A Novel Love Story

I am shocked and relieved this ended up being a 4 star read for me! The beginning was a bit rocky for me, which is extremely disappointing to say, because I LOVE this author and her previous books. However, the last 20% was absolutely amazing and what bumped it up! That last 20% reminded me of her other two books and why I love this author and her writing so much. I'm not really sure why the first half or so of the book wasn't working for me as much except that this romance was a slow burn and I'm not a huge fan of those. The writing was great and I loved what the entire story revolved around (more on that later), but I found myself a bit bored until we finally get to the good parts and my favorite parts of the romance, which was so good! We may have had to wait but once we got there it gave me all the butterflies, chills, and giddy feelings! 🥰 I hate this book wasn't amazing for me from the jump though and it's definitely my least favorite by this author (first and favorite being The Seven Year Slip and second being Dead Romantics), because this book is an ode to all of us, who are book lovers. And I loved the entire premise. What reader doesn't dream of entering their favorite book, living in the fictional town it takes place in, and meeting all the characters they love? It was such a novel idea and for this author to always give us unique plots, her creativity did not waiver in this book either! As I mentioned previously, I sincerely think if this book wasn't such a slow burn, I would have loved it just as much as her other two. So I say if you enjoy and have the patience for those, love magical realism, enemies to lovers, and have enjoyed this author's previous books (and if you don't know, please run and read Seven Year Slip ASAP!), check this one out! All I know is I can't wait to see what this author gives us next!

Elsy loves to get lost in romance books because they all have happily-ever-after’s and the men don’t leave you at the altar. She looks forward to her annual book retreat, she needs the getaway and the cheap wine and grand romantic gestures. When her car unexpectedly breaks down on the highway, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels a little familiar, and like it’s straight out of novel…because it is. Eloraton isn’t real, it’s the town of her all-time favorite romance series, where the taffy is always honey sweet, and the local bars burgers are always a little burnt. It’s perfect, and it’s perfectly frozen in time, trapped in the late author’s unfinished story. Elsy feels like she knows everyone in town, everyone except the grumpy bookstore owner. As Elsy tries to get the town their storybook ending, she starts to wonder if the towns happily-ever-after might be intertwined with her own. I always get a little nervous when my highly anticipated books come out, because I’m worried I’ve built them up too much in my head and they won’t live up to my internal hype. But I am excited to say that did not happen here, this book lived up to my hype and exceeded my expectations. I have loved every book I’ve read by Ashley Poston. Her writing is just so heartwarming, and her characters are just so real. Reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure I fully understood exactly what was going to happen and I admit that I was a bit perplexed. But once I started reading, I had a lot of fun with it, and it was amazing. The concept of being transported to your favorite novel was new to me and I don’t think that I’ve read a story where this has happened very often. There have been many times that I wish I could transport myself into the pages of a book, immerse myself in the characters’ world, and that is exactly what happened here. It was a nice change of pace for me to get to read something out of the ordinary and have it be done so well. Magical realism is one of my favorite subgenres, so I am always elated to read it and enjoy doing so. I wouldn’t say that the magical realism is super heavy in this book, it’s more of a sprinkling, so even if it isn’t your favorite, you would still be able to enjoy this book. The characters were all wonderfully done. Elsy was the main character and there were plenty of supporting characters. They all brought a nice addition to the story, and they were all important, even those that played a minor role. I just love that all the characters feel like real people and like they could just walk right off the page into the world. I’ve enjoyed that each of Ashley Poston’s books are unique and while they all bring fantastic writing and beautifully developed characters, they are all very different concepts. But one thing they all have in common is they are all magical. I will continue to seek out and look forward to each new release from Ashley Poston.

The main character, Elsy, gets stuck inside Eloraton, a fictional place based on her favorite romance series. While exploring the town, she meets the characters, and her love interest, the grumpy bookstore owner, Anders. The characters of Eloraton have such warmth and personality, while the town itself is filled with beautiful descriptive scenes. One thing I love about AP is that she writes heartwarming love stories with fascinating concepts every time. ANLS didn't wow me this time. I expected more. While Elsy and Anders had sweet moments, I felt like they did not have enough chemistry. Their relationship felt flat. Although ANLS lacked for me, it was still quite a comforting and charming read. ☆ 3 stars

I was super excited to read this book, and honestly, I don’t understand why it’s gotten mixed reviews because I loved it! The writing was so easy to get into, and I really enjoyed how the story explored the deep connection between an author and their reader. It was such a beautiful experience watching Elsy literally live inside her favorite romance book. The world-building and little details were so vivid, and I found myself loving not just the fictional love interests but also the side characters, especially Elsy’s friend. The romance between the main characters was definitely a slow burn, but once it finally picked up, it was totally worth the wait. Overall, this was such a good read. enjoyed it sooo much and would absolutely recommend it to any romance lover who enjoys a bit of magic and heart.

Every book I read from Ashley is like a warm blanket to my heart. Hugging me and comforting me in ways I never thought I needed. Her poetic and emotional energy leaks through each page, making you smile, giggle and cry. I always get such a strong connection with her characters that I end up learning something new about myself at the end of each book. And my favorite part: the letter after the acknowledgments, I always feel like she's directly talking to me. This book was a delight to read, it's a book that ALL romance lovers should read. And I cannot recommend it enough. It's definitely my favorite one from Ashley so far and I'm looking forward to reading every single book she puts into the world. Favorite quotes: “It’s hard to explain that to someone who doesn’t read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two. Some books are a comfort, some a reprieve, others a vacation, a lesson, a heartbreak. I’d met countless stories by the time I read a book that changed my life.” “ And I love how you make me want to see the world in color, and I love how I feel when I’m with you. And maybe we won’t work out, but maybe we will—and I’ll run across cities, and I’ll show up with boom boxes outside your window, and I’ll meet you at the tops of buildings, and I’ll kiss you in the rain just to remind you that you’re worth every moment.” “ I could serenade you with words,” he supplied, taking my hand and kissing the palm of it, never letting his gaze leave mine. “If I was a poet, I could liken love to your eyes. If I was a gardener, I could plant a kiss on all the places you despise on yourself.” “ Art lived and breathed, like love, like friendship. Life—like works of art—was transformative. It persisted. And through them, so did we.”

Okay. I liked this book a lot and was really intrigued. It was a blind read after I read The Seven Year Slip and so the ~magic~ of it was an exciting twist. I loved the details and how the characters’ stories unfolded. And I love love loved Eileen and Pru’s connection. However, big spoiler for the end… I want to think that I would be a bigger person and be accommodating and understanding with someone dealing with grief, BUT IF A MAN LEAVES ME HANGING FOR A WOMAN THAT LOOKS LIKE HIS LATE FIANCE BUT HE KNOWS SHES NOT REALLY A REAL PERSON… I WOULD BE A TERROR. A MENACE. Hell no. Goodbye man. I no longer need the male species. Omg. In summation, I liked the book a lot - but what the actual fork was that ending? I will continue to read this woman’s books, though. She likes to make me think… I like it.

3.75 (rounded up) Elsy shows up feeling a little lost and ends up in the one place that’s always felt safe to her — her favorite fictional town. If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a beloved book series and just live there for a while, this story will probably resonate. What I enjoyed most was watching Elsy slowly realize she deserves her own story. The romance grows in a way that feels believable, and the quirky townspeople give the book a cozy small-town charm. The middle dragged a little for me and I wished there was a bit more tension, but the characters were easy to care about and the ending wrapped up in a satisfying way without feeling rushed. I also listened to the audiobook while reading, and the narrator really elevated the experience and brought warmth to the town and the characters. This isn’t a high-angst or super spicy romance — it’s soft, magical, and comforting. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy escape and a love letter to book lovers.

A Novel Love Story is now my favorite book. Its about a girl, her love of books and finding her Happy Ever After. She goes on a vacation that was supposed to be with friends to a cabin in the woods. But due to love happening, she ends up going a lone. Of course she gets lost, but finds a part of herself. She also finds love in a most unique way. Enjoy the journey and discover the way in and the way out of this book in a town of new, old friends.

I want to experience everything in this novel. That's all I have to say😃 Thank you Ashley 💖 It would be nice if Amazon sent the original book too. Still, I'm not taking points off for Ashley...

Me encantó!!!! Me dejó sin palabras y al final lloré! Está autora es de mis favoritas! Excelente redacción. Le da tiempo a cada personaje. Tiene excelentes reflexiones! Sinceramente es para volverse a leer!

Comprado en el apartado de segunda mano y estaba perfecto!! 🤩 El libro me ha gustado mucho, si quieres una fantasía cosy este es tu libro 📕

This is my first book by Ashley Poston and was picked as our book club read. I went into the book blind, as I often do, and was pleased that I did. I don't want to let slip any spoilers, as there are plenty of twists in the tale, and they are so good! I will say that I don't really read a lot of romance novels, but this one reminded me why I used to. Most of us can sympathise with believing we've found the one, only to find we weren't in their long-term plans after all. Feeling like everyone around is has life worked out, and we are stuck in one place. This made our FMC Elsy relatable, and you find yourself routing for her to find her happy ever after. The other characters are incredibly likeable, and I was swept off my feet and into the cosy pages of the book. A lovely cosy romance, a little different to others with some lovely twists along the way.

I've read Ashley Poston's previous novels and thought that the 7 Year Slip would be my favorite. Oh, but how I fell in love with this one. They're different but both fantastic. Yes, it was a bit of a slow start until I got into it, but once I did (just a few chapters in), I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the chemistry between them, and I really don't want to say anything that could give away the plot or twists (although I figured them out, it didn't break the spell for me). The only reason why this review isn't getting 5 stars is because of the publishing house. The book I got was printed by Amazon (which I absolutely understand and am glad that we're taking a more print-on-demand approach instead of printing hundreds of books that go nowhere). But. Whoever was working on the prep chose "white paper" instead of "cream". And this book looks printed at home. It doesn't match the aesthetics of my previous Ashley Poston books and it's just a mistake that I hate (fine, I'm an editor, I know what I'm looking for). So, because I don't like this, however small it may be, I'll actually be giving the book away, and I won't be buying a new one just with the hope of the publishing house doing their job better. If they want to send me a free copy of the proper print version, I'll be happy to bump the review to 5 stars, but as is, this isn't a perfect book – and by no fault of the writer. (I've already preordered Ashley's next novel. I'm hoping that someone from the publishing house reads this and makes sure not to have any white paper used for it.) *** Original comment: I'll update my review on the actual content on the book when I get to it. But I needed to post this, because... Do you know how you buy print books and you're looking forward to opening the package and smelling that delightful scent and just being happy? I don't know if it was a publishing decision or an oversight, but why did I get a copy printed on white paper? Is this the new normal? This book looks cheap, not like the almost €10 I spent on it. Seriously. Google it. "Typically, cream (also called crème) paper is used for fiction and for narrative non-fiction such as memoirs. White is far more common for other sorts of non-fiction, such as how-to and business books." First thing that pops up. Whether I like this story or not (and I thoroughly apologize to the author because this doesn't reflect on her, it reflects on the publishing house), I already know I won't make an effort to keep this book on my shelf after I'm done with it. It doesn't match the quality and style of the previous ones and... It just doesn't smell like it should. How annoyed am I by this? This is my first review with a photo.