Review: Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
Thank you Berkley Romance for my copy of Better Than Fiction! All thoughts are my own.
After I read Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes last year, I became a huge fan of Alexa Martin. If you haven’t read it yet, you must. It’s so good. So I was really excited for her return to Romance with Better Than Fiction and it did not disappoint!
I really enjoyed Drew’s journey and it was one I could really identify with; truthfully, after the last two and a half years I think a lot of people will be able to identify with her. I loved how clever the premise was, with a male Romance writer and a self proclaimed book “hater.” I loved the bookstore setting in a mountain town too! But who is surprised there.
This is a perfect book to cuddle up with during these colder months and dream of traveling to scenic places.
Synopsis:
“As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best—meddle.
Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From going river rafting to trying local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fictionWhen messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.” —Amazon
What I Liked:
The Setting—I LOVE a good mountain town and loved how Drew’s passion for nature was featured so seamlessly in this book. I loved the descriptions and now want to get back to Colorado as fast as possible.
The Premise—A romance writer meets a non reader! How fun! I loved that Jasper was a believable character. He didn’t feel like a caricature of a Romance writer. He seemed grounded and real and Drew didn’t hate books, she just hadn’t found the right genre. It all felt very authentic!
The Characters—Jasper is sexy AF, just gonna say it (chapter 18, my friends). I also loved Daisy and Elsie and would loved books from their POV’s! And the DIrty Birds were a delight. The whole world of Better Than Fiction was well thought out and developed.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
Honestly, nothing. I am a huge fan of Alexa Martin’s books and I’ve loved watching her writing and storytelling grow with each release. I adored Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes and I’m glad she brought some of those elements into Better Than Fiction!
I wish we had like, MAYBE 30 more pages to explore the resolution of the 3rd act break up but I still loved it.
Character Authenticity: 4.5/5
Spice Rating: 2/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Content Warnings:
grief