I am an enormous Ash Poston fan… The Seven Year Slip is one of my favourite books ever, and The Dead Romantics has my heart 🥹 But sadly this one isn’t a new favourite.

Starting with what I loved about this book - and that’s Ashley’s very distinctive whimsical and magical prose. Everything she writes feels like a fairytale, and I find myself annotating every other page of her books! Whilst the plot let this one down for me, there were still some lines that had me tearing up 🥲

On the flip side… for a book which to all intents and purposes is an ode to romance, this felt very unromantic! I really struggled to feel any chemistry between Anders and Elsy, and this truly was insta-hate to insta-love over the span of four days 🫠

And don’t even get me started on Anders’s actions at the end - this put him firmly 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 of book boyfriend territory! (Also if I ever read eyes being described as minty green again it will be too soon 🙃)

I also think that the premise was just a bit too weird for me?! Whilst I really enjoy a touch of magical realism, Elsy’s interactions with fictional characters whom she knew intimately (quite literally given they are MCs of romance novels 👀) just felt quite uncomfortable at times!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so I was expecting a new favourite - but sadly this isn’t it.

This book is definitely for us who love to read and get so connected to books that we would love to go and get stuck in that story. It’s for those who dream to make fitness with our favourite characters and get our dream book boyfriends.

I went into this book blind and it did not disappoint. Ashley has a way of making her so magical and entertaining to read. I honestly recommend everyone to go blind into this book, it won’t disappoint anyone. The amount of times I have giggled throughout this book is honestly surprising.

This book follows Eileen who gets stuck in her favourite book series and follows along the journey of making friends with the town and falling in love with a book shop owner. Which is the only one who knows that they are in a book and therefore warns her to ensure that she doesn’t change the story at all.

I loved how Eileen got along with everyone in the story and tried to fix things even though she was told not to. The romance between her and Anders was so cute. Anders was the perfect soft but grumpy hero.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Happy release day to A Novel Love Story!

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the early copy of the book in exchange for my review.

Can I just say I really love the title and the beautiful cover - I think they really tie the story together and gives it a super polished feel!

This was my first foray into magical realism and Ashley Poston was definitely the right choice. The story is really rich, with an interesting cast of characters. The book inside a book setup will certainly be a big hit with book lovers everywhere and I found that it lends itself really well to lovers of different genres. The pace of the romance is really excellent and I really enjoyed having other pieces of the story missing that gradually unfolded over the course of the novel. The mysteries and magic really complemented the romance, and Poston has a very literary style that is easy to enjoy.

I maybe would’ve liked a bit more of Eileen’s backstory. I felt like her job for one was a bit brushed over but being a literature professor could’ve tied in to the story a bit more. I think the ‘real’ characters seemed to pale in comparison to those in the fictional world at times. It makes a lot of sense given the story and how it is set up but I would’ve liked to have had the real characters just fleshed out a little more. I felt a little bit out of sorts with some of the twists and turns towards the end of the book, as I felt it started to detract from the arc that had been building and the story lost a little bit of its momentum.

On the whole, I think that Ashley Poston is a really skilled writer and I would very much recommend this to readers wanting to dip their toes into magical realism. Personally, I’m not 100% sold but I really enjoyed a lot of this book and I would be happy to read more of Poston’s work if the premise called to me - like the book within a book aspect of this story did.

All in all, 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy!

Firstly thank you @netgalley & @heyashposton for my arc I'm so grateful! I absolutely devoured this in one sitting I was hooked! I adored the whole book town setting & storyline. I don't want to give to much away but the whole concept was truly magical 🫶🏻 I just wanted to be there with Eileen in Eloraton it truly sounds like the perfect place - right out of a romance novel (quite literally) I loved Anders and the whole gang! I loved that it centered around Eileen's love for romances and finding herself. It put me through all of the emotions and I honestly just found this so heartwarming and such a delight! It really hit home and I know I'll be recommending this for a long time! 🥰 would highly recommend reading angels this most definitely won't disappoint!!!

A beautifully written book about Elsy, an avid book lover as she stumbles upon the setting of her favourite romance series.

Ashley Poston has a gift for magic- realism and this was no exception, with delightful characters and an intricately woven narrative.

When her book club can’t attend their yearly retreat, Elsy decides to make the trip on her own and ends up in a town straight from the pages of her favourite romance novels… literally!

Ashley Poston is a true ‘reader’s author,’ and ‘A Novel Love Story’ gives us everything we could ask for.
Dreamy fictional men? Yes.
Assertive women and supportive friendships? Absolutely. Cute small-town vibes? IN DROVES.
Plus bookshops, references to other books we’ve read and, to top it off, a little bit of magic ✨

Blessed to have read this book early (thanks NetGalley!) but have ordered a physical copy and will be revisiting Eloraton all over again.
Oh, and Ashley, if you ever feel like writing Daffodil daydreams and the others for real, I will absolutely be buying!

I’m a huge fan of Ashley Poston’s stories and writing, so I was extremely excited to get an e-ARC of A Novel Love Story. This book did not disappoint, a charming read that tackles themes that Poston does so well whilst weaving in magical realism. I described The Seven Year Slip as “beautifully crafted and emotionally impactful” which is apt for A Novel Love Story too. Of course it is also a great romance.
What it’s about:
The story follows Elsa, who whilst on her way to her yearly book club retreat ends up in a fictional town from her favourites books; but how is this possible and is it all that it seems?
Things I loved:
•One of things I loved most about this story was how it is a book celebrating readers and reading, it is a love letter to books and reading and the special place they can hold with a reader. I have so many passages I adored exploring this. How this blends into descriptions is wonderful.

“I couldn't remember the last time someone kissed me this passionately - savored me, like I was the last sentence in his favorite book.”

•Characters that had depth and were very likeable and relatable; not just the main characters either but Eloraton residents too.
•References to other characters from Poston’s books.

I cannot wait to get a paperback of this book and annotate it!

I think the premise is something every book lover has dreamed of—I know I certainly have! It was such a fun, sweet, and entertaining read.

This book!! I loved this whimsical, fantasy feel. Perfect magical realism. 👌💕 Finally out today!! 🥰

Here we have Eileen who finds herself stuck in a rainstorm in a unknown place. Someone is kind enough to put her up for the the night. And as the starlings start to sing, things start to look all too familiar. She has stumbled upon Eloraton... her favourite cosy, small town book setting.

She explores the much loved book setting, orders secret things from the menu, and falls in love with the local library! 📚

This book found me at the right time! Ashley's lyrical writing is stunning! So much of what is said rang true!

Perfect magical, cosy romance! Enimies to lovers at its best! I can't wait to but a physical copy!! 💗

Thank Netgalley, HQ and Ashley Poston for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!

A Novel Love Story By Ashley Poston a NetGalley review. I have a lot to say about this as it’s really split my opinion on how I feel about it. At the beginning I could decided whether it was going to be a crazy mad read that was unlikeable or if it was going to turn out to be a memorable amazing read. In many ways I kind of stick with that first assignment. At first it’s an intriguing read that gets you thinking about the plot and what is actually happening. Eileen the main character is a people pleaser at first, she’s stubborn, heartbroken, strong and independent, slightly whacky and quirky and is obsessed with romance novels and a lover of words. Eileen feels like a genuine character, she’s feels real, has a warmth about her and is loveable. Yet she kind of stumbles into this place called Eloraton, a place where one of her favourite book series is set, everything there is exactly how the book is written, the characters from books are there, the lives they live and the plot is how these people are, like she’s step into the pages of the book; but and this is where I struggled with this book, it’s hard to know whether is real, her imagination or if she’s dreaming. For me unless I missed something that’s never made clear. This book made me feel so many things, in parts in seemed to drag, it was confusing, confusing, yet it kind of grabbed my heart the more I read it, in parts I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, it’s sad and it’s funny and something I will remember reading as I’ve read nothing like it before. Would I recommend it to others, yes I probably would, yet I really believe that it’s one of those books that you could read again and it would probably make more sense. It’s clear throughout the book that the author writes from the heart and just gets and understands people’s passion for reading. The fact that from this book i had so many opinions going around my head is a sure sign of a good book. I have this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ however it was very nearly a five star book, for me it was just the confusing nature of where the book was set. Despite that this book is without a doubt going to be a hit, I’m intrigued to see what @heyashposton other books are like. 📚

This was a 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3) for me and I am so gutted!!

I enjoyed the premise of this book, it was such a different style of story and really fun. I mean, who doesn’t want to end up in their favourite small town romance?! Sounds like the dream.

I really enjoyed Ashley’s writing style, for most of the book. However I struggled with some of the typos, I found they pulled me from the story which makes it hard to stay engaged. This was the same for some of the repetitive descriptions - his minty green eyes came up so many times.

The romance element of it didn’t click for me, Eileen and Anders just didn’t seem to connect, from the get go they didn’t like each other and then suddenly it was all cool and romantic. It didn’t feel natural or believable, it went from enemies x insta love really fast. There was no natural progression, no tension, no chemistry, no angst.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of the characters from the town, the interactions with them always put a smile on my face. I would say it felt like more went into the fictional characters than Eileen and Anders at times.

I do think a lot of people will really enjoy it this read. I just think for me personally it didn’t hit the mark.

Thank you to HQ & NetGalley for the ARC.

I have a soft spot for characters who are bookstore owners. There's something magical about people who are surrounded by books all day long, right? This story truly captured my heart and I couldn't put it down. Ashley Poston, congratulations on your new novel. I knew I would love it since the dedication page.

A fascinating read, not just another boring love story but something that keeps you intrigued all the way to the end.*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

This was fine? Yeah. It was fine. Good, not excellent. The premise of the novel was much better than the execution which is a damn shame because I really liked the sound of this book — our protagonist gets pulled in to the world of her favourite romance book series and finds herself finding herself and falling in love…

I think Elsy’s personal character development was the best part of this whole book. It was a delight to see her grow and I think there are a lot of relatable moments within her story in regards to feeling stuck in life, to feeling lost, to feeling left behind and left out. Watching Elsy grow more confident in herself and her needs and her wants was wonderful and the true romance of this book was Elsy falling back in love with herself. I think the second best romance would be between Elsy and her best friend, Pru. It was such a beautiful friendship, not always perfect, but so supportive and I loved to see the journey they went on together even if it was (unfortunately) brief.

As for the actual romance, I mean it was okay? There was some good banter between Elsy and Anders but it feel short of the chemistry I wanted. I won’t dare to call it an insta-love as the author took a shot at that criticism within the novel itself (perhaps aimed at critiques of her other novels too where the characters have fallen in love within a short space of time?) but there was hardly any build up, they just went from not getting along to calling each other pet names.

Anders was an interesting character and I liked the mystery and twists regarding him, however despite all the layers there could be too him I don’t feel as if we got most of them until the end of the book which is a shame.

I liked how the fictional characters within the fiction played a role in the story, and it was fun seeing Elsy react to characters she’s read about for years and to imagine myself in a similar position. Like Elsy I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from meddling. I also liked how the characters in the story world (inside the story world lol) reflected back Elsy’s troubles and thoughts on happy endings and helped her grow.

Ashley Poston has become a must-read author for me. My gentle-hearted, HEA-loving sister has declared this a victory and success in convincing me that romance books are good. I disagree, I still think most romance books are awful and have cringy stories and I don't want to waste precious reading time reading something I won't enjoy.

For me, Poston's work sits firmly in the cosy world of magical realism, skirting the boundaries of fantasy and contemporary with a touch of whimsy. It's not romance. That's like saying The Seven Year Slip is about time travel. ACOTAR is about fairies. Dracula is about a sea voyage. LOTR is about a road trip. These are side notes - a plot device to get from A to B. They're not the main event.

Of course my sister disagrees that the real victory is mine as I've successfully got her to read and enjoy fantasy books. We are at an impasse. Aren't books great! Still bringing the whole family together since the invention of words.

A Novel Love Story was a great rainy day read. For me, The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip were all about the characters, but A Novel Love Story is all about the mystery. What has happened for the MC to arrive in this fictional town? Is she dead? Is she alive? Is SHE the character in a book? How did she get there? Tell us the secret, Ashley! Enquiring minds need to know.

What bookworm hasn't turned to their favourite stories and imagined worlds for comfort and security in their time of need? Poston's talent isn't writing about love. It's writing about grief and all the ugly emotions and thoughts we have during our dark times, and she does it very very well.

Overall it was another delightful read. I had a few minor quibbles, (view spoiler) and I dearly wish there had been more done with the use of the song-character-names instead of them only being used on occasion to goad the MC. I don't know anything about IP and Copyright laws using song lyrics in novels, but if they could be integrated more, in the hands of Poston, she could create something truly magical.

BUT, the MOST exciting thing for me, was confirmation that all of Poston's books exist in a shared universe. This was hinted at in With Any Luck, but that novella only exists on Kindle and Audible in a world governed by the Amazon Overlords, so having the breadcrumb pop up in this book makes it even more official-ly-like. This reveal makes we want to go back and re-read all of Poston's previous books to uncover any hints I may have missed, and am also very excited about future works set in this world. Seriously, Poston! Tell us the secret for how to escape to our favourite book worlds!?!

Recommended for fans of: Alix E. Harrow, The Eyre Affair, Shark Heart, Sharks in the Time of Saviors, Ghosted, Space Hopper, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, The Library of the Unwritten, Fangirl

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Publishing for the arc.

4⭐️- Ashley Poston wrote this for the book lovers that grew up wishing they could climb into the stories they were reading and Iive amongst their favourite characters, and still do this now even as adults.

Ashley Poston is known for her magical realism stories and the way she writes unique plots that still feel like contemporary romances rather than fantasy. A Novel Love Story follows Eileen ‘Elsy’ Merriweather, a heartbroken teacher on her way to an annual book retreat that she is flying solo on for the first time ever. On route to the cabin, her car breaks down in a small town she doesn’t remember passing by any other year, only to have found herself in the middle of her favourite book series and its very fictional town called Eloraton.

Ashley writes magical realism like no other - her language is spellbinding and the way she draws you into the story leaving no room for confusion is no easy feat. This book felt so cosy and comforting but also extremely relatable with how Elsy viewed how her life
hadn’t turned out as she hoped. I think all readers can relate to wanting to escape into their favourite fictional worlds when reality is lacking, which is exactly what Elsy ends up doing in A Novel Love Story. Her presence in the town causes ripples and she encounters a grumpy bookstore owner named Anders whose love story seems unresolved and one she wishes she could be the heroine for.

I’m a huge fan of Ashley’s books and will read anything she writes! If you’re looking for a charming and comforting read full of characters that have so much emotional depth they feel real, this is a book you need to pick up immediately! It’s one I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this ahead of its release on 25th June.

I had such high hopes for this one after loving the Seven Year Slip last year. I thought the premise sounded intriguing and I was excited to read it. However, I’m sad to say that this fell short for me.

This book follows Elsy as she ends up in the fictional town of her favourite romance series, after the death of the writer mid-way through the end of the final book. Elsy has to help to bring this series to a close, but will Anders let that happen, given he’s not actually part of the story, is he?

What did I like? Well, I enjoyed the writing style, it never felt over explained or forced, and there was a good amount of descriptive scene setting. Ashley’s ability to make things feel a bit more magical felt true. I enjoyed the underlying message in the book of being happy with your own story, and not living for someone else’s. There’s a lot of weight to this, and I think a lot of people would find this relatable.

So why did it fall short? The storyline ended up feeling a bit… strange. Elsy was talking about people that she’d just met as if she was their best friend and had known them for years, because she knew them from the books she loves. A main part of the story was Anders, but he didn’t seem to feature enough to bring this to life. They go from insta-hate to insta-love in a matter of days, but with very little actual interaction, or even being all that nice to each other.
Then the end… wow. I won’t give specifics, because it would give spoilers, but that is the strangest end to a romance book I’ve ever read. It made me quite angry with Anders.

So disappointed that I didn’t love this.

2.5 stars out of 5

4.5 stars - Ashley Poston does it again!!!

Eileen is determined to have her holiday despite the rest of her super smutty book club cancelling on her. but while driving to her cabin escape her car breaks down and she finds herself stuck in the fictional town where her favourite romance series is set. to add to complications - a grumpy stranger who she doesn't recognise as a character is present, and it is only so long before she finds herself falling for him...

I loved this book, it really felt like it was written for me (or at least people like me; those who live their life in a book, with book boyfriends and book best friends)
I have so many things to say about this book:
-it felt relatable, despite the magical realism aspect. the characters had enough depth to feel fleshed out but it felt as though it could still be happening inside Elsy's head.
-characters. CHARACTERS!!! I loved the integration of learning about Eloraton's characters both through Elsy's knowledge of the series, and also what she witnesses. Elsy felt like someone that you could easily become friends with and had many desirable friendship traits for literally any book lover.
-Emily Henry was mentioned.

This book was fun, sweet, entertaining, had a fabulous plot and made me think of all the places I wished I could visit and the characters I wished I cold meet.
It felt so nostalgic and comfortable even when reading it the first time - helped by the fact that it triggered me to think about series I love (for me it was Chestnut Springs by Elsie Silver and Lake Wisteria by Lauren Asher)

Ashley Poston has cemented herself as an instant buy author for me - if she hadn't already with The Seven Year Slip

"My story wasn't that interesting, anyway. A three-star read at best."

"Life never panned out like a romance novel, no matter how well plotted and meticulously planned."

"Sometimes, a book can change your life. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two. [...] I'd met countless stories by the time I read a book that changed my life"

"You don't like naps? What's wrong with you? Who hurt you as a child?"

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and Ashley Poston for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book is lovely - the joy of a small town romance mixed with some whimsical magic and add a little philosophical pondering about truly being lost in a good book. For the most part it lived up to that for me. The lead character's platonic love for her best friend was the relationship that i was most invested in tbh - I found it hard to fully believe in the romance. Also there was a couple too many false endings for me. Lovers of a little extra tension/cliffhanger may disagree, but i felt like it was the book equivalent of the end of a marvel film, just when i thought it was done a character pops back up with some more information!

I read an arc of this while in Greece and I had very high expectations going into this. The writing was brilliant and the plot was intriguing but there was no chemistry between the main love interests. Not my favourite Ashley Poston book.