A Novel Love Story | By Ashley Poston

My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

A Novel Love Story creates a magical world set in the same universe as Ashley Poston’s previous works. We know this because not only are there recurring characters, but there are also some Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, which will make you smile if you’re familiar with her world. Amazing, right? It is, and yet, this one falls short somewhere along the way at luring you into that magical world and making you feel for these characters that you barely know.

The plot is not why you read an Ashley Poston novel. You know there will be a girl, a boy, and an impossible magical scenario, and then it’s all about how they achieve their happily ever after. The opening is strong, but the setting isn’t as immersive as her previous works. It’s still one of the good romance novels I’ve read so far this year. But when an author like her writes a romance, the bar is set at nothing less than five stars.

Characters and Conflicts

It’s no spoiler to say that the protagonist, Eileen, gets lost in a fictional town from her favorite author’s romance novel. There are several characters in this book who are the main characters of their own fictional love stories. Whether in the fictional town or the real world, Eileen is content to be a side character in other people’s stories. How she finds her own “main character energy” is the basic storyline.

The only problem is that Eloraton didn’t immerse me with its quirks and charms as much as I wanted it to. Neither did I care much for the fictional characters or their fates. I wasn’t a fan of the romance in The Wishing Game by Meg Shafer, but that book excelled at making you care about the Clock Island series, a fictional children’s book series.

This brings us to the romance in “A Novel Love Story.” Anders is, for all intents and purposes, a book boyfriend material. He genuinely makes your lips curl into a smile. Their chemistry was rocking the skies, causing storms and sunshine in Eloraton.

Usually, Ashley Poston’s previous books have a parallel track that showcases a deep connection and love, often making my eyes watery by the end. However, this one misses the mark on that note. Eileen’s character arc in particular leaves more to be desired.

Conclusion

A Novel Love Story is a great pick for any hardcore romance novel fan. It touches on all the things we love in a romance novel. At times, I didn’t agree with Eileen or her motivations, but I can see where she is coming from. You need to be a serious lover of the genre to fully appreciate this book. Despite all my nitpicking, this was a fun read with beautiful writing.