Definitely Better Now follows Emma as she navigates through life in sobriety, one year without alcohol. She’s trying to discover what makes her relationships good and meaningful without alcohol there as a catalyst, but everything feels harder—dating, parents, and social hangouts. Her relationships are complicated and she finds herself struggling to define what she deserves and wants, what’s real or built up in her newly sober mind.

I love the genuine struggle in this novel. Emma has a life that’s imperfect and her tribulations are realistic. Her anxieties and parental conflicts feel authentic. Her difficulty navigating social situations and romantic relationships also feel relatable in a way that draws empathy for her and leaves a lot of room for character development and growth. Rooting for her success is a common motivation throughout. I was here for cringe, the regrets, and the wins from start to finish.

Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I liked Karissa Vacker's narration of this surprisingly great book. It was recommended to me by a friend, and while some parts were tough for me to listen to, since I have a close relationship with someone in recovery, I really appreciated the forthright, unapologetic look at a young woman reclaiming her life. This is also a romance and a family drama, but nothing was so overly heavy as to be gritty, nor so saccharine as to be unrealistic. Emma was a funny, charming, and wholly believable narrator, just trying her best to create a life she can look forward to. 4.5/5 stars.

4 ⭐️
1 🌶️

Definitely Better Now is such a funny and well written tale of self acceptance, growth and navigating life after finding sobriety. And i absolutely adored it. Ava’s writing style is funny and witty without being overbearing to the plot and Karissa Vacker was the perfect voice to bring Emma to life.

Having a precarious relationship with my own alcoholic father, it also just hit really close to home with how Emma and her father’s relationship was portrayed. And for me that relatability really lent itself to my experience with this read.

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @harlequin_audio for access to the audiobook!

✨ Book Review: Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson ✨

When we meet Emma, she’s heading to a party in her honor—celebrating one year of sobriety. She’s convinced that once she has this part of her life under control, everything else will fall into place. Spoiler alert: life doesn’t work that way.

Emma’s support group has one big rule: no dating. The idea? When breaking free from addiction, it’s easy to replace one dependency with another. But after her party, she’s sort of ready to dip her toes into the dating pool.

💡 The problem? Dating is complicated.

Enter Ben. Ohhh, I loved Ben—from the very awkward beginning. 😍 I totally pictured him as Jim Halpert from The Office (you’ll see why). Ben is the IT guy who not only likes Emma but gets her. He finds her quirks & awkwardness adorable. 💕

Together, they try to navigate a relationship while Emma is navigating sobriety—learning that “one day at a time” applies to every aspect of life.

💭 My thoughts? While I couldn’t fully relate to addiction, I did connect with Emma’s emotional ties to her habits. For me, it’s food. 🍽️ I realized my love of cooking, meal planning, and feeding my family isn’t just about eating—it’s a whole process that brings joy. Emma’s relationship with wine mirrored that, making her journey even more real to me.

This book made me reflect on my own habits in a way I didn’t expect.

Emma has a new lease on life with sobriety. And dating while sober is a different experience for her. The premise is interesting, this book is not.
This is a character-driven story about a woman who has changed her life. Navigating those changes, along with strained family dynamics.
The narrator does a nice job. Unfortunately, there is nothing about this book that could keep my attention. The cursing and sex scenes didn't help.
It was difficult to pay attention to this audiobook, and I listen to many audiobooks.
This one is forgettable.
If I had not received the book for a Netgalley review, I would have DNF'd.

For fans of complex and messy contemporary fiction with the tiniest splash of office romance, DEFINTELY BETTER NOW follows 26 year old recovering alcoholic Emma as she navigates the ups and downs of daily life after a full year of sobriety under her belt.

This impactful debut successfully combines a lighthearted tone with the heavy topics of addiction and family dysfunction. If you enjoyed I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL, REALLY GOOD ACTUALLY, MARGO'S GOT MONEY TROUBLE or HEY, GOOD LUCK OUT THERE then I'd recommend adding this book to your TBR. It was a solid read with important themes and authentic characters & experiences. The romance aspect was subtle and sweet and certainly took a backseat to the more significant story of Emma's personal healing journey, which made a lot of sense.

For a fully immersive experience, I listened to the audiobook while reading the physical copy and I highly recommend going that route if you have the opportunity because the narration by Karissa Vacker was excellent!

Thank you Harper Collins, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Robinson delivers a beautifully heartfelt and emotionally rich story in Definitely Better Now, a book that perfectly captures the messy, complicated journey of healing, love, and self-discovery. From the very first page, I was completely drawn in by the raw honesty of the characters and the way Robinson writes with such authenticity and depth.

The romance in this book is the perfect mix of slow-burn and undeniable chemistry, making every interaction feel both natural and electric. The main characters navigate their past heartbreaks and personal struggles with a realness that hits deep, making their eventual connection all the more rewarding. Their banter is witty, their vulnerability is touching, and their love story is one that truly feels earned.

But what makes Definitely Better Now stand out is its emphasis on growth—not just in love, but in life. Robinson doesn’t shy away from the complexities of moving on, embracing change, and finding happiness in unexpected places. If you’re looking for a romance that’s equal parts emotional, uplifting, and deeply satisfying, this book is an absolute must-read!

This is a cute read. I just got a bit bored with it. I do love this narrator, Karissa Vacker. But the story itself is just not exactly what I needed.

I love when a debut novel delivers. I listened to the audio and it was so well done. I actually requested it because I loved the cover. I didn’t read the synopsis and when I was approved I finally peeked at it and was worried I wouldn’t get into a story about a young woman in addiction recovery. Well! It was so much more! Emma was relatable, messy, funny, and so so lost. She thought being sober would magically make her life perfect, and instead she found that life can be messy no matter what. I didn’t expect romance and I ate it up. It was sweet, funny, and very realistic. I didn’t expect to get so emotional, but some of Emma’s struggles (with friends & family) hit really close to home. I loved feeling like I was with Emma on her journey. I’m a big fan of human stories, no need for big plots sometimes, just characters living and growing!

((Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for access to this audiobook))

Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for a copy of Definitely Better Now!

"A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them."

I love this book! It fits the "girl who is going to be okay" niche trope lol - and it's just an amazing day-to-day story.

This story is about someone's sobriety journey; understanding that people are imperfect and we can be assholes; and the messy relationships we have.

Also, Karissa Vacker did an amazing job narrating this! I was drawn in from the start.

Highly recommend for fans of Margo's Got Money Troubles!

I enjoyed this read! The main character is a female in her mid twenties who has overcome (a year in) alcohol addiction and is just trying to live her life to the best of her abilities while sticking to her resolve.
I thought the author did a wonderful job describing the emotions people go through while drinking, the feelings you get after and the decisions you’re faced with. This read was funny and relatable all around. The romance felt very real, as if all of this could have happened on a regular day in real life with real people. I enjoyed it. I wasn’t head over heels with this read, I wasn’t falling off the cliff trying to find out what is about to happen, but I wanted to know regardless. There’s a charm to this kind of realistic fiction with a beautiful lesson learned by the main character.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy ahead of the release date.

Thanks for the review copy. The narrator did an excellent job. I am picky with audiobooks but this one held my attention.

I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down. It is a slice of life style book which I typically like but with the main character being a recovering addict it had a different spin on slice of life. This is a book that will stick with me for sure and hopefully I learned something. As someone that has known a few addicts this book gave me some things to reflect on and some situations I maybe should have handled differently. My biggest complaint is that the book wasn’t long enough, I found myself wanting more in a lot of areas. Something’s felt a bit rushed and not totally flushed out but I think that was because the book wasn’t long enough. I can’t believe this is a debut, I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Emma is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for almost one year. She's nervous about giving her one year speech, bothered by her overly involved sponsor, and trying to navigate life sober. I really, really like this book. Emma is a great character. She's real and vulnerable and experiences all the things you would experience as a young person and recovering alcoholic.

She's just trying to live her life and then finds out that her father is terminally ill. She is trying to deal with that and an obnoxious coworker who hits on her and another coworker she really likes. It's a well written story. I enjoyed the conflict and the resolution. The narrator was fantastic. If you like chick lit you'll like this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for gifting me an e-copy of this beauty!

Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is a vulnerable and thoughtful debut that balances humor, heartache, and growth. From the first page, I was drawn in by the writing style and instantly connected with Emma, the main character. She’s messy, complex, and deeply relatable—especially for any woman navigating the challenges of adulthood, family, and love. Her journey through sobriety, romance, and complicated family dynamics felt raw and genuine, making for an emotionally resonant read.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was Ben, the love interest. He’s smart, funny, and, refreshingly, not your typical “book boyfriend.” His awkwardness made him all the more endearing, and I absolutely adored him. While the romance was sweet, the novel isn’t a rom-com. It leans more serious, tackling Emma’s workplace struggles, her estranged father reentering her life, and her battle with alcoholism.

Robinson does a fantastic job portraying the nuances of addiction and recovery, though I wasn’t completely sold on how Emma’s AA group and sponsor were depicted—it felt overly negative, and I can’t speak to its accuracy. Another issue for me was the pacing. The first half of the book dragged a little, while the last 30% felt rushed, cramming all the major plot developments into too short a space.

That said, Definitely Better Now is a poignant and clever read. It’s not just about romance; it’s about acceptance, resilience, and moving forward despite life’s setbacks. Anyone who has experienced addiction firsthand or has loved someone who has will likely find a lot to connect with in Emma’s journey.

Would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy emotionally rich contemporary fiction with flawed but lovable characters.

Never showed up on my NetGalley shelf so didn’t get to listen to it. :( but I read the book and it was fab! Loved it from start to finish.

🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧
📚Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson
🎤Karissa Vacker

Solo Narration

I'm totally shocked this is a debut novel. This is such a heartfelt & touching story. It dives right into the subject matters of addiction, toxic family relationships & the struggles of living a sober life. Emma's journey begins as she is coming up on her 1 year celebration of sobriety. This book is the story of her journey discovering herself, her real & raw self, without the numbing effects of alcohol. She's trying to manage feelings of resentment & complicated emotions over her father, who has seemed to deny that fact that he's an alcoholic too.

Emma's definitely got support from her group & friends but she struggles with accepting herself & the fact that she's NOT in control of everything. You can only control your reaction to situations. She's trying to figure out how to manage men in her life. Mitchell, a real jerk whom she works with and a very cute, thoughtful IT guy named Ben who she kinda fancies!😏

She's given the task to organize the company's Christmas party along with these two. She & Ben begin a slow burn friendship & he helps her realize that her parents choices DON'T have to be hers too. She can learn from their mistakes & be the kind of person she really wants to be.

Emma's a bit of a train wreck & quirky but she's a character that I absolutely fell in love with. She was real & relatable. Sarcastic yet hopeful. Helpless yet caring. Completely human & it was wonderful to listen to her growth throughout the story. She faces some tough things & just figuring out who she is after sobering up.

🎧Let's talk narration: Karissa Vacker is wickedly talented. She's a narrator I love & adore because she's so versatile. Her sweet, soft voice is one I could listen to over & over & she TRULY makes this story. From dry, sarcastic humor to emotional ups & downs to quiet & tender moments, Karissa just shines in this performance. She gives you the full gamut of emotions & they are so beautifully performed through Ava's words. She voices EVERYONE in this story, both men & women and she's absolutely fantastic.

If you're looking for a touching story with some deep meaning, this one is most certainly for you, with stellar narration that makes it even better. I really look forward to reading more from Ava Robinson.

Thank you NetGalley, MIRA, & Harlequin Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I love finding a good debut book! It was a heavy read, and definitely light on the romance aspect, so be aware of any trigger warnings before getting into it. I enjoy reading a more realistic fiction every once in a while. It isn't always a happy story to fantasize about, but it feels like real life. I'm sure there are many people who could connect to Emma's story and I think it's an important representation to share.

Thank you to Ava Robinson, Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5*
I was a bit bored for a lot of this story. I feel like I don't know Emma after being in her head for the entire book.

I LOVED this audiobook. So far it might be my favorite of the year. Messy lit fic is a genre I will always love reading and this one did not disappoint. Very reflective and humorous. Could not stop listening. Excellent narration and writing.