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A review by bribreez
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
4.25⭐️
As an avid bookworm I love to read. Getting to read about different stories, characters to fall in love with, being immersed into different worlds, it’s the perfect escape, and yet sometimes I wish I could be part of the story, simply jumping into the book to be part of it. For Elieen “Elsy” Merriweather, she loved to read, and on her way to a trip to a cabin for her book club, the last thing she expected was to get lost along the way. Ironically enough, just as Elieen found a small town to gather herself before continuing on her way, she realized that the small town she was in was actually the one from her favorite romance series! Meeting the actual characters from the series she adored so much was wild, but also amazing, but one individual stood out from among the rest, and that was the grumpy bookstore owner named, Anderson. Ashley Poston once again brought magical realism to this story, and crafted a cozy, heartwarming, and lovely story to dive right into. As a reader, this was the kind of book that had a storyline I wished happened to me.
As an avid bookworm I love to read. Getting to read about different stories, characters to fall in love with, being immersed into different worlds, it’s the perfect escape, and yet sometimes I wish I could be part of the story, simply jumping into the book to be part of it. For Elieen “Elsy” Merriweather, she loved to read, and on her way to a trip to a cabin for her book club, the last thing she expected was to get lost along the way. Ironically enough, just as Elieen found a small town to gather herself before continuing on her way, she realized that the small town she was in was actually the one from her favorite romance series! Meeting the actual characters from the series she adored so much was wild, but also amazing, but one individual stood out from among the rest, and that was the grumpy bookstore owner named, Anderson. Ashley Poston once again brought magical realism to this story, and crafted a cozy, heartwarming, and lovely story to dive right into. As a reader, this was the kind of book that had a storyline I wished happened to me.
I wanted a cozy, warm romance book to read, and just like Elsy I got what I wanted by reading this exact book! I think so far out of Ashley Poston’s books, this might be a top contender for me with the way it absolutely wrapped me in a warm hug, and I felt like I was in the book alongside Elsy. I had heard mixed reviews from others, but with any book I read, I like to go in with an open mind, and make my own observations. I thought the way magical realism was used in this story was unique, but I think it also served a purpose. Just like us, Elsy had her favorite romance series she always adored, and secretly wished to be part of, but to actually be in the small town of the series was a big surprise for Elsy. Outside of the fictional small town of Eloraton, Elsy was escaping the reality that was her life. After a bad breakup with her ex-fiancé, and other aspects of her life changing, Elsy felt the need to regain some semblance of peace and comfort. I think in some ways I could already imagine what I would do if I were in Elsy’s shoes, getting to literally escape into the fictional world of one of my favorite books, and enjoying it for what it was, an escape from my life. Try as she might though, some things Elsy couldn’t forget about because, sooner or later she had to face the facts that she needed to work on herself.
When I imagined Elsy being in the small town of her favorite romance series, I knew she was going to love seeing all her favorite characters, but I don’t think she was prepared for all the things she discovered. One thing I found really interesting was the way the fictional town started to change once Elsy came, and more specifically Elsy started to notice the subtle things that were left unfinished by the author of the series. From some characters not having their stories finished to present characters storylines changing, it all seemed like Elsy felt at fault for what was happening, but that wasn’t the case. I was in between whether or not Elsy was responsible for the changes occurring in Eloraton, but I do think regardless of what Elsy said or did while in town, there were some definite differences between characters that Elsy picked up on.
This was exactly the book I needed and wanted for this moment. Ashely Poston wrote this book in such an immersive way that it made me think about what I would do if I were suddenly in the world of one of my favorite romance series! This book was cozy, cute, heartwarming, and heartfelt. Both, Elsy and Anders had to come to terms with the obstacles they faced, and fully take in the reality that they now were faced with. I think the way Elsy and Anders grew over the course of the story really highlighted how much they grew to care for one other. Kind of crazy to think that initially Anders and Elsy didn’t exactly get off on the right foot, but regardless they later formed a truce of sorts, and kept building onto their eventual romance. The characters from the book series were an interesting bunch and reminded me of some of my favorite romance series. Overall, this story served its purpose not only for us as readers, but also for Elsy and Anders to get to their happy ending. This book is for the girlies who wish they could live in their favorite romance book, but with Ashley Poston’s writing it had a bit more of an emotional twist alongside Elsy and Anders story. Great book, throughly enjoyed it!