A Novel Love Story

ashley poston has done it again with her latest novel, weaving a heartfelt and enchanting love story that seamlessly blends emotional romance with magical realism. from the very first page, i was captivated by eileen merriweather's journey and the quaint, mystical town of eloraton.

when life hits rock bottom—pain from a breakup, a job you despise, and feeling left behind while everyone else finds happiness—who wouldn't crave an escape to a fictional small town created by their favorite romance author? that's precisely what happens to elsy, albeit accidentally, and it's the beginning of a tale that's as magical as it is moving.

poston's storytelling shines with its emotional depth and lighter tone, focusing on self-discovery rather than the heavy grief present in some of her previous works. this shift doesn't detract from the story; instead, it offers a refreshing exploration of healing and finding one's path after loss. elsy's character is wonderfully relatable, embodying the struggle many face when trying to move forward after an unexpected life event. her journey resonates deeply, whether you're grieving a relationship, job, or friendship.

the town of eloraton itself feels like a character, with its charming quirks and timeless atmosphere that reminded me of stars hollow but with an extra touch of magic. poston's attention to detail is evident, as every aspect of the town and its inhabitants serves a purpose in elsy's journey. the side characters add richness to the story, creating a vibrant small-town romance vibe that i absolutely adored.

initially, i hesitated to give this book a full five stars, wishing for a deeper exploration of anders, the grumpy bookstore owner. however, once his backstory is revealed, it brilliantly ties together his closed-off demeanor, adding depth and understanding to his character. this revelation was a turning point, fully developing anders and solidifying my love for the story.

while i noticed some repeated descriptions, this is an arc copy likely undergoing further revision, and it didn't diminish my overall enjoyment. the themes of healing, self-discovery, and finding home are beautifully interwoven throughout the narrative, making every detail purposeful and impactful.

ashley poston has crafted yet another masterpiece that left me both heartbroken and hopeful. this novel is a testament to the power of love, the magic of second chances, and the importance of finding one's own path. i wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in need of a magical escape and a heartfelt, emotional journey.

thank you to berkley publishing, ashley poston, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Okay so idk what it is, I enjoyed the premise of the book but then parts of it seemed unnecessary like the fact that she couldn't read the novels and sometimes I felt that the main character was literally so dumb (ie with cell service) but I did want to keep reading to find out what happens. I didn't really care for the romance and I hated the befriending of the ex's new SO what is that about?! Anyways 3.75/5

(I will say I really enjoyed that the horrible ex shares a name with my horrible ex, I found it extremely satisfying

I'm a huge fan of Ashley Poston's immersive writing style and blend of romance and magical realism, and I could never resist something written by her, particularly if it praises romances.

The story follows Elsy, who for several reasons feels stagnated on her life, and accidentally finds herself on the fictional town of her favourite romance series (lucky Elsy!).

As usual, Ashley takes the readers on her characters' journey of self-discovering and healing, writing carefully about love and loss, while celebrating everything good that is contained in the romance genre.

“Maybe that's why I read romance novels so often, because they're pretty stories clearly shelved in fiction, and that's where I wanted to be. And then I came here, to a fictional town, and I think ... in the back of my mind I just ... I knew I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay in a world where the plots are predictable and the endings are happy. Somewhere just as frozen as I am.”

I particularly appreciated how the friendship between Elsy and Pru was portrayed, and how Elsy was able to found her ground again, unfreezing herself from heartbreak.

While I did love most of the book, some events left me a bit disappointed and are currently overshadowing my feelings on the book. This book consolidated my opinion that though I LOVE Poston's writing style, I don't buy her love stories, and the reason really is quite simple: Poston stories tend to go for a Happy for now, and I read romance for the predictable happily ever after.
Is it more realistic? Certainly! It just doesn't give me the same giddiness. In this particular case, I believe I would have preferred no romance at all rather than what we got.

Still, Ashley Poston will continue to be an auto-buy author to me, and I'll keep rooting for the tender romances between the main characters.

3.5 ✨ rounded up (or down?) still deciding

(3.75 rounded up)

This was cute. Peppered with pop culture references from books and tv. The small town setting is charming and it was fun to guess at what was actually going on. There's a little bit of mystery to keep you intrigued.

With how the story is set up there are A LOT of side characters and it's kind of like you're getting a bunch of mini books into one, but this also made me feel like I'm missing some depth.

I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to others, but probably won't reread it again.