This book perfectly captures what it is to be a book lover through and through. It's written for the people that wish they could escape into their favorite fictional world when life gets to be too much, for the people that find comfort in books.

While this was personally a. little too whimsical for me - it was a plesant bit of escapism as long as you don't take it too seriously. Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'getting lost in a book' and a plesant change from more serious genres.

I love Ashley's books so much though I don't love books ABOUT books, but this is an exception. Ashley's writing is so warm and fun, and I love the magical realism touches she puts into her stories. This was such a fun read and I can't wait until she publishes her shopping lists or her next book, all of which I will read!

A great novel love story!!

Small town romance, with brilliant quirky characters. Also has a great plot.

This author is a go to for me!

I'm a HUGE Ashley Poston fan and I loved The Seven Year Slip, but this felt like a totally different author who had just put Ashley's name on the front cover.

The sheer volume of how many times we hear Anders has minty green eyes (is that even an eye colour) was exhausting. To have it repeated page after page after page was way too much.

I found it such a kick in the teeth, and so discredible, that Elsy (how that became a nickname for Eileen I will never know) took Anders back, for doing the same thing her ex fiancé had done to her. Girl have some self respect.

Hopefully Ashley Poston finds the magic again in her next book, because I didn't find it here.

I couldn't get into this at all, and actually DNF'd at 30% :(

It felt like I had read this before, that it was a mish mash of authors trying to convey one singular book, and it just didn't feel like Ashley Poston at all as I love the 7 year slip.

Although I am not Ashley Poston's typical reader, I have been a lover of her previous two books (both were 5 stars). Sadly, I didn't love this as much. The 'magic' system and what makes Ashley's books unique were missing for me this time and I wasn't a fan of how the love interest tied in to the story :/

I do think this is a love letter to the romance girlies and would still recommend it!

This really does what it says on the tin - a genuinely fascinating novel love story. And what a lovely one too! Quirky and fun, teeming with characters you’d love to be stuck in a small town with, not to mention some fabulous plot twists. Utterly loved this!

Spectacular! Ashley Poston is a contemporary fantasy genius.

I adored The Dead Romantics, its uniqueness in a time where nothing was really flourishing in contemporary paranormal romance/fantasy was undeniably refreshing. It was faultless, honestly. Then The Seven Year Slip came along and the nerves began rising - can it be as good? It ended up somehow better? Then A Novel Love Story was announced and I’m thinking “can Ashley Poston really blow us away a third time and it be just as good?” The answer’s yes. Always yes if it’s Ashley Poston!

I truly hope she never stops writing these kinds of books.

I loved the concept of this book. It felt cosy and romantic and so whimsical. I love that Ashley Poston writes books that are not the typical tropes and storylines, but yet still give you all the feels of a great romance novel. Another book I really enjoyed

Eileen (Elsy) is off on a solo holiday when none of her friends can make it. She stumbles on the town where her favorite series of books is based, a place she thought was fictional. As she gets to know the familiar characters, she meets some new ones too, but will any of them get a HEA? A great read.

I was thoroughly captivated by this book. The writing is exceptional, drawing me into a world where the boundaries of reality and fantasy blend seamlessly. The author's use of magical realism, though unfamiliar to me, was handled with such skill that it felt both refreshing and enchanting.

The story’s exploration of romance and deep sadness was profoundly moving. The emotional depth and complexity of the characters created a narrative that resonated with me on an unexpected level. The way the author navigates these themes is both delicate and powerful, offering a portrayal of love and loss that is both raw and beautiful.

Furthermore, the dual timelines in the story are interwoven with remarkable finesse. This narrative technique adds layers of intrigue and complexity, enriching the overall reading experience. The transitions between past and present are smooth and enhance the depth of the story.

Overall, this book offers an immersive and deeply engaging experience. It’s a testament to the author’s talent and creativity, and I eagerly look forward to reading more of their work.

a super fun concept and a cozy time. it just didn't give like the way it could have, didn't feel connected to the characters or romance, which was nearly non existent, and i think the magic should have been explained even a little bit.
i haven't absolutely loved any of ashley postons books, this may be the end of the road for us :(

A Novel Love Story is a brilliant concept. It follows Eileen Merriweather- a college lecturer who loves romance novels- the happily ever after kind where she feels safe and nothing bad happens.

On the way to a book retreat her car breaks down and she is trapped in a cozy town and people that feels oh so familiar- like her favorite book series. Soon she is caught up with helping the town move on, working through her own grief and falling into her own love story- whether or not the grumpy book store owner wishes it.

When I first heard the concept it sounded amazing and Ashley is a go-to author for me as The Dead Romantics is brilliant (and I loved the nod to this within the story but no spoilers). However this book did fall a little flat for me- the romance was a bit too slow and a lot of descriptions of “minty green eyes” which felt a bit overkill. Time would have been better spent on developing the character a bit more.

Overall it was a fun read ticked a lot of boxes, cosy small town romance, a bit quirky, fun characters and magical realism.

Thank you so much Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

In my opinion this book is perfection!
Ashley Poston can honestly do no wrong in my eyes as all 3 of her books that i have read have been 6 stars!

-I loved the characters and all the side characters
-Cozy atmosphere and small town vibes
-Funny
-Characters dont ahve their shit together always and thats fine
-Commentary of being a reader and having favourite stories
-Love interest
-Magical realism
-cute animals!

6 Stars

"If I was a poet, I could liken love to your eyes. If I was a gardener, I could plant a kiss on all the places you despise yourself. If I was a writer, I could write epics to your lovely lips. If I was a painter, I could explore every bend and curve so when my eyes failed me, I would paint you by memory."

After a bad break-up, college lecturer Eileen Merriweather decides that romance novels and their guaranteed happy endings are preferable to real-world heartbreaks. She buries herself in romance novels… and then, somehow, she finds herself in the middle of one. Eileen’s car breaks down in the middle of Elloraton, an apparently fictional town in the wilds of (?) New York. Eileen dives into meeting the cast of characters of her favourite novels, and soon discovers a love story of her own.

What a goddamn concept! I love Ashley Poston’s meta-fictional romance novels and while A Novel Love Story didn’t hit the highs of The Dead Romantics or The Seven Year Slip for me, it is still a really enjoyable romance novel, as well as an exploration of grief and an ode to romance novels in general.

I know this is a romance novel and not a fantasy one, so I let it go, but I was a little frustrated at how passive Eileen was about entering a new dimension (??) that was full of her favourite fictional characters (???). I would be absolutely chomping at the bit to figure it out! But once I got over it and let myself enjoy the kooky situation, I had a lof of fun. It’s a sweet rom-com - Eileen falls for the town’s grumpy bookstore owner, who could have used a little more character development and a little less descriptions of his “minty eyes” . Their romance is slow-burn and takes a little too long to kick in - give me more romance, Ashley, this is what I came for!

Criticisms aside, Poston’s worlds always feel so cosy; reading her books feel like slipping into comfy pair of pyjamas and turning on the heat. The characters living in picturesque Elloraton are lovely to spend time with, as are Eileen’s real-world friends - I would have loved to have spent more time with Pru especially! The novel is full of references and asides to both Poston’s other books and romantic books in general - shout out to the multiple Twilight references - that I really enjoyed. The final thing that gives this novel a lot of points is the depiction of grief, and how it makes us want to bury ourselves away from reality - it’s raw and real and sensitively done, and if we’d spent more time with the grieving character (withheld due to spoilers) it would have hit even harder.

There’s a lot of good in this book and it’s well worth reading, but I wanted it to lean harder on some aspects and less on others - overall, though, I had a lot of fun and will never stop stanning Ashley P. 3.5 rounded up x

I absolutely loved this one! Ashley Poston is one of my favourite romance authors, and always has a perfect blend of humor, romance, and emotion. Highly recommend!

This book was so good, i love ashley postons writing style and she will definitely be an auto buy author forever.
This was so fun, and warm i loved every second and adored the characters and the small town.

I was fully expecting to love this - I absolutely adored the other novel of AP's I've read but it was a bit of a disappointment in the end. It started well but I didn't get any chemistry between the leads, and I got to the point where I was seriously annoyed by the MC's eyes being described as "minty". I actually checked and it was 34 times. 34! How on earth did that get past editors?!

So overall a bit of a letdown for me but I would definitely read her next book.

I've come to the conclusion that as much as I want to love Ashley Poston's romance novels, they're really not for me. I like the whimsy and nostalgia that was in A Novel Love Story, but the romance feels very flat - which is an issue I also had with The Seven Year Slip. That, and the lack of logic. Elsy and Anders just had no real chemistry, and there's no build up of their relationship. I wasn't invested in their relationship at all. And on top of that Elsy genuinely doesn't seem bothered that she's been transported into a book series. Or why.

I like slow burn, angsty build up of romance and unfortunately I don't think Ashley Posten is ever going to do that for me. Overall the writing is good, but not for me.