What a heartfelt look into the POV of someone battling with alcoholism and the different AA experiences. I loved how Emma had to come to the realization that she needs to repeatedly choose to stay sober because that is what SHE wants for herself vs. trying to prove a point. It takes work, a supportive circle, and the desire to want a better lifestyle for yourself.

I also loveeeeed Ben. He was so respectful of Emma’s boundaries, never judged her past, was patient with her anxiety, and supportive of her recovery. He couldn’t be more perfect.

Bonus: this was an excellent audiobook. Highly recommend.

I’d love to read more from this author :)

Solid 4 ⭐️ from me!

A touching general fiction debut about a woman's journey through sobriety and its impact on her work life, personal/romantic life, and family life. At times funny but overall serious and a bit heavy, this was a well crafted and told story about our main character's personal journey and growth.

I've seen so many movies with characters in Alcoholics Anonymous, but I don't think I've ever read a book with a character in AA. I do not have personal experience with alcoholism or AA, so I can't speak on the representation, but I do think the character felt authentic and that the conversations on sobriety were handled well.

It does feature a romance, although more as a secondary throughline. As someone who does not read or enjoy romance typically, I found this to be the perfect amount of romance for a general fiction story. I still think romance readers might find something to enjoy here if they are looking to branch out more into general fiction.

I'd recommend this to fans of general fiction, light romance, or fans of books that deal with heavier topics. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent.

Thank you to The Hive and Harlequin Audio for an audiobook copy of this book for review.

Novels that deal with alcoholism or addiction and are then marketed as lighthearted, bittersweet, or hilarious sometimes make me cringe, so I was a little hesitant to read this one. After seeing some favorable early reviews, I decided to snag a copy in my Book of the Month box this month, and I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. Tackling the delicate subjects of addiction, sobriety, and complicated family dynamics, the author approaches these topics with a refreshing mix of candor and compassion.

The story centers on Emma, a 26-year-old navigating her second chance at life after achieving a year of sobriety. From the outside, her progress looks impeccable: twelve months without alcohol, a steady office job, and a clean slate. But beneath the surface, Emma finds herself grappling with the messy realities of life. Sobriety hasn't wiped away her struggles; instead, it has brought them into sharper focus.

One thing that has helped Emma stay so focused over the last year was the unwavering support from her mother and the fact that she kept her secret hidden from her friends at work - never going out to happy hour with them. She's terrified of admitting that she is in recovery. But then, one day, with the encouragement of her sponsor, she goes out with them and is shocked to find that no one runs screaming - in fact, they're very supportive, which gives Emma a taste of hope. When Ben, a charming IT guy from her office, catches Emma's eye, she allows herself to take the plunge, but is she ready for this? What if he leaves her? What if she is too much? What if she can't do this sober?

What really makes this book shine is Robinson's ability to capture Emma's vulnerability without resorting to clichés. Emma isn't a one-dimensional "heroine overcoming addiction." She is awkward, flawed, and sometimes painfully honest. Her mistakes are frustrating yet endearing, making her feel real and relatable. What I especially appreciated was that sobriety isn't depicted as a magical cure-all but as an ongoing process filled with triumphs and setbacks. This honest portrayal makes Emma's journey feel authentic and resonant.

Emma's budding relationship with Ben is sweet without being overly saccharine. Ben's patience and understanding stand in contrast to Emma's often chaotic inner world, creating a dynamic that is both heartwarming yet complex. I especially loved how Ben was so patient with Emma as she learned how to date while sober. Ben is the first guy she has ever dated or had sex with while not under the influence, so this was new territory for her.

Family dynamics play a significant role in the novel, adding layers of depth to Emma's story. Her mother's decision to move in with her boyfriend and her estranged father's sudden reappearance create emotional tension that forces Emma to confront unresolved issues from her past. Emma's father's drinking when she was a child is what led to her parent's divorce, and to an extent, Emma blames him for her own struggles, so reconnecting with him opens wounds in Emma that she hasn't had to face while sober.

I both read and listened to the audiobook of this one and thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Karissa Vacker. Her performance effortlessly captures Emma's vulnerability, wit, and emotional depth, making the listening experience that much more enjoyable.

Overall, this is a story that will make you laugh, cringe, and fill you with hope. I loved the characters and the journey they go on. If you're a fan of deeply moving stories that honestly but respectfully deal with sensitive subjects then this book is for you. It's a worthy read for anyone seeking a heartfelt and profoundly relatable story.

🛋️ Definitely Better Now - Ava Robinson

3.75 ⭐️ - This book is very relatable for us 30somethings trying to navigate our adult lives with friendships, relationships, jobs, and alcohol. And bonus points for a character from Albany/Troy NY!

Emma is an alcoholic, but she’s officially one year sober. It’s been 365 days of meetings, a new office job, and no dating. Emma had been voluntold she’s going to be part of the office holiday party planning committee just as her father reinserts himself into her life with devastating news. But then there’s Ben, the office IT guy, who even with Emma’s awkwardness seems to be into her. This life is far from what Emma thought sobriety would be like, but as she finds herself opening up and dealing with her past, she realizes that life is really about taking it one day at a time.

This book is really raw, emotional, and real. If you’re looking for a character driven story that’s easy to relate to, this is it. I haven’t gone through the same hardships as Emma, but she felt easy to connect with. Her problems are real, full of grief and heartbreak, but also heartfelt and funny. There are deff some trigger warnings to check on this one, but I think the hard topics (cancer, death of a parent, alcoholism) were handled and written with grace. Definitely check out this debut from Robinson!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the early audio! This one’s out now!

this might be a top read of the year for me! The audio was amazing and Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite narrators she did such an amazing job. This book hits sooo close to home and I related so much to it. I really need the physical copy because there's SO much i want to annotate.

The book starts with Emma celebrating 1 year of sobriety. We follow her as she navigates working, making new friends, and dating while sober.

This book does an amazing job representing alcoholism, being an adult child of an alcoholic, and grief. I loved Emma, and I loved the romance thread through the book.

The audio is fantastic. The narrator really brought Emma to life.

𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲 𝑰𝑵 𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑱𝑰𝑺:
🍻🚫💻🧔🏻🤷🏻‍♀️👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼🤒🕊️😢😌

👍🏻𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬𝑫 / 💗𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫: 💗

𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬:
♡ literary fiction
♡ mental health rep
♡ humor/romance
♡ heartfelt life events

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺:
Thank you Harlequin Audio for this ALC! This was an AMAZING debut book!! It was a book that dealt with quite a few heavy topics in a way that handled them with care and made the characters feel very real.

We see these events unfold from the POV of a recovering alcoholic who is just now a year sober and finally dipping her toes back into romance and a social life that makes her face her recovery head on. I was rooting for Emma the entire time, wanting happiness and strength through her continued recovery. She has some big hardballs thrown her way and I was so proud of how she handled them. It’s not easy to communicate what you need, especially when you feel some shame about why you need it.

I don’t typically enjoy literary fiction but this had a small romance subplot that I really loved. Even outside of the romance, I enjoyed the plot overall! I’m definitely going to keep my eye on this author 👀

Definitely Better Now is a raw, heartfelt exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the deeply personal battle with alcohol. This novel doesn’t shy away from the hard truths—it embraces them, offering an unflinching look at the complexities of loss and the resilience it takes to rebuild.

What stands out most is the honesty. The author’s reflections on navigating relationships, facing personal demons, and finding moments of hope amidst hardship feel deeply authentic. The family relationships are portrayed with nuance, showing both love and tension in a way that’s relatable and deeply human.

The audiobook elevates this story even further. The narrator captures the emotional weight of each moment perfectly, bringing a sense of intimacy and connection. The pacing is steady, and the performance enhances the memoir’s conversational tone, making it feel like you’re sitting down with a close friend sharing their story.

Despite the heavy themes, Definitely Better Now is ultimately a hopeful and empowering listen. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, growth and healing are possible. If you’re looking for an audiobook that’s equal parts raw and uplifting, this one is a must-listen.

Karissa Vacker did an excellent job with this narration! I recognized her voice from "When in Rome" (Sarah Adams) when she narrated Amelia's POV. She brings a steady and timidly optimistic energy to the main character Emma who has just achieved one year of sobriety. The entire story is told from her perspective. When she talks about her teenage self, I thought of the tv shows Grand Army and Gossip Girl. But her story as an adult reminded me of the tone in "Funny Story" (Emily Henry), because it's not about the romance. He's there but it's not about him.

From the very first line, I could tell this audiobook would be so easy to settle into. But the author also impressed me with how she introduced us to Emma who is writing her one year sobriety speech. Her AA group is perky and hyper-socialized and they throw a party for every first year to make sure they don't self-sabotage on day 365. Through the rest of the book you realize that this not a mold that Emma naturally fits into. But she tries, and so she shows up, and she opens up to coworkers and get wrangled into HR parties.

What I admired the most is that Emma's sobriety doesn't feel exploited to entertain us. I can count three tv shows in the last 5 years that have used a spunky woman in recovery as their plot. I loved them, but they relied on her failure, either to get sober or stay sober and used her mess to entertain audiences. This is not that. It’s hopeful and sincere without rose-tinting the experience. I think what the author has done is incredible. The religious and forced-positivity of AA prickled at my skin but the character’s own monologue helped to dull it enough that I could continue reading. I’m really glad I did.

Content Warnings for substance abuse by minors, recovery, religion, divorce, terminal illness and death, sobriety.

I don't know if I should thank netgalley for this or bill them for my therapy. Since I DID technically love this book, I guess I'll just thank them. I absolutely loved this beautiful, messy, heartwarming AND heartbreaking story. I loved Emma's transparent POV and seeing her grow throughout the story, perfectly describing the absolute storm of feelings that come with addiction and sobriety. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to slap some side characters on her behalf. On top of loving the story, the narrator did an INCREDIBLE job. Adding different tones and inflections for different characters, portraying emotion with their voice to fit the scene, putting emphasis where it made the most sense, all of it was phenomenal!

I did a tandem read with print and audio. The print version is great, but the narrator brings so much personality to Emma, who already is an extremely well developed character. The delivery of the lines containing humor, sadness, anger, etc are spot on. I loved this story so much. It was a breath of fresh air. Emma was such a well developed character and I fell in love with her almost immediately. I got completely lost in this story. It was like a novel version of your coming tv show. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is a beautifully raw and inspiring story that offers an honest look into sobriety and the complexities of building relationships while navigating recovery. This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a heartfelt exploration of personal growth, resilience, and learning to embrace vulnerability.

The main character’s journey is deeply moving. From her struggles to her triumphs, you can’t help but root for her every step of the way. Robinson captures the highs and lows of sobriety with authenticity, showing both the challenges and the quiet victories. Watching her navigate relationships—both with herself and others—felt incredibly real and relatable.

The writing is heartfelt and engaging, and the romance adds a hopeful layer to the story. It’s not just about finding love with someone else but also about finding love and acceptance within yourself.

Definitely Better Now is a book that will stay with me. It’s a hopeful, uplifting read that reminds us that even in the hardest of times, there’s a path forward—and it can lead to something better.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

A debut novel that follows a recovering alcoholic and her interactions with the world—her family, coworkers, and potential love interest—while sober for the first time. It’s a heavy but fulfilling read that will make you want to hug your loved ones close.

This one hit soooo close to home, which made me love it so much more—even when it put me in all my feels. Definitely one of favorite books of the year.

Heads up, you might need tissues for this one 😭😭😭

(Thank you, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

This book was incredible. I loved it, it was a beautiful book about navigating life and relationships while maintaining a sober lifestyle. It was very impactful and well told.

What a beutifully written novel. The cover is *chef's kiss* and I had the hardest time putting the book down. I was so invested into the FMC that I felt like I kind of new her by the end of it. Wow. Who knew books about 26 year olds could be so good?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely better now was one of my most anticipated 2024 debuts and I really enjoyed this honest, relatable and funny workplace romance set in Brooklyn that features Emma, a recovering alcoholic who is celebrating one year of being sober and trying to figure out how to come out to her co-workers and try her luck at dating again.

I thought Emma was such a memorable and easy heroine to root for. She is trying her best, even when things don't go to plan and she gets appointed to the holiday party planning committee at her work while also having to deal with unwanted advances from her supervisor, a new relationship with her coworker, Ben and growing tensions with her AA sponsor.

Emma also has a complicated relationship with her dying alcoholic father and has to process her feelings with his impending death. Good on audio read by one of my favorite narrators, Karissa Vacker and highly recommended for fans of books like Rufi Thorpe's Margo's got money troubles. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital, audio and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!