I've had the pleasure of reading many of Alexa Martin's indie-published novels, so I was super excited to pick up BETTER THAN FICTION. Needless to say, her writing is incredible all-around, and this was another fantastic romance from her!

This one was quite sweet, and one I think is an excellent edition to Alexa Martin's catalogue. It gave me everything I wanted from it and more! Can't wait to see what comes next!

Better than Fiction was all at once charming, romantic, and super relatable. The characters were flirty and I loved at the core of this story, it was a love letter to independent bookstores.

Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin is a delightful romantic comedy that will captivate readers who adore lighthearted, humorous stories about opposites attracting, bookstore settings, and the magic of finding love in the unlikeliest of places, making it a perfect fit for fans of feel-good, contemporary romance.

4.5 Stars

I loved the concept of a non-reader inheriting a book store and meeting a guy who not just makes her fall in love with him but also with books. But the book mainly focuses on the theme of loss and grief, Drew’s struggle with choosing between legacy and dream, and healing.

Drew seemed a mess at first. She was dealing with many things and she is an anxious person. Though her voice is refreshing and touching making me root for her from the beginning, her grief is heavy and all-consuming throughout the book.

I loved her trying to make the relationship with her step-sister better and finally not looking past her childhood hurt, standing up against her father, accepting help when needed and taking the leap with Jasper, learning to take her dream out of the closet, and giving it spark once again.

But yes like in all romance books, there is a conflict that makes her behave a little single-focused and not looking beyond it. I didn’t like her overreaction to finding out about her grandmother’s secret and Jasper’s lie by omission in climax but I enjoyed how learning what her grandmother really wanted made her realise her mistake and make a big gesture to a person who is an expert in writing big gestures.

Jasper is so perfect. He is caring, understanding, funny and adorable. I loved how he supported Drew and helped her with her grief and dreams. My only complaint is, I wish there was more about him in the book. He is the opposite of Drew and perfectly balances their relationship.

I loved the secondary characters– Drew’s best friend- Elsie, her step-sister- Daisy, and Dirty Birds -who were not just the best support system in the world for Drew but also made the story light and fun. I google many beautiful Colorado scenes and mentions of places throughout the book.

Romance is sexy and lovely and perfectly balances with layers and other relationships in the book. The chemistry between Jasper and Drew is perfect. I loved their funny and romantic and their adventure together was the best.

Why 4.5 Stars -

While I loved all aspects in Better Than Fiction and I didn't mind focus on the theme but I wish there was more about fiction or books or at least mention of a real list of book titles that helped Drew here because I would have loved to see what author recommended for a non-reader to turn them into a book lover.

If go into this thinking, "the title is 'Better Than Fiction' and the character owns a book store so there will be about books in here" then you'll be disappointed.

Overall, Better Than Fiction is heartwarming, lovely, and touching opposite attracts romance with amazing representation of dealing with grief and learning to move on in life.

This was a really cute book. I enjoyed the story, and I am a total sucker for a book that takes place in a bookstore. Definitely a good read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It took me way too long to get to this book, but I guess it was waiting to find me at the perfect time. I loved this wonderful little gem of a novel. I loved the voice and the writing. Drew and her best friend, Elsie, and her half sister, Daisy, and the Dirty Birds. Falling in love with the super hot male romance author was a great plot. I'm not very familiar with Colorado, but I also really enjoyed getting to know more about it through Drew and Jasper's outdoor dates.

This was an easy read that got me out of a reading slump. It's the first book I've read by Alexa Martin, but now I'm going to have to read more of her work.

A cozy, fun, romance.

What drew me into Better Than Fiction was the unlikely protagonist, Drew Young, who owns a bookstore but hates reading. She became trapped in this living nightmare when her beloved grandmother left Drew the shop in her will. Although her dreams seem farther away than ever, Drew feels honor-bound to continue her grandmother's legacy and maintain the space for the community even though she feels like she's failing.

The love story kicks off when romance author Jasper Williams arrives at the shop for a book club event. Thanks to the meddling of the retirees of the book club, Drew finds herself on a date. What follows is an unusual agreement-- an excuse for the two to explore the romantic attraction between them. Drew will take Jasper to her favorite spots in Colorado for book research, and Jasper will try to help Drew find books to love. Most of their story is pure sugar sweetness, just enjoying their time together and having creative dates. There's minimal angst beyond tension that neither acts on right away. The drama comes from date mishaps that always end in laughter, even if there are tears or even vomit along the way.

The other side of the story comes from Drew's journey with the shop and with her family. Her horrible dad keeps interfering at the store, angry that despite his substantial gains from the will, he lost this one potentially lucrative thing to his daughter. There's also a burgeoning relationship between Drew and her half-sister. Their shared paternity has been alienating rather than an opportunity for shared bonding in the past. Drew has to work at separating the toxicity with her dad from the good thing she could have with her sister. It's also a story about Drew's grief, having lost the woman who helped raise her and loved her best (no offense to her mom but every offense to her dad).

The thing that held me back from enjoying this story is that I found the writing lackluster. The narration has the informal flavor of how a close friend sounds over text when neither of you is trying that hard. It's this almost juvenile shorthand that doesn't sound like real conversation from the outside though it may perfectly suit the participants. This plagues not only the dialogue but the entire story since it's all from Drew's POV. The tone wasn't my only gripe, unfortunately. In terms of the romance, aspects of the journey are declared rather than shown. On each date, we keep being reminded that it's the new best day ever. I don't have a problem with that feeling in theory, but it was a bit mind-numbing to read it again and again like a 2000s Facebook status. I also didn't love being repeatedly told the equivalent of "and then we had a lot of sex" to assure us of how spicy and glorious everything is with minimal effort and zero nuance. And it's an open-door book, so it's not a matter of discomfort with getting descriptive. It just seems like after one scene, the author ran out of creativity to say anything new.

Despite the cute premise and the attempts to engage with big topics like grief and family legacy, this book and I did not get along.

Drew is surprised to find herself the owner of The Book Nook after the her beloved Grandmother's death. She's not a reader, but she feels obligated to put her life on hold to make The Book Nook thrive. When a handsome stranger turns out to be the famous romance author there for a reading, Jasper Williams, everything in her life turns upside down. This story is such a great one. It's a lovely romance, with humor, and grief, and family intertwined throughout. I love a book about books and this one delivers. This book has made Alexa Martin and must-read author for me.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.

I love stories about people finding themselves and this one did not disappoint. I especially loved that she was a bookseller.

I want to be a patron of the Book Nook, and had a hard time believing how uninterested Drew was in her shop and books. Loved the bookish tour of the city and of course the ending!

BETTER THAN FICTION is a fun and witty read. It is one of those books you can sit down with in a day and enjoy the journey of the characters.

As much as I loved Alexa Martin's previous titles, this sone felt off in terms of pacing. It moved so quickly at some points and I wanted it to take its time more and explore. The premise is interesting but a little weird, because I have a hard time believing someone would be that against reading.

I don't always read books when I need to, but I was especially glad to pick this one up after my first concert at Red Rocks. I have always loved Colorado, my mom's home, and this felt like a love letter to it almost as much as a love story. It made me so happy.

This book was really sweet and a solid romance! It had a lot of heart, and in some way was a love letter to the state of Colorado and makes me want to travel there.

Sports are not my thing. Where my talent lies is in taking normal situations and making them as awkward as possible. If awkwardness was a sport, I’d be a goddamn Olympian. It truly is a gift.
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin is easily a highlight of 2022 for me. A contemporary romance set in Colorado, Better Than Fiction is a story about coming to terms with grief, falling in love with someone who embraces every part of you, and learning how to let people in even if we’ve learned that it’s easier to shut them out.

Drew Young is a dynamic young woman. She’s someone that I relate to almost too well. Fiercely independent, smart, passionate, and had a close relationship with her grandmother. We meet Drew a year after her grandmother’s death. Drew has taken ownership of her grandmother’s bookstore, been befriended by her grandmother’s group of friends who have a book club nicknamed “The Dirty Birds” and has thwarted her father’s multiple attempts to sell the bookstore out from under her. I admire Drew’s tenacity. With some coaxing from her best friend Elsie, Drew has even managed to salvage a relationship with her half-sister, Daisy.

Because what did he do? Oh, that’s right. He walked into my bookstore to do a reading for an old-lady book club looking like a whole-ass glass of water—and there’s been a drought in Colorado practically my entire damn life. Damn thirst trap.
All of this to say, it’s only when author Jasper Williams walks into her store that her life truly begins to change in a way Drew hadn’t anticipated. I admired Drew prior to meeting Jasper. I adored Drew as her interactions with Jasper throughout the book made her transform into such a unique and dynamic character. Jasper as a character is the personification of male perfection written by a woman. If you can’t tell, Jasper Williams will not only challenge your favorite book boyfriend, but I have a feeling he will become your ultimate favorite. I swooned so much each time Jasper and Drew had an expedition together. Their interactions together stem from the fact that Drew is just simply not a reader. She prefers to experience the world around her. As a romance author, Jasper challenges Drew to give books a chance. Drew and Jasper work out a deal: she gives him a tour of Colorado, and in turn he introduces Drew to book worlds and experiences that would change her opinion on books.

“I do not appreciate you both being all supportive and caring.” I fan my face refusing to let a single tear fall because thugs don’t cry. “This is an attack.”
I couldn’t put Better Than Fiction down. This romance is perfectly bingeable, full of silly moments, tons of heat and passion, and speaks to themes of friendships, found families, and losing a loved one in the most earnest of ways. I loved every single moment. Better Than Fiction is easily one of the best romance books of 2022. While this was my very first introduction to Alexa Martin, it certainly won’t be the last. Better Than Fiction is available everywhere books are sold today! Happy Release Day, Alexa Martin!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

Alexa Martin never lets me down and BETTER THAN FICTION is no exception. This romance novel is hysterical and kept me cackling. There was excellent character development in Drew as she navigates being a new and unexpected business owner while also sitting through her grief. BETTER THAN FICTION is part love story and part Drew finding herself again after loss.

I have loved everything I’ve read by Alexa Martin and this book did not disappoint. The way she tells the story of Drew, trying to live up to expectations while weighed down by grief, feels so real life. And Jasper is a wonderful breath of fresh air for her. In the end, even their third act breakup/reconciliation feels earned and true to character- Drew is stubborn and sensitive, especially when it comes to her Grandma’s legacy!
Plus, Jasper sounds *hot* and it was fun to read about him melting over a girl-next-door.

A romance between a bookshop owner and a romance writer? Yes! Better than Fiction has all the witty banter and book-lover goodness that readers will love. Highly recommend!