This is my second favorite book by Ashley Poston! First is the Seven Year Slip. But this one was like a big hug. I loved the premise of it. I highly recommend!

In true Ashley Poston fashion, this book is whimsy and makes you believe in magic for just a little while. This one is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It felt very hallmark, but that was definitely the point. Our protagonist is very much in a cross roads in her life and stumbling into an unknown but known situation really sends her life into a tailspin. It was a little cheesy at times, but again I think that was intentional. But this one really makes you think about love and that happily ever after whatever that means. Mentally anticipated being emotionally destroyed and confirm this happen. I just love her books always have a little magic in them because I think that we could always use a little magic.

This was almost something, but didn't quite deliver.

Poston has a knack for romantic magical realism. I liked The Dead Romantics and loved The Seven Year Slip. She has successfully made me swoon while also tackling tough topics like grief.

A Novel Love Story has a good premise, especially for a book lover - a girl stumbles into the town from her favorite romance series. But every point of this felt like a first draft (and I was reading an ARC so maybe some of this will be ironed out?). It felt like something was missing or maybe I missed something.

The biggest examples: SPOILERS Junie and Will finish the inn and then kinda get engaged (again?) and Elsy talks about an upcoming wedding. But we are never told that this wedding is happening the next day...it is just assumed, I guess. She asks Anders to go with her and then we are told it is the next day. Was this already being planned? It was just so disjointed.

And the conclusion to fixing up the inn SPOILER the inn's toilet has been making a weird noise, which already felt like a weird plot point that was being given more weight that it should. then Elsy suddenly realizes that the author had left clues that it was the possum blocking the plumbing...but as far as I can remember there is no mention of this possum or that it is missing or anything. It is just dropped at the end as if we the reader should have see the clues along the way?

Elsy and Anders' relationship doesn't feel fully developed either. They meet and dislike each other and then we get one scene where she helps him and suddenly they are very into each other and it has been obvious the whole time how much they like each other? Again, felt like it was just dropped into the story and there was no buildup.

Poston also does Easter eggs from her other two magical realism romances. Benji, from Dead Romantics, is a tertiary character in this. That's always nice to see the connections. But then she SPOILER makes the book Dead Romantics a thing in universe. Florence from that book has written her and Benji's story and it is a book. That's fine. But then Poston also addresses criticism of Dead Romantics - she drops lines about the overuse of doggo and the insta-love, all the critiques you see on goodreads for that story. I didn't hate it...but it was...weird?

All of this is to say, this was fine. It just didn't click or sweep me away like Poston's other books have.

Imagine stumbling into a fictional town and befriending all of the characters from your favorite book series. Well, that’s exactly what happens to Elsy.

Despite “love story” being in this book’s name, it was quite light on the romance and heavier on emotional growth. The narrative is centered around Elsy’s friendships (in fiction and real-life), struggles post-breakup, and homecoming journey.

This book is full of the best literary references, deep introspection, and highlightable quotes. It’s poetic and whimsical and a wonderful depiction of what it means to be a reader.

While I appreciated the depth of descriptions in this book, the repetitiveness was overbearing. Yes, I understand that Anders smells like cedarwood and tastes like black tea. And “minty” was used to describe his eyes/gaze 19 times. 19!!

Also, there were parts where a conversation between Elsy and another character would be interrupted by her lengthy internal monologue. Then it would jump right back into the conversation, so that was a little jarring for me. I had to go back and reread a few times because I was so lost.

Ashley Poston strikes again! After the masterpiece that was 'The Seven Year Slip', you would think it'd be hard to top it, but not for Ashley!

Read if you like:
📚 Books about books
🍁 Gilmore Girls vibes
✨ Magical realism
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn
🎯 Found family

When all of Elsy’s book club friends ditch their annual trip, she decides to go on the trip solo. And promptly gets lost. Landing her in a small town that seems a bit familiar…almost like it’s the town she’s been reading about for years..though the only new addition to the town is the bookstore’s owner- a grumpy hunk with an adorable cat.

Ashley Poston did it AGAIN!!! It’s no secret that I’ve loved The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip so I had high hopes for this one.
I really don’t want to spoil anything so I’m just going to ask you this: how COOL would it be to stumble into a town you’ve read about and meet all the quirky characters and join them on their adventures??

It’s such a fun and unique plot that everyone who enjoys a touch of magical realism needs to pick up 🧡

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted arc 🧡

This is a romance book written for book lovers.
For every reader who wanted to literally be transported into the pages of their favorite book.
For everyone who fell in love with amazing characters.


I mean, look at some quotes I highlighted. How perfect are they?
I think The Seven Year Slip is still my favorite, but I really liked this one!
And I bought The Dead Romantics recently and can't wait to read it!

This book was made for the girlies who would do anything to meet one of their favorite fictional characters in real life.

Eileen's wedding has been called off, her best friend is getting engaged, and her annual book club trip has transformed into solitary cabin reading. However, when her car breaks down en route, she finds herself in a charming small town that bears a striking resemblance to her favorite romance series... because it is!

This book encapsulates every reader's fantasy: stumbling upon the setting of their favorite book series, complete with a grumpy yet attractive bookstore owner. Sign me up! I know this is not an original thought, but it's worth noting that these books lean more towards literary fiction with a romance subplot. The character development and the narrative of the people in Eloraton take center stage, accompanied by a heartwarming romance that will leave you giggling and kicking your feet. As someone Taylor Swift might refer to as a "pathological people pleaser," I found the main character's journey highly relatable. I adored how the main male character seemed to grasp her essence from the moment they met. Though their connection could be considered insta-lovey, as it unfolded over a few days, their genuine care for each other was unmistakable and endearing.

Ashley Poston's stories feel like a dream and that's precisely what I adore about them. Her writing is addictive and I feel like I could follow her characters around in their day-to-day life and never get bored. I read The Dead Romantics almost 2 years ago now, and it still sticks with me. After reading this, I will finally stop procrastinating and pick up The Seven Year Slip!

I truly can't wait for more people to experience and fall in love with this story like I did. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sending me this ARC. A Novel Love Story comes out June 25th!

“Sometimes a book can change your life.”

🌟🌟🌟🌟.💫/🌶️

Take a book girl and peer into her deepest thoughts about reading. That’s this book. It’s all the things that I, we, love about reading. The happily ever afters, the quirky small towns, the side characters who make you laugh, and the absolute love of words. All words, any words. That is what A Novel Love Story is about. And give Ashley her roses because my god did I see myself in Elsy when she spoke about her love of romance books and her awe and excitement of being stuck in her favorite world.

A Novel Love Story is a book within a book and is probably one of the coolest concepts I’ve read for a contemporary romance in a while. Ashley Poston thrives when it comes to writing magical realism and Novel Love Story proves that this is absolutely her sweet spot.

Being immersed in our FMC’s, Elsy, favorite series’ world felt like I was reading and enjoying it with her but for my first time. Her excitement at finding and being stuck in this world was almost intoxicating. I was so excited for her and pictured how it would be for me to end up stuck in my favorite books world (an absolute trip. Someone make it happen rn please.)

A Novel Love Story combines women’s fiction, romance and magical realism so well that I felt immersed and repaired by the end.

Read if you love:
📖Magical Realism
🥞Small Town Romance
🐈Bookish Vibes
🍔Cat dad MMC
🗽Grumpy x Sunshine
🚽Forced Proximity
🏡Women’s Fiction
🚗Funny meet cute

Tons of Easter eggs with those emojis 🤗

A Novel Love Story will be available in stores on June 25th!

Unfortunately, this was a dnf for me. Poston is one of my all time favorite authors, and still is, so I found myself disappointed when I struggled to get through this one. The premise of this story is fantastic, but I found the story to move too slowly. I also had a hard time getting invested in the characters.

🪻 Book Review…

➡️ Imagine you’re on your way to a solo vacation up in the Catskills, when you get caught in a terrible rainstorm, almost hit someone standing in the road, & break down your car… and when you acclimate to town you’re in to get help and shelter, you realize you’re in the world of your all time favorite book series, characters and all.. welcome to Elsy’s story…

My thoughts:

🌞 Ashley Poston’s books are always the most cozy and hope-giving journeys. Every single page of her books have been true comfort reads for me.

☔️ This is a slow burning, slow paced story that encompasses self healing, grief journeys, & all of the tiny things that make life beautiful. Anders and Elsy have such a special story. I identified so much with Elsy’s individual journey, and it made me deeply emotional at times.. it was very well laid out. I imagine people will relate to Anders and his journey on a personal level as well— I truly loved his character. Both MCs are so realistic & honest in their grief, and that’s what I loved most about them.

🌿 This book tugged on my heart strings in so many layers; I loved that ultimately we have a story about how healing & nurturing ourselves is the key to wholly loving another. The end of this book made my bookish, romance loving heart absolutely soar. For me, it was the kind of ending that elevated my enjoyment from 4 stars up to 5.

🪻 Conceptually I loved the plot, as I imagine it is a daydream that many readers have had— what we would all give to stumble into the setting of our favorite books..

READ THIS IF.. you like small town living, magical realism, realistic healing journeys, grumpy and broody MMCs, and slow burn love stories.

Thank you SO much to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for this e-ARC. My gratitude is truly overflowing for this opportunity.

5/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶️

This was a cute read and a cute novel. It’s definitely an interesting premise and I wasn’t 100% sold on where we were going with this until at least 45% of the way in. Once I got there though, I got there.
Poston always includes something magical or otherworldly in her novels, which is something I adore about them. This is more magical and otherworldly than her previous novels, especially since we are legitimately in another world.
The banter was good, the character development was good, the love story was good. Poston kept me glued to my seat until the absolute very last moment. I loved the lessons learned and the overall theme of the novel. I liked the characters' backstories and the reveals at the end were very much worth the wait.
While this does not top The Seven Year Slip for me, I still enjoyed it immensely and it’s another great read from a great author. Poston is now an auto-buy for me. Without a doubt.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Romance novel. My typical genre is Fantasy, however Poston's use of magical realism quenched that need. Eileen, the main character, is easy to relate to and even easier to root for as she questions her life and the way that she moves through it. Similarly, the love interest has to work through deep introspection on his end to feel ready for love.

This book is for those out there who don't think they deserve to be loved how a "book boyfriend" loves. Book worms who spend their days poring over romantic scenes on paper may hold that inner seed of doubt, but by living the dream through Eileen's narration, you will shut this book feeling hopeful about the future of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Ashley. I will not forget reading your threads page and you posted that this book wouldn’t wreck us readers. YOU. LIED. It did wreck me then put me back together but I was wrecked nonetheless.

This book was beyond beautiful, arguably the best AP read I’ve had yet (and that’s saying a lot). I loved the prologue and the idea of a town that doesn’t really exist. I have no idea where the author gets her ideas but wow I loved how this book came together. I normally don’t get on board with authors writing about writing but this was such a fantastic way to do it, unlike anything I’ve read before.

You need to add this to your cart, your TBR, like now.

Ashely - go ahead and send me your shopping lists so I can read those too.

A Novel Love Story continues Ashley Poston’s streak of quaint, cute and funny romcoms that I loved after The Dead Romantics and shows Poston’s strengths in humor and character writing that makes her a very great addition to Romance as a genre.

This is my second Ashley Poston romance and I love her creativity in suspending belief and enjoying the ride. This one was just okay though, feeling a little repetitive and superficial. I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters, especially the love connection. I did love the bookish friendships however. Thank you for the opportunity to read this e-galley.

This was a fun and sweet story - a love letter in book form for everyone who ever wanted to escape into their favorite novel.

The story of Elsy and Anders is truly one for the books & I loved their relationship and also loved the self-awareness and sense of self-advocacy that Elsy developed throughout the story. The characters were deeply developed and the setting rich and heartwarming. I loved The Seven Year Slip from Ashley Poston & while I didn't like this book as much as The Seven Year Slip, I still enjoyed the magical realism of the plot & the development of the storyline. Ashley Poston's chapter titles will always have my heart. This book is a must read for you if you enjoyed her other books or are looking for a good contemporary novel to read this summer!

I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who has read this author before. I have a feeling this one is going to be in the top charts and libraries will want to order a lot of additional books for lending.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Y’all I would literally sell my soul for an Ashley Poston book, and I practically squealed when I got to read this one early.

Eileen (Elsy) loves to escape from real life in Romance books. And who can blame her? She’s desperate to get to her annual book club retreat in NY when her car suddenly breaks down, stranding her in the fictional town of Eloraton where her FAVORITE romance series is set. It seems impossible that the perfect small town exists, but it does, frozen in time where the author left off, and somehow Elsy has stumbled right into it.

Of course Elsy gets to meet all her favorite characters, but then there’s the grumpy hot bookstore owner that Elsy doesn’t remember reading about in ANY of the books (and she reread them A LOT). Elsy thinks she’s been brought to Eloraton to finish the story that was left unfinished by the author, but the grumpy Anderson seems determined to get in her way.

First off, I ADORED the Dead Romantics and the Seven Year Slip. FYI this book is set in the same universe as the Dead Romantics and the Seven Year Slip. I would HIGHLY recommend reading those first since there is a spoiler for the Dead Romantics and they’re amazing. Those books made me laugh and cry and resonated with me long after I read them. I think I had the bar set too high for this one, but it was still written with Ashley Poston’s sense of humor, quirky side characters and packed an emotional punch. I don’t want to spoil anything, but you’ve got a grumpy-sunshine romance and witty banter in this book, and who doesn’t want to escape to a fictional bookstore??!! With a bookstore cat!!! And Eloraton has a waterfall!!! What more do you need? Ashley Poston always manages to bring in her love of books, particularly romance books and I love her for that. And the way she brings in heartbreak and grief, it never fails to make me tear up, even in this one (it snuck up on me!). I really, really loved the scenes at the end and the strong female side characters.

I had some issues with this book, the plot of this book wasn’t really my jam (it kind of felt like those old Mary-sue fics where the American author crash lands into the world of Twilight/HP/LotR/etc. and becomes BFFs w everyone), and if she called Anderson‘s eyes “minty” one more time I was ready to put the book down. But I would still rate this a solid 4 stars for certain scenes that I won’t spoil and the way it made me feel. AND I would still sell my soul for the next Ashley Poston book. Thank you to Ashley Poston for once again giving us our own escape from RL!!!

I think we have all wanted to disappear into our favorite book and be friends with the characters. Ashley Poston takes that desire and makes it come true! I loved disappearing into this world.

The grumpy bookstore owner was perfection!! I felt like it was just magical enough to be believable. The backstories were great too.

The steamy scenes!! I needed more but love the ones we had!

Thank you for letting me enjoy this early! Such a pleasure!