Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge Alexa Martin fan. Huge. I've read everything she's written and I'm constantly scoping out her social media to see what she's writing next and when it's going to come out. No lie. The second I see anything of hers on NetGalley, I'm hitting that request button like it's my job.



In Better than Fiction we have Drew and Jasper. She's a bookstore owner who doesn't like to read and he's a writer. Match made in heaven, right? Welllll, eventually, yes. but there was a little work getting there. For one, Drew is grappling with some pretty deep grief with the loss of her grandmother, the prior owner of the bookstore and one of Drew's favorite people in the entire world. Not only is she grieving, she's also grieving the loss of her dream, while trying to do a job she never really wanted. And if that's not enough, she's also dealing with one of the worst dad's ever. He's truly awful. That's all yuck, right? Enter Jasper, an Adonis of a writer who is doing a book talk at her store, due some wonderfully meddling Dirty Birds (her grandmother's friends, master meddlers, and book clubbers). He's the kind of guy who causes the room to stop and stare and ....drool.



After he book talk, he's encouraged to ask Drew for some help with research for his next book, which is right up her alley, so while she's hesitant, she decides to do it. There's one condition though. If she's taking the time to do this for him, he wants to do something for her. So he decides he's going to try to help her find the joy of reading; her excursions may be for book research, his will be to compliment the books he chose for her to read. Best set up ever. Their excursions allow them to get to know each other, connect, and fall for each other and we get to watch it happen in real time.



I loved how much Drew loved Colorado and now that I've read this book, I'm definitely going back to explore it more. I also loved the love story of Drew and Jasper. But I especially loved how Alexa Martin wrote the friendships between the women in this novel. It never fails that she not only gives us a love story between a couple, but also shows us a love story of friends. She always captures the banter and lives of women so well and it's one of my favorite things about her novels; Better than Fiction continues my love affair with the friends she writes. As a matter of fact, I'm hoping that she gives Daisy a book because I'm not ready to see these women go yet.



Better than Fiction blends grief, romance, and humor; you'll love Jasper and Drew and their journey of finding each other and love.

I found the plot became very circular, I really liked her descriptions of the setting but the romance was meh compared to her past books. Not a first purchase.

DNF@48%. The relationship with Drew and dad feels so over the top. She’s supposed to be hurt and betrayed, but it reads as annoyed, and then she’s off to make out with Jasper. Things between Drew and Jasper went from 5 to 100, and it didn’t feel like the right pace for the story, because Jasper is a thoughtful and patient and kind person who seems to understand feelings, so he should have read her frustration and asked if she wanted to talk about what happened and to dive deep. It would have read better if they closed up the book shop and went to grab a drink. She needs to learn to trust, because her dad and her sister theoretically would have shaken that.

Jasper is introduced as the “built” CrossFit hottie, but the reality is that in order to have your muscles grow and to pop out, you need to be eating a lot of protein and not a lot of carbs, and body fat percentage has to be very low for muscles to pop, so the body image portrayed doesn’t feel realistic either. Muscles go somewhat fast when you’re not using them, so in order to maintain (as he’s supposedly serious and does this traveling a lot for his books), Jasper would really have had to find a CrossFit studio there (because heavy weights needed aren’t found at hotels or rental units), and thus Jasper should have made some friends already and possibly met a cute girl who could follow along and add some drama. He’d also be eating at least 2,000+ healthy calories a day to maintain those muscles and that pop, so lack of snacking and eating is noticeably weird in that context. Alexa’s author bio says “eight years she spent as a NFL wife” so she would theoretically know all this.

With the book not coming out until November, maybe the editors have some time to work out some of this. Fingers crossed, because it could be great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This books made me want to read all of Alexa Martin's backlist. This was just a really sweet book that was unique in a lot of ways (a heroine who doesn't like to read?!) Enjoyed the quick pace coupled with the harder emotional notes. I do wish that it had been a little more complex in characterization, but over all really enjoyable.

Okay, I thoroughly enjoyed this romp and love letter to book stores, hot authors, and the state of Colorado. Because that's what it was. Think You've Got Mail but set in Denver instead of New York City.

While Drew, the main character and owner of the bookstore, didn't quite have the charm of Meg Ryan and Jackson was a bit too handsome for our Tom Hanks character, there were a lot of similarities that had me smiling my way through this story.

I'm still not completely sold on these contemporary romance novels, but they have been nice, light reading during some of the most stressful, difficult times of my life as of late so I welcome them with open arms. This was one of the better ones. Definitely give it a go.

P.S. Shout out to those groups of nosy, elder women in our lives that just have to get up in our business.

Better Than Fiction has the unlikely couple of

Jasper Williams, Author
Drew Young, Mess

Jasper was a perfect book boyfriend. The type of man Drew didn’t know she needed until she did. Drew reminded me of Marlee from Intercepted, the first Alexa Martin book I read and fell in love with. Witty, sassy, funny, and self deprecating, Drew in her head was like Marlee in her head and I so enjoyed being in their head space.

Drew has become paralyzed in her grief for her beloved grandmother, but with the help of the Dirty Birds Book Club, bestie Elsie, newly reconnected half sister Daisy, and of course Jasper, Drew comes to terms with her grandmother’s true legacy. Which may not be the bookstore she left to Drew.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was cute but very predictable. From the beginning you know that Jasper & Drew are going to get together. But I liked the deal they had and seeing all these beautiful places in Colorado with them. I liked that Jasper helps Drew reconnect with reading and sees her.
This is a cute book with good friendships, some family drama, & love.
A book for book lovers who dream that fiction can be real.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

A woman who doesn’t read, but owns a bookstore is romanced by a male romance author? Sign me up! I honestly loved this amazing book! The characters, the story, the love, the friendships, the…every single thing (well, except for a certain family member)! Just simply a wonderful book!

Personally, I was not a fan. I was excited and thought the plot looked amazing. The plot is about Drew, an avid book hater, left in charge of the Book Nook after her grandmother's passing. She meets hot and charismatic yet shy romance author Jasper. At 38% of the book, the characters already seem not just romantic, but on the verge of being in love. Jasper states this,"Or because I'm really into the super-cute owner with not-so-great book knowledge...", to Drew while on a trip to convince her he wanted to take her out. At 42%, Drew tells Jasper "You threw up so much you won't kiss me" after he spent over an hour vomiting. I just think the relationship was rushed and seemed a little too clingy. Jasper himself seemed like a walking "ick". He says "Just hoping for a little watermelon sugar" to Drew before a date which would make me ghost any man. Drew herself is not much better. The book references pop culture a lot but I think it missed its mark. Here are some real quotes: "I'll take daddy issues for six hundred, Alex!" "I might've gone all Taylor Swift, 'No body, No crime' on him." " 'I guess I'll let you finish' 'Geez. Thanks, Kanye.' " The book itself was not bad, I will just say it was not great. I like that Drew's relationship with her father is messy. That is a real struggle many women have. Similarly, I loved Drew's development and how she learned to handle her grief with the help of Jasper, her best friend, and her sister. I think my opinion stems from liking slow-burn books with heavy banter. The plot is sweet and Jasper treats Drew well. If you're looking for a sweet, light-hearted romance, this is your book.

Alexa Martin doesn't disappoint. Better than Fiction was a sweet, steamy, and romantic romance between two characters I absolutely adored. I have loved Alexa Martin's book since her debut and I'm so glad she's giving me more books! Yay!

This book is a little different from the author’s previous works. Did I enjoy it? Absofreakinglutely! Honestly I loved this book the most! It’s more than a love story between a broken hearted photographer Drew with failed dreams, inheriting grandmother’s bookstore and extra hot, kind, gentle, empathic romance author Jasper! It’s also a great friendship, sisterhood, second chances, getting out of your shelf to explore your potential story!

It’s so realist, honest, poignant! Straightforwardness of Drew who keeps blurting out what comes into her mind and her transition as she spends more time with Jasper were most adorable parts of the book.

Here’s a quick summary of the plot:
In the first chapters we see how Drew struggles after losing her grandma and inheriting her bookstore which is more challenging task she can ever imagine. Because she knows nothing about books. She prefers watching their movie adaptations.

But thankfully her grandma’s best friends: a bunch of cheerful, eccentric ladies with inappropriate meddling skills and special book club named “Dirty Birds” are here for her. They already arrange a special signing night with famous romance author Jasper Williams.

Drew already deals with anxiety issues because her step sister decided to take an internship at the town and spend more time with her as her estranged father is working on a scheme to take the bookstore out of her hands.

And a very sexy, adorable romance writer rocks her world. The Dirty Birds already arrange a dinner date. And Jasper makes an interesting offer that she doesn’t want to refuse: they will swap of their sorts. He hands her a sheet of paper filled with book titles, encouraging her read them. After reading one of the books, Jasper will take her on an adventure that reminds him of it. And Drew also will pick a place on her travel list, taking him an adventure to explore it. It’s a win win situation! Jasper wants to turn into Drew a book lover and dare Drew to turn him into Colorado lover.

It seems like a beginning of more than amazing friendship when that offer cannot be refused! ( I’m so close to write they took the cannolis and left the guns so I’m stopping myself)

Overall: with author’s heartfelt story telling skills, lovely and engaging characters, amazing adventures turn this entire execution into an amazing reading experience ! You get to enjoy the full ride!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Better than Fiction is a swoon-worthy new release from Alexa Martin. While this book is vastly different than her others, it is still just as amazing. Better than Fiction is about a book-hating bookstore owner who falls for an author. Along the way, they handle the heartbreak of losing a loved one and also have to make hard decisions to either persevere their legacy or to keep following their dreams.

Drew was an up-and-coming photographer until her grandmother passed away and left her the Book Nook. Having self-proclaimed to hate reading, Drew is going thru the daily motions of keeping her grandma's bookstore open.

In walks Jasper Williams, bestselling romance novelist and honestly My NEW Book Boyfriend. Jasper comes to the Book Nook to host a book club meeting for the Dirty Birds (who I NEED in my life). Once there, his attention is clearly drawn to Drew, in the interest of spending more time with her, he asks her to show him around Colorado in exchange for helping her fall in love with books.

In Better than Fiction, we fall in love with Martin's love and knowledge of Colorado nature, Jasper's willingness to express his feelings, and Drew's determination to keep her grandmother's legacy alive.

Featuring some of your favorites in romance tropes, Friends to Lovers, One Bed, Forced Proximity, Better than Fiction will not disappoint!

My queen, Alexa Martin, knows exactly how to write perfect banter and this book will not disappoint. This is a romance that will tug at all your heartstrings. Drew is dealing (or not dealing) with grief after her grandmother passes and leaves her a bookstore. Now, Drew has uprooted her life and her passions to take care of this bookstore. She will go on a journey that will make her face love, grief, and acceptance. When a fab favorite romance author comes to the store for a visit, Drew accepts a deal with him. She’ll show him around Colorado, and he’ll recommend her a romance book that makes him think of that destination.

This doesn’t have a ton of spice but it will hit you with all the feels. Alexa writes female friendships like no other author and this book will also have amazing female friendships you’ll want more of.

A must read this fall!!