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A review by katemc7
Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book had been on my Kindle Unlimited check out list for a minute, and then I realized that it was getting published which CONGRATS- so I applied for the ARC and YAY here we are :) I really enjoyed this first book into a series. It was small town with some sports thrown in as well as a second chance with brother's best friend. I liked these characters a lot! I liked watching Melody who had been gaslighted in her long relationship realize this truth and become comfortable in her own skin again. And I LOVED that Zac was helping her do all of this with the underlying plan of getting her to now only forgive him but to fall for him again. I thought the flashback at the beginning was the perfect setup to how everything unfolded. I will say that the reason they didn't talk for 10 years was a little weak in my opinion BUT I also know Melody put her heart on the line and was basically ghosted. Fast forward and Melody has been dumped, is moving in with her brother and ends up camping with Zac. I liked the disaster that followed and how the tension between them was still there. It was so cute watching Zac coax Melody out ever so slowly. How he was trying to make her realize how amazing she was. I also liked watching Melody help Zac grow in his confidence with his new job. I liked the sneaking around- there's always something so scandalous about that. And man did I like the plot twist of Melody fake dating someone to hide what her and Zac were doing. Bottom line these two missed their moment when they were 18 but now was their time to see if what they had was the real thing. They made each other better. They SHINED together!
Melody has found herself in an unthinkable position. She has been dumped by her boyfriend of 6 years so he can go do whatever he wants on a guys trip. She has moved back home to the town she has been avoiding for 10 years because her brother's best friend broke her heart. And now she's living with her brother TEMPORARILY. Until she can figure out her next step. The next step was not meant to be camping with said best friend, Zac. The boy now man who gave her hope and then ghosted her without a trace. Somehow she has found herself camping with him in the SAME tent. Then under a bizarre twist of events they are alone trying to survive together in the wilderness for a few days. She can't deny that her feelings for him are mixed. How has he gotten more handsome? But she notices he doesn't smile like he used to. He keeps wanting to bring up what happened between them, but she isn't ready. Especially because she is starting to realize that her relationship with her ex may not have been the most healthy. Her and Zac have an explosive moment together but she makes it clear this was a one time thing. He then reaches out a few days later with a thin line about not being able to sleep without her. Which is how she finds herself playing house with her ex who she can't stop thinking about. Who is surprising her at every turn. Who is holding her hand through this reawakening of herself. So she gives back a little- she helps him with work. She shows up for him. And even though they are having to hide this thing between them she knows it's the real deal. She keeps reminding herself that she is going to be leaving soon. But something tells her that if Zac asked she would figure it out. Because even though they missed their chance all those years ago, she isn't willing to let things fizzle again.
Zac has just been handed a gift. A second chance with the love of his life, his best friend's little sister. He messed up all those years ago because he didn't know how to handle what happened. So he ghosted her and has regretted it ever since. But now she's back. And she is here camping with him. Sleeping in his tent. Looking more beautiful than he could have ever thought. And he is reminded of his feelings for her that have never left. He decides then and there that he is going to do everything in his power to get her to forgive him and then in a perfect world fall for him. Because he has been living as a shell of a man since she has been gone. While camp circumstances strike that put them in closer quarters than expected. They sleep in the same bed. Wake up snuggling. He has never slept better than this. He sees how she looks at him. So when she makes a move he goes for it. But then she says that was a one time thing. He wants to talk about what happened between them. He wants to explain how deep his feelings are. But they leave and he waist patiently before reaching out. He throws out an idea that he needs her to sleep well. And what do you know she shows up at his house. And now they are doing this. And though she asks to go the distance together, he won't do it until she admits that she wants more. He shows up for her though. He helps her come out of her shell that was her ex. He shows her what things could be like between them and then she agrees to do this thing. But no one can know. He comes up with a way to cover things up and now they are doing this thing. But she keeps talking about leaving and he has to convince her to stay. Or at least that he will go anywhere with her because he can't go on living another day without her. Not this time.
I liked this intro to a series. The setting was great. I liked Parker a lot- how diabolical of him to get these two together! I liked Brooks and can't wait to read his book which is next. I love getting to meet all of the characters that we will get to follow on their love journey. The angst in this one was perfect. I loved learning about how deep Zac's feelings for Melody were and having her learn it too was cool. I also liked the added adopted son if you will of Zac quarterback who stayed with them and kind of made them a little family of sorts. Overall I would recommend this one if you are looking for a steamy, second chance romance with a fun cast of characters and a lovely HEA!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellie for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Melody has found herself in an unthinkable position. She has been dumped by her boyfriend of 6 years so he can go do whatever he wants on a guys trip. She has moved back home to the town she has been avoiding for 10 years because her brother's best friend broke her heart. And now she's living with her brother TEMPORARILY. Until she can figure out her next step. The next step was not meant to be camping with said best friend, Zac. The boy now man who gave her hope and then ghosted her without a trace. Somehow she has found herself camping with him in the SAME tent. Then under a bizarre twist of events they are alone trying to survive together in the wilderness for a few days. She can't deny that her feelings for him are mixed. How has he gotten more handsome? But she notices he doesn't smile like he used to. He keeps wanting to bring up what happened between them, but she isn't ready. Especially because she is starting to realize that her relationship with her ex may not have been the most healthy. Her and Zac have an explosive moment together but she makes it clear this was a one time thing. He then reaches out a few days later with a thin line about not being able to sleep without her. Which is how she finds herself playing house with her ex who she can't stop thinking about. Who is surprising her at every turn. Who is holding her hand through this reawakening of herself. So she gives back a little- she helps him with work. She shows up for him. And even though they are having to hide this thing between them she knows it's the real deal. She keeps reminding herself that she is going to be leaving soon. But something tells her that if Zac asked she would figure it out. Because even though they missed their chance all those years ago, she isn't willing to let things fizzle again.
Zac has just been handed a gift. A second chance with the love of his life, his best friend's little sister. He messed up all those years ago because he didn't know how to handle what happened. So he ghosted her and has regretted it ever since. But now she's back. And she is here camping with him. Sleeping in his tent. Looking more beautiful than he could have ever thought. And he is reminded of his feelings for her that have never left. He decides then and there that he is going to do everything in his power to get her to forgive him and then in a perfect world fall for him. Because he has been living as a shell of a man since she has been gone. While camp circumstances strike that put them in closer quarters than expected. They sleep in the same bed. Wake up snuggling. He has never slept better than this. He sees how she looks at him. So when she makes a move he goes for it. But then she says that was a one time thing. He wants to talk about what happened between them. He wants to explain how deep his feelings are. But they leave and he waist patiently before reaching out. He throws out an idea that he needs her to sleep well. And what do you know she shows up at his house. And now they are doing this. And though she asks to go the distance together, he won't do it until she admits that she wants more. He shows up for her though. He helps her come out of her shell that was her ex. He shows her what things could be like between them and then she agrees to do this thing. But no one can know. He comes up with a way to cover things up and now they are doing this thing. But she keeps talking about leaving and he has to convince her to stay. Or at least that he will go anywhere with her because he can't go on living another day without her. Not this time.
I liked this intro to a series. The setting was great. I liked Parker a lot- how diabolical of him to get these two together! I liked Brooks and can't wait to read his book which is next. I love getting to meet all of the characters that we will get to follow on their love journey. The angst in this one was perfect. I loved learning about how deep Zac's feelings for Melody were and having her learn it too was cool. I also liked the added adopted son if you will of Zac quarterback who stayed with them and kind of made them a little family of sorts. Overall I would recommend this one if you are looking for a steamy, second chance romance with a fun cast of characters and a lovely HEA!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellie for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!