for one entire year. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. With her new dating profile, she is ready to put herself back out there. Then there’s Ben, the charming IT guy who, despite Emma’s awkwardness and shortcomings, seems to maybe actually get her?

Ooh, I hadn’t expected to love this book as much as I did, so it was a pleasant surprise! I thought it was going to be a somewhat lighter rom-com about a recovering alcoholic, but it turned out to be so much more.

First of all, Emma was just likeable. I understood her struggles and what drove her to drinking in the first place. I admired her determination and strong willpower afterwards. The meet-cute with Ben was… cute, and the chemistry was so believable I felt the sizzle in the room.

I enjoyed the sweet scenes, but really appreciated the heavy, darker ones. I was close to tears in some moments, which made me realise how captivated I was with the storyline. This was a solid writing, with great audiobook performance to match. The narrator performed Emma really well, and I just really enjoyed Karissa Vacker’s crisp, clear voice with rich intonations and steady pace!

rounded up 3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this story. The FMC was a little messy while trying to navigate her life without mind-altering drugs. Her struggles felt realistic and had me invested in her journey. I loved the vulnerability and the growth of the FMC. This had something for every reader.

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

This book was okay for a debut, but it definitely tried to put way too much in one book which left me wanting to just dive deeper into ONE topic. It explored: getting sober, learning to date, romance, friendship, difficult parent relationships, grief, and more.

It still hooked me and I did want to see where it went, but it definitely needed to be pared back so I felt more invested in one or two of these aspects. I also didn’t think it was very funny, which it seemed like it was supposed to be humorous based on the intro.

The audio narrator was great and sounded good even sped up. My one complaint was that at times it was hard to tell if the FMC was talking or thinking, but I think that is because of the way it was written (you would be able to tell with quotes but it was harder when listening to it).

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and the author for sending me this ARC.

(i'd say this book was a 3.5 star read!) honestly don’t know how to describe this book. it was mostly vibes over plot, but the vibes were good? this story centers around a woman who is a recovering alcoholic, and her struggles surrounding that. she explores work, life, love, and family all through the new views of being sober.

i thought the first half of this book were very good, but the second half seemed slightly rushed to me. i enjoyed my time with this book and these characters i just wish there had been a little bit more. the idea for the plot was so interesting i personally wanted to explore it more!

i got the opportunity to listen to this book. i have to say this narrator is one of my favorites in the industry. she did such a fantastic job, and her voice is just so smooth and relaxing to listen to. i felt as though she really brought our main character to life, and i’m not sure i would’ve enjoyed this story as much without her.

anywho i would recommend this book as an easy and digestible literary fiction that honestly covered a topic i don’t see explored much in media! I also just want to say that i am so so so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley andHarlequin Audio! thank you so much for the opportunity!

The narrator was perfect for this book. As you follow Emma through her journey of sobriety, it pulls at your heart strings. At times it was a bit slow but kept me listening for sure!

Definitely Better Now is a raw, honest, and unexpectedly funny coming-of-age story set after the main character, Emma gets sober—and as a woman living alcohol-free myself, I found it deeply relatable.

Emma is one year into sobriety, trying to reenter her life while carrying the weight of shame, guilt, and uncertainty. She’s navigating a strained relationship with her alcoholic parent, new love that feels scary, and the awkward vulnerability of forming sober friendships. It’s all beautifully written—funny in parts, heart-wrenching in others, and always real.

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure why it took me so long to finish this one, but I think it’s because the beginning hit hard with the raw truth of Emma’s drinking and drug use. That level of honesty isn’t always easy to sit with—but it’s so worth it— especially when it’s sooo relatable.

The narration was a perfect match—subtle and warm, allowing Emma’s growth and story to really shine without overdoing it.

A powerful and hopeful read for anyone curious about life after alcohol, or simply looking for a beautifully human story that doesn’t shy away from the mess.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a heartfelt and emotional read. I wasn’t expecting it to hit me the way it did, but once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt real and raw, and I loved watching their journey unfold. It’s a story about healing, finding your way back to yourself, and allowing people in even when it feels scary. The writing was smooth and easy to follow, and the author did a great job of showing how complicated emotions can be without making it too heavy. There were a few moments that genuinely made me tear up, but it also left me feeling hopeful. If you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of romance and a lot of heart, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

This was a good listen! I loved the narrator and the story’! It was a quick listen while I was working and enjoyed the book! Recommend!

I like books on sobriety and the messiness of it. this was a good listen if not just a tad boring. there are some moments that are full of heart that ultimately make me recommend this book

I really enjoyed this one, a story of a young girl, newly sober, who is trying to navigate not only life in her 20s, but dating, and dating sober, and dating someone from work. It was heartwarming, and had funny moments, I liked the main character a lot which kept me listening.

There’s raw honesty on every page, and the narrative ends with a moment of well-earned hope. Witty, funny, and full of heart. Inspiring story about finding what’s meaningful in life.

When stories are written about addiction, especially generational addiction, it’s often challenging to capture the true impact while also honoring the humanity of those struggling. Too often, addiction narratives reduce people to villains, stripping away their complexity and pain. But as we read through this beautiful piece of art, we see a raw, honest portrayal of someone working through their personal experience with addiction while grappling with its generational roots.

It’s not easy to view those affected as fully human, neither “good” nor “bad,” just people trying to navigate life. Ava shows us what it means to feel anger, hurt, disappointment, resentment, self-forgiveness, the struggle for self-worth, and countless other emotions that exist in the messy space between love and pain.

Grief becomes even more complicated when it’s tied to a parent we admired and loved, but who also caused deep wounds. Sometimes, we blame our own harmful choices on our upbringing, feeling destined to follow a familiar, painful path. It’s especially confusing when a father is physically absent or only partially present on their own terms, leaving us questioning our worth and capacity to be loved.

Ava’s story reminds us that being human means making mistakes, owning our faults, striving to change, and connecting with others even when it feels terrifying. Addiction is not just hard to experience; it’s hard to witness and even harder to feel the hurt from those we thought would always choose us first.

Thank you, Ava, for reminding us that we can be flawed and still be loved, that vulnerability is possible even after being hurt, and that we can want better for ourselves even if “better” looks different for everyone. Most importantly, thank you for showing us that grace costs nothing and we all deserve both to give and receive it.

5/5 stars
1/5 spice
Genre: Contemporary Fiction with Romance
📍NYC / upstate
Vibes: 🌆🚕💻🍻🏥🎉🍾🎄🌨️

Wow. Great, dynamic writing. Heavy themes but interwoven with interesting characters and humor. A wildly invigorating and raw story about a 26 NYC girl being sober - her trials, her relationships, and the complexities of being ourselves fully.

Bonus: Mentions of where I am located in Upstate NY 🥰

Tropes & themes:
-Rom com elements
-Getting into relationships is COMPLEX
-Cute cat moment
-Workplace romance
-Corporate Holiday party planning
-Anxiety rep
-Sobriety rep
-honesty

Memorable quote: “I’m not too crazy to date. But I’m too crazy to f*ck”

Thank you Harlequin Audio, The Hive, and the author for the ARC - or should I say ALC! Narration was INCREDIBLE. Wonderful different voices for characters as well as well executed emotions.

Cw: sobriety, substance abuse, complex parent relationships, social anxiety, relationship anxiety, alcoholic father, parent dying of cancer

In no way was I prepared for how much I'd love this book. I went into it expecting more of a lighthearted romance, but what I got was a layered, thoughtful story that highlights the struggles of addiction, recovery, and finding yourself.

Don't get me wrong - there was definitely a heavy dose of romance. Ben has my whole heart. But the romance wasn't the central point of the book, it was used to propel Emma's story forward, and help the reader better understand what she was going through, while watching her grow.

I fully cried for about the last 100 pages. I couldn't put this one down.

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 Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I don’t really know what I was expecting from Definitely Better Now, but it gave me everything I needed and more. Emma is a recovering alcoholic who has just hit one year sober, and we follow her as she navigates this new chapter of her life. While that might sound heavy—and the book definitely has its serious moments—it also has everything: the good, the bad, the ugly, the funny. I felt like I was right there with Emma the entire time, which isn’t something I experience often with books.

There were so many moments in this book that just hit. The way Ava Robinson handled such a sensitive topic was so raw and real, but also filled with so much heart. Emma’s struggles with sobriety, messy family drama, and figuring herself out felt so authentic. I know it sounds so corny but I was in it with her, every step of the way.

This book was quirky, emotional, and just so well done. If this is what Ava Robinson is bringing with her debut, I need more

Fantastic read! It got me hooked and I loved the writing. Great as an audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Ava Robinson!