i thought the description of the story sounded interesting but i didn’t actually like the book. i thought the writing was kind of average and sometimes the pacing would be kind of off.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

I wish I had read this sooner! Why am I always trudging slowly through good books!

This story follows Zelda after she discovers she’s living in a dream. She gathers her cat (Patches), a wizard (who is doomed), and a boy, Langston, to embark on an adventure to wake herself up.

I really enjoyed A Little Like Waking. The cast of characters were all very fun from Zelda to Patches and even the laundromat clown! I had formed so many connections with these guys, I was crying at the illustration of the Langston doll and every time someone “woke up” (spoiler: the book would be extremely short if our dreamer woke up the first time I thought they would).

I think it just took me a minute to get into the story for personal preference reasons, I really enjoyed once we got going on the adventure about 1/3 of the way in!

The overall plot of the story kept me guessing as to who the dreamer was, what would happen next in the crazy twisted mind, and how everything would go once the dreamer awoke. It was so intriguing and weird! Adam Rex really knew how dreams work, because I was like “wow I’ve experienced something like that before while sleeping” haha! It was so good. I also just think the overall message of bravery and grief was braided through the story well. What a wonderful read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

This was such a gorgeous, moving, strange speculative novel—romantic, dreamy, and unique. I loved it from start to finish!

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it and we have to leave a star rating.

Book received for free through NetGalley

Read 28% of the way into this book but couldn’t get into the story. It was written well just not my cup of tea.

I enjoyed the concept of this book. The FMC is stuck in a dream but doesn’t know it until she meets the MMC.

I thought that it was a cute story, however, it wasn’t as captivating as I expected or hoped it would have been. There were parts that were slower than other and I just couldn’t get fully into it.

The writing was beautiful, and I know there will be many people who will enjoy it!

I did not finish this book. The writing style felt very juvenile, and I just couldn't get into the story or the characters. The description of the book sounded very interesting, but I unfortunately was not pulled into the story from the beginning.

One day I’ll find a science fiction book that I’ll love. This story was alright, I just won’t hype it up because it’s not my style and the tropes in this book will make you remember every story you read before this one.

This was one of the most delightfully strange books I’ve ever read; luckily I don’t mind being confused when reading. I enjoyed the ride this book took me on and thought all the little details of the dreamscape were brilliantly intertwined. It was slightly reminiscent of Challenger Deep in that aspects of the real world manifest in unexpected ways in the dream world. Some of the scenes and situations were laugh-out-loud funny and the way it all built to a satisfying conclusion left me very happy. I would definitely recommend this book.

I don’t read a lot of YA, but I usually enjoy Adam Rex’s picture books and the premise sounded interesting. It actually ended up being a bit…odd. A large part of the middle was a bit frenetic. I think this would have been better as a short story. The ending was very engaging and I’m glad I finished it. It addressed some interesting questions about relationships and our consciences. Again, I just think it was a little too long.

Wow. Just, wow. This book y'all is a whole trip of self discovery and feels like a big warm blanket comforting as it teaches life lessons. Like this is the kind of book I wish younger me could have read as a middle school or high school student.

The romance subplot was well done and perfectly sweet. Zelda was a fun, quirky female main character. Patches was an absolute gem and made me laugh so much. Langston was all of us--all of our fears, insecurities, and triumphs.

This book is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and Gossamer by Lois Lowry. It was everything you would expect in a dream-centered story and so so much more. I loved every minute of it. In fact, I took much longer than I normally do reading this book because I wanted to savor every page.

This book is unique, and at the same time, it reaches out and touches your very soul. It's a fairly short read, so it's the perfect length for middle school readers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Zelda is stuck in a dream. A really weird dream. With Patches, her talking cat that she thought was dead, a wizard, and a boy. A really cute boy. Who feels more real than anyone in town. But as much as she would love to stay, Zelda knows that all dreams must end, and she thinks that this one has lasted for days. So, as she and her two companions set on a quest towards the edge to find the dreamer of the dream and wake them up, Zelda begins to question if she truly is the hero of her own story.

I’ll start and say that it took me a couple chapters to get into this book because I didn’t quite understand what was happening and there was some repetition that threw me but after that, this book became an Alice in Wonderland type of dreamlike book that I adored (sans Carroll’s obvious critiques of people he knew). And I did enjoy the little illustrations that were placed throughout but as I read an E-ARC/eBook of it, I feel like they’ll be a little better in a physical copy of the book.

And at the end, while the plot twist shocked me a bit, but in hindsight, I guess there were clues but I had a different rationalization, I’m sadder about Patches (and the illustration at the end didn’t help😅)

I’m trying to think of more to say about this book but it’s kind of hard to do without spoiling it.

I had a really powerful ending thought for this review but then I realized it spoiled the book. Le sigh.

- A LITTLE LIKE WAKING is one of the strangest, silliest books I've ever read, but it's also full of heart.
- Comparisons to THE GOOD PLACE are apt, given that this is a story of two people finding themselves amid the most ridiculous imagery. There are even illustrations in case you aren't sure you read that right (laundromat clown? Surely not. Oh yes, there she is!)
- For me, it was a little on the long side, but if you or your kid are looking for something over the top silly with a side of serious, this is definitely one to check out.

I see the various comparisons to other readalikes or similar books but I listened to the audiobook and got [author:Daniel Nayeri|2989459] vibes with its mix of reality and unreality spun around a little [book:Simon Sort of Says|61030596] for the dichotomy of silly and serious, and [book:We Are All So Good at Smiling|58484127] with the folklorish twists.

It's one you can't put your finger on as a reader but you know you kind of want to stay for the ride. From a description, I realized I also missed something listening to the audiobook without having illustrations, so I want to see the print version at some point.

It brings a freshness but it's a mixed audience somewhere between middle grade and YA, but not quite either, and that's okay as the voices seem younger, but the storytelling is more mature.

I was kind of expecting to be crying the whole time based on the comps. Here's a happy surprise though, I spent most of the time laughing, because this was such a delightfully weird book, with some more seriousness blended in. The humor may not be for everyone, but I positively adored it. It really made the story feel incredibly fresh and unique, which I appreciated, and it made me genuinely enjoy reading the book.

Zelda and Langston are great characters and all, but if you don't fall completely in love with Patches, the dead talking cat, then you simply cannot be helped. See what I mean about this book being quirky? It is, yet for me, wonderfully so. It probably tends toward the younger side of YA, but it was so charming that I really think it will appeal to people of any age. I mean- who among us can't relate to a dream that feels way too real, right? Only this one is seemingly endless, and Zelda and Langston (and obviously Patches) are trying their best to figure out why.

And that is the crux of the book: overcoming your fears and other obstacles is a big part of life in the real world. And so to get back to it, someone is going to have to overcome a lot of stuff, especially since the dream town keeps pulling the whole gang back in. The story wraps up nicely, if a bit easily, but overall I was really glad I read this book, for it was a delightful experience.

Bottom Line: This book genuinely lifted my spirits and made my heart happy, and I hope it does the same for yours!

It has to be said, I think a lot of people are confused as to the target audience here… mostly because Zelda is eighteen, but the things happening here seem like something a thirteen year old would dream up, yet I had to look up some of the vocabulary and references. That said, this is a book I would have loved for my niece when she was ten… it’s also a book I am thinking of getting for two of by best book-buds over thirty. The target audience is listed as 12-18 year olds, but I don’t think there’s really an age cap here.

Zelda is loved by all- outgoing and charming. She meets things head on- even the thought of being in a dream and having to wake up (though I found it sweet that she worried about the others in her dream- like, ‘If I wake, what happens to Clara?’) She knows it’s what she should do, even as she basks in all the things the world offers- including the boy of her dreams. I loved her for this. The scenarios were funny, outlandish and just so charming. While they had fears to conquer, and enemies to battle it never got too scary- less than Goosebumps level (did I just date myself there?).


Patches, out feline poet, is amazing. He’s charming and sarcastic at times, a bit full of himself and well… a cat. He’s also where most of the vocabulary I looked up came from. Erx, the all knowing wizard who just wants to stay safely at home, was a great addition. Then there’s Langston with all his phobias, anxiety and awkwardness. He is adorable and I love how he reacts to Zelda. Honestly, the first half of the book was basically the most adorable show of puppy love ever.

I saw some people talking about how the dialogue was immature- and maybe some was as the FL is eighteen…. but I found it rather refreshing, and suited to the scenarios and atmosphere. This is a world a kid would think up- why make everyone talk like adults (though much of the time Patches did)? In many ways it was an ode to childhood dreams and I loved it for that. I think I enjoyed it more when I didn’t try to place it in an age group- it’s for everybody (though a dictionary is a good idea- which makes the eBook nice. All I had to do is highlight a work and it would ask if I wanted to look it up).

The book is smart and witty, it draws the reader in. There’s also sketches every so often, which I loved. The scary parts were low level adventure, nothing that I would worry about reading to a young child ( for example, the four PE teachers of the Apocalypse and laundromat clown). It was just so charming. I am actually trying to decide if I need to buy the eBook for my bookbuds or if we want a paper copy. Also, do I need the audiobook edition? One thing is certain, I am buying at least two copies of this book- it’s one I am dying to share, plus I know I will want to read it again. For me, this was a five star book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there’s some violence and low level curse words. Nothing over the top, I still would have given it to my niece when she was ten.


I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC from Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press in exchange for an honest review. This did not sway my rating in any way.

I love The Good Place and The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Their mentions in the blurb made me excited for A Little Like Waking, but this may be another case of "I would have liked it as a movie."

While the parallels are present, my attention kept wandering away from the pages. As Zelda and Tristan try to figure out what is going on--they're stuck in a dream--and just who it is that is dreaming, they come across or conjure a plethora of situations. While interesting at first with some silly scenarios that were fun to read,I got frustrated because I wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. When the story focused on Zelda and Tristan's conversations, I was easily pulled into the story and the questions they were asking.

The ending was one I liked even if predictable. I was probably always going to feel this way about the ending because, again, this is the type of genre I love watching. While I wanted to increase my rating because of the ending, the experience leading to the ending was rough. If it had been a movie, I would have rated it higher.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It was a quick read that was unique and compelling for what it is. Albeit, the dialog was more middle-grade than YA. Still, I had fun. The writing style was just okay, but considering this was more of a middle-grade for me I think it's on par for the genre. What else is there to say? There wasn't really anything that really stood out about the book. It was cute.