I really enjoyed Ava Robinson's debut novel, Definitely Better Now, and I look forward to seeing her future work and growth as a writer! Emma is a likable, relatable character. It was probably a fairly realistic and honest portrayal of life as a recovering alcoholic and a young adult navigating career and life challenges. I think readers will find something if not many things they can relate with - complicated relationship with a parent, illness, death, navigating the minefield of work relationships and dating, personal growth and overcoming challenges - from social awkwardness and loneliness to addiction and facing the consequences of her actions. I zipped through this book and would recommend it without reservations. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

This was a heavy read, and while there's some romance in it, it's more women's fiction than romance. I learned a lot about AA and how different groups do things differently, and I appreciated the authentic journey Emma (MC) took to process her drinking and figure out why she wanted to stop for good. Ben is a likeable character, and he respected her choices even though some of them were incredibly frustrating.
All in all, this is not a happy book, but it's a good read, there are no eye-rolling moments, and things resolve nicely at the end.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6448389528

I read a lot of romance and romcoms—I mean, A LOT—and lately I've found myself struggling to connect with the main characters. Some of them feel too similar to characters I've already read. Some of them lack depth or humor, or any defining features that make me want to root for them. But reader, when I tell you I did NOT have this problem with Emma, I am being SO serious. I loved her from the very first page. Ava Robinson's writing ripped me out of a reading slump and threw me into Emma's journey as she learned to navigate life and love as a recovering alcoholic, which was handled with so much care, honesty, and (of course) a little humor. This was such an emotional read, and I felt like I was in Emma's head. Like she was a real person. This was her diary, and I was reading it.

This would have been a 5-star read for me if we would've gotten more time with Ben. He's sweet! He's smart and supportive! He stayed sober with Emma at a bar without her even asking! (Ugh, as a now-sober girly, this made me swoon.) Their romance and some of the more serious moments felt a little rushed to me, and because I was rooting for Ben and Emma so hard, I wish we would've gotten some more time to sit in those deeper moments with them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This story is like a day in the life of a recovering alcoholic except it took place over a longer period of time. It had its ups and downs. We got to see the main character, Emma, struggle with her life. We saw the mistakes she made, but more importantly we saw her learn from them.

I appreciated the fact that the author didn't portray a recovering alcoholic as someone who reaches her one year sober anniversary and everything is perfect. All of her issues go away, there are no more struggles. That is not real life. Things continue to happen in our lives that we can not control, but we can control how we react to them. That reminder will resonate with all readers.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book quite often while I was reading it. This book follows Emma, a recovering alcoholic, in her attempt to build a new life for herself. Emma is the most compelling part of the novel. Emma's anxieties—about dating, her family, her job, etc.—are all influenced by her history as an alcoholic. Yet, it never feels like Emma is solely defined as an alcoholic; she manages to feel three dimensional the entire time. Watching Emma attempt to navigate these anxieties, while making regular check-ins at her AA meetings, is exciting. So much of her character in this novel resonates deeply and powerfully. Those who know someone who has a history with addiction (or who have been through it themselves) will have a lot to love about the way she's written.

I have less to say about the love interest, Ben. He's sweet, I liked him. He's a bit vaguely defined, which allows the narrative to stay focused on Emma, though I wouldn't have minded a bit of extra from him. He does what he has to, helping Emma along on her character arc, but I honestly didn't think too much about him otherwise.

The book started off a bit slow, and the AA meetings do last just a bit too long every time, but the book ramps up quickly. Nearly all of the interactions with Emma's family are full of gripping character work, especially those near the end of the novel. I also loved the entire plotline about the holiday party, which really helps maintain the momentum of the book. I recommend giving this book a try.

(The ARC I read was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

I was lucky enough to get this ARC from NetGalley and I wasn’t prepared for how affecting this would be. A snapshot of a very specific time in someone’s life that felt so incredibly intimate - like I knew Emma personally. And aside from that the humor and romance was such a perfect foil for the serious subject matter! Couldn’t recommend more!

A big thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC copy!

I am so all over the place with this one and I mean that in a good way! I love me a good psychological thriller (no this is not one of them) but when you read that genre every now and again you really need a good head cleanse and this one did it for me for sure! It touched on so many feels. I went from liking it, to it seemed like it was too long, to laughing, to oh that's sweet, to being angry and then, I cried. I was sitting at my desk at work reading while eating my lunch and then, the tears just started falling and I had to get up and close my door because I was sobbing!! I very rarely cry when reading a book (maybe because I'm usually reading about serial killers or something?) but when your palette cleanser has you heaving with sobs, that's a good book and this is a good book!

I could relate to Emma on so many levels (other than being an alcoholic), her telling of her childhood, her parents, her coworkers, her feelings, there were times when I would be like, yes, I get that! She had me rooting for her, she had me mad at her, she had me laughing, and I already said she had me ugly crying. You may think that a book that leaves you sobbing isn't something you want to read but let me tell you, maybe my own personal haunts had something to do with those tears but we all need a good cry now and again, and there's so much more to this book than that and there is a happy ending.

Such a good story! I liked the flawed characters learning their way and growing. The relationships were well developed and worked well in the context.

I'm thrilled to share my thoughts on this fantastic debut! The book's unique perspective, told through the eyes of a recovering alcoholic, immediately caught my attention, and it was a delightful surprise how deeply I connected with it, considering I've never personally struggled with alcoholism. Emma's journey has a poignant coming-of-age quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. Despite our differences, Emma's character felt incredibly relatable, thanks to her authentic portrayal and the subtle humor sprinkled throughout her awkward office escapades.

The romance between Emma and Ben is tender and sweet, making Ben a character you can't help but adore. The book does touch on heavier themes, like the emotional upheaval of losing a parent, which might be challenging for some, but these elements add a rich layer of depth to the story. Emma's story explores addiction, family dynamics, mental health, and the bittersweet path to self-acceptance, making for an engaging read.

At 26, Emma celebrates a year of sobriety, supported by her group and her sponsor, Lola, while confronting her father's denial of his own issues. Her life in upstate New York, filled with new challenges and romantic entanglements, particularly with Ben, the charming IT guy, and Mitchell, the office troublemaker, paints a vivid picture of her growth and the complexities of human relationships.

Assigned to organize a Christmas party, Emma's interaction with Ben and Mitchell deepens, highlighting her personal evolution and her acceptance of life's imperfections. Her story is a genuine, heartwarming tale that resonates with anyone navigating the rough waters of personal transformation.

I found the texting scenes a bit scattered and think they could benefit from some tightening to enhance the flow of the story. Overall, the story is engaging and well-crafted. Ava Robinson's writing promises more inspiring works to come, and I am eagerly looking forward to her future books. This book is a touching, insightful, and beautifully honest exploration of life's trials and triumphs.

This book was not at all what I expected and I mean that in a good way! I love how much focus was put on Emma’s learning how to be part of the world as a sober person, and how while there is a romantic aspect to it? It definitely was complicated. It was deep and there were a lot of layers to Emma and her family and life as a whole. I hope she has her happy ever after.

4.5/5

Wow, I really enjoyed this one guys!! Once I started reading I had a hard time putting it down. The writing that Ava Robinson has done with her debut novel was done beautifully.

From the very first chapter we find out that Emma is a recovering alcoholic. We are thrown into her life on her one year anniversary of being sober. And even though I’m not a recovering alcoholic, I still felt so connected to Emma. As much as the story is about AA and alcoholism it really is also about just getting your life together and all the ups and down that come in doing so. Everything she was feeling, I felt as if I was right there with her. Through every hard, sad, overwhelming and even happy moments I felt like I was right there with her as if it was happening to me. I was honestly and truly rooting for Emma.

I could read an infinite amount of books just about Emma’s day to day life and not get bored. Everything Emma went through was real and messy and raw and most importantly. RELATABLE.

After reading another eARC with a main character who is working through alcoholism, I thought I was prepared to read another. I did not find this character or story to be very compelling, and the plot was hard to get into. Something about the writing felt oddly stilted and I had a hard time connecting with and being immersed in the storyline.

I loved reading about Emma’s day to day life since becoming sober and the struggles that come along with that. This story felt like a glimpse into a real persons life, and to learn that it’s this authors debut novel is crazy! This book is so well done and I will be recommending to all my friends/follwers!

This heartfelt, engaging, and poignant debut delves into themes of addiction, familial dysfunction, the struggles of sobriety, mental health, and the quest for self-discovery and acceptance.

The protagonist, Emma, at 26, embarks on a journey to take control of her life. Celebrating one year of sobriety with the support of the special group HG and her sponsor, Lola, she grapples with complex feelings towards her father, who denies his alcoholism and lives a hippie lifestyle in upstate New York.

As Emma navigates her new chapter, she learns to accept that while she cannot control everything, she can control her reactions. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she encounters challenges, including interactions with Mitchell, an office jerk, and Ben, a hot IT guy she harbors feelings for.

Assigned to organize a Christmas party with Ben and Mitchell, Emma's journey becomes more complicated. Her slow-burn friendship with Ben and her efforts to accept her parents' changing lives lead her to question her past mistakes and the kind of person she wants to be.

This realistic and honest portrayal draws readers in, allowing them to empathize with Emma's journey of acceptance and growth. It's a pure, genuine, and inspiring read that resonates deeply.

I eagerly anticipate reading more works from Ava Robinson in the future.

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.

I absolutely adored this debut novel by author Ava Robinson. Definitely Better Now, is a fresh, modern, POV on a young woman’s journey to and through the beginning of her sobriety. The novel’s main character Emma is undeniably relatable, witty, but most of all human. She is just trying to make her way through life’s ups and downs like the rest of us, trying to feel as “normal” as possible. I believe this is a must read!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Okay. Wow. I'm having so many thoughts and feelings over this one.

I have not felt such a deep love and attachment for a novel's main character as I did for Emma in SUCH a long time. From the start - I'm talking opening page - I felt this desperate need to root for her as she entered into this new stage in her life, having finally reached a full year of sobriety. And as the book goes on and Emma goes through all of the hell that she goes through (and the good times too), that feeling never once left me. It was like I was standing on the sidelines cheering for my lifelong best friend, that is how much I truly adored her character.

As for the story itself, it was an emotional roller coaster in the best of ways. I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout the beautiful relationship that unfolded between Ben and Emma (hello, healthy adult relationship). I was losing my mind with rage basically every time Mitchell existed. And then, with the plot line that went in for the kill, I full-on ugly cried for Emma's relationship with her dad.

I would give this book a hundred stars if I could. Ava Robinson, I am officially obsessed with you.

I rated this 3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book! The female main character Emma is a recovering alcoholic. She is 1 year sober and trying to renter the dating world! The beginning of the story can be a little slow but it does give a great backstory and full background for Emma with her mom, some memories and exploring friendships. She meets Ben through work and they start to develop a relationship! This book is a great emotional story of how it can look navigating life as a recovering alcoholic. It’s my first time reading a story from the POV of a recovering alcoholic and I think it explored it in a very good and respectful way. Emma and Ben’s story was so fun to read and I would highly recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

4.5 stars!!!

Ava Robinson the writer you are!!! I loved this book so much. I connected with Emma's character so much as a fellow 26 year old trying to get their shit together. I loved all the different relationships Robinson explored from romantic, platonic, familial, and more. It was funny and emotional and heartfelt and made me cry like a baby. There were so many sentences that GAGGED me, they were so well written. Not many people can capture the voice of a gen-z/millienial but Robinson did it so well here. I do think the ending was a little rushed after Emma returned from her father's funeral but other than that no complaints.

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the eArc. This was a great debut novel by this author. I am excited to read more by them. The first 75% of this book was missing something but the ending and relationships were all tied up. Overall very enjoyable.

After hitting the one year anniversary of her sobriety, Emma is opening herself back up to the world of dating. Though Emma doesn’t feel quite ready her crush on her coworker Ben propels her into the deep end. Emma is awkward, anxious and everything in between. She struggles with her sobriety, her friendships, her sponsor, and her family. The pages are filled with the angst that causes so many people to turn to alcohol to drown it out. But she’s fighting each day and living through the shit.

This book is incredibly beautiful, but it is really heavy. As someone who has struggled with my own relationship with alcohol it’s amazing to have stories like these to relate to. Just such a raw and real pov from a recovering alcoholic. There was some issues with repeated passages around the 55% mark that threw me off. But I really enjoyed this book, literally couldn’t put it down.