Ashley Poston somehow manages to write a book that always sucks me in and makes me feel all the feels. The world of Eloraton was so dreamy and perfect. It is exactly how you picture a Hallmark movie town, just with the catch its also Groundhogs day every day. But everything changes when Elsy comes to town. I loved how Elsy and Anders interacted. Their relationship was full of tension and so many adorable moments. The story had me hooked from start to finish.

A Novel Love Story
By: Ashley Poston
Romance
First, The Seven Year Slip was one of my favorite reads of 2023. I was very excited to read this one. Ashley has a way of taking the concept of romance and spinning it into a magical adventure that is unlike any other books I’ve read. I really enjoyed this story. The concept and imagination combined with the relatable situations of the characters made for fantastic reading. If Ashley writes it, I will read it.

Ash Poston never misses, and this book had me hooked FROM THE BEGINNING. I adored Elsy from the start, and the fictional town she built within the book sounds like a place I would want to visit!! I cannot wait to have a copy of this on my shelf. <3

Eileen, on her way to her summer book club vacation, gets lost and arrives in the town of her favorite romance series by Rachel Flowers - Eloraton. Stranded without the ability to leave Eileen (or Elsy) has to immerse herself in this fictional world without altering the characters stories. Elsy meets bookstore owner Anders, who is not a part of the Eloraton she knows. Through her time in Eloraton, Elsy falls for Anders and discovers what he is hiding. This paranormal romance style has become a favorite of mine, it helps me become more invested in the romance because even if it seems unbelievable, it is! For me, It was hard to get invested in the main characters, because a lot of time was spent fleshing out the characters of the Rachel Flowers series. I wish somehow the Eloraton world had been integrated slightly differently, because I couldn’t settle into either world.
Readers who enjoy Emily Henry, Casey McQuiston. and books about book lovers will really enjoy this story!

Emotionally undone by another Ashley Poston book…it must be that time of year! Her upcoming book has the beautiful mix of romance and magical realism I’ve come to love in her writing, and at the same time, it’s a paean to books and stories and the feelings they gives us, and it was so lovely.

Eileen is an English professor at a college. And while she’s more than happy talking about classic works, she’s a huge romance reader. Even when her life goes wrong, her favorite books, her best friend, and her book club bring her joy. Although everyone else is unable to make the book club’s annual retreat this year, she’s determined to go to the cabin in the Catskills, to read and drink wine.

On the way, she gets lost in a rainstorm and winds up in a charming small town. And then her car won’t start. But the people seem so nice and the town seems so familiar…and then Eileen realizes that somehow she has wound up in Eloraton, the setting of her absolute favorite romance series. In Eloraton, the burgers are always a little burnt, the honey taffy is always sweet, and it always rains in the afternoon. What a perfect place to wait for your car to get fixed.

The more time she spends in Eloraton, the more Eileen realizes that the characters are stuck, because the author died before the fifth book could be finished. The characters don’t realize why they’re stuck, but Eileen inadvertently creates some ripples that actually move things forward, much to everyone’s pleasure. Everyone’s except a handsome yet grumpy bookstore owner, who doesn’t want Eileen to ruin things.

Eileen realizes that she hasn’t been happy in some time, not until she arrived in town. Can’t she just stay in Eloraton, with these characters who have become her friends? How tempting it is to lose yourself in a place you love.

At first I worried this would be silly, but it’s so richly told, so vibrant. As with all of Poston’s books, this isn’t for everyone, but it filled my heart so much. I am an absolute fan of hers.

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy! The book will publish 6/25.

This is any rom com lover's dream, to be actually absorbed into the literary world that you know so well, and where everyone gets a happily ever after. While this novel did make me want to read the novel series it was based on (even though it was fiction), and imagine which series I would want to be absorbed into, I could not identify enough with the MC to want to keep reading it. I DNF'd at 50%.

I really enjoyed the premise of this one and felt compelled to keep reading each time I picked it up. It was a cute celebration of reading and the many ways readers find home in fictional worlds.

I would say the love story wasn't as strong as I'd hoped, and it did feel like a really quick ending (but I seem to be saying that a lot lately, so maybe it's just me?)

Fans of cute small town stories will enjoy this.

Eileen has had a rough few years. Her fiancé calls off their wedding, she feels like she’s going nowhere in her job, and now her closest friends - her romance book club - have bailed on their traditional week-long summer getaway to discuss all things romance. So Eileen makes the trip on her own, making the drive from Georgia up to rural New York state. Only Eileen doesn’t make it to their cabin, instead finding herself caught in the rain and in the very same (fictional) town her favorite series is set in. As Elsy waits for her chance to get back on the road, she sees her chance to fix the issues the author wrote into the town: mending relationships, rebuilding friendships, and solving a problem involving a mysterious, haunted toilet. The problem? The tall, bookish bookstore owner, Anders, was never a character in this story. He’s an outlier who seems to be the only town citizen who knows he’s in a story. The even bigger problem? Elsy is falling madly in love with him….

Oh, how I wanted to fall instantly in love with this plot and these characters. I think it’s just ingrained in readers to want, at some point, to disappear into their favorite story and live there. This plot should’ve been such an easy sell. It’s what we’ve dreamed of. But the plot of A Novel Love Story - the details more than anything else - just fell a bit flat for me. I love Ashley Poston’s writing and language, and that hasn’t changed. This was still a solid story for me, but it just couldn’t compare to The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip. I was swept away in those stories, wishing I could’ve lived in them and spent time with the main characters, but Elsy and Anders never really came alive for me. Maybe because they spent so much of the book trying to find themselves, I was never invested in them finding each other. I would actually love this story more if the romance was taken out and this was solely about Elsy finding her way back to herself after heartbreak. That, to me, was a more compelling storyline than the lukewarm flirting happening between Elsy and Anders for most of the book.

I usually spend the entire time reading an Ashley Poston book, whether YA or adult, rooting for the main characters to get together, but I found myself caring more about their individual, emotional healing than I did any sparks between them. The steam between them was nice, but almost seemed secondary to everyone else’s journey.

If you’re looking for a romance with supernatural elements in it, A Novel Love Story can’t compare to Poston’s previous two novels. However, this novel does offer some wonderful growth when it comes to characters moving beyond heartache, all while still asking readers to believe in the fantastical.

Have you ever wanted to escape into your favorite book? Meet your favorite characters and hangout with them? Me? Personally, I know I would die in Prythian, but stepping into Stars Hollow? Getting coffee from Luke's? That's what happens to Elsy, she gets lost in a storm and pulls over/ her car (sweetpea) dies in the fictional town of her favorite unfinished series because the author passed away without getting to finish it. Elsy's also running away from her own problems (as a reader I felt personally victimized lol) and just happens to run into the grumpiest love interest, Anders, which I will say there is a reveal on and I'm not sure how I feel about it? It was weird, but I also understand why it was done that way, I just wasn't a fan of it. There is a mention of our favorite chef! As well as a cameo from Benji! Personally I love it when there's crossover. Overall a lovely read!

I admit that I started this story intensely skeptical of the premise. Even after 7 year Slip, I wasn't sure that the story writing would be strong enough to suspend my disbelief.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Ashley Poston delivers again, mixing magical realism, character development, and falling in love in her trademark charm that pulls you in right alongside her characters. My heart melted multiple times, though the suspense before the final HEA was almost too much (in the best way). Highly recommend.

This book was so cute and cozy! I loved the mystery of why Eloraton existed and who Anders was throughout the whole thing. The feeling of being in your favorite fictional small town matched with trying to tie up loose ends was also very endearing. I loved the reveals, and most of all I loved that they got a happy ending still.

I loved, loved, loved this new magical realism romance by Ashley Poston. The main character Elsy gets stuck in the fictional town of her favorite book series and tries to figure out the ending to the incomplete series while staying with a man who may or may not be a character from the books. This is a book lovers’ dream book, and it feels like a warm hug. Also, I love how Poston references her other books in it! Multiverse, possibly?

poston is on another level with her romance plots. after loving 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱, i was excited for 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. a book in which our fmc gets to live out a HEA in her favorite romance series? sounds like a romance reader's dream!

of course, poston's writing is stunning as ever - its warm, cozy, and has the most beautiful love declarations. while i did find some of the build up to the plot to drag on for a bit, the last 25% of the book was stunning. elsy's story takes you on a ride; its bittersweet, charming, and has great character growth. it cements that love isn't linear and you can have more than one in a lifetime.

thanks berkley pub for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

"A Novel Love Story" by Ashley Poston is a delightful homage to the magic of both romance and literature, seamlessly blending the two in a tale that is as enchanting as it is endearing. From the first page to the last, Poston skillfully weaves a narrative that captures the essence of love in all its complexity, while paying tribute to the timeless allure of romance novels, storytelling, and every book with a Fabio cover.

At the heart of the novel is protagonist Eileen, a heartbroken literature professor who finds herself transported to Eloraton, the fictional town from her favorite book series. There, she encounters her very own “book boyfriend,” Anders, who is all too aware of his role in the fictional landscape. Eloraton, known for its small-town charm, perfect couples, and happy endings, is thrown into disarray by Eileen's arrival. Determined to restore order to the town and resist falling for Anders’ grumpy charm, Elsy has to come face to face with her own unhappy endings and learn to put herself first before she can help others.

What truly distinguishes "A Novel Love Story" is its richly drawn cast of characters, each embodying various romance tropes with a clever twist. As a romance reader, discovering these easter eggs was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel. It's evident that this book is a heartfelt homage to the genre, a love letter penned by Poston herself. With each novel by Poston, I find myself consistently impressed by her witty prose and imaginative concepts, as her deep affection for literature radiates from every page. Poston expertly incorporates references to beloved books and authors, enriching the story with depth and texture, even featuring a couple of appearances from familiar characters within the Poston universe.

In the end, "A Novel Love Story" is a charming and uplifting read that is certain to warm the hearts of readers far and wide. With its endearing characters, sparkling prose, and heartfelt romance, this novel is a genuine delight from start to finish. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a love story that will evoke tears of joy long after the final page is turned.

Have you ever wanted to slip in between the pages of your favorite book? To find yourself living in the city, town, village, or whatever setting is there? Have you wanted to meet the characters who you have come to think of as dear friends--to finally meet your fated "book boyfriend?" That is exactly what happens to Elsy in A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston.

When Elsy's book group friends can't make their annual reading retreat to upstate New York, Elsy decides to go on her own. With her favorite books, comfortable clothes, and boxed wine packed into her (somewhat) trusty vehicle, she heads north, eager for the time to recharge. But a rainstorm somehow gets her off track. After narrowly missing a pedestrian in the road, Elsy takes shelter in the nearby pub...and begins to think that everything here is just a little too familiar.

Elsy and her book group friends have never found a satisfying conclusion to their favorite romance series; the author tragically passed away before finishing the final story. Now, Elsy finds herself in Quixotic Falls, interacting with the characters she has loved for so long and trying to figure out how all of their stories end. But the biggest question soon becomes: does Elsy truly want to leave this charming fictional town?

A NOVEL LOVE STORY felt a little slow to me at first and took me a little by surprise in that odd way when you feel like you've begun in the middle rather than the beginning of a story. After finishing the book and spending some time reflecting on the story, though, I think my experience as a reader mirrors Elsy's experience after crossing over the one and only bridge into (and out of) Quixotic Falls. The confusion, the odd sensation of not knowing what's going on, and the conflicting desire to both go and stay all at once are all things Elsy is feeling. Ultimately, the experience is one of self-discovery and healing (for the character and this reader) and one that I hold warm feelings for. A NOVEL LOVE STORY is heartbreaking, amusing, witty, and bright.

I sincerely thank NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley, for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. A NOVEL LOVE STORY will be published on June 25, 2024.

AP writes melancholic happiness (and sadness!!) and I eat up every time!!!

A sweet, bookish love story that sent me into Eileen’s world in much the same way she finds herself in Eloraton.

A whimsical, wonderful story that made me so happy! It was like a love letter to all romance readers and their book club friends, and I adored it. Who wouldn’t love to find themselves in the small town of their favorite book with all the characters, what a dream! It skillfully intertwines elements of magical realism with a sweet story about love, friendship, and finding our place and what makes us happy.

This was too cute! I mean who hasn't wanted to fall into that romance series town where only good things happen to everyone! Also I am obsessed with Butters.

In true Ashley Poston fashion, this romance novel also gives off magical/mystical vibes. When Elsy feels she is stuck in life, her only thought is to take the annual book club trip alone...where she literally gets stuck in a "fictional" small town. There, she realizes she's in love with all the characters and needs to decide if she really wants to leave.

dnf@38%
I tried I really did but these characters are so boring and the plot is so slow I can't do it. I read this on my kindle and not once did I think about it when I wasn't reading it I literally forgot it existed.