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cassmills's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
gina_readsbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
“Time changes you. Stories change you. The people you meet change you.”
Big thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was so charming. I really loved the premise and how Eileen finds herself in the fictional town from her favorite romance series. It’s a bit like a dream come true that any book lover can certainly relate to. Seeing her connect to the town and the characters is so fun as she heals from her breakup and missing her book club friends.
One of the things that really resonated with me was her online book club that met annually for a week. Bookstagram has brought some incredible people into my life, and getting to spend time with them in person is truly the best. Eileen is still taking the trip even though no one else can make it. She feels defeated and still wants to have this time to herself.
“Love is neither late nor early, you know.”
The slow burn romance with Anders is so beautiful and sweet. There’s a little enemies to lovers and forced proximity, and their chemistry bubbles underneath it. I will say the twist of this was easy to figure out, so it wasn’t a surprise closer to the end. But the overall ending was really great.
While this didn’t get me in my feelings like The Seven Year Slip, this was still a lovely read!
lindarrighi's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Thank you HQ (Harper Collins UK) and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this super cosy romance! I have had such a great time reading this book, which was the perfect mix of bookish, easy to read and intriguing. I always love books about books and A Novel Love Story didn't disappoint! This book is perfect for fans of small town romances, cosy books, and books that are a bit quirky or paranormal. This is a great book if you want a cosy escape from everyday life. I really enjoyed getting lost in the small town of Eloraton, which this book is set in. Ashley Poston's writing made me feel like I was really there, savouring sweet taffy and sitting back in the sun. There is also a bookstore cat which has to be one of my favourite things of all time! A Novel Love Story was a bit repetitive in parts and it took me some time to connect with the main character Elsy, but once I did I was sooo enthralled in her story and fully rooting for her. Please note, while the romance is an important part of the story, this book also deals with other themes - so if you prefer a book that's exclusively romance you might not like this one as much. I am more of a romance-adjacent type of person so I appreciated the interspersed sprinkles of romance!
schwrtzdnll28's review
4.0
This was such a good book. It was magical and cozy and warm and mysterious and full of LOVE. I am officially a FAN of Ashley Poston, I’ve only read her short story in the Improbable Meet Cute series, but now I’m IN. I’m also always such a fan of books about books and people who love books. And watching Elsy be able to immerse herself in her favorite books series felt so special. The first thought I had when I started reading was I would do ANYTHING to be able to go Inglewild and really get into the world Becs created 🥹🥹
I loved Elsy so much. She was so lost and unsure of what to do next. She needed this weekend away with friends DESPERATELY and somehow needed this time away in her favorite fictional town even more?? I loved that she kept thinking back to Pru and their friendship and how important that is to her, even as things are changing and not going quite the way they had planned. I loved seeing her reflecting and learning things about herself. And I loved watching her in her favorite town. The fact that she knew everyone, and she couldn’t quite figure out what was happening. And how Anders didn’t want her to change anything and she did anyway. It was all done so well!
I also loved Anders and Elsy so much. They were so similar, and they had such good chemistry and good banter. They were slow to warm up to each other, and there was clearly so many things happening. So at times it felt like they weren’t supposed to be a fit, but I feel like it was done intentionally but it doesn’t quite make sense until the end. But the end…made my heart so happy!!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the ARC and the free finished copy! I am GRATEFUL as always!!
kelread's review
4.0
Super sweet (albeit farfetched), quick read, unique premise (for an adult novel). Alas, it felt a little perfunctory at times and that second act plot twist was an unnecessary distraction that undermined the MC's relationship. It was enjoyable nonetheless and I've been imagining which book series I'd like to fall into.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
2.25
What happens when you get trapped in your favorite novel?
📕
Eileen has had a rough time lately and when everyone in her #bookclub bails on their yearly trip to a cabin, she decides to go alone. When her car breaks down she quickly realizes she’s stuck inside the setting of her favorite novel series—the one that got her through the past few years when nothing else did. The problem is the author died before finishing the series and the only thing that doesn’t belong in Eloraron is the grumpy bookstore owner. Elsy wants to see how the book series ends, but wonders if she can have a part in that ending.
📕
I normally adore Ashley Poston’s romance books, but this one fell flat for me. I didn’t feel any connection between the two love interests and found the whole plot to be silly. The reviews seemed to be mixed online so when this one comes out June 25, tell me what you think!
CW: cheating, grief, death, vomit, alcohol, car accident, violence
📕
Eileen has had a rough time lately and when everyone in her #bookclub bails on their yearly trip to a cabin, she decides to go alone. When her car breaks down she quickly realizes she’s stuck inside the setting of her favorite novel series—the one that got her through the past few years when nothing else did. The problem is the author died before finishing the series and the only thing that doesn’t belong in Eloraron is the grumpy bookstore owner. Elsy wants to see how the book series ends, but wonders if she can have a part in that ending.
📕
I normally adore Ashley Poston’s romance books, but this one fell flat for me. I didn’t feel any connection between the two love interests and found the whole plot to be silly. The reviews seemed to be mixed online so when this one comes out June 25, tell me what you think!
CW: cheating, grief, death, vomit, alcohol, car accident, violence
the_cover_contessa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for supplying me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Eileen Merriweather is an avid book reader turned professor of English. Her greatest love is meeting with her bookclub yearly in person to sit back, relax, and read some good books. When none of the members can make their yearly retreat, she decides to go alone. But on her way there she finds herself stranded in a small town with a broken down car. As she gets to know the town residents, she begins to realize she's stuck in the setting of her favorite author's love stories: Eloraton. She knows most of the characters but then finds there is one she cannot place. She's determined to figure out why this character was never on her radar and what her favorite author was planning to do with his love story.
I've recently discovered Poston's books and have really enjoyed the ones I've read. I was truly looking forward to this one. Who doesn't want to get stuck in the setting of their favorite love story from their favorite author? It sounded like a fun read, one I would enjoy and zip through in no time. And, while I did enjoy it for the most part, it was lacking what Poston's other stories have given me: hope and a feeling of magic.
Elsy is kind of a boring character. She is very self-deprecatory which just didn't hit me the right way. Even as she learns about herself throughout the book:,what she truly wants to do with her life, what kind of love she wants to find, and where she wants to be, I honestly didn't feel her growth. I wanted to love her but I just kind of liked her. She didn't present as anything truly interesting to me. She doesn't come across as strong or a woman who is willing to take control of her life, though she does talk about it. Her back story did help to solidify whey she thought the way she did about love. I did get a hint of her growth in the last few chapters, but not enough throughout the book to make me care.
Anders is a flat character, as well. The most I know about him are that he has "minty green eyes" and that he is grumpy and tight lipped. I wanted to swoon over the MMC but he didn't really give me that feeling. I felt like I was missing something from him. I get that his presence is supposed to be a bit mysterious, but there was nothing there to connect me to him and care about his story line.
The romance was just ok. I didn't really feel the connection between Elsy and Anders. I needed more tension, more angst, more connection. Where was the chemistry? It felt a bit superficial and forced. How about some real banter, which the author tried but really didn't succeed to do in my opinion. And how many times can Elsy tell us she's not who he's meant to be with? There goes that self-deprecatory look at herself again. Nothing could convince me that these two were fated for each other.
I love the idea of a book within a book. But the magical realism did not come across in this one as it did in others I've read from her. I felt like it was really lacking that world building that helps you believe in the magic that's happening. It was slow and nothing truly gripped me.
My biggest complaint with this book is the repetitive descriptions How many times can Elsy tell us about Anders "minty green eyes." It was non-stop in ever chapter. Or how he smelled like black tea. And how golden his hair was. I get it, you like his eyes and hair and his smell is pleasant but it was no-stop. I felt like the editor truly missed this. It took me out of the story as it kept happening. It made me not care about Elsy or Anders. And it didn't help me to see any connection forming between the two main characters.
I do realize this book was more about the journey rather than the destination but it really fell flat of endearing me to the characters and making me care about what would happen in the end. This was one of my most highly anticipated release of 2024 and I was more disappointed than not with this one. I'm not giving up on this author, though, and will absolutely read books from her in the future.
2.5 stars rounded to 3
Eileen Merriweather is an avid book reader turned professor of English. Her greatest love is meeting with her bookclub yearly in person to sit back, relax, and read some good books. When none of the members can make their yearly retreat, she decides to go alone. But on her way there she finds herself stranded in a small town with a broken down car. As she gets to know the town residents, she begins to realize she's stuck in the setting of her favorite author's love stories: Eloraton. She knows most of the characters but then finds there is one she cannot place. She's determined to figure out why this character was never on her radar and what her favorite author was planning to do with his love story.
I've recently discovered Poston's books and have really enjoyed the ones I've read. I was truly looking forward to this one. Who doesn't want to get stuck in the setting of their favorite love story from their favorite author? It sounded like a fun read, one I would enjoy and zip through in no time. And, while I did enjoy it for the most part, it was lacking what Poston's other stories have given me: hope and a feeling of magic.
Elsy is kind of a boring character. She is very self-deprecatory which just didn't hit me the right way. Even as she learns about herself throughout the book:,what she truly wants to do with her life, what kind of love she wants to find, and where she wants to be, I honestly didn't feel her growth. I wanted to love her but I just kind of liked her. She didn't present as anything truly interesting to me. She doesn't come across as strong or a woman who is willing to take control of her life, though she does talk about it. Her back story did help to solidify whey she thought the way she did about love. I did get a hint of her growth in the last few chapters, but not enough throughout the book to make me care.
Anders is a flat character, as well. The most I know about him are that he has "minty green eyes" and that he is grumpy and tight lipped. I wanted to swoon over the MMC but he didn't really give me that feeling. I felt like I was missing something from him. I get that his presence is supposed to be a bit mysterious, but there was nothing there to connect me to him and care about his story line.
The romance was just ok. I didn't really feel the connection between Elsy and Anders. I needed more tension, more angst, more connection. Where was the chemistry? It felt a bit superficial and forced. How about some real banter, which the author tried but really didn't succeed to do in my opinion. And how many times can Elsy tell us she's not who he's meant to be with? There goes that self-deprecatory look at herself again. Nothing could convince me that these two were fated for each other.
I love the idea of a book within a book. But the magical realism did not come across in this one as it did in others I've read from her. I felt like it was really lacking that world building that helps you believe in the magic that's happening. It was slow and nothing truly gripped me.
My biggest complaint with this book is the repetitive descriptions How many times can Elsy tell us about Anders "minty green eyes." It was non-stop in ever chapter. Or how he smelled like black tea. And how golden his hair was. I get it, you like his eyes and hair and his smell is pleasant but it was no-stop. I felt like the editor truly missed this. It took me out of the story as it kept happening. It made me not care about Elsy or Anders. And it didn't help me to see any connection forming between the two main characters.
I do realize this book was more about the journey rather than the destination but it really fell flat of endearing me to the characters and making me care about what would happen in the end. This was one of my most highly anticipated release of 2024 and I was more disappointed than not with this one. I'm not giving up on this author, though, and will absolutely read books from her in the future.
2.5 stars rounded to 3
eloise_reads's review against another edition
4.0
When Eileen decides to go on the annual book club trip alone, she certainly does not expect to get stuck in an oh so familiar town. From the cute little cafe, to the bar that only serves burnt burgers - Eileen knows this town. This is Eloraton, the town from her most re-read, favourite romance series by Rachel Flowers, the author that tragically passed away and never finished her series. Eileen certainly remembers the wonderful bookshop described in Rachel's books, but she definitely doesn't remember Anders, the handsome owner with the minty green eyes.
My first novel by Ashley Poston and certainly not my last. You know when a writing style just clicks for you? This was it for me, I felt hooked on the story within about 20 pages and think that the writing played a big part in that.
This was such a sweet story and I loved the references to the smutty romance book club, romantasy and all the other little references that us book lovers will have a smile to. A unique love story that takes place within a fictional town, it captured my heart and was the perfect low stakes, quick romance novel that I love - a perfect holiday read!
My only criticism would be the over use of the description "minty eyes", it was used about 30000 times and it really did start to grate on me unfortunately.
My first novel by Ashley Poston and certainly not my last. You know when a writing style just clicks for you? This was it for me, I felt hooked on the story within about 20 pages and think that the writing played a big part in that.
This was such a sweet story and I loved the references to the smutty romance book club, romantasy and all the other little references that us book lovers will have a smile to. A unique love story that takes place within a fictional town, it captured my heart and was the perfect low stakes, quick romance novel that I love - a perfect holiday read!
My only criticism would be the over use of the description "minty eyes", it was used about 30000 times and it really did start to grate on me unfortunately.
inkedupmargins's review
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0