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emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a book about books and this one truly captures what it is like to use books as an escape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Vomit, Car accident
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5
Who hasn't dreamt of finding themselves in the middle of their favorite book? Well, whether you have or haven't, you can watch as Ashley Poston makes that dream a reality in A Novel Love Story.
Eileen (aka Elsy) is the only one of her friends going on this year's book club retreat. But as she's on her way to her destination, her car breaks down, and Elsy finds herself in Eloraton--the fictional city of one of her favorite romance series. No one in Eloraton knows that they're not real, except for Anders, who is the grumpy bookstore owner and not in any of the books. Since the author died before finishing the last novel in the series, Elsy knows Anders has to be the final love interest. And since he's fictional, Elsy can't fall for him. Because book boyfriends aren't real... right? Left without their happily ever after, Elsy has to help the people of Eloraton find their storybook ending, and she finds out that her own happiness might be found somewhere outside of the fictional world afterall.
This might be my favorite of Ashley Poston's novels to date. I love the idea of falling into the town of your favorite books and trying to help them find their happily ever afters. Elsy finds out that sometimes it's easier to help someone else find love than to follow your own advice and find love for yourself.
I love how Ashley isn't afraid to make fun of herself and be self-aware of the romance industry in general. Her writing is poignant and always goes straight to the feels. As with her other novels, the female main character's development comes before the romance. But, the romance will still pull you in.
Fans of Ashley's other novels as well as Emily Henry will love A Novel Love Story. Honestly, anyone who loves romance will find something they appreciate about this story.
Who hasn't dreamt of finding themselves in the middle of their favorite book? Well, whether you have or haven't, you can watch as Ashley Poston makes that dream a reality in A Novel Love Story.
Eileen (aka Elsy) is the only one of her friends going on this year's book club retreat. But as she's on her way to her destination, her car breaks down, and Elsy finds herself in Eloraton--the fictional city of one of her favorite romance series. No one in Eloraton knows that they're not real, except for Anders, who is the grumpy bookstore owner and not in any of the books. Since the author died before finishing the last novel in the series, Elsy knows Anders has to be the final love interest. And since he's fictional, Elsy can't fall for him. Because book boyfriends aren't real... right? Left without their happily ever after, Elsy has to help the people of Eloraton find their storybook ending, and she finds out that her own happiness might be found somewhere outside of the fictional world afterall.
This might be my favorite of Ashley Poston's novels to date. I love the idea of falling into the town of your favorite books and trying to help them find their happily ever afters. Elsy finds out that sometimes it's easier to help someone else find love than to follow your own advice and find love for yourself.
I love how Ashley isn't afraid to make fun of herself and be self-aware of the romance industry in general. Her writing is poignant and always goes straight to the feels. As with her other novels, the female main character's development comes before the romance. But, the romance will still pull you in.
Fans of Ashley's other novels as well as Emily Henry will love A Novel Love Story. Honestly, anyone who loves romance will find something they appreciate about this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This leans a little more literary than a typical romance, but I didn't mind that. All of Ashley's books weave a little magic into them. This is a little slice of life in a small town that exists in a book series that our MC stumbles into. It felt a little slow at parts and I kept reading because of the big reveal I knew was coming. But I did really like the ending! I like a lot of the themes in this book: about how books change us and connect to us and the importance of community. I really related to forming close connections in a book club <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Death
Minor: Misogyny, Vomit, Car accident
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a fun concept for someone who reads a lot of contemporary romances. I never got quite as sucked into the story as I hoped I would, and I'm not sure why. I thought the characters were fun, loved seeing a cameo of the characters from The Dead Romantics. I think I found myself more invested in the friendships the main character had than the romance, and I almost wish the book had ended without the love interest coming back. This being a book about romance books though, I can see why it kind of had to end that way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol
Minor: Death, Grief, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this is the first time I'm rating an Ashley Poston book less than 5 stars. It was good, don't get me wrong. It just took me longer to get into this one than the others I think because of how meta it was. A woman finds herself in the fictional town of her favorite romance series, and it's a book about her in a book? It broke my brain a little. Though, I will say I absolutely LOVE Anders and Mr. Butterscotch (his cat).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Death, Vomit, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident, Alcohol
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this book feels exactly like getting stuck in a Hallmark movie. The magical realism of this book is immersive and you can visual the whole town. The pacing felt quite slow. It felt that there wasn’t much plot so the book would’ve benefitted from a faster pace. I also wish the “twist” was more surprising. It felt too clear from early on. I did enjoy Anders and Elsy’s love story. I wish we got to experience Anders POV. I think seeing him work through his grief would’ve made for a more compelling read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Ashley Poston’s previous books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ashley Poston has a true gift for writing. “A Novel Love Story” is another quirky, heart-wrenching romance.
Poston adds a splash of magic, like she has with her other romances, and incorporates it in such a clever way. Even using the tried and true tropes of countless authors before her, Poston’s story feels fresh and new.
Poston adds a splash of magic, like she has with her other romances, and incorporates it in such a clever way. Even using the tried and true tropes of countless authors before her, Poston’s story feels fresh and new.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol