A Novel Love Story

By: Ashley Poston

Narrated by: Dorothy Dillingham Blue, Ashley Poston

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ∙ A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction . . . literally, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel . . .

Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

Critic reviews

“She's making all our biggest book dreams come true . . . yes, you're totally going to wish that this plot was happening to you!”—Cosmopolitan

"Ashley Poston has written another clever, emotional love story part fantasy, part romcom—perfect for passing a day or three by the pool."—Harper's Bazaar

"I love a romance with a touch of magical realism, and Ashley Poston’s latest fulfills everyreader’s dream: actually getting to live in the world of a book . . . This is a grumpy-meets-sunshinetale with plenty of book-lover tropes sure to delight."—ELLE

“If you’re looking for a read filled with heart, humor, and love galore, A Novel Love Story may be your perfect pairing!”—Buzzfeed

“This one goes out to all of the magical realism lovers out there. If you aren’t familiar with Ashley Poston, you should be.”—theSkimm

“A romance lovers dream of a book. Whimsical, romantic and packed with charm, Ashley Poston is the queen of high concept love stories.”—Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Part

“Ashley Poston has done it again. I fell into these pages just as effortlessly as Eileen tumbles into Eloraton. Whimsical, emotional, and tender, A Novel Love Story is another enchanting romance from Poston."—B.K. Borison, author of Business Casual

“Stranger Than Fiction meets Virgin River in this incandescently clever meta rom-com from Poston. Poston gracefully walks the line between women’s fiction and romance—with just a hint of magic—providing an inspirational story of personal growth and second-chance romance alongside a fascinating exploration of transformative fiction, how readers and writers cocreate and share stories, and the value and purpose of escaping into one’s favorite novels. Readers will want to escape into this one again and again.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This slow-burn love story from Poston is as much an ode to romance novels and friendship as it is about romantic relationships. Fans of small-town contemporary romance will sink easily into quaint Eloraton.”—Library Journal

Absolutely loved this story

Story was great. Love scenes were tasteful. Fantastic story and narration was absolutely great too

A novel love story

I love this book I like how it’s written and the story how you can fall in love all over again

Cute, cozy read

Anders, the love interest, grew on me. I enjoyed how the lesson learned was that you need to love yourself first. A lovely read.

Another Book in a book

I love Ashley Poston books. This one was not my favorite of the 3 I’ve read but it was still cute.

Cute premise

This is a cute premise, but the narrator’s delivery was just average for me. Might be better to try the actual book.