When stories are written about addiction, especially generational addiction, it’s often challenging to capture the true impact while also honoring the humanity of those struggling. Too often, addiction narratives reduce people to villains, stripping away their complexity and pain. But as we read through this beautiful piece of art, we see a raw, honest portrayal of someone working through their personal experience with addiction while grappling with its generational roots.

It’s not easy to view those affected as fully human, neither “good” nor “bad,” just people trying to navigate life. Ava shows us what it means to feel anger, hurt, disappointment, resentment, self-forgiveness, the struggle for self-worth, and countless other emotions that exist in the messy space between love and pain.

Grief becomes even more complicated when it’s tied to a parent we admired and loved, but who also caused deep wounds. Sometimes, we blame our own harmful choices on our upbringing, feeling destined to follow a familiar, painful path. It’s especially confusing when a father is physically absent or only partially present on their own terms, leaving us questioning our worth and capacity to be loved.

Ava’s story reminds us that being human means making mistakes, owning our faults, striving to change, and connecting with others even when it feels terrifying. Addiction is not just hard to experience; it’s hard to witness and even harder to feel the hurt from those we thought would always choose us first.

Thank you, Ava, for reminding us that we can be flawed and still be loved, that vulnerability is possible even after being hurt, and that we can want better for ourselves even if “better” looks different for everyone. Most importantly, thank you for showing us that grace costs nothing and we all deserve both to give and receive it.

5/5 stars
1/5 spice
Genre: Contemporary Fiction with Romance
📍NYC / upstate
Vibes: 🌆🚕💻🍻🏥🎉🍾🎄🌨️

Wow. Great, dynamic writing. Heavy themes but interwoven with interesting characters and humor. A wildly invigorating and raw story about a 26 NYC girl being sober - her trials, her relationships, and the complexities of being ourselves fully.

Bonus: Mentions of where I am located in Upstate NY 🥰

Tropes & themes:
-Rom com elements
-Getting into relationships is COMPLEX
-Cute cat moment
-Workplace romance
-Corporate Holiday party planning
-Anxiety rep
-Sobriety rep
-honesty

Memorable quote: “I’m not too crazy to date. But I’m too crazy to f*ck”

Thank you Harlequin Audio, The Hive, and the author for the ARC - or should I say ALC! Narration was INCREDIBLE. Wonderful different voices for characters as well as well executed emotions.

Cw: sobriety, substance abuse, complex parent relationships, social anxiety, relationship anxiety, alcoholic father, parent dying of cancer

In no way was I prepared for how much I'd love this book. I went into it expecting more of a lighthearted romance, but what I got was a layered, thoughtful story that highlights the struggles of addiction, recovery, and finding yourself.

Don't get me wrong - there was definitely a heavy dose of romance. Ben has my whole heart. But the romance wasn't the central point of the book, it was used to propel Emma's story forward, and help the reader better understand what she was going through, while watching her grow.

I fully cried for about the last 100 pages. I couldn't put this one down.

4.5 ⭐️

Definitely Better Now tells a very specific story yet manages to be widely relatable to anyone who’s ever struggled in life. Filled with humor and pathos, I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely the sort of book that stays with you long after reading it.

Karissa Vacker did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Ava Robinson, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I don’t really know what I was expecting from Definitely Better Now, but it gave me everything I needed and more. Emma is a recovering alcoholic who has just hit one year sober, and we follow her as she navigates this new chapter of her life. While that might sound heavy—and the book definitely has its serious moments—it also has everything: the good, the bad, the ugly, the funny. I felt like I was right there with Emma the entire time, which isn’t something I experience often with books.

There were so many moments in this book that just hit. The way Ava Robinson handled such a sensitive topic was so raw and real, but also filled with so much heart. Emma’s struggles with sobriety, messy family drama, and figuring herself out felt so authentic. I know it sounds so corny but I was in it with her, every step of the way.

This book was quirky, emotional, and just so well done. If this is what Ava Robinson is bringing with her debut, I need more

Fantastic read! It got me hooked and I loved the writing. Great as an audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Ava Robinson!

Definitely Better Now follows Emma as she navigates through life in sobriety, one year without alcohol. She’s trying to discover what makes her relationships good and meaningful without alcohol there as a catalyst, but everything feels harder—dating, parents, and social hangouts. Her relationships are complicated and she finds herself struggling to define what she deserves and wants, what’s real or built up in her newly sober mind.

I love the genuine struggle in this novel. Emma has a life that’s imperfect and her tribulations are realistic. Her anxieties and parental conflicts feel authentic. Her difficulty navigating social situations and romantic relationships also feel relatable in a way that draws empathy for her and leaves a lot of room for character development and growth. Rooting for her success is a common motivation throughout. I was here for cringe, the regrets, and the wins from start to finish.

Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I liked Karissa Vacker's narration of this surprisingly great book. It was recommended to me by a friend, and while some parts were tough for me to listen to, since I have a close relationship with someone in recovery, I really appreciated the forthright, unapologetic look at a young woman reclaiming her life. This is also a romance and a family drama, but nothing was so overly heavy as to be gritty, nor so saccharine as to be unrealistic. Emma was a funny, charming, and wholly believable narrator, just trying her best to create a life she can look forward to. 4.5/5 stars.

4 ⭐️
1 🌶️

Definitely Better Now is such a funny and well written tale of self acceptance, growth and navigating life after finding sobriety. And i absolutely adored it. Ava’s writing style is funny and witty without being overbearing to the plot and Karissa Vacker was the perfect voice to bring Emma to life.

Having a precarious relationship with my own alcoholic father, it also just hit really close to home with how Emma and her father’s relationship was portrayed. And for me that relatability really lent itself to my experience with this read.

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @harlequin_audio for access to the audiobook!

✨ Book Review: Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson ✨

When we meet Emma, she’s heading to a party in her honor—celebrating one year of sobriety. She’s convinced that once she has this part of her life under control, everything else will fall into place. Spoiler alert: life doesn’t work that way.

Emma’s support group has one big rule: no dating. The idea? When breaking free from addiction, it’s easy to replace one dependency with another. But after her party, she’s sort of ready to dip her toes into the dating pool.

💡 The problem? Dating is complicated.

Enter Ben. Ohhh, I loved Ben—from the very awkward beginning. 😍 I totally pictured him as Jim Halpert from The Office (you’ll see why). Ben is the IT guy who not only likes Emma but gets her. He finds her quirks & awkwardness adorable. 💕

Together, they try to navigate a relationship while Emma is navigating sobriety—learning that “one day at a time” applies to every aspect of life.

💭 My thoughts? While I couldn’t fully relate to addiction, I did connect with Emma’s emotional ties to her habits. For me, it’s food. 🍽️ I realized my love of cooking, meal planning, and feeding my family isn’t just about eating—it’s a whole process that brings joy. Emma’s relationship with wine mirrored that, making her journey even more real to me.

This book made me reflect on my own habits in a way I didn’t expect.

Emma has a new lease on life with sobriety. And dating while sober is a different experience for her. The premise is interesting, this book is not.
This is a character-driven story about a woman who has changed her life. Navigating those changes, along with strained family dynamics.
The narrator does a nice job. Unfortunately, there is nothing about this book that could keep my attention. The cursing and sex scenes didn't help.
It was difficult to pay attention to this audiobook, and I listen to many audiobooks.
This one is forgettable.
If I had not received the book for a Netgalley review, I would have DNF'd.

For fans of complex and messy contemporary fiction with the tiniest splash of office romance, DEFINTELY BETTER NOW follows 26 year old recovering alcoholic Emma as she navigates the ups and downs of daily life after a full year of sobriety under her belt.

This impactful debut successfully combines a lighthearted tone with the heavy topics of addiction and family dysfunction. If you enjoyed I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL, REALLY GOOD ACTUALLY, MARGO'S GOT MONEY TROUBLE or HEY, GOOD LUCK OUT THERE then I'd recommend adding this book to your TBR. It was a solid read with important themes and authentic characters & experiences. The romance aspect was subtle and sweet and certainly took a backseat to the more significant story of Emma's personal healing journey, which made a lot of sense.

For a fully immersive experience, I listened to the audiobook while reading the physical copy and I highly recommend going that route if you have the opportunity because the narration by Karissa Vacker was excellent!

Thank you Harper Collins, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Robinson delivers a beautifully heartfelt and emotionally rich story in Definitely Better Now, a book that perfectly captures the messy, complicated journey of healing, love, and self-discovery. From the very first page, I was completely drawn in by the raw honesty of the characters and the way Robinson writes with such authenticity and depth.

The romance in this book is the perfect mix of slow-burn and undeniable chemistry, making every interaction feel both natural and electric. The main characters navigate their past heartbreaks and personal struggles with a realness that hits deep, making their eventual connection all the more rewarding. Their banter is witty, their vulnerability is touching, and their love story is one that truly feels earned.

But what makes Definitely Better Now stand out is its emphasis on growth—not just in love, but in life. Robinson doesn’t shy away from the complexities of moving on, embracing change, and finding happiness in unexpected places. If you’re looking for a romance that’s equal parts emotional, uplifting, and deeply satisfying, this book is an absolute must-read!

This is a cute read. I just got a bit bored with it. I do love this narrator, Karissa Vacker. But the story itself is just not exactly what I needed.

I love when a debut novel delivers. I listened to the audio and it was so well done. I actually requested it because I loved the cover. I didn’t read the synopsis and when I was approved I finally peeked at it and was worried I wouldn’t get into a story about a young woman in addiction recovery. Well! It was so much more! Emma was relatable, messy, funny, and so so lost. She thought being sober would magically make her life perfect, and instead she found that life can be messy no matter what. I didn’t expect romance and I ate it up. It was sweet, funny, and very realistic. I didn’t expect to get so emotional, but some of Emma’s struggles (with friends & family) hit really close to home. I loved feeling like I was with Emma on her journey. I’m a big fan of human stories, no need for big plots sometimes, just characters living and growing!

((Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for access to this audiobook))

Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for a copy of Definitely Better Now!

"A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them."

I love this book! It fits the "girl who is going to be okay" niche trope lol - and it's just an amazing day-to-day story.

This story is about someone's sobriety journey; understanding that people are imperfect and we can be assholes; and the messy relationships we have.

Also, Karissa Vacker did an amazing job narrating this! I was drawn in from the start.

Highly recommend for fans of Margo's Got Money Troubles!

I enjoyed this read! The main character is a female in her mid twenties who has overcome (a year in) alcohol addiction and is just trying to live her life to the best of her abilities while sticking to her resolve.
I thought the author did a wonderful job describing the emotions people go through while drinking, the feelings you get after and the decisions you’re faced with. This read was funny and relatable all around. The romance felt very real, as if all of this could have happened on a regular day in real life with real people. I enjoyed it. I wasn’t head over heels with this read, I wasn’t falling off the cliff trying to find out what is about to happen, but I wanted to know regardless. There’s a charm to this kind of realistic fiction with a beautiful lesson learned by the main character.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy ahead of the release date.

Thanks for the review copy. The narrator did an excellent job. I am picky with audiobooks but this one held my attention.

I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down. It is a slice of life style book which I typically like but with the main character being a recovering addict it had a different spin on slice of life. This is a book that will stick with me for sure and hopefully I learned something. As someone that has known a few addicts this book gave me some things to reflect on and some situations I maybe should have handled differently. My biggest complaint is that the book wasn’t long enough, I found myself wanting more in a lot of areas. Something’s felt a bit rushed and not totally flushed out but I think that was because the book wasn’t long enough. I can’t believe this is a debut, I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Emma is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for almost one year. She's nervous about giving her one year speech, bothered by her overly involved sponsor, and trying to navigate life sober. I really, really like this book. Emma is a great character. She's real and vulnerable and experiences all the things you would experience as a young person and recovering alcoholic.

She's just trying to live her life and then finds out that her father is terminally ill. She is trying to deal with that and an obnoxious coworker who hits on her and another coworker she really likes. It's a well written story. I enjoyed the conflict and the resolution. The narrator was fantastic. If you like chick lit you'll like this book.