A Novel Love Story: The BRAND-NEW for summer 2024 magical enemies-to-lovers rom-com from the author of THE DEAD ROMANTICS!

After loving The Seven Year Slip by Poston, I knew I had to check out her other novels. So I was glad when my new Magical Realism Romance Book Club chose A Novel Love Story as its first book read. I had high hopes for this novel and it delivered, giving me everything I want in a romance novel and things that I didn’t even realise I craved for. Elsy’s story touched me in ways unimaginable. I could see myself in the way she used romance novels as an escape from her real life and it was quite an emotional read.Poston has the knack of writing imagery and prose that is linked to the subject matter/themes of her novels. She’s fast becoming my favourite author, as her brand of magical realism romance is really beautiful.There were a lot of twists in this novel I didn’t see coming. Anders, the grumpy bookshop owner, has a lot of secrets, which added to those twists and turns. But the romance between him and Elsy is gorgeous, as is their love-making scenes - again written with the perfect imagery.I loved how much meta Poston writes about romance novels, how ironic it is that Elsy doesn’t want to be stuck in one, yet really she is a romance heroine. I also loved all the references to literature and writing conventions. It made me feel like Poston was sharing a private joke with the reader.Eloraton is described so vividly that it is obvious why Elsy wants to stay there. There are some aspects of the town that are really quite clever, that it made me jealous as a would-be-author that I hadn’t come up with something so inventive and original.Poston has found the perfect formula for magical realism romances and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

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 criticisms 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. I also didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two MCs so the love story didn’t really work in my opinion but the writing style kept things enjoyable for me.

This is the third book by Ashley Poston that I've read, and the first one I won't reread.As usual, the idea for the book is amazing - all AP's idea are. The actual book, however, lacks the charm its predecessors definitely had.Firstly, the main protagonist lacks character and is kinda... bland. Her voice is not as distinct as the other heroines' by AP - no wit or cheekiness. Shame, really.Secondly, the same cannl be said of the MMC. We barely get to known him at all. In general, there isn't much talking between the main characters, and when they do talk, it seems not very substantial. And so, the chemistry between them is not apparent, but bordering on forced, to be honest.I think a few things are to blame for that. The author spent a lot of time discussing fictional book characters, which definitely stole away form the main protagonists. The storyline is also set within extremely short time frame, leaving the story no chance but to become a very much unlikely insta love.I've been waiting for this book for months and somehow I feel let down as, with all the gaps I've described above, I've missed the author's distinctive voice that is present in her earlier books.

Even though I've been on a book slump for MONTHS, this book held me till the end. But this author made me sweat... At 94% still no HEA?! Wtf! I was about to throw my kindle and go for another month without even trying to find a good book.The ending felt rushed but also worth it at the same time. Because Elsy needed to sort herself out before Anders came back...All in all, a super read! Highly recommend (even through ALL the minty gaze and smell of tea, cedarwood and old books)!

2.75 rounded up.I really liked the idea of this book.Set in a fictional small town, stumbled up on by Eileen " Elsy" Merriwhether, one from her fave series of books.Don't want to spoil anything so I'll keep this brief.It was a cute story. Frustrating, repetitive and dragged a little in parts.I really liked the message that it conveyed, not to get stuck in a fantasy world. Elsy really grew by the end and I felt learned what she needed to.I just felt a little disappointed and confused sometimes.

I loved Ashley’s previous books; I thought they were quirky and well written, well fleshed out but this one I think feels a bit dialled in. It is trope-y and not as well plotted. I think, that said, it might be a UK/USA thing because a lot of USA love stories seem to thrive on this mildly repetitive small town thing. There was no real drama and the characters felt basic. I’m sure there’s more than a market for it- I’m just disappointed because there’s already too many authors catering to that market and far fewer doing genuinely interesting romance as her previous two novels had been. And also the Liam story line? Nonsense.

Es un libro muy bonito de romance y realismo mágico, me encantó la trama y los personajes

4.5 rounded up. You can never go wrong with an Ashley Poston release. While this story took a little longer to have me head over heels, I was deeply in love with it all the same by the end. It was like a sweet stroll into love, patient and intentional. Only some of the accessory characters had me not caring so greatly about them, often wanting to jump back to figuring out how our MC and her novel companion might come together. I’m heart warmed by the end, and A Novel Love Story is safely tucked next to her sister’s on my favourites shelf.

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!

Compré este libro pensando que tendría la misma edición que el resto de libros ingleses, pero me llegó algo completamente distinto. El libro, a pesar de que sus derechos están comprados por una editorial (Berkeley) me llegó desde una imprenta de Amazon en Italia. La edición era la misma que los libros autopublicados por Amazon. Así que si queréis comprarlo mirad la edición, la de HQ es la edición normal.

Okay, I don't know where to begin!! I just finished it , and it was all that I expected from Ashley poston!A girl who enters her favourite book, into the lovely town of Eloraton, where everything feels like home, and every character feels like a long lost friend.This book was magical, dreamy and just perfect!It had a perfect meet cute, a grumpy sunshine trope and nailed romance to the T. Some of the things that I thought had a recurring thing in Ashley poston books were the names of her female leads are based on songs, like Eileen is and Clementine was. I love that small little detail. After reading her two books, I can safely say she is my go to romance author now!!! For Life!!