First off an absolutely huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins, Mira imprint for letting me read an early copy of Definitely Better Now in return for an honest review.

What an absolutely fantastic, heartwarming and inspiring debut from Eva Robinson. Definitely Better Now follows Emma who is officially one year sober and realizes that life’s messes are still waiting right where you left them.

Well I sobbed while reading this. What an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and deeply human story. This book hit every note for me: romance, humor, sadness and incredible writing. I have never read a book like this before and I now want to read a hundred others. I laughed, I cried, I got mad and most importantly, I completely fell in love with Emma. She was so deeply human, flawed, deeply complex and even though she had all of that, she still tried her best. “I’m sure there are people out there who are going to pick up this book and relate to the words written on the pages and I think that Eva had that in mind while writing this. She handled sobriety and the topic of alcoholism with such a gentle hand but also didn’t stray away from the brutality that alcoholism can leave on family’s and relationships.

Overall, I completely recommend this book and found the story absolutely amazing!

This will be a niche book in my opinion. It talks more about AA than I even realized it would. I am a recovering alcoholic so I thought it would be up my alley but I am not in AA, the normal people kind or this kind. I am aware of some of the fancier clubs that offer it and feel this is a fairly realistic portrayal of a wealthier city person in recovery. We even hear about the founders of AA and I thought that was really neat. I just couldn't stay excited about the story. I wanted to but it was dreary, wordy and felt like a lesson.

I'm still rating it highly because the writing is great and it's so detailed. I don't blame the book or author, maybe it just isn't something I wanted to read in fiction.

I had to sit with this book for a bit. This story follows Emma who has just celebrated her first year of being sober.

I chose this story because of how closely the issues with alcoholism and the way it affects those around you really hits close to home.

Overall, this story felt slow to me. I felt like not a whole lot happened. However, the longer I sat with it, I realized that what did happen in it are events which would be so huge for someone struggling with addiction. Even some of the most mundane things could seem overwhelming to someone having never done it sober before.

Ava Robinson really ended up bringing the story together. The fact that it is a debut is even more impressive. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us.

DEFINITELY BETTER NOW by Ava Robinson

Pub date: Dec. 31, 2024
Publisher: MIRA Books
Rating: 3.5 / 5


Wouldn't life be so much easier without all the emotional baggage?

26-year-old Emma is one year sober and ready to embrace her new, better life. She's carefully curated a version of herself fitting of a mess-free corporate worker in NYC, with a steady routine with her sponsor, a budding workplace romance, and a renewed interest in participating in life. Emma's trajectory is good. Until it isn't. Life changing family news makes her re-evaluate everything, and Emma realizes that just because she's sober doesn't mean she's mess-free.

DEFINITELY BETTER NOW is a debut that is so clearly a labor of love. This novel centers on Emma's alcoholism/sobriety and the impact of family hurt. There is compelling emotional growth for Emma, both in her maturity as a recovering alcoholic and in her perspective of her dad, a fellow alcoholic, as a father and individual. The story's pacing is slow at times, and her romantic and platonic relationships are a bit lacking in nuance and development. Still, Emma's story ultimately ends happily and full of hope. This book could be healing and validating for a reader overcoming an addiction or standing alongside someone in recovery, or a reader who has dealt with parent loss.


(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)


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[Review posted on 9/30/24 to https://www.instagram.com/brittain.books/]

An incredibly lovely and wise meditation on family, expectations, addiction, and the painful work of growing up. Loved it.

Definitely Better Now is the story of Emma, who has been sober for a year, and is coming to terms with her anxiety about letting people in to know the real her (who is a recovering alcoholic) and struggling with her relationship with her father, who is also an alcoholic. There also is a romance with a coworker, but that's really not the focus, except in highlighting Emma's fear of openness.

Overall, I found the book interesting (I went into this not knowing much about Alcoholics Anonymous) and the romance sweet, but I definitely cried through most of the last like 20% or so.

I loved this book! I received an ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGalley… and I am so happy I had been approved to read this one.
Emma is a recovering alcoholic at her 1 year sober mark trying to navigate life as sober Emma/work Emma. We are taken along on her journey of getting through day by day of working and dating as well as dealing with her distant relationship with her father and her mother moving in with her new boyfriend. There is a lot going on, but it all felt so relatable even though I have parents who have been married for 61 years, been married since I was 25, and have never had a drinking problem. I was rooting for Emma in all her relationships… dating Ben the IT guy at work, making peace with her ailing father, making friends with Vanessa her cubicle mate, checking in with Lola her sponsor, and accepting her mom’s new relationship. I felt like Emma was someone I wanted to be friends with and wanted the best for her. And BEN, swoon - so sweet, nice, understanding, and hot! This book was at times intense, uplifting, inspiring, and sad… giving me all the feels! I highly recommend!

Wonderful contemporary novel in the book club fiction genre, a twenty something New York woman hits her 1 year of sobriety in AA and this book is about Emma figuring out how to navigate life and dating sober. Although I am much older than the main character, I found this to be an enjoyable and moving read.

Emma celebrates her one year mark with her AA friends and stays anonymous at work. In AA, it is generally recommended that you do not start dating within your first year. There is a lot of work, meetings, step work with your sponsor, and a lot of change involved in the first year. There are also a lot of celebrations, you get a month medallion every month. The one year coin is nicer, but then it occurs to you how differently life can be. You aren't as busy in AA, there aren't as many calls to your sponsor, and you don't get celebrated every month. This book is about that transition into long term sobriety for a young person.

Along the way we also have a MBA bro villain, a love interest, reconnecting with Emma's parents, grief and loss, and typical office malaise. It is a deep and meaningful book, if you are looking for a lighthearted rom com, this isn't it. The way that the book portrays meetings, sponsorship, step work, and AA "culture" is incredibly accurate and valuable. I love that it doesn't paint an overly rosy picture or suggest that once we get sober, everything is A-ok. We are never fixed. I am 13 years sober in Alcoholics Anonymous so I can attest to the transparency and validity. Emma's story isn't everyone's story, but the book does a really good job of highlighting that.

There are many sober and sober-curious "quit lit" memoirs, which I loathe, and a few fiction books that are well done about early recovery and very very long term recovery. This is in the middle, a story that is not often told.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the ARC. Book to be published December 31, 2024.

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #definitelybetternow

A super relatable & well written story about addiction & recovery. The emotions in this story felt so relatable and real- it was hard to feel so connected with it on such deep & tough topics but also so well done that I couldn’t stop reading.

Definitely a book I was given that took me by surprise in a good way & that I feel better having read. Worth the read & recommendation 100%!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity read this amazingly well written story.❤️

What an emotional ride this was. A very strong debut with a fresh perspective. Emma is newly sober and trying to figure out where her life goes next. Her journey is heartfelt, real and inspiring all at once. I didn't want this to end.

I love Emma. It's not often I fall in love with a character but I loved her. There was just something about her that I found to be relatable. Ava RObinson does an excellent job of tackling hard topics in an easier way. This book will be a reread for me.

Just meh for me. Too drama laced for me. At time overwrought and overwritten. It is, though, a light fast read.

Ava Robison's debut novel is a powerful and emotional read—heartbreaking, yet beautifully written. I didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up. At first I was initially drawn to it because of the beautiful cover and the intriguing synopsis on NetGalley. What caught me off guard, though, was the depth of emotion and heaviness in the story. As a mood reader, I had to DNF it for a while, not feeling ready to fully engage with its heavy themes. But once I was in the right headspace, I appreciated its depth even more.

The book tackles complex issues like addiction, grief, and broken relationships e.t.c. . Robison's portrayal of addiction, in particular, is sensitive and well-researched, offering readers a thoughtful perspective. Without giving away too much of the plot, the story revolves around Emma, a woman trying to navigate life after a year of sobriety. She’s a deeply relatable character—at times, you find yourself sympathizing with her, and at other moments, you may see pieces of yourself in her struggles. While there is a romantic subplot, it doesn’t overshadow the more profound, emotional journey that lies at the heart of the book.


The reason I didn't give this book a five stars is that the beginning felt a bit slow, making it harder for me to get into the story at first. However, once it picked up, it turned out to be a fantastic read that I definitely recommend. I'm excited to see what Ava Robison writes next and look forward to reading more of her books in the future

Thank you to netgalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the Arc . This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review

Loved the writing style of this book! Emma was very like able and relatable. Great banter and an overall sweet despite some heavy topics. Loved the themes of sobriety and recovery. and would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this lovely book. What an amazing debut! I enjoyed every second of this heartfelt story. Following Emma on her journey post-alcohol was a pleasure and felt so very realistic. This book is about so much more than recovery.

I think Emma is one of my favorite main characters of all time, and sweet, sweet Ben is just the best!

Looking forward to more from this author!

Witty, funny, smart all at once. This book is incredible in all the best ways. It’s the right amount of fun coupled with a sense of realism.

Ava Robinson's Definitely Feeling Better Now is a charming and relatable debut novel that follows Emma, a young woman navigating the challenges of sobriety in her twenties. With a blend of wit, heart, and humor, Robinson paints a vivid picture of Emma's journey as she grapples with family drama, romantic entanglements, and the complexities of starting over.

What I Loved:

Relatable Protagonist: Emma is a character who feels genuinely authentic. Her struggles with addiction and her attempts to rebuild her life are both relatable and inspiring.
Witty Dialogue: Robinson's writing is filled with sharp wit and humor that keeps the story light and engaging, even during the more difficult moments.
Compelling Characters: The supporting cast, including Emma's family and friends, are well-developed and add depth to the narrative.
Exploration of Sobriety: The novel offers a honest and insightful look at the challenges and triumphs of sobriety, without shying away from the darker aspects of addiction.
While the book does have its moments of heartbreak, it's ultimately a hopeful and uplifting story about resilience and finding one's way. Definitely Feeling Better Now is a must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming and relatable tale of personal growth.

I really wanted to like this book but it was so hard for me to get into. It wasn't even that I couldn't relate to Emma, the main character, because I can... I have a rocky relationship with an alcoholic parent... but I guess that's it. I can appreciate this subject, made me feel seen. Honestly, I would like more books about/around this. Even though I wanted to love this book, the writing was so slow and boring. Sometimes there would be an overwhelming amount of details and others it was sparse.
I love the cover and it led me to believe this was going to be a romance but that's ok, that might've helped keep my attention more if it was but...
Anyways, Definitely Better Now is about twenty-something year old, Emma, she's a recovering alcoholic. She keeps her personal life close to her chest and has a "fake" persona at work. She has a rocky relationship with her father who is/was also an alcoholic. She has recently celebrated her one-year of sobriety and is opening herself up to life more and figuring out who she truly is without feeling like she's walking on eggshells. She's entering the dating pool, open to having coworkers be more than that; they're becoming friends, etc.
I love the idea of this book and think with better pacing and maybe more romance, this could've been up there for me.
I know the author probably wanted this book to be deeper than a romance but it made it feel mundane without any real development. I felt like even by the end of the book Emma still wasn't happy with her life, therefore I didn't feel complete or pleased with the end either. Others may read the book and disagree with me, but nothing felt truly resolved.
Overall, I'm happy I read it.
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Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my very first NetGalley ARC! I was so excited when I got approved but it took me forever to actually pick up. Once I did, it took me a bit to get into. I felt like it took me a while to connect with the main character. BUT towards the middle/end I really started to enjoy it. I really loved how she got more insight into her father’s life towards the ending, I think that’s what gave her the ultimate motivation to stay sober. 3.5 ⭐️!

If you are a fan of shows like Mom, then you’ll wanna pick this book up. The banter between characters was great and I really enjoyed the development throughout the novel.