This book is a fun combination of The Good Place, Alice in Wonderland, and Inception. The dialogue was a little childish at times, other than that I think this will be a good YA read for most teens. Not sure how adults will feel reading it-but younger crowds for sure.

This was so cute! It totally turned the "it was all a dream" trope on it's head—it IS all a dream! But can't that still mean something? Can a dream have an effect on a waking life? I was also really heartened by how fun and interesting the story was, even though it was chock full of dream <em>stuff</em>—a total rebuttal to the well known fact that you shouldn't tell other people about your dreams, because it will bore them to tears. Maybe the rest of us just need to try harder (or go through a lot of drafts and test audiences first, haha)!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for a review!
I was really interested in reading this because of the comparisons to The Good Place which is one of my favorite shows. The concept and plot are really unique and interesting, and I’ve definitely not read anything like this personally.
Our main character Zelda lives in a dream and she isn’t even aware of it until she meets Langston. They explore this dream that they’re stuck in and its a very interesting, but kind of weird adventure.
While this is a YA book, I think it might be better as a middle grade book instead. I had some trouble getting into it, but it most likely is because I am not the target demographic and that’s okay!

The summary compares the show to Eternal Sunshine, but I think it was very The Truman Show. And a little heads up in case you're like me and got the target audience confused, but this is meant for younger readers than your usual YA. So you'll find more lighthearted jokes, silly situations, have a more adventure-driven story, but it's not for kids either.

3.5 rounded up to 4, because there is too much here worth 4 stars or even 5, even if the story itself read like a 3.

Zelda doesn't know she's living in a dream until she meets Langston. A boy that hadn't been in her little town until she's almost hit by a car when she's hurrying in a bike to her Geography test. After this, her world is a mess. Why does everyone know her name, even people she doesn't know? Why are her classmates flying? Why is her cat who died years ago speaking like an erudite? And if she's dreaming, how does she wake up? She and Langston and Patches, her cat, go out on a quest to the end of the dream, even though they're not even sure if they're even the one who is dreaming.

The book is complete with artwork showing key scenes and the town when Zelda is stuck. The tone sometimes is reminiscent of fairy tales, I mean, we even have a forest with a wizard, so the drawings felt like a good complement.

It's also a quick read, and such a different one, I'd say that if you're in doubt, it won't take much of your time if you give this a chance. However, the constant jokes that I'll underline that DID make me laugh most of the times, they also got on my nerves. The story gets a good conclusion, and I liked how the weird elements of the dream came together there, sometimes as a nice plot twist I didn't see coming. However, it got convoluted at times too. This could be my fault for thinking this was your usual contemporary YA romance, so I'm not used to books for younger audiences or how their rhythm is or even the tone of the storytelling, still, I didn't like it much, especially how repetitive situations could get until we got to the point. The romance had a good development, but the start of it was too weird and awkward (even though there is a reason for this, so I suspect it's on purpose). Another thing I didn't like is that the book deals with heavy themes but, probably because it's all in a dream, they aren't treated as seriously as they should, and when you're talking to younger readers, I think they should have.

It's a weird book, but its weirdness ends up being refreshing. I guarantee its a different experience worth having.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Adam Rex has written a unique novel that questions the nature of dreams and reality. The two protagonists spend the story questioning which of them is dreaming, and which is a character in the other's dream.

The entire time I read the story, I was confused, trying to understand what was going on. The ending resolved the plot in a satisfactory manner,

A Little Like Waking is the perfect blend of sci-fi, mystery, and humor, and while it was written for a YA audience, it gave me strong Adult crossover vibes (which I loved!). If you're looking for an unconventional and mind-bending read, this is the one!

interesting story about a dream world and the people caught in it

thank you netgalley and to the publisher for the review copy

⭐️=3? | 😘=2 | 🤬=2.5 | ⚔️=1 | 13+

summary: this girl is, like, literally living inside a dream, meets a boy, has to figure out how to get out of it. it was like a weird mix of The Good Place, Meet Me in Another Life , and You've Reached Sam

thoughts: this was… weird. i thought I knew where it was going but then the climax was confusing and I'm not sure about the ending?? and overall the world building was really weird and, like, difficult to establish?? but like at the end of the day it's still clever and genuinely funny so there’s that. (there's an incredible "duck ex machina" pun that made me chortle like an old man for like four minutes straight.)

great book and I enjoyed the characters growth. Loved the friends and how this all worked out. I enjoyed the characters journey to finding oneself and others. I hope to read more by this author again.

A Little Like Waking by Adam Rex, 400 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Publishing), 2023. $21.
Language: R (32 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Each day is as perfect as the last and the next—Zelda (18yo) even manages to somehow easily avoid a collision between her bike and a car. The weird part is when a boy she has never seen before shows up during the not-accident. Seeing him shifts Zelda’s view of her reality, as if everything is too realistic—or not realistic enough?
Rex’s narration style is unique because his setting is unique, and I can’t decide whether I like it or absolutely hate it. It works for the story, despite being random and unexplainable in ways that would normally annoy me as a reader. But the random elements as well as the occasional shifts from text to graphic novel pages tell the story well—and I even laughed a couple of times. Don’t let the unconventionality of it scare you away.
Zelda is depicted as White on the cover, and Langston is depicted as Black. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and kissing. The violence rating is for mild fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Zelda's story was a pretty cute adventure!

The target audience seemed to be a bit younger than me, so the journey got a bit repetitive after a while. Still an interesting read that I think middle grade readers will enjoy.

I was skeptical at first, but am so happy I continued reading. I loved this dream world and the characters, especially Patches! I was constantly changing my mind about who was dreaming. I was constantly changing my theories about where this story was going. I never got it quite right, so kudos for that! My biggest critique is that it read a little bit like a middle grade, instead of a young adult book, but it was still a wonderful read!

I adore Adam Rex with my whole heart so I had a feeling I was gonna love this one, and my feeling was right!! From page one reading this was like curling up in a warm bed, a relief to be in the hands of a wordsmith and a delight to just be sucked in for a while. It's a perfect combo of hilarity and fresh, surprising prose with a surreal storyline that brought me back to beloved media of my childhood like The Phantom Tollbooth and Labyrinth and The Point! and The NeverEnding Story--plus the kind of very sweet, soft, tender romance that can only happen between two people having the weirdest adventure possible. You know that feeling when you're waking up from a dream and realizing that nothing happening in it makes any sense, but in the dream it was completely ordinary? This whole book feels like that, as it should, because it's about two teens realizing they're in a dream, or maybe in a story, and trying to find the way out.

Zelda is so incredibly charming! Patches the talking cat is the ideal animal companion! Langston is the sweetest boy to ever boy! And i adored every wacky side character, from Clara the postal worker and Erx the wizard to the laundromat clown and the giant duck. All of this is made infinitely more wonderful by Rex's illustrations, which have always delighted me and continue to do so, giving visual life to the comedic weirdness of the dreamscape.

And as with every book that lives in my heart, I wept with my whole crinkled up face at the end.

As a lover of both The Good Place and You've Reached Sam... I felt this book did not live up to those expectations. It just fell flat and made me so confused and lost.

Prepare to be whisked away on a mesmerizing adventure that will captivate your imagination and leave you yearning for more. "Little Like Waking" by Adam Rex is a literary gem that not only dazzles with its enchanting storytelling but also conjures vivid images that could easily translate into a breathtaking cinematic experience. Brace yourself for a narrative that seamlessly blends fantasy and reality, leaving you immersed in a world that feels both familiar and delightfully otherworldly.

From the very first page, it becomes abundantly clear that "Little Like Waking" is a work of pure imagination. Adam Rex's rich prose and masterful storytelling transport readers to a realm where dreams and reality intertwine, blurring the boundaries between what is possible and what lies beyond our wildest fantasies. The book's pages come alive with vibrant characters, magical landscapes, and heart-pounding adventures that leave you hanging on to every word.

The book has the extraordinary ability to paint vivid visuals in the reader's mind. With every turn of the page, Rex's evocative descriptions create a cinematic experience, where scenes unfold like carefully crafted frames from a movie reel. It's impossible not to picture the breathtaking landscapes, intricate creatures, and heart-stopping action that leap off the page, enticing your imagination and making you yearn for this epic tale to be brought to life on the big screen.

The characters in "Little Like Waking" are as unforgettable as they are diverse. From the charismatic protagonist with unwavering determination to the enigmatic companions encountered along the way, each character possesses a depth that sparks emotions and resonates long after the book is finished. It is no stretch of the imagination to envision these complex personalities stepping out of the pages and onto the silver screen, captivating audiences with their quirks, strengths, and vulnerabilities.

The story itself is a sweeping adventure, mystery, and self-discovery. As the protagonist navigates the intricacies of a world that defies logic and challenges beliefs, readers are taken on a journey of personal growth and profound revelations. The narrative is crafted with such finesse that it feels as if you're watching a thrilling blockbuster unfold, complete with breathtaking set pieces, spine-tingling suspense, and jaw-dropping plot twists.

It is no surprise that "Little Like Waking" has the potential to become a captivating movie. The rich world-building, imaginative visuals, and compelling storyline lend themselves perfectly to the silver screen treatment. From the dazzling special effects to the spellbinding cinematography, the cinematic adaptation of this book has the power to transport audiences on an unforgettable voyage, inviting them to explore the depths of their own dreams and aspirations.

"Little Like Waking" is a remarkable literary feat that beckons for its story to be translated into a visually stunning cinematic masterpiece. Rex's exquisite prose, combined with his vivid imagination, creates a world so vivid and extraordinary that it practically begs for its story to be brought to life on the big screen. Prepare to be whisked away on an unforgettable journey, where dreams and reality collide in a symphony of wonder and adventure.

I don't see this book it doing well in our libraries, but it's a really neat play on format and I hope it is successful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- the story was a little disjointed for me, considering a lot of the plot was in the dream space both Zelda and Langston are stuck in together. the dreams were wacky and fantastical, and though i don’t mind that kind of thing, a lot of the randomness drew me out of the story and had me questioning a lot of what was going on.

- a decent debut otherwise, but the randomness of the dreams really impacted my reading experience, as i felt myself drawing back more than being engaged.

The concept of this book was so interesting and reminded me of "Elsewhere" by Gabrielle Zevin, which has always been one of my favorite books. However, the book started right in the middle of nonsensical action and after about 100 pages with no real plot, I just couldn't get into it. The author did a very good job of capturing the bizarre feelings that dreams can give you, there was just not enough to ground the book for me in understanding what the point was, so I couldn't get myself to finish it.

I adored the story, the world building was amazing. I love meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The writing was also really nice. I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait for others to read and enjoy this story as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for accepting my request on this read.

This book is definitely something I would’ve devoured as a young middle grade individual. It gives so many dimensions and creative thinking that I would’ve loved. As an adult it didn’t really connect with me how I wanted it to, but that’s not to say this isn’t a great book because it is. It’s something I’d definitely recommend to the younger people in my life. I give it a solid 3.5/5