It's the realism for me. Of course a book like this is going to be character based, which is my jam, and the lead is done so well. All of the characters feel real, but being in her head feels honest. Beautifully done, Ava; thank you for sharing.

This was a very emotional read and I was rooting for the main character the entire time. It gets very heavy at times and I felt even though my life is different, I could really relate to this book. It was very well written and i definitely recommend.

4-4.5 rounding up bc… Very strong debut. I finished the book in 2 days. The ending and Epilogue were perfection. So satisfying, left me with a smile on my face.

At first I thought this would be around a 3 star read, and then when I got past 180 pages I realized that there was more complexity to the story (which I appreciated). From there, I was invested in where the story was going to go and the pace remained steady with the developments that came with Emma’s story. So, I highly recommend to keep going right to the end with this book!

I was first interested in the book based off the striking colour combo featured on the cover and the fact that the main character’s name is the same as mine (Emma). I’m a “go-in-blind” reader so I was pleasantly surprised with the romance that came out of this book. For me, I mostly enjoy romance that can simulate real life, where I can envision the scenes as something believable. This was that 100%. It felt so genuine and gave first-love vibes. All the scenes the FMC & MMC had were so sweet and gave a sense of innocence, it was refreshing to read a romance like this - it was very swoon worthy! I’ve already recommended some friends to read this book based off of this fictional book relationship, it was a special one. I liked their deep convos and quirky moments.

I have a Ben-type of life partner so I think that added to my enjoyment. Plus Emma’s overthinking/second guessing at times I could relate to.

I thought the depiction of Emma was fitting for someone who is in recovery AA. I thought her character traits coincided with someone who is trying to find themselves, in trying all of life’s events as a sober individual and trying to find inner peace and confidence in oneself.

Chapter 21 hit hard!

I enjoyed the side characters.

I will say I thought the Mitchell character could’ve been edited out. I was a bit frustrated with those scenes and wanting to skip over them. I felt it didn’t add anything to the story, or to Emma’s character development. I couldn’t put believability into that character, it played off too stupid-rich-bro to the point that it didn’t seem authentic to me, whereas all the other characters in the story I could believe in as real people. I didn’t get why Emma kept entertaining when clearly she hated him from the get-go, so all the interactions that followed didn’t make sense to me. Maybe if these scenes were written differently I would’ve been interested in this aspect of the story more. I understand it got a touch-her-and-die type of moment but I felt the Mitchell stuff could’ve been played out differently and for that defend-her vibe be played up better.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing (MIRA) & Netgalley for an eARC!

Publication currently says Dec 30, 2024!

This was a good book. Emma’s journey was very touching. I’ve never read about a recovering alcoholic and this was well written. It did start of slow and didn’t really give rom com vibes.

This book was such a special little gem to find. It’s got a combination of so many things, grief, love, hope, fear, humor, and so much more that all blend together to create such a lovely exploration of the human experience. Emma is such a deeply developed character, and I found her to be so wonderfully relatable even without having many shared life experiences. That’s part of what made this such a magic reading experience.

Emma’s journey with sobriety is very raw, and her emotions are felt so deeply through the book. I really enjoyed being along with her as she navigated life and the different faces she feels she has to wear, and how they began to blend into just her being Emma. Her character truly was so special, and I didn’t even mind that it was in first person POV.

There are some delightful and enjoyable side characters, and some others who are not as enjoyable, but I got such a clear picture of all of these characters. Obviously, the biggest character we get to know outside of Emma is Ben, and I absolutely adored him. His kindness and empathy was really lovely, and his sense of humor was such a delight. The other character I found really interesting was Kirtan, and especially how Emma navigated their relationship and her feelings about him as a father.

Just all around a really beautiful and emotional little book. I loved it!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

This book is about a young woman, Emma, who is one year sober. One that anniversary, she wakes up expecting her life to be magically better once she hit that milestone- but Spoiler alert: her life is still messy like everyone else’s.

Emma is absolutely the kind of main character you want to root for. Not only is she relatable, but she also carries so such strength and resilience when faced with so much pain and hardship. She's definitely not perfect, but that made her all the more likable as a main character. She’s also witty as heck. I loved the dry humor interlaced.

I think this is an absolute must-read for 2024! Whether you struggle with addiction or not. Emma's authenticity and depth of her relationships resonate profoundly. The portrayal of Alcoholics Anonymous is insightful. This story speaks to the journey of truly moving on from a difficult part of life and accepting the good and bad things that can result from positive change.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the theme of sobriety in this book and found Emma's journey to be touching. She was a character that you wanted to cheer and wanted to do well. I also really liked Ben... he was so patient and understanding towards Emma. Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and I think that weighed the book down. It gave me "Interesting Facts About Space" vibes at times, but it didn't commit all the way to that level of humor. Overall, I enjoyed the book! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

Definitely Better Now was unlike any book I have read before. The insider POV into all of the elements of addiction and recovery were fascinating. The description of the AA program, and insight into how groups differ from one another in structure and function made me feel like I was learning while reading a good story. Emma is easy to root for, even with her history, and although there was a lot of information included in the narrative, it was so nicely woven into the story that it worked perfectly.

This is not my normal read. It was an emotional journey to go along with Emma as she takes on a new journey of taking back control of her life and addiction. There are heavy elements that are brought up through her journey. There is of course a love interest that takes its own twists and turns.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

This book was not light. I learned a decent bit about AA. I was rooting for Emma in general and I was rooting for Ben and Emma. The ending was tough, so heartfelt but hard. Even for a person who has no connection to AA.

This book is about a young woman who is one year sober and how she expected her life to be magically better once she hit that milestone. Spoiler alert: her life was still messy like everyone’s is. It could be triggering for some people but I think it was beautifully written and rein-stilled the best part of reading for: living another persons experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Ava Robinson for an advanced digital copy.

I was very drawn into this book and Emma's journey. It felt so raw and authentic and made you really root for her. A very inspiring story that could help anyone who has struggled with substance abuse or those who care for someone who does. It also paints a beautiful picture of some of the different ways people might grieve

A very unique point of view that I haven't had the chance to read before. Emma is a twenty-something woman living in New York City, one year sober at the beginning of the book. As she navigates her dating life and builds relationships as 'sober Emma', we see her grow and shift into a new person. I felt like she only thought she was likeable and worth anything only back when she was drinking, and having to re-wire that part of her brain was hard to do. Emma's relationships and interactions at work with her co-workers made me giggle. This book also made me remember how drinking/alcohol culture is so incredibly ingrained in every day social things/activities. Overall a good debut novel. Very thought-provoking and heartfelt.

3.5/5. I was much more invested in reading about Emma's recovery than the romance plot, which felt kind of awkward at times. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Not your usual rom com quick read. This takes a head on look at the obstacles to obtaining true sobriety.. Emma found that every part of her life got better when she stopped drinking. She no longer has to work as a cocktail server depending on tips to pay the rent. Her and best friend Suzannha would start drinking and drugging Help each other to get through the night and the next day recovery and cleanup., including cleaning vomit fro last nights clothes and bedding. She realized they weren’t good for one another.. they lost additional roommates who didn’t want to put up with all this and bailed. Emma was able to get a low run position in a NY financial office. We pick up as she celebrates her one year of sobriety with her mom,AA sponsor Lolo, and the AA family. She has told no one at work.. she eventually confides to Vsnessa, her table mate. Vanessa asks Emma to Friday night drinks with the usual work group. Emma has developed a crush on the IT Dire tor.. we find out latter, he hasn’t been going to Friday nights because his best army buddy friend died from a frug overdose just before Emma started with the company. They both happen to go this night and accidentally meet at the bar top. A romance finally occurs after a large misunderstanding. In the end she realized she had never had sex without being drunk. Her mom and dad were divorced because dad was a drunk. She had to deal with her relationship with each of her parents including step mom.Lola,Vanessa and Ben were there to give support. Not really what I expected but I would definitely recommend this book. I was like recovering alcoholic, yeah, yeah. I had never really considered the implications. Special thanks to #NetGalley for an early unedited copy of the book, allowing me to give my own honest opinions. I believe I read this is a debut book for Ava Robinson. I will be looking for future books and gladly recommend her as a rising author.

Before I get into my actual review, I implore each person reading this to mark their calendars for December 31st, 2o24, because this book is incredible and everyone should read it as soon as it comes out. I implore AND beseech you MOST ardently.

Definitely Better Now was a book that centered on things that are very different than my own life, but I felt so connected to the main character that I felt like her experiences could have been my own. Emma is a woman in her mid-twenties living in New York City and at the start of the book she is officially one year sober. As she grapples with her new life, she has to learn who she is with her addictions behind her. She deals with new friendships, family dynamics, and a potential relationship.

So yes, this is very different from the life I currently live, but Emma's voice was so clear and relatable throughout that it didn't matter. I felt the pain, anxiety, grief, and hope as if it was my own. This is certainly due to the wonderful writing of debut author, Ava Robinson! She will definitely be on my radar as an author to watch, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Also, as a quick shout-out to all of my romance lovers out there, I don't think I would categorize this as a romance book, but the romantic subplot that was woven throughout the book was one of the best I have ever read. The love interest, Ben, was such a genuinely good person, and their dynamic felt so respectful and also so real. He wasn't unrealistically perfect, but he was just so, so good.

To close, read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I was very hesitant to read this book as I can not relate to the sobriety aspect which appears to be the characters whole appeal. While fiction I decided I better read it anyways! I gave it a try and it was a good read. While started a little slow it provided a story with detail and a new perspective on sobriety as well as the chaos of turning into hope and hoping things get better at some point. All in perspective.
Took a while to get started with this book, slow start. This book hits hard topics like addiction, recovery, grief and even grieving relationships. The author did a great job portraying the MC in navigating life through sobriety for those who have not walked that life. I am curious to see how it is compared to those who have walked that same walk.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely Better Now is different from the type of books I typically gravitate towards. It also wasn't quite wasn't what I was expecting, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. After reading the synopsis for this book, I was expecting way more humor and less emotion. The story explores alcohol addiction and recovery, complex familial relationships, self-discovery, and love.

We follow Emma, a 26-year-old in New York, who has spent the last year navigating the challenges of sobriety with determination. Proud of her twelve months of abstinence, she focuses on her office job, attending group meetings, and cautiously dipping her toes back into the dating pool. But dating turns out to be more complicated than she remembers.

As if that weren't enough, Emma's tasked with organizing her office's holiday party—a daunting responsibility that becomes even more overwhelming when her estranged father resurfaces with distressing news. Just when she thinks life couldn't get messier, enter Ben, the charming IT guy who sees past her awkwardness and imperfections.

Emma is absolutely the kind of main character you want to root for. Not only is she relatable, but she also possesses such strength and resilience when faced with so much pain and hardship. She's definitely not perfect, but that made her all the more likable as a main character.

Overall worth the read. I'm glad I took a chance on this book!

Check trigger warning before diving into this one as it touches on several heavy topics.

3.5⭐️This book was heavier than I expected but overall enjoyable. I highlighted a lot of quotes that struck a chord with overall suffering and hope. I found the pacing to be slow for my taste in the second half of the book, but I really enjoyed where the author took the plot. There is a good bit of character development as well. I would recommend if you are looking for a book that makes you feel something or if you feel like you’ve been on autopilot for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This debut novel was honestly one of the best I’ve read! The POV from a recovering alcoholic was new to me and I enjoyed it so much. Loved seeing the character development and growth from the FMC. And we LOVE a swoonworthy book boyfriend as well. I need more books on my shelf that hit me in the feels like this one. Cannot wait to see what else she comes out with!

"Definitely Better Now" is a story of recovery, hope, and self-understanding. At times repetitive, overall, I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my fellow readers when it hits the shelves.

Emma has recently completed her first year sober, and while her largest hurdle is behind her, the subsequent hurdles follow, exhausting our protagonist in new ways. She learns to accept the things she cannot change and trusts that she knows herself best. We see her battle her relationship with her father, find a romantic spark in a coworker, and strengthen her ties with his sponsor, Lola.

With added job duties at work, she finds herself in a mind game orchestrated by herself of what she should--and can--do with those around her.

No spoilers, but the scene of her going into the bar for the first time really stuck with me, and it makes me more conscious of supporting sober friends in the future.

Thank you for this advanced reader's copy!