This compelling novel offers a profound exploration of personal growth and healing, framed within the context of overcoming alcohol addiction. Although it features some romantic elements, it leans more towards women's fiction, providing an authentic and insightful journey that resonates deeply with readers.

The story centers around Emma, the main character, who embarks on a transformative journey to understand her relationship with alcohol and discover why she truly wants to quit. Her experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are depicted authentically, highlighting how different groups approach recovery in unique ways. Emma's path is not just about sobriety but also about self-discovery and understanding her past and motivations.

Ben, a supportive and likeable character, plays a significant role in Emma's journey. His respect for her choices, even when they are challenging, adds depth to their relationship. Ben emerges as a perfect "book boyfriend," bringing warmth and stability to the narrative and demonstrating the importance of supportive relationships in personal growth.
Themes and Emotional Depth
The novel delves into various themes, including strained family relationships, the loss of a parent to cancer, and the process of grief. These elements are woven seamlessly into the story, adding layers of emotional depth. Readers can expect moments of laughter and tears as they engage with the beautifully written text.

This book is not a light-hearted read, but it is a profoundly moving one. It offers a realistic portrayal of overcoming addiction and the complexities of human relationships. The resolution is satisfying. It's a story that touches the heart and provides meaningful insights.
For those seeking a story of resilience and healing, this book is a must-read. Its touching narrative and deep meanings will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I look forward to exploring more works by this talented author.

This book was so good! It is quite heavy emotionally so know that going in! This book follows Emma as she rebuilds her life after realizing she was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Definitely read the trigger warnings. She is now one year sober which means her sponsors looses the reins a little. She's now able to date again, but does she want to and what does this look like for her?

Enter hot IT guy Ben. For the first time in a long time she's able to flirt, be free, and feel comfortable with another person. This slow burn friends to lovers romance had me from the start. Such an amazing debut novel!

Thank you to @HarperCollins and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #DefinitelyBetterNow. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

After 1 year of sobriety, 20-something Emma is ready to expand her life beyond AA meetings and her so-so job in marketing. As she starts to open herself up to co-workers, she quickly learns that being sober and vulnerable is tricky, but most definitely worth it.

The portrayal of addiction and the emotional tumult of relationships (parental, platonic & romantic) felt authentic. Light romance was sweet and earnest. Overall, an enjoyable read.

This book completely hit the mark for me! I absolutely felt all the emotions throughout this story and was left deeply thinking about everything that had happened.
I really loved our main character, Emma, I found her easy to route for while also being very relatable. We journey with her through her second official year of sobriety and watch as she tries to handle normal emotions and life situations that have always been dulled by alcohol. I think the author did a great job of depicting what it really would feel like to almost re-awaken to the world and experience a lot of things for the first time without alcohol.
I also absolutely loved the character, Ben and found myself really connecting with him and hoping the best for him. He added so much depth and empathy to this story and I feel he was such a necessary and wonderful addition to Emma's story.
I completely loved this book and don't see these characters ever leaving my brain.
Thank you so much to The Hive and Ava Robinson for my arc copy, these opinions are my own!

Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is a heartfelt and engaging novel that strikes the perfect balance between humor and emotional depth. From the very first page, I found myself drawn into the protagonist's journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth. Robinson’s writing is both witty and introspective, making the story feel deeply personal and relatable.

The novel explores complex themes like mental health, friendship, and love, all while maintaining a lightness that never feels too heavy. The characters are vivid and well-developed, especially the protagonist, who is equal parts vulnerable and strong. Her journey through her struggles and triumphs is both inspiring and genuine, leaving you rooting for her from start to finish.

What stood out to me was Robinson’s ability to weave humor into serious moments without taking away from the gravity of the situations. The friendships in the book were a highlight—authentic and full of warmth—and the romance felt natural, though it didn’t overshadow the protagonist’s personal growth.

The pacing occasionally slowed down, and a few plot points felt predictable, which is why it’s not a full five stars for me. However, the emotional resonance and the well-crafted dialogue more than made up for these minor issues.

Overall, Definitely Better Now is an uplifting, feel-good read that reminds us that even when life feels tough, there's always room for hope and better days ahead. If you're looking for a novel that combines wit, emotion, and personal growth, this one is definitely worth picking up.

This book drew me in immediately because of its rawness and honesty. As a licensed clinical social worker and someone with family in addiction, Emma’s story gave me a unique perspective into the personal life of someone in active recovery. Oftentimes, we only know what our patients tell us. This book gave an unfiltered look into the struggles those in recovery face including triggers, navigating relationships with those in active addiction, developing new romantic relationships, discovering who and what you want to be and self-forgiveness. As Emma navigates these struggles along with her job and her father‘s death; she really learns what works for her as she continues to maintain her sobriety.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It started out slow for me but once I got past the first few chapters it really picked up. Emma’s story came across as authentic and I liked that she wasn’t afraid to change what wasn’t working for her in regard to her sobriety. I think that is such an important message for those in recovery or considering it. Definitely Better Now was a great first novel and I look forward to more works by this writer!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

as a daughter of an alcoholic and a sober person myself, this was such an amazing book and i am so glad that it is in the world. stories about sobriety are so important and very rare in fiction spaces, especially for romance-adjacent books. it was a hard read but for a good reason. you want our main character to not hate herself so much and ugh it was just so good but i would also recommend looking at the triggers because like I said, it is a very heavy book at times.

This book was not what I was expecting. I did finish it but the book title and description didn't match. I liked the book and the characters but it wasnt' for me.

This was a heartwarming read, putting the reader in the shoes of a young woman freshly sober from alcohol. As she passes her one year sobriety anniversary, she struggles to find balance in work, romance, family, and life. I found myself rooting for the main character and relating to her even without having much in common. No matter what you are going through in your 20s/30s, we are all trying to figure out what life "should" look like for us, which often involves hijinks and mishaps. I also deeply enjoyed the romantic themes of the book, which were realistic yet aspirational. Additionally, learning more about AA was fascinating since I have not been exposed to it in my normal life! I think there is something in this story for everyone.

While this wasn’t my favorite book I have read recently, I did enjoy it overall. I thought it was sweet and did have a good message behind it. I would still likely recommended it to others

This was an interesting book about a recovering alcoholic. It was light at times, heavy at others. I found the main character and the story itself messy and charming and realistic. My only (sort of) complaint was that I thought the ending felt a bit abrupt. I guess that's also realistic in a way. This was definitely more of a character-driven story than a plot-driven one.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published December 17, 2024.

This book is not a rom-com. It was more serious than funny. There were basically 3 plots: a workplace romance, an aging parent who recently reenters Emma’s life and alcoholism.

Emma’s struggle with alcohol seemed to be the majority of the book. We get to see inside her AA meetings and learn about the 12 steps and get sponsor.

It was a quick read but I found it rather boring. Trigger warning for alcoholics.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/🫑 Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson spoke to me on the deepest possible level. Our FMC, Emma is navigating life through sobriety; the feelings, fears, struggles, tiny victories, relearning how to make friends and form relationships in recovery.. and still manages to be absolutely hilarious. Never have I ever seen alcoholism and recovery portrayed more accurately.

Well done, @avarson . 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 This was easily the most impactful and genuine read I've experienced yet. It will stay with me, and I will never stop recommending it. Thank you for your service! And for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing book you've written.

This book was a beautiful, thoughtful look at a woman navigating sobriety, grief, and everyday life. This book immediately sucked me in with its engaging main character, Emma, and all of the characters she meets. Emma goes on a journey in this work and I loved how real it felt. There were several twists and turns in the book that had my full attention as I read, eager to find out what came next. The ending, particularly the parts about her Dad, were excellent. I also loved all of the "side characters" and the plot point of the Fun Team. Overall, a great read and one I know I will continue to think about.

Shelf Awareness PRO: Debut novelist Ava Robinson takes a close look at the bittersweet realities of sobriety in Definitely Better Now, a (late) coming-of-age story of 26-year-old New Yorker Emma and her attempts to start fresh after completing a whole year of sobriety.

For 365 days, Emma has been focused: on work and on not drinking. Ready to feel like a "fully polished, emotionally stable version" of herself after her first year in AA, she's looking forward to something like starting over. "Sobriety had cast a newness over the way I viewed the world. There were so many firsts open to me again, even after a year: first trip sober, first night out sober, and even first kiss sober." It turns out, though, that nothing magical happens on day 365 of sobriety, and those firsts can be more than a bit overwhelming, especially when considering the many versions of herself Emma's built as a survival mechanism.

There is "Work Emma," who doesn't curse and never talks about her sobriety in the office; "Internet Emma," who shares highlights only online; "Friend Emma," who isn't quite sure how to be a good friend; "Dateable Emma," composed with the help of co-workers urging her to create an online dating profile. Drunk Emma, Sober Emma, Over-a-Year-Sober Emma: she's unsure whether or not she likes any of them--and whether or not any of them are really her.

Robinson has created a mid-20s heroine standing on the precipice between young adult and fully grown adult, a woman stepping into herself and into a life without alcohol. Definitely Better Now points out not just how alcohol-steeped modern American culture is, but the complexities of sober living: how rigid recovery can feel, how demanding it is, and how focused on "men of a certain age" the literature can be; as well as how to learn to trust not just a sponsor but one's own self; how to live with multiple truths--especially when some of them are ugly.

Within this, Robinson nestles a romance that feels The Office-esque, with workplace dramas, coworker gossip, a bunch of employees at a company that does something vague and uninteresting, and a cute, charming guy in IT who might actually like Emma for who she is, if she can just figure that part out. Witty, funny, and full of heart, Definitely Better Now is a not-to-be-missed debut that encourages anyone, sober or not, to embrace the messy imperfections of a life worth living.

Ava Robinson's debut celebrates the wins of persevering through life without hiding or polishing up the moments you'd rather not look at.

DEFINITELY BETTER NOW follows 20something Emma - born and raised New Yorker, and an alcoholic in recovery. She just hit the one year sober milestone and begins the work to blend her new confidences into her strictly compartmentalized life.

It feels like I highlighted the entire book. So many standout quotes, laugh out loud akward true to life moments, and soul touching beautiful prose had me turning pages with reverence. The love on page is palpable no matter if the scene is Emma's current breakthroughs or her past bender flashbacks. Every moment felt real and raw and imperitive to the whole of Emma's character arc.

Readers may be hesitant to pick up a recovery/sober story, but stick with me here as I tell you how relatable it is no matter your connection to Emma's specific illness. This is a story of healing from trauma. Letting old outmoded coping mechanisms fall away and allowing new healthier boundaries to support you. Holding space for your own valid hurts as well as compassion for others that may have hurt you. Breaking cycles of generational trauma. Navigating new relationships with a mental illness. It's all there.

The romantic relationship between Emma and Ben is such a delicious slow burn. The intimate scenes may register as low to no spice, but the sensation of attraction is so steamy. There is want and yearning and anticipation and anxiety and desperation and softness.

There is a major story arc to be mindful of regarding illness (cancer) and death of a parent. If this is a sensitive topic for you, please proceed with your wellness in mind.

With my utmost recommendation, DEFINITELY BETTER NOW is for all readers familiar with the absurdity of life and the hardships we face. For those battling unseen sickness or carrying the weight of trauma. You are seen and worthy of love and your journey is a triumph.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

So good! This book is about Emma, who has been sober for a year. Instead of her life being instantly better though, it seems to be just as messy as ever. I loved the message that just because you stop a vice, your life doesn’t automatically become perfect.

overall, this was a good book. It did trigger me a little bit because I am divorced due to my ex husband's addiction and bad behaviors. I wasn't ready for the meetings and how much talk of the steps or sponsors. I had attended a few meetings with my ex before we moved towards divorce.

I did appreciate seeing how difficult dating could be after a major change. I'm sure I will be a mess once I start dating because I dont know how to be with someone in this stage of life.

One thing I also noticed was how easy it made it look to be sober. Emma didn't seem to be tempted to make a mistake. She struggled through life, but she never questioned whether one drink would have helped. This seemed a little unrealistic to me.

I also liked how Ben showed up for her. He stood up for her. He was willing to give her what she needed. He was willing to show up when she needed him.

I plan to share this book with my instagram followers a few days before pub date.

I could not read this book because it said it was stolen content. It had no chapters and no pages. I totally would have read this book though and the cover is really good. I also like this author so if you have an opportunity to redo this please reach out and I would be happy to work with you!

One of the best novels of this year for me-I definitely hope there is a lot of hype around it when it comes out. The characters are well developed and complex, and I think the relationships between Emma and her parents were especially well developed. Even in a book that was quite dark at times, there was an appropriate amount of comedic levity and the awkward fumbling of new romance. Definitely will be looking out for more by this author!