I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review (although by the time I got around to reading this, the book had been published for like a month. So sorry, NetGalley!).

I've read several Ashley Poston books and I like her unique spin on things. I guessed fairly early on which way the story was going (as I have with her other books), but I'm not disappointed by that. I like seeing where the story is going and if I was write. The characters were enjoyable, although I wished Elsy wasn't so hung up on her best friend (although that was kind of the point, that she needed to be her own person). Enjoyable and I look forward to more by this author.

“Sometimes, a book can change your life. It’s hard to explain that to someone who doesn’t read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two. Some books are a comfort, some a reprieve, others a vacation, a lesson, a heartbreak.” 📚💕

Gilmore Girls rewatch season is upon us. And if you need a Gilmore Girls-esque read, A NOVEL LOVE STORY by Ashley Poston is for you! {Thank you @berkleyromance for the #gifted finished copy!} You get a quirky small town with the side characters to go along with it, adoration for books, a slow burn romance, and a dash of magical realism.

Now, I loved THE DEAD ROMANTICS, but this one was only okay for me. I overall enjoyed it - the idea of accidentally finding yourself in the setting of your favorite book? Pure gold. However, the actual story and romance was lacking for me; it just felt like there was little tension and or actual attraction. I almost wish this one leaned more heavily into coming-of-age/finding yourself plot, than romance.

Overall, it was still a rather heartwarming and cute read.

CW // grief; death; car accident; alcohol

This was a bit disappointing, which really pains me to say. 😭 It's by far my least favorite book from this author which is a bummer because I loved 'The Seven Year Slip'. I almost marked DNF after 50% but decided to push through anyways hoping it would turn around.. The final 30% of this was actually pretty cute and better than the book as a whole BUT I still didn't feel much chemistry between Anders and Elsy.

book loving MMCs x enemies to lovers x small town

A quirky premise that had a lot of promise but it never worked for me. All of the side characters felt underdeveloped and like caricatures.

Rating: 3/5
Warnings: Death of a loved one, grief and infidelity

Thank you to Berkley Romance, NetGalley and PRH for these advanced and gifted copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a huge fan of Ashley Poston’s previous work, having given her first two novels five stars, A Novel Love Story was one of my most anticipated summer reads. I was captivated by the concept—a magical realism setting that felt like a love letter to romance readers. It’s a unique backdrop that pulls you in, celebrating the power of stories in a way that speaks directly to any book lover’s heart. The quote, “Sometimes, a book can change your life. It's hard to explain that to someone who doesn't read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two…” resonated deeply with me and captures exactly why we fall in love with reading.

Poston skillfully delves into serious topics like heartbreak, changing friendships, and career doubts with her trademark grace and relatability. The balance of romance and personal growth is something she handles exceptionally well, making the emotional journey feel authentic and engaging.

However, despite my high expectations, I struggled with this book, and it took me months to finally finish it. One of my main frustrations was the heavy focus on secondary characters, which overshadowed the main couple’s storyline and made it difficult to connect with their relationship. The romance felt rushed—within just a week, the characters are deeply in love, and I found it hard to buy into their whirlwind connection, even as someone who usually loves a fast-paced romance.

The third act left me genuinely confused, and I’m still trying to make sense of what happened. The twist wasn’t what bothered me; it was how things played out, especially for Eileen. After everything she went through with her ex-fiancé, I was hoping for a more satisfying conclusion to her story. This ending, unfortunately, didn’t feel like the HEA she deserved.

Adding to my disappointment was the audiobook experience. The narrator did well with accents, but overall, the performance fell flat for me, which I fear may have contributed to my lack of enjoyment.

In the end, A Novel Love Story had all the makings of another five-star read, but the execution left me feeling let down. While I continue to appreciate Poston’s ability to weave romance and personal growth, this one just didn’t capture me as her previous books did.

I love this book's magical realism and enjoyed the story, even though it felt rushed. I wish it could have been longer and paced out a bit more

Ashley Poston always delivers unique, fun romances that have a lot of heart and delve into more serious topics with grace. This one is no different as we meet our heroine that has experienced a recent heartbreak and escapes into the world of her favorite romance series, which many readers would love to do! There is a nice blend of romance and personal growth that made for a satisfying read.

3.5 rounded up. I had high hopes for this book, and although I still enjoyed it in the end I feel like the middle of the book really dragged. Between playing catch up with the backstories of everyone in Eloraton and with Elsy's past it was just a lot to keep track of. I also wish we had a bit more time with the romance element, and potentially a dual POV with Anders (although I imagine this would have made the reveal a bit harder to pull off). This was such a fun premise for a book and I liked where it ended up, but getting to the end felt like more of a chore than a treat.

Unfortunately after reading 200 pages, this is a DNF for me. I even bought myself a physical copy! I was SO excited to read this one, after seven year slip being my favorite of the year. However, this one just wasn’t for me. I do think small town romance lovers may enjoy this one! I just got bored by the pacing and the characters. Will read her future books though!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!!

5/5 stars

I loved loved loved this! Who hasn't been depressed af and wanted to escape the horrors of their reality into the world of their favourite book/TV show/video game?? This was super fun, super cute, and really enjoyable. Now, would I have liked even a crumb of explanation about how anything came to be? Yes. Absolutely yes. But I'm discovering that with Ashley Poston's books we are here for a good time, not a deeply intellectual time discussing time/space wormholes lol. This was fun, cheesy, sweet, and honestly the romance was nice but I barely remember it over the rest of the happenings in the book lol. But who cares, I had an absolutely fantastic time, and dammit I want to go to that bookstore with all the sun catchers and birds, even if they are loud af in the morning 😂😂💜💜💜💜

I've enjoyed the magical realism that Ashley Poston has included in her previous books, and the concept of this book was original. Who wouldn't want to end up in the setting of their favorite romance series with the characters they've come to love? The book was fun, but I think that having to include the stories of so many characters from a series made the book lose something; it was hard to keep all of the characters straight. The ending and romance of it all was top notch! I recommend for fans of romance and Ashley Poston's works.

Girlie you did it again! I fell in love with this book. Ashley’s writing is poetic and beautiful. I loved the characters, I loved the town, I loved every second. That ending had me yelling on the phone with my best friend too. This has small town romance, grumpy vs sunshine, magical realism, and more.

Get lost in a romance book while Elsy is lost in a romance book. I one hundred percent recommend it!

Huge fan of Poston's The Seven Year Slip, and I was so very excited to read this newest offering! And I'm happy to report it did not disappoint. Small town romance is one of my fave tropes, and I adored the main leads, especially the FMC. Already have a recommendation card for this title for our romance readers. Glad to have this in our collection!

Such a cute small town, I could spend forever there. Romance felt truly rushed, like I had missed an entire chapter, and the ending was off. Lots of little tidbits for book lovers to overall a fine story.

I am a certified Ashley Poston lover girl. Her books never disappoint and this was no exception, absolutely riveting. I felt really seen by this one, especially, in contrast to her others; “I was scared. I didn’t need love. But oh, oh, how I wanted it.” I have never related to a quote more.

I really enjoyed this book! This is my favorite of Ashley Poston's books that I've read. The concept was new and different, and I felt like the story made sense. The characters in the town and the main characters were so cute and fun and funny. I wasn't entirely sure how it was going to end, but I liked how it did end. I would recommend this to many patrons and friends. Thank you to Berkley for this ARC!

Cute, fun, but ultimately hard to get through. I wish I could have loved but it felt rushed and contrived.

This was one of the most delightful books I've read in a while. It reads like a Hallmark movie, but one with spice and personality. If you're anything like me, it will make you want to get lost in upstate NY, drive over a random bridge, and end up in the town from your very favorite book series. This book is smart, funny, and surprisingly surprising.

“I was scared. I didn’t need love. But oh, oh, how I wanted it.”

I want to start this review off by saying that Ashely Poston has a magical ability to make me cry 30% through one of her books. Half of my comments consist of “love Poston’s humor,” “Ashley WHY,” and, most importantly, an embarrassing amount of notes screaming that we get another Benji cameo in one of her books.

A Novel Love Story hit too hard– I saw myself in Elsy, in her love for romance novels, a safe way to experience love and happy endings without risking heartbreak. The chapter detailing her story with Liam did fully make me cry. I’ll admit it. Poston has a way of making her characters come to life, and I found myself sympathizing with Elsy, feeling her devastation and heartbreak, her desire to get lost in familiar pages.

The concept of this book was so fun! I loved the details like the half thought-up menu, the graveyard of drafts, the repeating cycle of the days. My only complaint is I wish we knew more about HOW this fictional town came to life like it did– maybe it’s the fantasy fan in me, but I want all the details because it’s such a fascinating concept.

“I couldn’t remember the last time someone kissed me this passionately— savored me, like I was the last sentence in his favorite book.”

Onto Anders. I thought he was a touch bland compared to some other love interests Poston has given us, but I did enjoy seeing him and Elsy grow close, even if I did see the “twist” coming. As usual, Poston gave us a beautiful love story without relying too heavily on “spice,” which I find a lot of contemporary romances relying on to show us the connection between the main couple. Sometimes love is sugary spaghetti and tweed jackets, and it’s enough to make me want to bawl my eyes out :)

Another amazing read from Poston, absolutely 100% reccomend, I wanna open a bookstore now.

What an incredible story! I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one day. The author did an amazing job describing the small town and characters. I felt like I was a part of the story!