I had fun with this book but I wanted ✨more✨! the premise is that our main character Elsy finds herself in the town of her favorite romance series with the characters she knows and loves!! I've definitely had dreams of something like this happening, and it's honestly a really cool idea.

this isn't my favorite Ashley Poston book so far, even though the premise really speaks to me! I know I'm in the minority bc I've not loved a book by this author yet, and some of my favorite people really love her, so I think this is definitely just a me thing!

I really liked how we got the lore of the town and the characters, and found myself wanting more of that! Give me the series that this made up town is based on please!! I found our main character a little annoying, and I felt that the writing had really repetitive moments. I loved Anders, but I didn't necessarily buy into the chemistry.

I loved THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP, so I was thrilled to receive this one early. Overall, I thought the writing was fun and the setting was charming. I totally could have seen this as a Christmas setting, too! It was a little too cutesy for me — I wanted some tension — but it was a fun read that lovers of Gilmore Girls will absolutely adore. Just had that vibe to it. I will definitely read more of Ashley Poston’s work!

imagine you're on a road trip to your friends annual "book club" retreat you rent a whole dang cabin for, end up lost, in a storm, & almost hit a man in the first town you come across. oh, and end up stranded bc your car broke down and the local B&B is closed.

but wait, you actually recognize the town? it's almost like it's been plucked from your favorite book series.
but that's crazy, there's no way. that's crazy.

that man you almost ran over? he's the local book store owner and has the only available place to crash in a loft above the store. But you don't remember his character from the series...?

THE BANTER OHMYGOODNESS 10/10

If you have ever wondered what falling for a book boyfriend is like, you need to read this! I cant say enough about how incredibly thought out and the attention to details, Its exactly how I would expect living in a story would feel. I loved how cozy and romantic the entire experience felt, even at the end when she made her choice and let him make his.

I will say that finding out Anders story, and how he played into the town was absolutely perfect. It was a complete shock, but I couldn’t have thought of anything better.

written for the:
"right where you left me" girlies
I LOVE the fantasy / magical aspects in a contemporary setting that end up in all of of Ashley Poston's books!

This was very cute! My first Ashley Poston book so I can't compare to her earlier novels. It was very cozy and easy to get sucked into.

Title: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Publication Date- 08/20/24
Publisher- Berkeley
Overall Rating- 3 out of 5 stars

Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Don’t look at me.


Urg. I am so disappointed and I can’t quite figure out if it’s a me problem or not. Maybe you will decide after this review. I can’t believe I am saying this but I DNF’d this book at about 30 percent in. This did not feel like the Ashley Poston who is one of my favorite authors. However, I do think there are people out there who will enjoy this, let’s start with that.

If you like Hallmark and a cozy, light hearted time, give this a try. The premise is really cool and if you want something that lacks depth, which we all do from time to time so no shame, this is the book for you.

That being said, I wish I would have been more of Poston’s ability to create meaningful stories and connection. Some of the lines just felt so shallow and cringey. I hate to use that word it feels mean and I know that she can do better. I think what may have happened is that she wrote for a different audience and different tone and that’s okay, it just didn’t work for me.

There was a lot built of archetypes and stereotypes of characters (not in a harmful way just in a way that didn’t feel creative). Overall, this just wasn’t for me and I hope it lands in the hands of people who have the correct expectations. I hope that her next novel is more in the vein of her previous too but good for her for exploring a different style and way of storytelling.

A fun tale with a twist!

I went into this one blind, knowing I enjoyed her previous books, and happily ended up on a journey that's different from your typical romance plot.

Once Eileen's car breaks down and she finds herself stranded in the fictional small town from her favorite romance series, all I could picture was myself in Virgin River and never wanting to leave.

Watching her interact with all of the quirky, yet lovable characters she's come to know and adore through reading their stories was such a fun adventure. Even the broody bookstore owner Anders was a delight to get to know once he opened up.

This was a great way to end the summer, and I feel as though any romance reader can especially relate to this book, making it a great read. The audiobook was narrated by Dorothy Dillingham Blue, who is a new-to-me narrator, but she did a fabulous job of bringing everyone's characteristics to life!

A Novel Love Story was sweet and magical story from Ashley Poston, whose debut - The Dead Romantics was just one of my most favorite rom-com stories. It was just so fun and I love how she includes a bit of magic into all of her stories.

This was a cute read - felt a bit like Book Lovers - and was definitely a nod to all romance novel readers everywhere. A kind of love story to love stories. It was charming and sweet but just kind of OK for me. I missed a lot of the signature cleverness and snark from her debut, but if you just love warm and cozy love stories - than this one definitely is for you!

A cute, cozy romance novel. This was a love story with just a minimum amount of drama and a few twists and turns. Really enjoyed the characters and the plot. Perfect story to curl up with on a rainy day.

This is easily one of the most interesting romance books I have ever read. The novel's unique premise—a literature professor finding herself literally caught up in the pages of her favorite romance series—sets the stage for a delightful and imaginative journey that blurs the line between reality and fiction.

Eileen Merriweather is a character who will resonate with anyone who has ever sought refuge in a good book. Her love for happily-ever-afters is put to the test when she ends up stranded in Eloraton, a charming town that is as fictional as it is real. Polston's description of Eloraton is so vivid that it feels as though the reader, like Eileen, has stepped right into the pages of a beloved story. From the sweet honey taffy at the candy store to the predictably rainy afternoons, the town is a perfect blend of nostalgia and magic.

The plot takes an intriguing turn with the introduction of a grumpy yet irresistibly captivating bookstore owner. His mysterious presence in a world that should be familiar to Eileen adds depth to the narrative, creating a tension that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. As Eileen grapples with her role in bringing the town to its storybook ending, she discovers that her own happily-ever-after may be more intertwined with this fictional world than she ever imagined.

I mean, yeah I ugly cried.

This was so cute and I absolutely loved the characters in this magical little town! I mean yes we didn't know how and why the town happened but there is just something about the magic of it all that made me not care to know.
Also, I agree with other reviews about the third act breakup being slightly ridiculous and not needed because it took some of the romantic magic away but other than that I loved every second of it !

Thank you to the publisher for a copy!

I love Ashley Poston’s writing and her cozy settings, but I didn’t connect with these characters. I knew that Elsy loved these people and this town, but I struggled to care or connect as an outsider.
I also felt like the romance was minimal for most of the book and then super amplified the last 25%

I think this could have benefited from being a duology!

Elsy, on her way to seclude herself with her books for the week, finds herself in the middle of a strange town that she vaguely recognizes after a big storm ⛈️ turns out it’s the town her favorite book series takes place in! How will she get out and who will she meet along the way? 🧐

I LOVED dead romantics - it was the last book I read in 2022 and it was so good! Seven Year Slip was a bit of a disappointment for me but I still enjoyed it and I was excited for this one! Novel Love Story slots in with Seven Year Slip - it was good but I think Dead Romantics just holds such a high bar 🫣 I didn’t really trust the romance but I liked Elsy enough as a main character and the story itself was super interesting! 😍

I love the magical realism and stories Ashley Poston writes. This one was so fun and I love the living in a favorite series. This gave me pleasantville vibes kinda. The characters were so unique and I love the way it was told. The ending wasn’t my favorite. It just felt fast and lackluster.

*Thank you netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ashley Poston and the dreamy, somewhat magical romances she writes. A Novel Love Story hooked me from the very beginning. This book was truly for the book girlies who long to be transported to the setting of their favorite novels. And that’s exactly what happens to Elsy. I really felt for Elsy - while all of her friends are celebrating new milestones in their lives, it seems like she’s going backwards. Who hasn’t had moments where they feel like that? When her friends cancel their annual reading retreat, Elsy decides to go it alone.

And that’s when things get interesting.

A Novel Love Story reminded me a bit of Pleasantville with just a dash of Once Upon a Time and a sprinkle of Stars Hollow. As someone who loves all of those things, it’s no surprise I enjoyed this one. The setting was everything. Poston really transports you to Eloraton and the town just felt alive. Elsy was a great main character to root for and all of the secondary characters felt fully fleshed out. The romance between Elsy and Anders wasn’t my favorite, but there were plenty of other things I enjoyed here. 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy.

Who wouldn't want to step into the world of their favorite book series? For literature professor, Eileen, she gets just that opportunity when her car breaks down on her way to a book retreat. As she gets to know a different side to all of her beloved book world besties, her mind and heart are opened to the fact that what's on a page doesn't define who you are. I enjoyed this premise and found it entertaining. I struggled at times with the drawn out nature of the book. I look forward to the author's next release!

Thank you to PRH Audio for the audiobook and Berkley for the eARC.

Not sure totally what this is supposed to be and unfortunately I don't think the author does either. I enjoyed the first 40% of this, along for the ride of what it was building up to. I think it's such fun worldbuilding to live in the books you love so much and interact with your favorite author's characters in "real life", there are so many options for an overarching "lesson" with that kind of premise. But then the worldbuilding got.. weird. And normally I like weird but no it stopped making logical sense and I don't mean that in a I don't understand magical realism way it was in a we're just going to make and break any kind of rules way. I left this with so many questions I didn't care to know the answer to because I also didn't really like the plot or the main characters.

I am so sorry but there is little to no chemistry between the supposed love interests. I would have believe this more if the FMC was sent there to set the MMC up with someone else and then go on her own journey, maybe have a second chance romance situation with her ex. And also she slaps him so hard that he has a red mark later but we're just supposed to find it funny cause the small town gossips about it? Gave me the ick early on and the romance just felt forced later.

Also, the narration wasn't my favorite. She has a Southern accent which doesn't totally make sense to me because this is supposed to be upstate New York. Not only that but I felt her style of acting out the scenes and dialogue really wasn't romantic or for a romance novel, it was more for a quirky 1950s historical fiction, just really not matching the character's inner ruminations, heartbreak, curiosity, and eventual romance.

Ashley Poston is definitely the queen of magical realism! I enjoyed the concept of the story because who wouldn't love falling into their favorite romance book and Ashley Poston just knows how to write a story in such a vivid way, you feel like you're in the book. That being said, this book was kinda disappointing and fell a little flat for me. The romance felt so rushed and kinda forced, I can't say i was the biggest fan of the FMC, and again the third act conflict felt super rushed and and came out of nowhere but was then magically resolved 5 pages later. I'll still read her books because I truly love them but this one just was not for me.

Anything Ashley Poston writes, I will read and I will love. A Novel Love Story is no exception.
This charming novel poses the question every reader desperately wishes to be asked--what if you could travel to the world of your favorite book?
Ashley Poston's immersive prose allowed me to be fully swept up in the story and romance of Eloraton. I read this book in a single sitting, and never wanted to put it down. The chemistry between our main characters was electric, and was balanced well with a sweet emotional depth.
I adored this book, and I can't wait to see what Ashley Poston does next!

Ashley Poston is an author who I am still trying to understand. I had vastly different experiences with her previous two adult romances, one in which I disliked so strongly and The Seven Year Slip which I was recommending to everyone I spoke to. Unfortunately this book did not agree with me in the same way that The Seven Year Slip did. I actually found this book to be ridiculous.

Eileen Merriweather loves a great HEA storyline and her life can use some romances with a guaranteed Happily Ever After. Her fiance broke up with her a week before the wedding and left her to pick up all the pieces. She still has not recovered completely. To make matters worse, all her friends from her romance book club cannot make it to their annual retreat this year.

Eileen decides to go on her own, but her car breaks down and she finds herself inside her favorite fictional town of Eloraton. She has no idea how it happened, but she is inside a fictional town that is in limbo. They are stuck between the author's previous book and the unfinished last story. When she meets the grumpy bookstore owner, she thinks that he must be part of the last story and she unknowingly starts changing things in the town.

Ashely Poston's books are so original and this one was no exception. I love the idea of a romance story within a story. The book is magical without seeming impossible. It was delightful and difficult to put down #gifted