I enjoyed this way more than Ashley Poston's first book, The Dead Romantics!! I was initially drawn to the story because of its meta nature, and that aspect didn't disappoint with a single caveat: why wasn't anything EVER explained? None of the magic that occurs is ever addressed and that ultimately prevents this one from being higher than a 4-star read. Nonetheless, very cute and made me want to go read The Seven Year Slip!

Thank you Berkley Romance for providing me with eARC for review!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Elsy is traveling to her annual book club meet when her car breaks down and she ends up stranded…in the fictional small town setting of her favorite romance series.

I started crying while reading the dedication for this book and I basically never stopped. A NOVEL LOVE STORY is a love letter to romance, to novels, to writing, and to reading, and I absolutely loved every single bit of it. Something about the premise, coupled with Ashley’s stunning prose, just hit so hard and so different and so right. It was one of those books that I could tell instantly would be a five star read, and I read it more slowly than usual just so I could savor every page.

I love when stories have a “book within a book” because it always makes me want to read the underlying material and that was certainly true here—I wish the Quixotic Falls series was real! I also have some great memories and associations with upstate New York and this very much resonated with that part of my heart as well.

If you haven’t read any Ashley Poston novels yet, what are you waiting for????? (P.S. I would recommend going THE DEAD ROMANTICS > THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP > A NOVEL LOVE STORY to get maximum Easter egg appreciation.)

CW: Grief/loss of loved one

This was an interesting idea for a romance bookworm. I liked the characters and the setting. I liked the growth of the main character and her ending. While I found some parts of the story dragged on, others were so witty and fun!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5)

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub @berkleyromance @netgalley for the gifted books #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner #netgalley

Eileen Merriweather escapes into books to avoid real-life heartbreaks. En route to her book club retreat, her car breaks down, stranding her in Eloraton, the fictional town of her favorite romance series. To finish the story and find her own happy ending, she must deal with a grumpy bookstore owner who resists her every step.

This is written for the Once Upon a Time: Storybrooke, Maine girlies✨ If you’ve always wanted to enter the setting of your favorite book and find your place amongst the characters, you’ll love Elsy’s journey to find herself again after heartbreak. I think I wanted to like this story more than I actually did. The execution could have been better, especially regarding the chemistry between Elsa and Anders 😬 The premise mixed with Ashley’s whimsically poignant previous work made me have higher expectations. It’s definitely worth the read if you like books about books or Once Upon a Time- it’s a love letter to cozy readers.

I recommend the ebook over the audiobook. I listened to the audiobook for a couple chapters and while I can see how the narrator could fit the quaint town, she didn’t seem to fit the POV of the main character who isn’t a part of the town.

Perfect for you if you like:
Books about books
Magic in contemporary settings
Once Upon a Time
Love after heartbreak

Similar to:
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay
It Started with a Book by Camilla Isley (I have not read)
Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time tale by Odette Beane (I have not read)

⛔️chapter 28 contains explicit romance scene (open door)
⚠️explicit language, grief, loss of fiancé

This book is every book-lovers’ dream come true - quite literally! This story follows Eileen, who is a voracious reader, a lover of the romance genre and an English professor who is still recovering from a recent heartbreak and is ntoo entirely satisfied with her professional career. She finds herself stranded in her favorite unfinished fictional world after her car breaks down on her way to a solo cabin stay. There she discovers that her favorite characters have come to life, but are all stuck in a limbo, with different barriers preventing their lives from progressing. She also almost runs over with her car a new character - a grumpy bookstore owner - whom she has not read about before. As she waits for her car to be fixed, she gets to know her favorite fictional characters at a much deeper level, and in the process, also discovers her own path to healing and recovery.

This book is beautifully written, with the elements of magical realism elevating the story further. The characters are all very endearing, and the plot progresses in a predictable, but heartwarming direction. The protagonist’s personal journey of self-discovery and growth is very relatable yet empowering. I was surprised to find that my favorite romantic storyline was not even the central one - but one that, in a very few words, managed to portray the most tender and heartbreaking love story, that will live rent-free in my brain for a while.

Read this book if you want to vicariously live out your fantasies of living in your favorite literary world with your favorite fictional characters! Read this book even if you dont want that. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I have loved all of Ashley Poston’s previous books but I just could not get into this one. I guess it’s because I felt like the main characters did not have good chemistry. I really loved the premise for the story too and was looking forward to it but it didn’t grab my attention. I am going to try this one again later.

lovely premise - stumbling into your favorite book’s fictional town

definitely for the book lovers, books about books!

took so long to finish this book, that’s on me and my stubborn attitude instead of taking a break/dnf-ing. Elsy’s car breaks down and stumbles into the fictional town of Eloraton, waiting for her car to be fixed and (what feels like) endlessly meeting all the townspeople. they’re all characters familiar to her from the book series but reading about it created a distance? like going to a party where your one friend introduces you to everyone and you’re trying to keep up remembering all the relationships?

short chapters that just continue immediately from the previous chapters end, repetitive scenes and convos, tbh my eyes glazed often and I had to reread some pages.

I’ve yet to read the Dead Romantics but I liked The Seven Year Slip more than I enjoyed this one.

I feel like this book could become a good comfort read. How many of us have a favorite book that we would love to live in? So Elsy and her best friend love reading romance books and they started a virtual book club. The book club decided to start meeting once a year at a cabin in NY. They all have a favorite author, Rachel Flowers. Unfortunately Rachel died before she could finish the series. This year everyone bailed on coming to the cabin so Elsy is going alone because her fiance broke up with her so she needs some time away. A bad storm hits while Elsy is driving to the cabin so she turns down a side road and takes shelter in this small town. Her phone has no reception. One of the residents recommends she stays with Anders because he has a loft area over his book store that she can sleep in. Who wouldn't fall in love with the grumpy book store owner? Elsy feels like she knows these people but just can't place why. The next day she realizes they are straight out of her favorite series that never got finished, except for Anders. How does he play into this? Oh, and of course her car breaks down so she has to stay in town longer than a night. This book takes place in a week so the love is pretty fast, but once again, a broody book store owner? This book was more about Elsy's journey and discovering what she does want out of life. Overall I enjoyed it. I ended with a smile on my face.

✨ 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ✨

A Novel Love Story
Ashley Poston

Thank you @netgalley and @berkley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

Eileen (Elsie) loves to get lost in a good book. It helps to take her mind off the fact that she should be married by now. Instead she was left at the alter by the man she thought would give her the happily ever after she dreamed of.

When everyone in her book club cancels on their annual trip, Elsie decides to go alone. She needs this reprieve from her work and personal issues. On the way though she stumbles upon a town that she finds all too similar to one of her favorite book series.

I loved this story line and felt it was truly unique compared to everything else I’ve read so far. I mean who wouldn’t love to get lost in their favorite book series? The magical realism that Ashley Poston adds into her novels is so interesting to me.

The dynamic between Elsie and Anders was really sweet. I did lose a bit of interest in the middle of the story. I think it was because I was interested in seeing how certain things unfolded and it was taking awhile to get there.

I feel like I came into this book with unreasonably high expectations after reading The Dead Romantics, and while it didn't live up to that book, A Novel Love Story was still an enjoyable experience.

I loved the magical realism aspect of this book! All of Ashley Poston's novels have such unique magical realism elements and this was no exception. Novel Love Story follows Elsy, who is heartbroken and driving to a cabin week alone with her favorite books. But, her car breaks down and she ends up in the small town from her favorite book series. She has fun meeting the characters and seeing the settings mentioned in the books, but also meets Anders, who was not in any of the books. She gets close to him and tries to figure out what their place is in the book series.

The small town itself was a super cute setting! Everything from the cafe to the inn and Anders' bookshop was adorable and it made me wish I could visit. The townspeople were exactly what I expected from romance characters "in the real world" and Elsy reacted to them the way I would.

My biggest issue with the book was Elsy and Anders' relationship. Anders was not really developed (past the "grumpy" part) and Elsy felt just like a silly, brokenhearted girl. Their relationship didn't feel super real and I wasn't really invested in their romance.

I reallyyyy wanted the plot twist to be that <spoiler>Anders was trying to finish Rachel's last book and that Elsy was a character in the novel...I know that's really silly and would be difficult to integrate and explain but I think that would have been super fun. The actual twist was a bit sad, and the part with Bea was really off-putting...</spoiler>.

Finally, I loved the small Dead Romantics reference at the end!! It didn't really spoil the book (aside from the fact that yes the couple in a romance novel gets together...shocker) and it was so small that people who hadn't read the book wouldn't have noticed it.

Overall, I don't think this was Ashley Poston's best book, but it was a great romance book overall. Ashley Poston's other books are just so amazing that the bar is really high! So highly recommend A Novel Love Story!

Thank you to Berkley + NetGalley for the ARC!

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Narrator: Dorothy Dillingham Blue
Rating: 3.75 stars
Pub date: 6/25

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for my gifted ecopy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Elsy has been struggling lately and has decides to go on her annual book club retreat, even though she knows she’ll be going alone. When her car breaks down, she finds herself in a quaint little town that seems familiar. It doesn’t take her long to realize that it’s the fictional town of her favorite romance series, Eloraton, and she is literally in a storybook.

With its charming quirks and cast of lovable characters, this story feels like a dream come true for any book lover. Elsy believes she’s there to help complete the town’s unfinished narrative. Still, she soon realizes her own happily-ever-after may be at stake, especially with the mysterious and brooding bookstore owner, Anders.

There is so much to love about this one! It captures the fantasy of living within a beloved story, and Poston’s skillful world-building brings Eloraton to life in a delightful and emotional way. I loved getting to know the secondary characters, and I wish the books Elsy loves so much were real! I would definitely read that series.

I went into this with incredibly high expectations since Poston’s other books have been on my favorites lists two years in a row. I love magical realism and the romantic way that Poston tells a story. But the romance between Anders and Elsy felt forced, and I had a hard time believing they were meant to be.

Anders’ journey felt underdeveloped, and while I liked Elsy’s character, I couldn't relate to her. Even though I find magical realism fun and charming, the plot holes in this case might leave some readers wanting a more cohesive resolution.

I switched between the ebook and the audiobook, and the narrator did an incredible job of bringing all the characters to life.
While this isn’t my favorite of Poston’s, "Eloraton" is a special escape for those seeking a whimsical and romantic read. It’s a heartfelt tribute to book lovers everywhere, and fans of the genre will enjoy it.

Read if you like:
*slow burn
*magical realism
*books about books
*grumpy/sunshine
*single POV

I've always had a hard time with tropes such as characters landing into other universes, which was exactly the premise of this book. Our FMC (Elsy) lands right in the middle of Eloraton from her favorite book series and falls in love with our MMC, Anders--who she doesn't recognize from the books.
I thought I was going to struggle with this one seeing as this trope has ALWAYS been my least favorite, but it pulled on my heartstrings a little bit and kept me entertained. I do wish we could have had a few chapters from Ander's POV to flesh some of story out further, however I related so much to Elsy throughout that it didn't really affect how I felt about the story.

“Time changes you. Stories change you. The people you meet change you.”

This book was so charming. I really loved the premise and how Eileen finds herself in the fictional town from her favorite romance series. It’s a bit like a dream come true that any book lover can certainly relate to. The entire town is so whimsical and fun, making for a great setting. Seeing her connect to the town and the characters is so lovely as she heals from her breakup and missing her book club friends.

One of the things that really resonated with me was her online book club that met annually for a week. Bookstagram has brought some incredible people into my life, and getting to spend time with them in person is truly the best. Eileen is still taking the trip even though no one else can make it. She feels defeated and still wants to have this time to herself. It's always so validating to see these types of friendship portrayed in the books that I enjoy. Eileen's overall arc is so well done, as we see her take time to heal and pursue what she really wants to in her life. I always appreciate when books take the time to show the main character healing and dealing with their hurt and traumas in an effective way,

“Love is neither late nor early, you know.”

The slow burn romance with Anders is so beautiful and sweet. There’s a little enemies to lovers and forced proximity, and their chemistry bubbles underneath it. Their tension is portrayed really well, and it's so easy to root for them as a couple. I will say the twist of this was easy to figure out, so it wasn’t a surprise closer to the end. But the overall ending was really great.

While this didn’t get me in my feelings like The Seven Year Slip, this was still a lovely read!

Ashley Poston is becoming one of my favorite authors! This book was so addicting. I loved reading about Elsy and her favorite fictional town made "real". Anders was the perfect book boyfriend, in my opinion. Gotta love a grouchy bookstore owner with a cat!! Highly recommend!!

*Thank you partner @berkleypub @berkleyromance @prhaudio and Berkley Buddy Reads for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

Poston’s last two books were major hits for me, I loved them so much and recommend them often. So, I was beyond stoked for this one. Like with most books, I went into it completely blind. The premise of this book is SO neat and fits in line with her last two “outside the norm” romance books. I was eager to see how it was all going to play out. The notes of love for books and romance books themselves were so good and the references to some of my fav things (Emily Henry, LOTR, Poison, Hamitlon) and subtle hints to the last two books made this much more enjoyable to me. But ultimately, the book didn’t work for me in the way I hoped. I didn’t feel connected to our FMC, interested but not connected. Then the romance between her and Anders didn’t even feel practical? I understood the draw to each other but their pacing and the flip was just not at all natural to me. I felt that everything with the town, all the side characters, all the issues going on really took away from the romance. And here’s the thing, had the entire book been focused on the town setting and all of that, I would have loved it! Shelve it as a general fiction and maybe have a tiny romance subplot, or honestly don’t, and it would have worked! But this as a romance didn’t work for me. I liked Eileen’s journey to finding herself again, I liked the writing, I loved the nod to the love of books and I love the cover, but the book itself isn’t my fav. I’ll absolutely still read her future books!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"I love how you make me want to see the world in color, and I love how I feel when I'm with you. And maybe we won't work out, but maybe we will--and I'll run across cities, and I'll show up with boom boxes outside your window, and I'll meet you at the tops of buildings, and I'll kiss you in the rain just to remind you that you're worth every moment."

2.5 stars

This...was not my cup of tea 😭

I was actually really close to DNFing, but this is Ashley Poston we're talking about. I LOVED her last couple of romances, and I was so incredibly excited for this one, but this just didn't do it for me.

I never connected to any of the characters, including the main. The MMC felt more like a secondary character, so their relationship really had no time to grow and develop. The FMC spent most of her time getting into everyone else's business, and all those characters fell flat for me too.

All this took place in like 5 days, so the pacing was weird and the development not really existent. And I did not like how the relationship broke off and then concluded. IMO, he very easily walked away from her, for a CRAZY reason, and then just waltzes right back like it was nothing.

This did have some good moments and lovely writing at times, but this fell way short of my expectations, which could just be a me problem 😟

Thank you so much Berkley for the gifted book!

What a fun concept! This is seriously one of the most fun ideas I've heard for a book in a long time! It started out really great and as a huge reader, what more could I want than a story about books?

While it started out cute and interesting, it was simply lacking in plot for me. I kept waiting and waiting for more to happen and it seemed to drag on, especially for such a short book.

I also love magical realism and usually connect very well with that genre so I'm even more disappointed this didn't work for me.

Still looking forward to what she writes next!

ashley poston has done it again with her latest novel, weaving a heartfelt and enchanting love story that seamlessly blends emotional romance with magical realism. from the very first page, i was captivated by eileen merriweather's journey and the quaint, mystical town of eloraton.

when life hits rock bottom—pain from a breakup, a job you despise, and feeling left behind while everyone else finds happiness—who wouldn't crave an escape to a fictional small town created by their favorite romance author? that's precisely what happens to elsy, albeit accidentally, and it's the beginning of a tale that's as magical as it is moving.

poston's storytelling shines with its emotional depth and lighter tone, focusing on self-discovery rather than the heavy grief present in some of her previous works. this shift doesn't detract from the story; instead, it offers a refreshing exploration of healing and finding one's path after loss. elsy's character is wonderfully relatable, embodying the struggle many face when trying to move forward after an unexpected life event. her journey resonates deeply, whether you're grieving a relationship, job, or friendship.

the town of eloraton itself feels like a character, with its charming quirks and timeless atmosphere that reminded me of stars hollow but with an extra touch of magic. poston's attention to detail is evident, as every aspect of the town and its inhabitants serves a purpose in elsy's journey. the side characters add richness to the story, creating a vibrant small-town romance vibe that i absolutely adored.

initially, i hesitated to give this book a full five stars, wishing for a deeper exploration of anders, the grumpy bookstore owner. however, once his backstory is revealed, it brilliantly ties together his closed-off demeanor, adding depth and understanding to his character. this revelation was a turning point, fully developing anders and solidifying my love for the story.

while i noticed some repeated descriptions, this is an arc copy likely undergoing further revision, and it didn't diminish my overall enjoyment. the themes of healing, self-discovery, and finding home are beautifully interwoven throughout the narrative, making every detail purposeful and impactful.

ashley poston has crafted yet another masterpiece that left me both heartbroken and hopeful. this novel is a testament to the power of love, the magic of second chances, and the importance of finding one's own path. i wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in need of a magical escape and a heartfelt, emotional journey.

thank you to berkley publishing, ashley poston, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

BEST CONCEPT EVER!!!!!!!! Literature professor stumbles into the town from her favorite romance series and needs to help bring the town to it's storybook ending, enough said!!!! I absolutely loved Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston and knew that this one would be a slam dunk as well, I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much but that's more to do with how much I loved Dead Romantics rather than this book failing in any way. Basically the town is stuck in a never ending loop and when our heroine Eileen crashes into town everything starts to move forward. She's in the final manuscript that the author never finished because she died a couple years previously, so what else is a girl to do but help guide everyone in town to their HEAs! This is a grumpy/sunshine romance, Eileen finds herself at odds with local bookstore owner, Anders, who wasn't in any of the previous books! He sees the ripples she's causing in town and doesn't like it one bit, but Eileen won't let that stop her from saving him! It was just such a beautiful story, as I've come to expect from Poston, easily one of the best books of the year!!

Eileen Merriweather is a huge romance reader and loves to get lost in the pages of her favorite small town series. She's been looking forward to the annual retreat she goes to with her romance reading friends. Except...everyone seems to have plans this year and Eileen is the only one going. She gets in her car to head up to the cabin only to find herself lost when her car breaks down in a charming small town.

Eileen soon finds that the town is none other than the fictional town in her favorite romance series - Eloraton. She knows all of these characters except for one...a grumpy bookstore owner named Anders. Who is he and why is he in the small town she knows?? Was he part of a love story that was left incomplete when the author of Eileen's favorite books passed away tragically in a car accident. Eileen tries hard not to meddle in the characters lives, but when they ask for help she has a hard time saying no. When Eileen finds herself getting closer to Ander it gets harder and harder for her want to leave. Does she want to live in a fictional world for a little while longer or get back to the real world that's full of heartbreak?

A Novel Love Story had a really slow start for me. Unlike Ashley Poston's other books, I couldn't immediately get into this one. I do feel like this story was maybe a bit more lighthearted as well. I'll be honest - I didn't really feel the connection between Anders and Eileen until like the last quarter of the book. The romance in A Novel Love Story is definitely a subplot, although I did like the way it played out in the end. The storyline itself felt a bit disjoined and the pacing felt off. Still I connected with Eileen as a romance reader - I felt so much of what we got to see her meeting her favorite author or talking about a romance book she absolutely fell in love with.

Overall, I would give A Novel Love Story 3.75⭐️. Not my favorite Ashley Poston book, but still enjoyable!