While I think this book will widely appeal to romance readers it was unfortunately a miss for me. I loved the premise and I really wanted to love this story, however, I never really connected with the characters. I also felt like I needed a guide to the book series and all the characters of this small town because it took far too long for me to finally understand who was with who. Lastly, I was slightly disappointed with the ending and how the MC finally left the town. I had made some predictions that I feel like would have made the story far more interesting if they came true.

I know some people will love this one, so I am still likely to recommend it. It just won't be a new favorite of mine.

Ashley has done it again! How amazing is it to feel like our favorite authors GET IT regarding the worlds they have invited us into? This book was a love story to stories, and I am just such a fan of how Ashley writes magical realism! It makes me wish I could run away into my favorite fake town! Thank you, Ashley, for another fantastic read! Friends, go grab your copy!!

I've loved the author's previous books (The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip) and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. The set up was so unique and interesting. Haven't we all wished at some point that we could visit/live in a favorite fictional world?! I'm always a fan of books about books and this one leaned into it in such a fun and quirky way. The town of Eloraton and all of its inhabitants were wonderful and it was a great nod to the HEA's we often imagine after we turn the last page of our favorite books.

I will admit that I was a bit confused at first with how the magic worked in this one, which made the beginning challenging. The pacing overall was also inconsistent, and definitely slowed down a lot in the middle, making the book feel too long. I was rooting for Eileen to find her HEA, but her romance with Anders just didn't fully work for me. I didn't feel much chemistry between them and the progression from meet disaster to more didn't feel natural. In many ways, the book was about Anders growth and character arc as much as it was Eileen's, yet we only ever get Eileen's POV. I liked the twist/reveal about Anders and his connection to Eloraton, but I wanted more depth to their relationship. The conflict at the end was frustrating, but I can understand that both characters needed to stand on their own for a bit given their histories. The ending was very sweet though and I liked how the story came full circle.

I both read and listened to the audiobook of A Novel Love Story and the narration by Dorothy Dillingham Blue was fantastic! I really enjoyed the different voices and accents she used to bring this story to life. Overall, this was an entertaining read, but it isn't my favorite by the author.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3-3.5 stars

CW: death of loved one (past), grief, cheating ex

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

When Eileen’s car breaks down she finds herself in a quaint and adorable town. She doesn’t understand how but the town is Eloraton, the town for her favorite fictional romance series.

This is such a unique story because it’s really a story within a book. The author has created a fictional world based on a fiction story that doesn’t really exist; but I wish it did. The fictional town is so realistic and well developed. I’m dying to read the book series, which again, doesn’t really exist. The touch of magic in this story is light, and while you don’t really find out they “why’s and how’s” of it, it doesn’t really matter because the end result was beautiful and heart warming!

“Sometimes, that’s how it happens. Sometimes your favorite book just hits you out of the blue like a bolt of lightening.”

A Novel Love Story comes out 6/25.

Big fan of this author and her writing but unfortunately this book mixed the mark in a few places for me. I won’t go into too much detail but the main character was a little annoying and there was way too many characters. It was like reading two books at once. I think we were suppose to know this book she stepped into but unfortunately I just felt lost most of the time. I think it was a great idea but lots of things missed the mark and characters I should have felt for or rooted for I didn’t have any connection to.
I liked her friendship but it is okay to do things by yourself. You can still have a BF and not do every little thing together. It’s called growing up,
The romance was a little odd, and it was said way too many times how good he smelled and the color of his eyes.
I still gave it 3⭐️ because this author can write but unfortunately some things were just too big of a miss.

A intriguing concept for this book. The FMC Elsy finds herself in the fictional town of her favourite romance series after getting lost on a road trip to a remote cabin in the Catskills of NY in this magical realism romance.
I liked the idea of the magical realism but can’t think too hard about it because it didn’t make sense and wasn’t explained well.
Ashley’s writing is easy to read and felt like a little love note to romance readers.
Although I figured out who Anders the MMC was pretty early in the book I enjoyed his story. The love story was a bit insta love for me.
The fictional town was the perfect Hallmark movie-esque setting and the secondary characters were fun and developed nicely.
I feel the book was a bit slow and meandered a bit through the middle.
Overall a solid magical realism romance. I would recommend for anyone who likes quirky Hallmark love stories with a bit of unexplained magic that happens.

As an adjunct English professor, Eileen “Elsy” Merriweather is all about books, most especially Romance series. Although she teaches classical literature works to her student, Eileen’s first love was, and still is, romances with a happily ever. This becomes even more true now since her fiancé called off their wedding a week before the ceremony. Eileen has been hiding out at home and in her beloved books, mostly in one special series by an author who did not finish the last in the book due to her early demise.

Elsy and her book club gather annually in the beautiful Hudson Valley to enjoy long talks, cheap wine, and all things Romance genre. When everyone else cancels on her, Elsy is determined to load up her pea green pinto and make the long trek anyway. On the way to the rural cabin, Elsy gets lost in a town that turns out to be Eloraton: the exact fantasy place where her favorite series is set. The town is sort of an ersatz Brigadoon, or a Camelot where it rains the same time every day. All the inhabitants whom Eileen knows very well go about the same jobs with the same personal relationships described in the books. She knows everyone except the bookstore owner, Anders, who seems to be the only other person clued into that this town is more fantasy than fact.

Elsy has been stuck in a deep depression since her heartbreak so finding this beloved town is like a gift from heaven. As Elsy begins to interact with everyone, living the story right along with them, subtle changes start to happen when she makes opinions known in the way readers have often wished to do with favorite characters. Anders warns Eileen, as he calls her, not to mess with the status quo; however, she just cannot resist trying to help everyone with their problems.

This story is an interesting concept for readers who have often wished they could inhabit their favorite stories particularly the books which have enriched their lives. Some parts of it are quite fun imaging living in the story since as a lover of literature, Elsy knows what a special gift she has been given. The story does drag at times and get repetitive especially in Elsy’s descriptions of Anders with his “mint-green eyes” and other attributes. This book defends the value of romance stories in general; however, the author is mostly preaching to choir since those fans are her most likely audience.

4.5⭐️

I’m a firm believer that every reader will one day come across a book that seems like it was written specifically for them. It’s a book that speaks to your soul and seems to tell you exactly what you need to hear at a specific time in your life.

A Novel Love Story was that for me. As someone who has grown up almost exclusively reading romance novels this book felt like a warm hug and like Ashley Poston looked me straight in the eyes and said “I see you.” While reading this beautiful story all I could think of is what it would be like to suddenly wake up in the small towns and worlds of my favorite stories and just how wonderful that would be.

It’s so hard for me to write a review without giving away something in the story. There are so many thoughts I have and favorite moments I want to discuss. But, I think this is one of those books where it’s best to go in blind. Just know if you’re ever looking for a low stakes and cozy read. This is the book for you.

This is for the romance lovers.

Thank you so much to Berkley, Ashley Poston, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This one was a little underwhelming for me. I thought it was cute and it had all of the magical realism touches that Ashley's other books have but it was all very predictable, in my opinion. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters and I thought the progression of their relationship was very choppy. Again, it was still a cute story but it didn't pull me in like Ashley's two other books, which I love!

I enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the dynamic between Elsy and Anders. I wish Anders’s phone call was explained. I don’t think it ever was. Also it was kind of hard to keep up with all the characters/couples. But overall I found this book very charming and would recommend.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

This is definitely a departure from Ashley Poston's previous books, but I didn't mind it. Usually there's a little bit of magic sprinkled in, but here we are FULL ON inside of a romance novel within the first few chapters. And honestly? I would argue that this book isn't about the romance. This book is about friendships, book clubs, and investing in your growth and happiness. It's about wishes, magic, and finding new dreams and chasing them down. There are cliches in how Eileen describes Anders, but she's literally IN a small town romance. And with the repetitions of those, you better bet that I remember he has minty eyes and smells like tea and old books. He's delightfully crotchety and there's no way that he doesn't own tweed btw.

I was spellbound by Eloraton. Between the molten hot sauce, the haunted toilet, and a renegade possum, it's oh so charming. Also is it a sneaky hint that Eloraton backwards is NOT A ROLE??

I loved this book! Ashley Poston knows how to write a magical story! Elsy finds herself in a love story of her own that she is not quite convinced is hers to have, all while helping the characters of her favorite book series find the end to their own stories. And who doesn’t love a grumpy bookstore owner!

I did find some parts a little repetitive at times, but it never overshadowed the storyline for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🌶️🌶️.5

Admittedly this one will not be for everyone….however, I loved it. If you want to get lost in a fictional town full of fun characters and throw realism out the door, then this book is for you! This is a sweet, feel good romance that will make you smile. It is written for true book lovers who appreciate getting lost in the world of a great story.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston was everything I was expecting from an Ashley Poston book. It was unique, cute and swoony. I couldn't stop smiling while reading this book. I loved it and it was hard not to read it all in one sitting. There's something special about Poston's writing and I know that this will be a great hit with all romance readers. You can't help but feel for all the characters and it was such a unique story that I couldn't guess how it'd end. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone and anyone.

Thank you NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am so sad about this, but this one ended up not being for me. I stopped trying after about halfway through.

I think the disconnect for me was in the fact that it was less about the characters, and more about the story they were in. I think a lot of people will love that, it will speak to a lot of book lovers! I wanted more from the characters and the romance, but it didn’t feel like the focus, the romance felt a bit forced and the characters underdeveloped.

The idea was really appealing but ultimately didn’t pull me in!

I loved Ashley Poston's latest novel. A Novel Love Story plays with time and space, much like Poston's other novels, while developing a rich romance storyline that is more than skin deep. The story follows Eileen, whose car breaks down on her to way to a solo reading retreat. She finds herself in a small town that feels very familiar. Before long she realizes she is in the town where her favorite book series takes place. She's meeting characters she loves and one character she can't place, a grumpy bookstore owner, who is getting more attractive by the day. Will she choose to leave or stay? What will happen to the people she meets and the man she's falling for?

Big thank you to @prhaudio for the free audiobook & @netgalley @berkleypub for the eARC of A Novel Love Story!

📖 : “Nothing ever stopped. Nothing was permanent. Art lived and breathed, like love, like friendship. Life—like works of art—was transformative. It persisted.”
🎵 : “And come what may, I won’t abandon you or leave you behind. Because love is a loyalty sworn, not a burning for a moment.”

Time for another review & music pairing! A Novel Story by @heyashposton was such a delight and I’m not surprised after loving her last two releases! This is a love story for book lovers & a main character for all of us who have found community and family in book friends 🖤

The concept of this book is so charming! Elsie goes on a trip to recover from a broken heart and finds herself in the setting of her favorite fictional world - one that was tragically cut short after the author passed in a car accident.

Seeing her navigate this whimsical journey and sometimes frustrating situations is so fun and realistic feeling despite the magical realism aspects of the story. Poston has such a beautiful way of bringing her stories to life!

Highly recommend adding this book to your list! It is out on 6/25!

wow - this was so unexpectedly fun! I loved this take on a cozy romance, tho kind of inverted. Great read!

This book was good, but I felt like the romance aspect fell slightly flat for me. I was so sad about this because I do love Ashley’s other books!
That being said, I was able to enjoy this book for what it was and I did not struggle to get through it. I thought the characters and the base of their relationship was good but I was just left wanting more from it.
I’m hoping after a bit of editing after I received this arc that this book will be in tip top shape and perfect for publishing!

Compared to Ashley Poston's other works, A Novel Love Story wasn't my favorite. I really struggled with the romance. I wanted more from Elsy and Ander. Their relationship could have used more tension, excitement, and chemistry. I didn't feel sold on their relationship...especially with how fast they were to catch feelings. I thought Poston did an incredible job with the secondary characters. So much so that the main characters felt a little lacking. I found the storyline plot interesting. I always enjoy the way Poston weaves in magical realism in her stories. The voice and writing style of the book read smoothly. There were some parts of the book that really frustrated me. I thought the "mint eyes" and "tea" references were overdone. I also hated how the third act conflict was introduced/resolved. I wanted more of an explanation about what happened with Anders. I thought Elsy was way too quick to forgive Anders! The third act conflict really left a bitter taste in my mouth. I enjoyed the Eloraton setting and character callback to The Dead Romantics. Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me 🙁 As a big fan of Ashley Poston's work, I am still hopeful and eager for her next stuff. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.