4.5 stars. I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading but I found myself immersed in the story almost immediately.

The MC, Emma, expects her life to be less complicated after celebrating her first year of sobriety. Naturally, things don't exactly go according to plan. I didn't know a lot about AA and the different types of support groups available to addicts, so I enjoyed reading about Emma's experiences with this. The sprinkle of romance was also enjoyable and felt more realistic since it wasn't the entire focus of the novel. It's a very strong debut novel from Ava Robinson and I will be on the lookout for any future novels she writes.

Thank you to Harlequin and Net Galley for this ARC!

Thank you, Harlequin for letting me read this beautiful book!

This story was more of an inner monologue for the main character Emma. There is a bit of romance, but it’s more about her finding herself after a year of sobriety. This will hit home with a lot of people who have gone through sobriety or have grown up in a household where alcoholism is present. There are so many moments where you want to hug Emma or even scream at her that it’s okay, you can get through this!

Towards the ending, you get to see her patch her relationship back up with her father. It was such a bittersweet moment and I definitely shedded some tears.

Highly recommend this book. It speaks about weakness/disease/finding who you are as a person.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC!

I wasn’t sure how I would relate to a main character who is a 20 something in AA but the author, Ava Robinson, managed to craft a very relatable character. Someone who is dealing with her past and how it affects her present.

I enjoyed the bit of romance, the bit of New York, and the idea of growth.

I thought some of the descriptions of the AA group were over done and over described. I also couldn’t help but feeling that it almost seemed like a cult and oppressive, not sure if that was the author’s intent but I was happy to see the direction Emma took with her sobriety.

I truly loved the character development and the relatability to the main character in this book. While I myself am not an alcoholic, I know people that deal with addiction on a daily basis and I felt like the description of the thought processes and feelings these people go through was accurate. I wish there had been more of a relationship shown for Emma and Ben, but I loved the ending. I loved their relationship as friends, leading up to the romantic relationship, I just wish we could have seen more of it. Overall, I felt like the characters were very relatable and I enjoyed the story. It’s always good to have a light hearted version of a topic that can get very heavy.

I truly loved this book. I never read a book about addiction before. This will make you laugh and cry. You will also learn about AA. Which I loved how in detail this book went to that. Very educational. I loved Emma. I was rooting for her thru this whole story. I could relate to her in some aspects of her story. I loved how easy to read and it just flowed really nicely. I will recommend this book to my family and friends. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I loved everything about this book. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but that is what drew me in first. Once I started the book I fell in love with the writing. I definitely suggest people check their TW before they start this book, but I thought it was beautifully written. I am lucky enough to not have had to deal with some of the heavy things Emma has, however, Ava Robinson's writing still made Emma feel completely relatable. I was rooting for her the entire book; I was mad when she was mad; and I was sad when she was sad. I loved Ben he was the perfect love interest for Emma, and I think this is the first slow burn romance I have give 5 stars. I cannot wait to see what Ava Robinson does next.

Ava Robinson creates a strong sense of place and a real understanding of Emma's journey. Emma is going through a major life change in her mid twenties and the book uncovers her very human struggle of what it means to totally rewrite your life. Ava so perfectly captured the emotions and personal revelations that are true for Emma and relatable to anyone going through a major life upheaval. The main characters and plot felt real and textured, the genuine and patronizing concern of her mother, the tenuous relationship with her father, the difficulty of making new friends as an adult and the terrifying ordeal of being vulnerable in a romantic relationship. This book will increase the empathy you have for yourself and others. I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down! I had to find out how Emma grew and changed throughout a very pivotal point in her life. Would be a good book club pick as there are a lot of character decisions and aspects of the writing that could be discussed. I found myself wanting a readers' guide at the end and wishing I could be in conversation about it! Highly recommend if you enjoyed Funny Story by Emily Henry or Sam by Allegra Goodman.

Definitely Better Now is a poignant and insightful novel that takes us into the life of Emma, a former alcoholic, as she navigates the challenges of sobriety, grief, and new relationships. Emma is a compelling and relatable MC, whose humor, honesty, and emotional depth make her incredibly endearing to readers.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the unique perspective it offers on addiction and recovery. Through Emma's experiences, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by those battling addiction and the importance of support systems like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). This aspect of the novel not only educates but also fosters empathy, making it a valuable read for anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of addiction.

Robinson's writing is engaging and heartfelt, pulling at the heartstrings of readers as Emma grapples with the complexities of her past and the uncertainties of her future. The novel skillfully blends humor and emotion, creating a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Definitely Better Now is a must-read for anyone looking for a compelling story with a strong, relatable protagonist. Emma's journey is one of resilience, growth, and ultimately, hope, making this novel a truly uplifting and inspiring read. I laughed, I cried, and I cringed...but it was worth it to see Emma bloom!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"...sometimes it can feel like disloyalty, letting go of past versions of yourself."

what do you do when you look in the mirror and don’t like the person reflected back at you?

this story touches on themes of addiction, intimacy, vulnerability, trust, empathy, grief, and finding yourself as a 26 year old trying to heal your younger self. i initially came into this expecting a cheesy romance, but it was far from it. while the book has a romantic subplot, most of the story is focused on her repairing her relationships and adjusting to her sobriety.

even as someone who has never struggled with addiction to alcohol, i found many parts of ava’s recovery relatable. learning to love someone you hardly know or like can already be a difficult task, made even more difficult when the person is yourself. the act of recognizing your own victimizing, taking accountability over your life, and accepting the consequences of your actions can be one of the most recurring lessons we learn in adulthood (independent of addiction or not) and i think the concept and journey was wonderfully executed throughout.

there were a a lot of different relationships within ava’s life that were explored to show how many people her alcoholism/sobriety affected; however, because where there was such a wide range, it felt as though there was a lack of depth at times. a deeper look at the relationships would have shown the dynamics and their complexities more clearly.

tldr; a feel good, coming of 20's story with a raw and honest redemption arc. 3.75/5

thank you to netgalley and harlequin trade publishing for providing me with the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!

I found immense pleasure in immersing myself in the pages of this book. Initially drawn by its vibrant cover, I embarked on this literary journey without any preconceived notions, and I must say, I am delighted that my instincts led me to it.

The narrative carries a weightiness that resonates deeply, particularly as it delves into Emma's journey toward sobriety and self-discovery. Ava Robinson skillfully invites readers into Emma's innermost thoughts and struggles, painting a vivid portrait of her quest to find a version of herself that truly aligns with her values.

One aspect that particularly struck a chord with me was Emma's portrayal of clumsiness and overthinking in social interactions, juxtaposed with her perception of others as flawless. This dynamic felt incredibly relatable, as Robinson adeptly illustrates Emma's journey of confronting her vulnerabilities head-on, without the crutch of alcohol.

Moreover, Emma's tumultuous relationship with her father adds another layer of depth to the narrative. The way she grapples with her identity, vacillating between mirroring her father and striving to be his antithesis, is portrayed with nuance and authenticity.

The exploration of romance within the story also captivated me, as it portrays the daunting task of forging connections and forming friendships amidst the uncertainty of self-discovery. The author expertly navigates the complexities of vulnerability and trust, offering readers a poignant portrayal of the human experience.

I can't wait to read more from Ava Robinson.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for providing me with a digital review copy of this heartfelt novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a bit of a heavy read, and my view on the story varied throughout the book. The beginning was slow, with lots of seemingly unnecessary details, but it picked up by the end. It was a coming-of-age story, mixed with a bit of a curve ball - you follow Emma through her sobriety journey and see the challenges that she faces along the way. I loved Emma, I was rooting for her throughout, but I didn’t think that the other characters were very developed. All in all, it was pretty good.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin/MIRA publishing for sending an eARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The author did not shy away from serious themes in this book, which made the book that much more important. Emma’s range of emotions felt so real and so moving. This was a fantastic women’s fiction read.

I enjoyed this book. This was better than I thought it would be. I grew up with alcoholic parents so I can relate to the main character in a way. I'm glad I read this. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This is a devastatingly relatable work of women's fiction about a woman in her twenties who is facing a time in her life that is supposed to be so much better than any time before. But as she reaches this period, the beauty and ease that she has been all but promised is still nowhere to be seen.

Summary:
Emma Finley has been sober for a year. A very unique type of AA group - that is more involved than most - has helped her achieve this goal, and she now feels like she mostly has her life together with a great new job, a nice place to stay, and a mom who is also her bestie. The AA meetings she has attended have preached about how incredible sobriety is, and Emma is excited to finally see that happen for herself. She is also excited and nervous to start dating again; per the rules of AA, dating is discouraged until a year of sobriety. As she crosses the threshold of a year, she realizes that dating isn't quite what it seemed, and she is still missing the amazing parts she has heard so much about. Then, the quiet and reserved woman is assigned to a "fun committee" at work, which is basically her worst nightmare. On top of that, her strained relationship with her father, who won't admit he has an alcohol problem, seems to be taking a turn for the worse. She is starting to wonder when things will actually be better.

Thoughts:
I rated this a 4.75/5 stars. As a young woman who has approached a different kind of goal in my life that I have heard is incredible, I could deeply relate to Emma in this story. Like her, I am waiting for this stage of life to be as awesome as I have heard it is, but it's a lot more complicated than it seems. If you feel the same way, you will love this book. Ava Robinson does a great job of telling a story so many people can relate to with characters that feel very realistic. These characters do awkward things, face challenges that real people face, and make mistakes they later have to fix. I really loved the focus on the main character and her experiences, and I didn't feel like I needed anything more from the other characters because the story is supposed to be introspective. It is so refreshing to read a story that you can imagine so clearly because it feels so authentic and is described so well. There were so many moments while reading that I was feeling lots of emotions. I laughed, I teared up, I was frustrated, and I found it incredibly comforting. It was really difficult to put this book down by the end, and I was really happy to have read it.

Critiques:
Though I loved this book and would highly recommend it, there were some parts that other readers may not enjoy as much. Some of the major conflict is almost spoiled by the blurb. Because of this, I was expecting some things to happen much earlier than they did and I was slightly disappointed by that. There was also much less focus on dating than I thought there would be based on the description, but I liked what was included. As I read some of the dialog, I felt there were a couple of times that the conversation didn't really feel organic, but that only happened a few times.

Final Words:
Overall, none of my complaints hindered my reading experience at all, but I know other readers may not feel the same way. I would still highly recommend this book to any woman in her twenties, but I think this book can bring comfort to a wide range of readers who may be able to relate in various ways. This is a fantastic debut novel that I will highly recommend, and I look forward to seeing what else Ava Robinson writes!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This slow-burn office romance is filled with a little spice and a lot of drama. Emma is struggling to find herself and is learning life after addiction. I enjoyed reading this book, not for the romance but for how I connected to Emma. I also enjoyed the creative touch of the emojis. I also felt second-hand embarrassment from the clumsy experience of Ben and Emma. I see this book less as romance and more as a fictional finding yourself book.
I did enjoy this book and could not put it down toward the end. It had ups and downs and I did cry reading about Houdini and Emma’s dad, something about pets just gets me.
The bad: The original description of Ben, yikes, talking about moles and incisors, I did work past this but it was an initial turn-off. The ending seemed a little rushed and I wish more details had been added to the last few chapters.
The Spice: 1/5
Favorite Quote: “I’m still an asshole”, wow did that hit me deep!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for providing me with a digital review copy of this heartfelt novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

3.75/5 stars

Definitely Better Now was surprising. I thought I was in for a run-of-the-mill romance, but that was not the case. I found the romance sweet, but it felt secondary to Emma’s sobriety story.

Following Emma as she navigates her life with one year of sobriety under her belt was interesting. At times, the story felt very low stakes, though I understand for an alcoholic, remaining sober has the highest stakes. And I don’t mind low stakes at all, but I feel the last third of the book is what really won me over. After watching Emma deal with regrets and struggle to open up to new people and come to terms with her relationship with her father, the last third of the book tied everything together really nicely.

The only reason I did not rate this book higher is because it felt slow at times and wasn’t able to hold my attention.

"'Because it's dangerously close to YOLO or...?' 'No, because that saying works for people who are too scared to do anything reckless, not people who are too reckless to be scared.' 'And you're the latter?'.... I nodded 'I think I'd be dead if I thought like that.'"

This is easily the best debut of 2024, with a layered story centered around addiction, self acceptance, and forgiveness. Emma is a 26 year old recovering alcoholic, and with one year sober she's finally got the rest of her life ahead of her! ...Except she can't figure out how to live it as 'Sober Emma'. It's certainly a romance, and while Ben is very sweet and understanding, where the real story lies is in Emma's relationship with herself and how she learns to accept her past, present, and hope for the future. What keeps the story alive with such a slew of heavy topics is the humor. I'm not sure how Robinson made getting pooped on by a pigeon in Bryant Park while eating lunch with your work crush romantic, but she did it. This one will stay with me for a long time, very mature well developed writing style with an interesting take on the rom-com genre.

The only part of the book that needed work for me was the other cast of characters, as most of her coworkers and family weren't developed. Maybe it's because it's from Emma's perspective and so much of her time is accepting she can't control what others do, but she also doesn't seem to go out of her way to learn about them. This leaves us with one very developed FMC, but a cast of throw away characters, even Ben ends up a little flat.

What Robinson Get's Right:
• Wonderfully developed FMC, Emma makes good choices and deserves good things!
• Very romanticized NYC, loved how Emma spoke about being from the City
• Silly details, and then sudden sweeping prose that is relatable on any self growth journey, not just AA

This book wasn't what I expected. Navigating through the one year anniversary of Emma's sobriety and beyond this was a story of emotions and struggle and ultimately growth. It was a little slow to start but the story was worth it.
I laughed and cried. This sparked more emotions in me than I thought was possible. It was a really good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ava Robinson’s debut novel isn’t just a book; it’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, filled with ups, downs, and all the twisty turns of life that keep you gripping the safety bar, wondering what’s next. Dive into Emma’s world, and you’re not just reading another story; you’re embarking on a journey that’s as raw as it is real, painted with the vibrant colors of resilience, recovery, and the pursuit of sobriety. Emma’s narrative isn’t just a tale; it reflects the battles many face, making it a beacon of hope for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the shuffle of life’s deck.
Robinson has this incredible knack for blending humor with heart, crafting Emma’s experiences with such authenticity that you can’t help but root for her from the get-go. Imagine navigating a year filled with life’s curveballs, family drama, unexpected news, and the quest for personal growth while maintaining a sense of humor. That's Emma for you. Through every challenge, her journey is a testament that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. And let’s not forget Ben, the IT guy with a heart of gold, who steps into Emma’s life with a smile and a helping hand, proving that sometimes, the best connections are the ones we never see coming.
Ava Robinson’s novel is more than just a story about sobriety; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of human relationships, the bittersweetness of life, and the beauty of finding oneself amidst the chaos. Emma’s tale is a powerful reminder that no matter how turbulent the journey, there’s always a silver lining waiting to be discovered. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s ever searched for light in the darkness, making it not just a novel but a companion on the road to recovery and self-discovery. So, buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable ride through the pages of Emma’s life, you won’t regret it!

This was Ava Robinson’s debut novel and she did a good job. This story was about Emma who was living life 1 year sober and experiencing all the challenges that life present while sober. Emma meets a love interest early on in the story but there really doesn’t seem to be much chemistry between them until the very end of the book. The story had a good flow that made sense it was just a bit slow. It was a fine book but I was just not sucked in like I was expecting. I look forward to see what else Robinson publishes in the future.