Went in blind - a bit heavier and darker than expected, but I honestly loved it so much! It had me giggling at times and crying at others. Ben is soooo swoon worthy. And sober Emma is legit.

This book was heavy in all the right ways - I didn’t feel like the hard parts were gratuitous and I (truthfully) learned a lot more about AA & how to deal with an estranged parent more than I could have expected to or hoped for from a seemingly innocuous read. I will definitely be checking out this author in the future.

it was overall a nice story and I really enjoyed how we got to see all the struggles Emma goes through. The book did a good job at showing the reader how hard addiction is. That said I do think the book was a bit long and it took a while for it to find its groove. But it does get there towards the middle.

The book is an emotional and humorous telling of Emma becoming sober and her new start after being sober for one year. She is "office Emma" where no one knows of her past. She wears her image as a mask and keeps her co workers at a distance. At one year sober things shift and she reluctantly starts to let people get to know her and she gets to know herself. Her overthinking and missteps at work bring an humorous side we all feel in social awkward situations and with that Emma starts to evaluate how she got here and the complexities that played into her life.

I really enjoyed the story - it was an emotional rollercoaster watching Emma come to turns of being human and being 100% in touch with how uncomfortable we can be in our skin.

I enjoyed this book and the narrator. I have family members in AA so I was familiar with a lot of the concepts of the program but this shed a new light for me. I had to fast forward through the entire part at the end where her dad dies. I have stage 4 cancer and the amount of detail, especially how the author highlighted the agony of dying from cancer, was not pleasant for me. A content warning would have been appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley for this amazing ARC. I loved Emma and wanted to be her best friend. This book had me laughing one second and balling the next. And I loved Ben. What a perfect novel.

What a debut! This one was excellent. So many heavy subjects were covered but I still found myself laughing out loud many times. The narration was SO good & definitely bumped my rating up a notch. 4.5 stars.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I love a quirky book. I also happen to love a debut. Check and check! Definitely Better Now not only checks those boxes, but I felt like it checked <b> all </b> the boxes!! It was real and relatable. Dark yet comedic relief . Helpless to hopeful. The themes are pretty darn heavy but I still found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Emma's journey of self discovery as a recovering alcoholic felt very raw...no holds barred. Although Emma hasn't got it all quite figured out, you can tell she is on her way and you can't help but cheer her on. This book is a wonderful example of the old adage <i> life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.</i> <b> "It might not have happened in my family but the fact that it happened anywhere made me feel a little more hopeful." </b>


Side note: Our love interest Ben was *perfect* and I am truly excited to see more of Ava Robinson's MMCs.

•Slow burn
•Coming of age
•Character driven
•Complicated family dynamics
•Third act breakup

I did a mix of my BOTM copy & audio. The narration definitely bumped it up a notch from me! Bottom line...I loved this book!!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars!

Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is an uplifting and introspective journey through the intricacies of healing, growth, and self-discovery. With an engaging narrative voice and a deep understanding of the human spirit, Robinson crafts a story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

Robinson’s characters are a true highlight of the novel. From the richly drawn protagonist to the quirky and memorable supporting cast, each character feels authentic and multidimensional. The interplay between their struggles and triumphs adds a layer of realism that resonates deeply.

The prose in Definitely Better Now is fresh, vibrant, and imbued with wit. Robinson masterfully balances lighthearted moments with poignant reflections, ensuring the narrative remains engaging without shying away from its emotional core. Themes of [e.g., self-worth, relationships, mental health, or redemption] are explored with sensitivity, making this novel as meaningful as it is entertaining.

Definitely Better Now delivers a perfect blend of heartfelt storytelling and personal growth. Ava Robinson’s ability to capture the complexity of life’s challenges while maintaining a sense of hope and optimism is a testament to her skill as a writer.

Final Thoughts: Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is a beautifully crafted novel that will inspire readers to embrace change and find strength in their own journeys. With its compelling characters, relatable themes, and masterful prose, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

This book was really, really great! It’s so refreshing to have a romance whose characters are faced with real life issues. As a daughter of an alcoholic, I realllllly appreciated the sobriety & AA rep in Definitely Better Now. I loved Emma & her insecurities, her humor. I loved her relationships with her work friends & Vanessa. Her mother. &&& her father. I loved her growth from trying to hide herself to being open with who she is.. It all was just so great! & Ben was the icing on the cake. (The banana cake from Magnolia Bakery!)
The audio was also fantastical…Karissa Vacker did an incredible job.
Thank you to all for letting me listen to this in exchange for my honest review.

this was such a raw book. I love stories about women who are figuring it out. At times I wanted her to let people talk and to shake her and tell her that she needs to just communicate but I feel like that’s what makes it so real. The audiobook narrator was great and I felt like it was really easy to follow. There was moments of grief and growth and it was just a wonderful book

Oh my goodness! This book was everything I didn’t know I needed when I listened to it. I don’t really know much about it going in, so I didn’t have any expectations, but when I tell you think book gave me everything, I mean it. At times I laughed out loud, others I was giggling and kicking my feet, some I was angry and upset for the characters, and some I was crying along with them. This is a book that sneaks up on you but will stick with you long after you finish it. I already know this will be a top 15 of the year for me. In addition, Karissa Vacker’s narration was superb, as usual. I loved it, I loved it 🥰

Fantastic debut! The book did a really thoughtful job of exploring alcoholism and recovery and everything in between. The main character Emma felt so relatable and I think that's what really drew me to the book.

Emma is changing her life, and doing so in an honest, relatable, humorous way.
She used to be the party girl, high , drunk and couldnt make good choices. Now shes in an office job with a quiet life until Ben from IT sparks her interest. Shes finally made it 1 year sober and is venturing out into the idea of dating, and opening up to others about her recovery. I really connected to the characters and her story.
I love these types of rom coms-- its not instant love, its not zero plot smut. We have real issues and people trying to become the best version of themselves, while f*cking up along the way

The book is an honest, raw portrayal of a young woman trying to navigate sobriety and the trials of friendship, family, and romance. Emma is flawed but working on rebuilding her life. Encouraged by her mother and work friends, she attempts to enter the dating scene, which is cringy and sweet. Her affection for Ben, the IT manager at work, feels authentic and charming.

Emma has a complicated relationship with her father, who also has alcoholism. Her mother, her safety net, decides to move in with her boyfriend. Emma must balance the push-and-pull of setting boundaries while yearning for connection and closure. Despite the serious themes of addiction and recovery, the book never feels heavy-handed. Emma is a mix of awkward, sharp humor and deep vulnerability that makes her instantly relatable. It is a bittersweet and heartfelt read that captured my heart completely with its message of learning to embrace imperfection and facing real-life challenges.

The audiobook pulled me in from the beginning and never let me go. I laughed and cried which is a great measure of any book. The narration was amazing.

I absolutely loved this book! The audiobook version is fantastic.
Definitely Better Now perfectly captures that messy, uncertain stage of life in your mid-20s, where you're still figuring things out, baggage and all. It's a complicated time, and this book doesn't shy away from that.
The main character, Emma, is flawed but lovable, and I found the exploration of second chances, complicated family dynamics, and finding people who truly see you both heartwarming and emotional.
It's a relatable, raw story about growth and self-discovery, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.
There are a few content warnings, so be sure to check those, but it's worth it! If you love character-driven stories about navigating life's messiness, this is a must-read.

Poignant, darkly funny, and amazingly real, this is lit fic with a side of romance that is oh-so-real while also being entertaining.

✨ Book Review: DEFINITELY BETTER NOW by Ava Robinson ✨

Emma is now one year sober and navigating how she can create a life that’s hers without alcohol or drugs. She is both vulnerable and relatable. Though I’ve not experienced addiction or AA meetings, the story screams of truth and raw emotion. Instead of our differences being a distraction, those same differences made me more interested in how Emma navigated her world and I appreciate how the story helped me better understand and empathize navigating such a big life change.

There are some heavy topics here, but there’s also romance, the vulnerability of finding real friends and speaking up for oneself, and some laugh-out-loud moments that keep this from becoming too much or too dark. Also, love interest Ben is such a good human being that I could not help rooting for him and Emma to get together. The book is masterfully read by Karissa Vacker. Her narration definitely made me enjoy the story more!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @_Mira_Books_, @Harlequin_Audio, @HTPHive, and @HTPBooks for the gifted audiobook! All opinions my own.

👩🏻‍🏫 Reader Notes: Alcoholism and drug use, death of a parent, and workplace sexual harassment are all here. Take care of yourself while reading or listening.

This was your standard growing up, becoming responsible, realize your parents are human type of book. They've been around forever. The age of the protagonists change but the facts remain the same. Emma has decided in her mid-20s to take control of her life. She has completed her first year of AA, she distances herself from a toxic parent, and she keeps everyone at work at a distance. So we know she will face her new reality, confront her parent, make friends at work once she opens herself up, and find love with a man she will not open up to until the very end.

A lot of good books follow a formula. They become formulas for a reason. Emma is a well written main character. She is brutal to herself and assumes everyone else will be the same to her. Her journey doesn't take any drastic turns. Her view of AA is different than other characters I've read, so that is a new perspective. I have my own ideas about it and her particular group has some issues. All more for Emma to face and either accept or change.

I enjoyed reading her journey.

Karissa Vacker does an amazing job with Ava Robinson’s heartfelt story. Emma is celebrating her first year sober, with a steady job and she is ready to start dating. Or so she thinks. But been sober is harder than it seems and even with the calming effect of Ben, an IT director where she works, dating , facing sobriety, her childhood and the relationship with her parents prove an everyday challenge she is not sure she can face without alcohol. The narrators does a fantastic job with all the feelings and emotions the characters go through. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALR copy. This is my honest review.

This was a heartfelt, engaging story that truly resonated with me, and the audiobook elevated the experience even further. From the very first chapter, the narrator's performance brought the authentic characters and their relatable emotional journey to life in such a vivid way.

What I loved most was the way the story balanced personal growth and the complexities of relationships. Hearing the protagonist's journey through the narrator's voice made their transformation feel even more natural and inspiring. The moments of vulnerability felt raw and genuine, while the sharp, witty dialogue came alive in a way that made me smile even more.

The audiobook left me with a feeling of hope and satisfaction. It’s one of those stories you want to share with friends or revisit when you need a boost of positivity. If you’re looking for a heartfelt and relatable story, I’d highly recommend Definitely Better Now—and the audiobook version makes it even better!

This was a refreshing take on a character in recovery working to take back her life. I enjoyed the honesty, comedy, and romance in this story. The strength and determination Emma shows is inspiring.

Thank you, Ava Robinson, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this audiobook! The sound quality was great. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. She is one of my favorite narrators.