For fans of Gilmore Girls and Once Upon a Time, whimsy and sweet.
To be honest, what struck me most about this book wasn't necessarily the romance between Elsy and Anders but the narrative about belonging and finding comfort in books and reading.
The way Ashley wrote about the feeling of grief, either through relationship breakdown or death of a loved one, and how it can really affect your rationality and the ability to move on with life was poignant and well written.
I have to admit, "Exit Stage Left, Pursued by Bear" made my heart sink, and I felt like hitting a wall, as I was devastated thinking that's how it would end...but no, AP pulled through for my wee heart.

Wow!

This was such an incredible read. I fell in love with Ashley Postons writing the minute I read The Dead Romantics so when I saw this on Net Galley I jumped at the opportunity to read this! I love the idea of accidentally falling into the town of your favourite romance and realising that the characters and world give fallen in love with is actually really and the characters are based on real people. This would just be a dream for any book love.

I will be recommending this book to everyone I possibly can, it’s going to be the perfect summer read.

It has been SO LONG since I thought about putting my life on hold to finish reading a book. I started reading this on my commute to work on a Monday morning - big mistake, because I had to keep waiting until work was finished to start reading again.

All this to say that Ashley Poston is now in the ranks of Ali Hazelwood and Rachel Lynn Solomon. When there’s a new book to read I will put a whole day aside on the weekend in order to read it in one sitting.

A delight, a homage to the love story as well as a truly innovative and wonderful love story in and of itself. Wish I could forget it so that I could read it for the first time all over again. Thank you!!!

This was such a beautiful premise - I loved exploring Eloraton with Eileen. Eloraton has only one road in and one road out, she stumbles into the town during a rain storm and bumps into Anders. She quickly discovers that this is the fictional town which is the setting for her favourite romance book series, which is constantly playing out the same day again and again.
I absolutely loved the premise of this book, I just found a bit of a disconnect with Eileen as a character and especially her relationship with Anders. I agree with a lot of reviewers that the repeated ‘minty green eyes’ description got a bit annoying!

I absolutely loved The Seven Year Slip and I’m loving magical realism as a genre, I just found something was missing with this one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

𝓐 𝓝𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓫𝔂 𝓐𝓼𝓱𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓟𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓷 🌻📚🍝💚

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: 🌟🌟🌟.75

𝖬𝗂𝗇𝗂 𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗒𝗇𝗈𝗉𝗌𝗂𝗌: 𝖠 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋'𝗌 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆, 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗇𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋. 𝖲𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝖺 𝗋𝗈𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗉, 𝖤𝗅𝗌𝗒 𝖬𝖾𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗐𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝗎𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌, 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗉𝗒 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗉 𝗈𝗐𝗇𝖾𝗋, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗓𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗒𝗌.

𝖠𝗌𝗁𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖯𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗈𝖻𝗎𝗒 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖬𝖾𝗅 𝗌𝗈 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗂𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖠𝖱𝖢 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗇𝖾𝗐𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗆𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗈𝖻𝖻𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖠𝖯 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗀𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿. 𝖠𝗇𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝖽 , 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇 𝖠𝖯’𝗌 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌. 𝖧𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋, 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖠𝖯’𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗌 𝖨 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝖾𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗀𝗂𝖼 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖼𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗅𝖿 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖤𝗂𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝖺𝖻𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾. 𝖭𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌, 𝖺 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖥𝖬𝖢 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗉𝗒 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗐𝗇𝖾𝗋 𝖬𝖬𝖢, 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗂𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒. 𝖮𝗏𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗎𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗅𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒, 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗐𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿-𝖽𝗂𝗌𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒, 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾𝖿𝗎𝗅.

𝖠 𝖻𝗂𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝖢𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝖦𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖱𝖢. 📚

𝖯𝗎𝖻 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾: 25𝗍𝗁 𝖩𝗎𝗇𝖾 2024

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston follows Eileen who's on her way to her annual bookclub meeting but finds herself stuck in a small town. Not just any small town, but the one from her favourite, unfinished, romance series. There, she meets all the characters of this beloved series, except the grumpy bookstore own whom she can't place. Eileen believes she's there to help finish the story but the only problem is the grumpy bookstore owner, Anders, doesn't want her to change anything.

I did really enjoy myself reading this book. I thought it was a very cute, cosy read mainly due to the idea of being trapped in your favourite book, like I'd love that. I also loved the chemistry between Eileen & Anders, and when you find out Anders' backstory it makes the way he feels about Elsy so much more impactful. However, I didn't like the set up for the ending. I feel like the book could've been longer to allow for more development. I feel like Ashley Poston's writing would definitely permit this as she has such beautiful writing in the way she sucks you into her world, so I for one would not be mad at a longer book by her.

3.5 stars

Eileen loves to read romance novels, just like me.
She goes on a journey alone, and suddenly her car breaks down!
She finds herself in a town that is similar to the one in her book novels.
At first, I was puzzled about what I was going to read, but as I immersed myself in the book, I found peace.
The book turned out to be unique, with a magical town and well-developed characters.
Eileen and Anderson's relationship blossomed, and they fell in love with each other, despite Anderson's initial grumpiness.

After reading The Seven Year Slip, I've fallen in love with the stories Ashley Poston writes!

Definitely such a magical rom-com novel and I will be recommending this to everyone!

Huge thanks for the advanced reader's copy!

Ashley Poston never fails to deliver another great masterpiece of her romance fantasy book!

Eileen loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. However, as she was set to go to her annual book club retreat, she ended up stumbling into Eloraton; a quaint town from her favourite romance series. Where she found herself in a frozen place, trapped in the late author’s unfinished story.

Here I was thinking this is just another one of her amazing book that will take you to a magical place & fall in love with the characters, but never have i expected how the storyline would make me feel bittersweet.

Starting from the beginning I kept hoping please please give me a happy ending & at the same time, I kept wondering how Ashley Poston will turn the story around to give the book a happy ever after! It was such an amazing experience because I kept guessing what will happen next but I never guess it right until the truth unfolds in the end, because the book was written very well, leaving no clues and when the story unfolds in the end - it gives you different sorts of feelings of “What?!!!!” Then “Oh No’s” & get so emotional but eventually the “Wow!” feeling with stars in your eyes to end the book. Definitely such a cute & magical rom-com novel!

Thank you so much HQ & NetGally for my arc 🤗

2.75-3 stars

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

A Novel Love Story follows Elsy, an English professor who is fed up with her career and struggling to move on from a break up. While she’s on her way to a reading retreat, her car breaks down and she finds herself in a small town, which she quickly realises is the fictional town from her favourite romance book series, filled with all of her favourite fictional characters. The author of the books unfortunately passed away before she could finish the final book, leaving the town and the characters frozen, with no one to tie up their loose ends and give their their happily ever afters. She also ends up staying in the loft of a very grumpy but handsome bookstore owner called Anders.

This book really is a love letter to romance novels. I related so much to Elsy finding comfort in books and wanting to escape to a fictional world when life gets a bit tough. All of Poston’s books feature books in some way, which I really love. I also really enjoyed the subtle nods to characters from Poston’s other books, The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip.

I enjoyed the writing style for the most part, although there was lots of repetition around the Anders. We are told countless times that he has “minty green eyes” and “smells like black tea and old books”, which became a bit grating. I also struggled with the pacing; it took until around 40% for me to become somewhat invested in the story. I noticed a few plot holes and a few instances where logic is overlooked.

It was really interesting seeing Elsy explore the town with such wonder, and I loved meeting all of the town’s characters. I’m a bit sad that there isn’t a real book series about Eloraton, as I loved the charm of the small town and would have loved to have gotten to know the characters and their stories better.

However, while I loved the premise, I felt that Elsy didn’t really do *that* much to help the characters; it felt very minimal and too easy. It also felt a bit pointless and low stakes, as the characters and the town were fictional, so anything Elsy did or didn’t do to help them really didn’t matter.

I also felt that the “fictional town” storyline really overpowered the romance between Elsy and Anders. Their relationship was such a small aspect of the book, and didn’t have any time to build and develop. It felt like they went from disliking each other to being in love so quickly, especially as they only knew each other for five days. I also didn’t feel any chemistry or tension between them, which didn’t make me invested in their relationship at all.

I also didn’t find myself connected to either of the main characters, which again affected my enjoyment of the story. I found Elsie to be quite irritating and strangely passive. She didn’t seem to want to uncover how she discovered Eloraton, and why Anders seemed to know he was in a fictional town when none of the other characters did. As for Anders, he lacked personality and felt like he was just there to be the typical grumpy bookstore owner that we see in a lot of romance books.

There was a slight twist towards the end that I wasn’t expecting, and I enjoyed how the book ended. I liked the emphasis on self-worth and fulfilment, and I was satisfied with where both Elsy and Anders ended up.

Although this isn’t my favourite book from Ashley Poston, I will still pick up her next release, and hope it gives me a similar feeling that The Seven Year Slip did.

Ashley Poston did it again. I went into this book not knowing much about the plot and I am so glad I read it that way. The magical realism in her stories is always so cosy and perfect. I highly recommend this book if you liked any of her previous ones or just if you like a feel good romance that is also full of friendship.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston is a really cute and whimsical read. I found myself absorbed in the magical town and enamoured by its residents and the story development. There is a good mix of romance, fantasy and mystery to keep this book interesting and although somewhat predictable in places I was left guessing at other parts. Either way this did not take away any of the enjoyment of reading along and getting swept up in this magical town.
Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a unique story with magical elements and heartwarming, comforting storyline.

I was looking forward to reading this after really enjoying The Dead Romantics and I’m massive fan of Ashley Poston’s writing.

Eileen or Elsy gets stuck in a mysterious town when she breaks down on her way to her book club retreat. She soon realises the mysterious town is Eloraton, a town straight out of her favourite book series and the people who live there are none other than the series characters.

I think the story is written really well and starts great, but I didn’t love it. I felt like the plot didn’t really add up or make sense to me and I was left feeling a bit confused at the end. It was also really slow but then the last 20% of the book moved really fast and just felt a little rushed. Not my favourite of Poston’s I’m afraid.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Rating: 4.5/5
Tropes: Metafiction, HEA.

I am an absolute Ashley stan. From the first time I picked up The Dead Romantics, I was absolutely sold and smitten. Her writing style is *chefs kiss* and the twists and turns she throws our way holds a very special place in my heart.

A Novel Love Story did not disappoint at all.

Elsy is heading to a cabin for the weekend, a weekend that was meant to be spent with her best friends doing what she loves most, reading romance books and pairing them with copious amounts of wine. On the way there, her car breaks down and she finds herself in a small town which is eerily similar to those she’s read about in the books that she treasures so much.

This was a great read and I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy Ashley’s previous works.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.

#netgalley #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookishthoughts #bookcommunity #bookaddict #pageturner #booktok #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #bibliophile #bookobssessed #instabooks #bookishlife #arcreaders #bookreviewers

I love what Ashley Poston has been doing with her adult novels lately, the mix of mystery and romance is just perfect. The twist was slightly easier to spot than I'd experienced with her last two books but that didn't effect my enjoyment of it at all. Great characters, fun setting and a spoony romance. Loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This romance/fantasy crossover looks at what makes a memorable romantic fiction book and pays homage to the memorable characters we come to know in our favourite books. It is a wonderful tribute to how a reader can be truly moved by an author and the world/s they create, and this part I really did love about this book.
In other parts some of the dialogue seemed to switch a little that was confusing and the descriptions of Anders (especially his eyes and his smell!) got repetitive throughout each "romance" scene which detracted hugely from the chemistry and the moment for me after the first couple of mentions.
Overall a sweet, escapist romance with a unique angle .

I loved the concept behind A Novel Love Story, but I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as The Dead Romantics or The Seven Year Slip.

My favourite part was the graveyard of deleted scenes. That’s the kind of meta I want in a story about visiting a fictional book world. There are other glimpses too, like Four Shadow Street, and the fact it always rains every day, giving them the perfect opportunity for kisses in it. I thought the haunted toilet storyline was fun too.

Eileen is more interested in meddling in the lives of the characters she thinks she knows than finding romance. It’s like an extreme case of parasocial interaction; she had spent so much time reading about them, knowing their inner thoughts, that she incorrectly acts like they’re friends. In reality, she is a busybody stranger who is due to leave town any day. But of course, these characters aren’t bound by the laws of reality, so no one is annoyed for too long.

Honestly if this was fan-fiction for books I’d read, it might have worked better. Instead we are dumped into this word that Eileen already knows so well. She tells us the characters’ backstories in snippets, and we’re expected to care about them the way she does. Perhaps if I read more small-town romances, I would’ve seen the well-worn tropes between the lines.

Sometimes a romance sparkles so much that the surrounding story doesn’t matter, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between Eileen and and Anders. And neither did they for most of the book. Eileen gets an idea that he’s a hero, just waiting for his love interest, and she’s not interested in being that. I just wanted Eileen to leave Eloraton and stop interfering!

Every book written by Ashley Poston get's better and better. She writes a magical realism so well, that it fits into a romance book effortlessly. No time spent on determining the rules of the magic, the worldbuilding, like in most fantasy books, her magic is always a quirk of our current world, and brooks no questions. She invites you to look at the world around you, and spot the tiny hints of everyday magic, exactly like a starling chirping the song you are named after.

The characters in this book were superb - Eileen bought out the best in Anders, opening the grump bookshop owner up to a little fun. Eloraton was a fabulous town, and the characters were written with such history and personality that I almost wish we could read the Rachel Flowers books ourselves.
Although a charming romance was obvious from Eileen and Anders' rainy meet-cute, I found myself falling in love with the relationship between reader and author, between Eileen and Rachel. Poston somehow gets down on page that reliance and connection with an author that we've all felt when a book speaks to you at the exact right point in your life. How their books provide comfort and give you the strength to move forward, even when you have no personal connection to the writer. Eileen's investment in the future of Eloraton, the resolution of the town's problems, is one we've all felt. Friendship, or perhaps kinship, with a character that doesn't truly exist.
The metaphor of the courtyard garden was excellent also - they way Eileen identified the character traits that Rachel had pulled from the people in her life, where they sat within the characters, was lovely depicted as discarded statues and monumnents.

Another 5 star read from Poston, and I can't wait to see what she does next!

A love letter to romance novels, Ashley Poston did it again…funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. 5 stars, I can’t stop thinking about this story💗 thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this arc, I could not recommend this book enough!

4.5/5 stars

oh wow. this was so so so good i don't even know what to say. i loved the characters, i loved the story (within a story), i loved everything about this book. it really felt like a warm hug and even though i've not read the daffodil inn series i still felt like i knew the characters and i completely understood how eileen felt because i would feel the exact same way if i ever stumbled inside my favourite book. and oh my god i genuinely did not see that plot twist coming at all. all in all an amazing amazing read. ashley poston is officially one of my favourite authors ever.