3.75 ☆ I’ve previously read two of Ashley’s books and loved them both however, this was a very slow start for me and it wasn’t until around the 40% mark, I actually started to enjoy it. the writing was wonderful and so descriptive, I could picture everything. I really liked the story, it was unique and interesting, I mean who wouldn’t want to end up in the town of their favourite book series with all the main characters? I enjoyed all the characters too, they were fun. I adored the focus on books, how your favourite book can come along at any time and be so unexpected but then change your life, then how book characters can make you feel so seen and special. reading is just a beautiful thing to be able to experience.

unfortunately compared to her other books, I just wasn’t fully connected with elsy and anders as a couple, I thought they lacked chemistry and although there is a romance aspect, it read more like women’s fiction. so even though this wasn’t my favourite It was still an enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend.

tropes:
- fictional small town
- magical realism
- cosy vibes

thank you NetGalley for the arc.

A Novel Story by Ashley Poston
I give this book 4.75 stars.

Eileen Merriweather is so excited for her annual book club retreat – instead, when her car breaks down en route, Eileen finds herself in Eloraton. A town where every meet is cute, except for the grumpy bookshop owner with mint-green eyes, and an irritatingly sexy mouth.

I went into this blind and enjoyed if far more!
I was drawn immediately into this captivating book by Elsy who loves reading and talking about books, what a perfect main character!
This author always creates a unique read to transport you into each of her books and I got totally lost in this one. A small town setting and a grumpy handsome bookstore owner called Anders,another big tick from me. As you may have guessed I absolutely loved the concept,the main characters and all of the town’s inhabitants.I don’t usually highlight but there were so many quotes in this book that resonated.Beautifully written with a touch of magic this, book was wholesome,charming and fun. I highly recommend.
With thanks to Netgalley,Ashley Postin and HQ for my chance to read and review this book

This is such a poetic book. It is caught between Eileen’s imagination and the author of a book that she has stumbled into. It is a little bit mad, but the romance. And the whimsy makes this book just beautiful. Life doesn’t always work out, people die, people don’t do what we want to make the plot of our own lives work out, and this plot explores all of that. A great read with a good dose of serendipity running through it.

3.75 ⭐️

This book is for romance readers and for everyone who believes their favourite book characters exist.
I feel like so many romance readers will see themselves at least a little bit in our FMC because of the way she talks about books and the comfort they bring. This book honestly feels like so much more than just a romance. It’s about self-discovery and self-worth, and that magical feeling when you pick up a perfect book and feel at home.
 
I have to say that the first half of the book did feel slow. I felt like there needed to be more plot points or issues for the FMC to encounter, which would have just made it slightly more fast-paced and made me care a bit more about the characters. The romance was very grumpy x sunny, so I understand the MMC wasn’t going to be over-the-top complementary, but the tension could have definitely been built up more. It went from the MMC just helping out the FMC and honestly not showing any romantic interest in her to them kissing suddenly. I also felt the repetition of how green the MMC eyes are and how he smelled felt slightly overkill.
 
However, in the last 40% of the book, it really made up for it. The romance really improved, and you could actually tell they both liked each other; there was more of a bigger plot going on and the start of a build-up to something being revealed. Some of the quotes were really beautiful and amazingly written. I loved how all the little pieces came together at the end. The pain I felt just before the end had me close to tears and made it almost seem like it wasn’t going to be a happily ever after, which was breaking my heart. The cameos in some of her other books had me so excited, especially as the seven year slip is an absolute favourite of mine.
So overall, the first half wasn’t the most enticing, but the second half completely made up for it. It’s a really cute, fun, magical book, and I would definitely recommend it.

I love how Poyton always writes very unique stories, the magical realism always quite ‘out there’ but different to your average romance! Unfortunately I think the chemistry between the two characters was missing and that made it difficult to enjoy the story as it was intended. The FMC’s love of books was a lovely nod to us readers though!

Eileen has put her life on hold since a devastating break-up. When she sees pictures of her ex's wedding, she heads off for a week in a remote cabin. On the way, however, she gets lost in a storm and finds herself in a town she recognises, full of people she feels she knows. Somehow, she has stumbled into the world of her favourite author who left the series hanging due to her untimely death. There's just one local she can't place. Should the the next book have been the story of his romance? After a rocky start Elsy and Anders become aware that they are falling in love - but should they act on their feelings or will that jeopardise the lives of the unwitting players?

Part romance, part fantasy, part time-slip, part philosophical discussion of what love really is, this is an interesting book that I was happy to invest time in. I could wish it hadn't been quite so long and that the ending wasn't so rushed, but I'd happily recommend it.

This book deserves such a long in depth review for being one of the most creative things I’ve read in a long time. But I simply cannot find the right words to describe it, without spoiling it for anyone. What I can say is, I loved this book. It was sweet, and funny, a little spicy and little bit mindblowing too. An all around wholesome and fun read. I am absolutely jealous of everybody who will get to read this for the first time in June.

This author has a knack for writing small town romances and I loved this little world she created, literally. All the characters were fun, especially Anders, who is definitely one of my favorite book boyfriends in a hot minute. All the grumpy x sunshine vibes promised, was delivered upon and the romance was just out of this world. It truly had me sobbing like a baby.

This just might be my favorite book from this author so far.

I will ALWAYS read everything Ashley writes.
Her words are poetic and magic all rolled into one. Once again, she has written a book I adored.

It took me alittle longer to get into this one than with her two previous books, but once I did, I was swept away in another romantic, swoon worthy story.

I loved the small town setting and the attention to detail. And there's no doubt about it, Ashley can hold her audiences attention.

I think alot of people are going to fall in love with this book this year! And I really enjoyed it.

The premise really intrigued me, it sounded interesting and unique. The Seven Year Slip was a 5 star read so I had high hopes however this fell a bit short for me.
Elsy finds herself on a solo road-trip to the cabin her friends hire yearly to enjoy their love for a book series based in the fictional town of Eloraton. On the way she finds herself stranded in a small town, this is not just any town, she soon discovers she has somehow stumbled into the setting of her favourite book series.
I found myself struggling to connect with Elsy in the first half of the book however not knowing how she ended up there (dream, accident etc) did keep me intrigued. Also why was Anders the only person who she didn’t recognise.
The last half of the book was lovely and the romance really started to develop. I guessed correctly who Anders was, it was at this point where the whole storyline came together.
Ashley did deliver one of my favourite book quotes…..
“Some books are a comfort, some are a reprieve, others a vacation, a lesson, a heartbreak. I’d met countless stories by the time I read a book that changed my life”
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC

Ashley Poston has an amazing talent for storytelling, specially within storytelling itself. Once again she gives us a cute, heart breaking story with amazing characters and a premise that any reader has dreamt about.

A book about a book is always a good idea, especially when there is a great amount of romance in it.

When I first requested this book I had no idea what it was about and I had so much fun reading and figuring the plot out, which is why I highly recommend to just read it! I completely loved it!

But if you need a hint, here it is!

What is every readers dream? To visit the town and meet the characters of their favourite book series, imagine if you could actually speak to your favourite couples and live with them in said town, while actually exploring everything you had already read about!

For Eileen this is her reality, she somehow got lost and found herself inside a fictional world. She can see and experience everything she read about in the books. The one thing she can't place is the grumpy bookshop owner that she keeps bumping into.

As in every book by Ashley Poston you can expect some magic, humor and of course a wonderful, wonderful romance!

I was swept away in this book and couldn't get enough of it, the plot is unique but also very familiar in a lovely way. It is a difficult book to review without spoiling it so just read it and then come talk to me about it!


* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stumble into a town straight from a fairytale? Or even better, from your favourite romance novel series? Ah, I know you have (I speak now, dear reader, directly to you), and know you’ll love this book.

A Novel Love Story follows Eileen, a literature professor, on her annual leave and on her way to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere to read and relax. Until she starts having car trouble and tries to find the nearest mechanic, only to stumble upon Eloraton - the town in all her favourite books. But the town is in limbo, as Rachel Flowers died while writing her final manuscript. Eileen is stuck in Eloraton until her car is fixed, and decides she can bring about the happy ending in this unfinished work. But there is one character, a grumpy bookshop owner, who she can’t quite place. Who keeps getting in her way - he doesn’t want this book finished. Which is a problem because Eileen is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

This book was sweeter than the sugar taffy described in its pages. I loved the setting of the quintessential perfect small town, and loved getting to know the side characters and their backstories Eileen knew from memory through reading the books. However, it was maybe a bit too sickly sweet? And that’s coming from me. Idk. Perhaps being harsh, but it was very sweet and a bit too insta-lovey for me. But that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it! I definitely did. Poston’s work feels like a warm hug, but so far The Dead Romantics is my reigning favourite of hers. But can’t wait to read more by Poston!

This was my first book by Ashley Poston and it was highly enjoyable. I think lots of readers would like to wake up and find themselves within the pages of a book, in a make-believe town. I enjoyed getting to know the townsfolk and thought of them as friends by the end of the book. The cover really pops, too.

Thank you to Ashley Poston, HQ, and NetGalley for a galley of this in return for an honest review.

I am a huge Ashley Poston fan, I thought that after I devoured The Dead Romantics in 2 days last year. I know for absolute certain having now devoured A Novel Love Story in 2 days this year. This book was absolutely everything I wanted it to be. It was sweet, a little sexy, engrossing, corny (just the right amount) and heart wrenching.

Poston has a talent for writing heart broken, and heart breaking characters. I adored Eileen, I fell in love with Anders right along side her, I laughed when she laughed, I didn't cry - but it was a close run thing. These are characters that are larger than life, buoyant and comical, banter-filled and smart-arsed, but also deeply human. You understand Eileen's heartbreak, her lack of self-belief, her willingness to remain in stasis, and her contradictory longing to be part of the world again. Anyone who has ever read an excellent book and wanted to be a part of it, to live in that place, to sit down with those characters, will also understand her joy at getting the chance to do just that.

As someone with an English MA I also loved her representation of an English-y person. The ideas she touched on, the brief shout-out of 'Death of the author' theory - one of my personal faves. I loved that Eileen drew things back through that lens, that she occasionally quoted Shakespeare, that her love of English was part of her, even after she admitted it wasn't the career she wanted. I loved that she and Anders has books in common. This was a book for and about book lovers, I think it is also a book for those that loved Book Lovers, by Emily Henry, which I also read this week! If you're hoping to cure your Book Lovers hangover, this is the book to do it with.

This loses a star for me for a few reasons. I didn't feel that the jokes always landed, character details not adding up quite right (e.g., someone being both white blond and golden blond, eyes that are mint coloured and emerald coloured), and a bit of repetitive dithering on Eileen's part. None of these things were overwhelming to the plot, none of the really impacted clarity or sense, and none of them took away from my overall impression of the book. But they did impact my enjoyment a little, taking me out of the book for a moment, or give me pause.

Overall, this was an excellent book. It was fun and funny, it was bright and adorable and consuming. Ashley Poston has a fan in me.

Our protagonist, Eileen, is a romance aficionado, deeply immersed in a series by the late Rachel Flowers. Despite her literary love for romance, she avoids it in her own life—totally relatable, right?

While her best friend moves forward, Eileen feels stuck, endlessly repeating the same chapters of her life. When plans for her annual book club retreat fall through, she impulsively ventures alone to Eloraton, the fictional town from her favorite series. Cue the excitement!

In Eloraton, Eileen meets her beloved characters and a grumpy bookstore owner who seems straight out of her novels, yet she doesn't recognise him! Beyond the plot twists and charming characters, Eileen's journey mirrors the struggles of many in their twenties—feeling stuck and searching for direction. Ashley Poston masterfully weaves themes of self-discovery and growth, making it a poignant read for young adults.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

this book followed eileen, who is a professor who looooves reading. books are safety and comfort for her. she is travelling to attend her annual book club retreat when her car breaks down on the way and she finds herself stranded. i loved the plot of this book so so much!! the characters were so much fun and i adored them 💗

I love Ashley Poston's Dead Romantics so was really excited to read this.
I'm afraid it didn't really do it for me for a few reasons. I wished there was more chemistry between the Eileen and Anderson. I found there were loads of side characters that I couldn't care about as much as Eileen did. A personal growth story with a dash of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

A book lovers dream! Ashley Poston yet again takes us on a whimsical, magical journey in A Novel Love Story. Thank you HQ and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC to review!

Have you ever wished to take a walk through some of the settings from your favourite books? To meet the characters you connect so deeply with? Well, Eileen is granted that wish when she travels solo to her book club's cabin and finds herself in her favourite fiction town Eloraton with a broken down car. Eileen is elated to meet all of her favourite fictional characters from her favourite romance series, but cannot place the face of Anders, the grumpy bookstore owner whose acquaintance is a frosty start when Eileen nearly pancakes him with her car in downpour rain. Yet Eloraton is not all that it seems and Eileen is desperate to right wrongs with all the characters she loves so dearly... even if Anders' scolding has told her to do otherwise. Will Eileen listen to Anders advice? Will Eloraton return to the town that Eileen once remembered?

A five star read for me, pushing Ashley Poston into an auto-buy author status! As a book lover, I loved the unique plot within A Novel Love Story and felt as though this was classic escapism in a book, that I binged in two days and found myself smiling, laughing and swooning as I read. Ashley's writing is truly beautiful, meaningful, poetic and lyrical, where I highlighted many quotes to cherish and remember. As events unfold, A Novel Love Story keeps you guessing and has you holding your breath for that happy every after. I cannot wait to see what else Ashley Poston brings us!

3.75 Stars!

Ashley Poston once again showcases her talent for weaving thought-provoking narratives with a touch of whimsy. A Novel Love Story dives into romance, identity, friendship, love and BOOKS! After Eileen's break-up from her fiancee a week before their wedding, she has never dated anyone. With her best friend Pru going to Iceland with her boyfriend, Eileen decides to take her trip alone to the cabin for a book club they had planned. A car breaking down took her to the whimsy town of Elerton- the town of her favorite book.

All of Poston's books have a beautiful way to interlace the story with nuggets of wisdom, that have been highlighted on my Kindle,

The setting adds an extra layer of charm to the story, particularly with the inclusion of the graveyard of drafts. It's these little details that truly bring the narrative to life.

While the ending may be somewhat predictable, it was sweet nonetheless. The Seven Year Slip will always be my favorite Ashley Poston book and this did not take it's crown but was pretty good.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC :)

Eileen has had a rough couple of years, so even though her entire book club has bailed on their annual reading retreat, she is determined to still go on her own. However, before she reaches the cabin she stumbles into a familiar small town inhabited by people she recognises... From her favourite fictional romance series.

I love Ashley Poston but this wasn't my favourite. Still fun and full of heart, something just didn't hit me right. Definitely pick up though if you're after romance with a fantasy twist - it's still a beautifully written book!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review