Dreamland, by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4.5 stars

Nicholas Sparks has always been one of my comfort read authors-his beachy romances never disappoint! And what's better than reading an ARC by one of my favorite authors? Buddy reading it with a friend! @readingwithemmett and I both FLEW through this book, and it was so fun sharing our thoughts and trying to guess what would happen next with each other!

This book alternates between two separate storylines and points of view: Colby, the talented musician/small-town farmer on vacation in Florida, and Beverly, the mom who tries to escape to safety with her 6 year old son. I will say, I kept looking forward to what happened next in Colby's chapters; Beverly's storyline was much darker. For those who have read the book Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (or seen the movie), some of Beverly's chapters felt extremely similar..but there were enough twists and turns later on to make up for it!
This book had a little something for everyone-cute vacation romance, dark drama, main characters that are easy to fall in love with and root for, and some unexpected twists. I definitely recommend it!

*Feel free to message for trigger/content warnings (some may contain spoilers)*

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I grew up loving Nicholas Sparks books, The Notebook, Dear John, The Last Song - I’ve read them all. I really enjoyed the writing in Dreamland, there is no doubt that Nicholas Sparks still writes an intriguing story. I especially loved the part of the story that focused on Beverly. However, the plot seemed a little crazy and the twist wasn’t my favorite. I wanted more from the story and the characters. Overall, I still really liked the book, but it wasn’t my favorite by this author.

If he writes it I will buy it.
Off to buy the hardcover from the store.
Everything he writes is so good. RUN and grab a copy today!

3.75 stars

I'll be honest, after finishing this book - I'm torn on what to think. This book is well written, as most of Sparks' books are and the dual POV kept me engaged, trying to figure out how the two characters were connected.

But once the connection was revealed? I'm not sure I loved it. Also, the ending wrapped things up a little bit prettier than I expect from a Nicholas Sparks book.

Overall, an engaging book with characters I enjoyed but the twist kind of fell short for me. However, if you are a Sparks fan, I would pick this book up.

Thanks, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Nicholas Sparks has always been a “go to” author for me and this book did not disappoint. I found myself so wrapped up in the lives of Beverly and Colby I couldn’t put the book down. I don’t like spoiler reviews, but if you are a Sparks fan you MUST go buy this book.

I would have to say this book was okay. Nicholas Sparks has always been one of my absolute favorite authors. I have read Nicholas Sparks books that have broken my heart and made me have a genuine sob fest. This book was not one of those. While I liked the storyline well enough, it wasn't one of my favorites. I do appreciate the story being told and some tough topics that it did address. I liked the take of Morgan being a social media influencer, to a degree. I loved the backdrop of Florida for Colby and Morgan's love story beginning. I enjoyed the suspense of Beverly's story. In the end though, I was disappointed, maybe a bit unsatisfied with how quickly it all seemed to wrap up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying, I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. Read all his books, watched the books into movies. This one was just not my favourite one. It felt flat. I had troubles investing in the relationship between Colby and Darby - the believability of it perhaps. I just didn’t find the characters relatable. It did have its moments, but just fell short somehow.

The character Beverly, on the other hand, had a very gripping story, when I was reading her chapters, I wanted to finish them to see how it ended. Loved the twist when I found out how it tied together. I was connected to the character and what she was going through.

Though I have been purchasing Nicholas Sparks books ever since the beginning of his writing career, I must confess that I've only read a few of them so far. It was a pleasure being able to read the story of Colby, Morgan and Beverly in Dreamland. Colby never dreamed of finding love during his brief vacation in Florida, but he fell hard for the beautiful young Morgan. Their amazing talent for composing and performing music has brought them together, but it may only be a dream that they could enjoy a future together. They come from such different backgrounds, and Colby feels obligated to watch over and care for his aunt and sister who have done so much for him. At the same time we are learning the story of Beverly who is running away from an abusive husband and trying to create a safe life for her young son Tommy. Eventually the two stories merge in a way that makes a book memorable to me. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy to read and review.

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks is a pleasant story full of lessons, both to be learned and having been learned. It opens with Colby on a three-week working vacation in Florida. He is a farmer and a good one; the farm is large enough to have employees and a manager, as well as his aunt, so it is well-deserved for him and comfortable for those left at home. His sister is also at home, in her workshop, creating her gorgeous Tiffany-style lamps. His second love is his music, which at home he plays occasionally in a local bar. He has been booked into a bar here and is loving it. One day he meets a young woman and is immediately taken with her. He had had a serious girlfriend, but it had not worked out and he really wasn’t looking for another. The other timeline is of Beverly, a woman who has taken her son and run from an abusive husband.

This was a poignant and well-written book. When the two timelines come together, it is a shocking and interesting story. This book covers plenty: loss, death, mental illness, abuse, and love. It was all handled well and in context. Colby was a sensible man, maybe a little too sensible. His new-found love, Morgan, a talented singer and song-writer was younger, and less experienced, had more heart and more determination. She was a terrific character. The plot was good with twists and turns the reader never saw coming. I have never read a lot of Nicholas Sparks’ books but that is probably over. I enjoyed this one.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Dreamland by Random House, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHouse #NicholasSparks #Dreamland

I love a good Nicholas Spark book and the movies are usually very good as well. Dreamland is his latest work and it didn't disappoint!

Dreamland is told from two perspectives: Colby who is a farmer/musical artist and Beverly who is a woman fleeing from an abusive husband with her young son.

Colby is a hard working man who tries his best to support the aunt that raised him and his sister Paige. They were orphaned amd taken in by the aunt, and he takes on the burden of helping her farm succeed after the passing of his uncle. Colby is a good man who puts others first. He is handsome and an extremely talented singer songwriter.

Beverly has planned to escape with her child for a while. She has thought of all the possibilities of how her husband can find them and takes elaborate steps to movs them to a place where they can be free. However, things start to happen that make Beverly worry that she hadn't been careful enough...

There's a huge twist! I didn't know exactly how Sparks was going to bring the two characters into the same story but he did in an incredible way. I never would have guessed the truth!

I enjoyed Dreamland because it had a lot of elements that I like in a novel. I know that when I pick up a Nicholas Sparks book that I will meet a kind, tender, romantic and sexy man who is going to capture the heart of an unsuspecting lady. He writes the best characters who have their troubles but also have heart and morals. I also love the scenery he creates. It makes me want to travel to that location and absorb it!

This book is told in the alternating voices of Colby Mills, who once had dreams of being a musician but now is a farmer who enjoys playing his songs more as a hobby than anything else, and Beverly, who is on the run from her abusive husband, The two storylines converge in a way you will never see coming. This book isn't just your typical romance novel, as half of the book is devoted to Beverly's story, of her constant paranoia that her husband has caught up with her and their son. You don't know if her husband really has discovered where they are, or if she is an unreliable narrator. Colby's story is more of the typical type of story we have come to expect from this author. I really enjoyed the contrast, and wondering how exactly the stories were going to tie in. I would love to see more books like this from this author.

I'm a fan of Nicholas Sparks and love his books. I especially loved this one that was told in 2 different POV. And it involved songwriting and music. I liked the places, characters and how it all came together in the end. I also like the family aspects. A quick read, I read this in one day.
A definite must read for Nicholas fans!
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and the Author, Nicholas Sparks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited for this latest release and while not my favorite it was entertaining, mesmerizing and a quick read. Honestly, it felt like I was reading two different books - one perspective read like a romance and the other an anxiety-inducing thriller, but in the end they converge in Sparks’ trademark heartbreaking way. I was expecting a slightly different ending, which had it come to fruition, it would’ve been a 5 star read, but, overall, I was not disappointed. If you are a long-time Sparks fan like I am, I think you will enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks is a book with two different POV. I liked how each POV had several chapters telling their storyline. Colby, farmer, former musician, goes on vacation and falls in love with Morgan. She is a music major headed to Nashville after her vacation with friends. Sparks keeps their falling in love pure. Colby had several chapters then Beverly told her story and back to Colby etc. Beverly is an abused wife and escapes with her 6 yr old son. This side of the story reminded me his other book Safe Haven. After reading Beverly’s first round of chapters I was wondering where she fit in with Colby. Then I figured it out and guessed almost the entire ending. Not a favorite of Sparks reads but still a fan and will continue to read his books. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for ARC book in return for my opinion.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I liked both narrators. You’ll recognize the voice of Colby if you were a fan of One Tree Hill.

This was not my favorite Nicholas Sparks book. I liked the music angle, but I absolutely hated how mental health was portrayed in this novel. I like how it alternated two storylines, but I didn’t enjoy how the two stories were such polar opposites that they felt like two different books. So much so that they evoked completely opposite emotions.

Nicholas Sparks is an author I always go to when I see he has a new book release. He has the capability to write a story and weave it in such a way that you are enthralled by it and its characters Dreamland was quite mesmerizing and entertaining. I have seen a few reviewers say this book is not like his others etc but you always need to see the positive in an author’s writing. Of course they need to evolve in their writing just like we do in our daily lives. Stephen King’s writing today is completely different as when he started.

I enjoyed the storyline and characters and hope no one is dissuaded from reading this one. It was very smart and unique in its own and Sparks knows how to grip his readers’ heart and tug until it hurts.

Definite must read and 4 stars for me

Nicholas Sparks has been an autobuy author for me since I was a young teen. After seeing A Walk to Remember, I read it and then inhaled his backlist. While my taste in books has changed drastically, hopping back into a Sparks novel is so nostalgic and comforting to me. Dreamland follows two separate stories - Colby, an aspiring musician who puts his family’s North Carolina farm ahead of his dreams, and Beverly, a woman fleeing an abusive marriage with her small son. Colby, on a rare break from the farm, takes a gig playing a bar in Florida and meets Morgan who has dreams of moving to Nashville now that she is done with school to pursue her dreams of becoming a star. While they navigate the highs and lows of falling in love despite having two entirely different lives, Beverly deals with financial struggles and danger as she is continually looking over her shoulder.

As always, I enjoyed seeing how the two vastly different storylines were going to tie together. I had some suspicions but I was only partially right. Sparks certainly knows his plot twists. I really enjoyed both stories so I was never disappointed when they shifted. The joy of first love and the terror of fleeing really constrasted each other and somehow worked in the same story. The characters were interesting and likable. I always love when music is a big part of a story and it certainly was in this one.

What took me away from the story was the injection of modern times. I know the story was set in today’s world, but Tiktok just felt so out of place and a bit forced. It felt weird in a Nicholas Sparks book. It felt like an attempt at staying relevant and I don’t know if it necessarily fits with his brand. I think I associate his stories with escaping from the hustle and bustle and focusing on simpler small town life. I was also turned off by the constant references to how little Morgan eats and how tiny she is. I thought they were building up to something deeper with her character, but they were not.

Overall, it was enjoyable, I read through it pretty quickly but it was not my favourite Nicholas Sparks novel. If you're a fan of his work, it's worth checking out.

Thank you to @netgalley & @penguinrandomca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐3.5/5 stars⭐

In a classic Nicholas Sparks way, this one followed two separate stories that eventually weave together in the end. The first is Colby, a farmer and singer/songwriter who meets a girl while in Florida performing. The second is Beverly, a young mom escaping her abusive husband with her young son.

While Beverly’s storyline was gripping and heartfelt, the author gave away the ending early on. With only a few possibilities as to how these stories could come together, a small tidbit early on was almost too big of an Easter egg (or maybe I’ve just read too many trauma stories!) Colby’s story was near painful for me as someone who isn’t into instalove and lovebombing. The romance was fast, unbelievable to me, and closed door.

📚Read this if you like:
⁃ Dual stories that weave together
⁃ Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
⁃ Mutual Instant love/lovebombing
⁃ Mental health representation

This was much different than his other books but in a good way! I think it was my favorite book so far. The book follows Morgan, Colby and Beverly. Colby is working on his family farm in NC and he got the chance to play a show in St Pete , FL so he went. While there he meets Morgan who's also on vaca before moving to Nashville to try and start a music career. Beverly escapes an abusive husband and is going through a rough patch trying to find her way . Was not expecting the plot twist!

Told in alternating perspective the story is interwoven between Beverly, Colby, and Morgan. Beverly is on the run, frantic to build a new life. Colby is enjoying some time away and an opportunity to reconnect with his love of music. Morgan is on a girls trip but her hidden talent will set a new life in motion that will intersect with the other two and reveal family secrets, long kept quiet. Can new love sustain long distance? How to choose between being responsible & being loved? How to help in a crisis that has deep roots? These are a few of the question Sparks tackles in his newest novel Dreamland.
Thanks to NetGalley And Random House for the ARC. This is my honest review.